"I hate being in human form." I complained as Oliver boosted me onto the back of an old, but reliable horse.

"And I hate the fact that my sister is confronting an enemy with me, but here we are." Oliver grunted once I was in the saddle. He ran a hair through his auburn hair. After all these years his nervous gestures hadn't changed in the slightest. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Violet?"

"Yes." I lied, already thinking of all the ways that this could go wrong. Very wrong. I knew Thorn. I knew how volatile and violent he could become when things went wrong. But I couldn't back down now.

Oliver knew me better than that. He saw that I would not admit defeat or shame myself in front of my mate but I watched his eyes flick over my stiff posture and the white knuckles that were curled around the reins. If anything my anxiety strengthened his determination, like my doubt was fuel.

"My men are the best. Nothing will happen to you."

I gave him a curt nod, still holding onto my hardened front but his words comforted me. I wasn't facing Thorn alone this time. I had my brother by my side and I would be followed by three of his best men. Thorn could not strong arm or manipulate me now. I could be a queen soon, he would have to respect and listen to me, even if he didn't want to.

"We need to go now." I announced, "I want to intercept him before he gets too far onto the royal lands. The less people that know about this the better, right?"

Oliver swung himself onto the back of a beast and answered with a firm squeeze. All of the horses took off, following one another and the horse I was on was no exception. Though I hadn't ridden a horse since I had been very young I was balanced enough to remain in the side saddle as we took off. I was just thankful that Oliver had been wise enough to put me on the most intuitive horse of the group.

While my dress flapped in the wind and the sounds of the guards could be heard all around me I was scanning the woods around me. After all this time in human form and all this time indoors I still adored the feeling of the breeze in my hair and loved the fresh smell of the grass and leaves that filled the air. Even with my red hair blowing across my face I knew this place. I knew it so well I could almost picture my wolf form alongside Thorn, taunting the guards, desperately searching for weak spots and loving the thrill. It had been my life and at the time I wouldn't have changed it for anything and I would've been disgusted by the position I was in currently.

But everything had changed. Now, the idea of Thorn creeping around these woods made me shiver with disgust.

At some points previously I had wanted to go back to him and his way of thinking. Even with Griffin's constant kindness ebbing away at my resolve I had still been torn between the life I used to know and the one I had now. After Oliver confronted me about being just like my parents by mentality had shifted. Then Hunter had shown up and it was like a switch had flipped. I didn't fully understand why he had come to me, but it had been enough to convince me that I was where I needed to be. Hunter would not risk sacrificing himself to the people he loathed and defying the man who had saved his life for nothing. Something must've been very wrong though he wasn't strong enough to speak about it yet.

I didn't know what Thorn had done, but I fully intended to find out.

With a suddenness that surprised us all, Oliver pulled up his horse. It was so unexpected that my horse near plowed into the rear of Oliver's and I could hear the guard behind me struggle to stop his horse as well. The two guards that flanked me began scanning for threats immediately.

The threat found us first.

My horse's ears flickered with uncertainty when a feral snarl rung through the silence in the forest. My attention snapped to a large grey wolf I had never seen before. And the horrendous wound on its back. But before I could even consider what to do next the werewolf lunged forward, his target the guard behind me.

Though the horse attempted to remain calm and obedient it could not conquer it's nature when the wolf's jaws snapped near its hind legs. I heard the guard shout something and draw out his sword, but the horse was galloping away already. And that wolf stayed adamantly on the creature's hind legs, not fearing a sudden kick or stomp. He was committed to his task.

Then, feral wolves strung out of everywhere.

There were too many to count and too many to identify. It made my head spin. I knew that they were Thorn's. not only would it have been a wild coincidence otherwise, but I saw the way they attacked. They were all low to the ground and so arrogant, so certain. I only knew one wolf that could've even considered assaulting the royal guards with such arrogance. And it terrified me that his reign had spread so quickly so suddenly.

All around me I heard the shrill scream of terrified horses and the shouts of panicked guards. I could only watch as the angry, growling beasts drove the guards away from one another. Within seconds each guard- my brother included- were more than a hundred meters away from me. Leaving me entirely exposed in the center of it all.

And one of the wolves was slowly stalking towards me. My eyes locked on the creature and I was so certain that it was Thorn from the way he moved but the colour of his coat didn't match the wolf I had once known so well.

The old horse that had been so reliable and so calm, but with the wolf's intent clear he began to prance beneath me, letting out anxious snorts. He threw his head up and impatiently waited for instructions to get out of this situation. I could give him none.

