Asha

  We break through the surface, gasping for air. Before I can react or say anything else, the Lycan grips my arm and pulls me toward the  shore.

  "You're worse than I thought," he shakes water off his hair. Then glancing over his shoulder, he adds, "haven't had your first kiss huh? How Intriguing."

   My cheeks warm up, and I look away, my teeth clattering from the cold that has been rooted in my bones.

  "I thought I'd die! People tend to say the weirdest things when they think they're dying."

  "I believe that applies to you only," he snorts, raking his wet hair.

   "So what do we do next? Where are we?" I ask, my eyes darting.

    "In my territory," he replies, walking ahead of me.

   I pause, letting his words sink, "What?"

   Just then, two men jump out of the bushes, and grab both my arms.

  The panic I felt less than a minute ago, surges back, pumping harder in my veins.

  "Wh- who are you? What do you want from me?" I gasp breathlessly as I struggle to free myself from the grip of the men who are clutching my arms.

   "I don't think an introduction should be done by a lone river," he chuckles, shoving his hands into his pockets.

   "Are you kidnapping me?"

  "Think of it more as.. uh.. some kind of detention. Someone who was able to take my wolf away has to be looked into."

  He turns on his heels, "Bring her back to the base."

  With that, he disappears into the woods.

   My heart sinks to my stomach. I literally save his life, and together we escape a group of mad men, almost dying in the process, now he's kidnapping me?

   The men drag me along with them.

   "Never seen her around here before," one of them grunts.

  "Probably from another pack."

  "Let me go you bastards!"

    They just sigh as if they are bored, and continue dragging me along with them to who knows where?

   "Stop! Let me go!" I try to break free again, but their grip is just too strong.

   "Ugh, blindfold her."

   "What? No!"

  A blindfold slip over my eyes, stealing away the light.

"Hey! Stop! Let me–" Before I can protest, they gag me too.

   What the–

  'I wonder what boss wants with her?  Does he plan on sleeping with a girl he hardly knows?'

   My ears stand erect, and I whip my head to the side,wondering where the voice is coming from?

    I can read other people's minds too?!

   'What a lovely chick! Boss sure has nice eyes!'

   If not for my gag, I'm sure my jaws would have dropped to the floor.

    Still not giving up, I attempt to break free.

  "Oh not this again," the more nonchalant one sighs, I can tell from the sound of his voice. He stops, lets go of my arm.

   'An injection would shut her up.'

  I violently shake my head, making some incoherent noises. I stamp on the other goon's foot, but he just smacks my hand, and forces me to the ground.

   "Acting like a heroine won't get you anywhere kitty," he snarls at me.

   My body is completely drenched in sweat at this point. My chest feels imprisoned by icicles, and my breathing has become more unstable.

   So maybe this is how I leave this miserable planet.

  A sharp sting hits me the next second, freezing my thoughts midstream.

   My body freezes. A strange mix of heat and cold rushes down my spine, leaving me paralyzed.

  In a daze, I drop to the ground face flat.

...

   My eyes flicker open. A blinding light hits my face, forcing me to shut my eyes tight. After some seconds, I open them again, trying to adjust it to the light around.

   "Seems cupcake is awake now."

   A familiar silky voice wraps itself around my ears.

  That voice belongs to...

  I snap my eyes open,  setting them on the man before me.

    For a few minutes, I take in his features finally. I wasn't able to notice his features, since it was all dark.

      He has a golden olive skin which is.. just beautiful. Thick brows that arch perfectly over his eyes, one of them slightly scarred. His eyes are the kindest green eyes I have ever set my gaze upon, if not the kindest pair of eyes I've ever seen.

   His nose is straight, and strong, with freckles over them. I've never seen a guy with freckles before, but this man.. his freckles sit nicely on him. A square, sculpted jaw frames his face, leading down to a subtle cleft in his chin, the faint shadow of stubble giving him a rugged, sexy even, untouchable vibe.

  His cheekbones are high, not to mention his glorious golden brown hair that falls to his shoulder.

   Ugh! I want to take his clothes off him! He is divine!

   "Are you satisfied?" His voice brings me back to the present.

   "Huh?"

  A small smirk plays on his lips, and he comes closer to where I'm being tied up, squatting in front of me.

   "First of all, thank you."

  "Took you long enough!" I suck my teeth, "You're welcome."

    "Second of all, what really are you? Looking at you, you shouldn't be more than an omega. How come you have such power to rip a Lycan off his wolf?"

   I blink, still confused.

  "I honestly.. don't know. I don't know what happened."

  'I still can't tell if she's lying or not. What else should I do to get the truth out of her?'

  "I'm saying the truth. I'm not lying!" I protest.

He studies my face for a moment then pulls away, "Where are you from?"

   I hesitate, my heart flipping hard.

  "Uh.. silver.. silver.."

"Speak," he says calmly, but his eyes carry a kind of fire I don't think I'm ready for.

   "Silver Crest pack."

  He holds his chin, "Hmm? What brought you out of there?"

  "I was running away. I sort of.. killed the Beta who happened to be my stepfather, and I tried to run away, but tripped and fell unconscious. Then found myself in the middle of the mating grounds. I tried running for my life, but I ran into my step father's.. well dead step father's best friend who I told my story, and he asked me to run away, but the Alpha's son heard everything and he ran off to tell the Alpha so I'm pretty sure they'd be looking for me to kill me too."