I had been so reliant on Oliver and his guards that I hadn't thought anything like this could possibly happen. I had no sword, no knife, not even combative clothing. I was sitting like a fool on a nervous horse with my useless dress flapping around. I didn't even have the riding capabilities to ride my horse out of the woods without injuring either of us. and I was still sitting and staring, waiting for a plan to take over my mind, when the jagged teeth grabbed a hold of my leg and yanked.

I fell to the forest floor limply.

"Come now, that's no way to treat a princess." Thorn murmured, his voice ringing through the air. His accomplice bolted away, presumably to harass one of the guards.

"What have you done to Oliver and his men?" I snarled, staggering to my feet.

And before me stood Thorn. The man I knew so well. The one I had relied on for so long. His dark hair was swept off his forehead and he was wearing his typical stolen clothing. But something was so different about him. His eyes were sharper and colder. His mouth was in a tight smile, looking so pleased with himself that it chilled my heart.

"Don't worry, my men are simply keeping them distracted." He purred, "Now tell me something, Violet. Do you think I'm stupid?"

I said nothing, only staring at him. I kept reminding myself that I was a future queen. Nothing could happen to me.

"I knew that Hunter would tell you. He was always more loyal to you than me. The second I found him gone I planned this ambush for you. Did you enjoy it?"

"What did you do to Hunter?" I snarled.

"You're a fool if you think I would let you abandon our path."

"Let me?" I all but shouted, "What on Earth could you possibly do to make me stay with you?"

Thorn took three slow but calculated steps forward. I made the choice to stay still, thinking that I would look defiant and strong. Bold and powerful like a future queen should be. I regretted it when Thorn's quick fingers yanked hard on the ribbon on the front of my bodice. The tension gave away and the dress dipped down, slipping before I wrapped my arms around it.

"I'll do whatever it takes to turn that human monstrosity against you." Thorn hissed with a vile smirk.

"Get away from me!" I screamed, jerking back.

Thorn's advances did not cease. They didn't even slow. His large hands were on my small shoulders and with one hard shove he threw me down onto my back. My breath was knocked out of me. Thorn was on top of me.

"Thorn!" I wailed, slamming my fists against his back.

I felt him hike up the bottom on my dress, his invasive hands groping at my body, trying to find uncovered skin. I let out a scream of disgust and moved my body as hard as I could, hoping that I could throw him off somehow. It was useless. He was too heavy and I was too weak.

"What's wrong, Violet? Scared the prince won't want you after I've had you?"

But in his arrogance he made a fatal mistake. As Thorn moved backwards to sneer at me I managed to get my legs closer to my chest. Before he could even process what was happening my feet were on his stomach and I kicked my legs out hard. With a grunt, Thorn was flung backwards. I wasn't strong enough to push him very far or very hard, but it was all that was required to stun him.

And, as he recovered, I called on my wolf, demanding more from her than I ever have. With a second my dress was shredded and my soft, human skin was replaced with thick fur. My feeble form was replaced with sharp teeth and long claws. As Thorn moved back towards me I scrambled to my feet and lowered my body down, letting snarls pour out of my muzzle. I refused to go down without a fight.

"Perfect," Thorn mused, pulling off his shirt before his fingers dove towards his belt, "Now I can fuck you like the bitch you are."

My heart was pounding in my ears. I couldn't look around to see if any of the guards would save me. Though I had tried to be strong in human form my wolf knew better. We would not stand tall and be defiant. We were stunted and weak and we had walked into an ambush. I crept backwards, one foot dipping away from the Thorn, then the other. My only hope now was to flee and hope that my speed and agility would be enough to get around him.

He watched me the whole time, still having that damn smirk on his lips. And slowly, the beginning signs of shifting started to reveal themselves. Elongated teeth, rapidly growing nails, the sickening sound of bones cracking. He too would not give up so easily.

"Get away from her!" Oliver screamed, moving between us.

I had never been so relieved and so horrified at once. Yes, my brother was here to protect me both as the potential future queen and as his sister. Yes, he had a sword while Thorn only had claws and teeth. But Oliver's chest was rising and falling rapidly. I could see bright red blood trickling from a wound hidden in his hair, down the side of his neck. His left pant leg was turning crimson as well and I could see how tightly his teeth were gritted against the pain. He could hardly keep himself upright, much less fight.

The black wolf that stood before him almost seemed amused with the idea of slaying my brother before me then taking me as he would.

But I could hear the snapping of twigs and the rustling of leaves as more bodies came towards us. And the shouts that filled the air were all human.

Thorn might be able to take on my wounded brother and my small wolf, but he could not win against three more royal guards. And as he left my memories of him as a strong and loyal protector left with him.