 I ramble off the words out in one breath, gasping like I just ran a marathon.

   Lycan king looks back at me, his right eye twitching.

  "You're such a basket mouth. Gosh. Why did you kill your step father by the way?"

  "He tried raping me, and I had to defend myself."

  He narrows his eyes, "Hmm. And you're on the run, correct?"

  That's literally what I told him, but..

  "Yes, correct," I grit my teeth.

   "Hmm, I'm taking you back there," he turns on his heels. 

  "What? Please don't! I can't go back there!" I raise my voice, panic striken.

"Ah you'll be fine. I can't have you wandering around. Those rogues would defile you too bad."

  "I'd rather have that, than go back to that place!" I yell before I stop myself.

  He looks over his shoulder, giving him an expressionless look.

   "You're scary for twenty two," he turns around to face me again.

   He snaps his fingers, and someone comes running in.

"Bring the seer over. I want to know who exactly she is. I feel she's lying to me."

  The man bows, "Yes boss."

   I look back at him horrified, "Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?"

   "An omega who can heal injuries, and also rip off wolves? You're not ordinary at all."

Auren

    "Boss, the seer is already here," one of my goons, Raze inform me.

  "Bring him in," I rub my forehead, my head pounding with frustration.

    He nods, and walks back to the door, then leads in an old man who barely past his half millennial cycle.

   He comes in clutching his walking stick, walking steadily towards me.

   "I'm glad you came," I reach him before he comes closer, takes his hand, and kisses it.

    He just nods, and signals for a place to sit.

  "Being him a chair, quick!"

   Raze whips out a chair, and brings it towards the seer, placing it behind him.

   The seer takes his time in sitting down, before slowly exhaling.

    "I won't waste your time. I will go straight to the point," I walk towards the creepy omega.

   "She's taken my wolf away from me. I still don't know how she did it."

     The seer looks in her direction, "Where did you find her?"

    "Technically, she was the one who found me. She actually saved my life," I scratch the back of my neck, feeling embarrassed that I have to admit that.

     "What is your name child? Where are you from?" He asks.

    "I'm Asha sir, I'm from the Silver Crest pack."

   "Hmm, untie her. You mustn't treat women as garbage," he orders.

    I open my mouth to counter that, but he raises his hands, "No countering. Just do it."

      Asha gives me a look of triumph as I reluctantly untie her.

   The day hasn't properly begun, and it's already so bad for me.

    She wriggles free, and lets out a sigh of relief, "Thank you sir," she bows, "You truly are a saviour."

    "Now tell me the whole story. How did she strip you of your wolf?"

   "I don't know," I grind my teeth until they creak.

  "I saved him from meeting the moon goddess at such a young age, and somehow his wolf preferred my body, so I don't know, or why it decided to enter my body instead."

    The seer goes mute, his eyes darting between me, and her.

   "That's odd. I have never heard of this before, that an omega.."

  "I'm actually the daughter of a Beta.. who's dead so," she cuts in, grinning.

    The seer continues, "I've never heard an omega could strip a Lycan of his wolf. That's impossible, what powers do you possess young lady?"

   "I don't possess any," she crosses her arms over her chest.

  "I'm convinced she's a witch Adolf, I'm very sure she's one. How else would my wolf leave my body only because she healed my wounds?" I place my hands on my hips, tapping my foot on the floor.

   "Come here child," he beckons on Asha to come closer.

  She does so, and kneels before him. He places his hands on her ears, his eyes fluttering shut.

    I watch them, my face growing redder by the second. All I just want is my wolf back, nothing else.

     Some moments later, he snaps his eyes open.

  "Stand up."

    "Auren, it seems there was some kind of power shift the night she touched you. She is a special breed of omega, the one who comes from the family of healers. She has a hidden power as well, one I can't decipher."

    My jaw drops as I look back at Asha, who looks equally looks shocked.

   "I have hidden powers? What are they?" She asks.

   He shakes his head, "That I can't say, but what I can say is this. Auren, you're physically tied to her, you can't be away from her, I mean this in the literal sense."

   "What the fuck? Does that mean she has to be with me wherever I go?"

   He gently nods, "If you choose to go anywhere with her, it shouldn't be more than three hours. As I said earlier, you're physically tied to her."

    Asha and I exchange horrified looks.

  "Isn't there something we can do? I can't be tied to this grumpy old man," she whines.

    Did she call me old?

   "Please, you have to find a solution," I walk closer to him, "There must be something we can do. A ritual, anything at all."

    The seer just sighs deeply, his eyes sinking more into their sockets, "I can't help you Auren. I'm surprised something like this happened, it has never been heard of."

    "Fuck!" I clench my fists so hard, my nails digging into my palm.

   "I can't be tied to her. I'm a Lycan Lord. I'm a member of the underworld, I can't involve her in them!" I hiss, holding my head in my palms.

   "Oh, so you're not a Lycan king? Aha, no wonder I'm not in a palace, what a shocking discovery," she chuckles.

   I snap my head up, my face burning with heat. I give her a glare, and she goes quiet.

   'This is bad. Once rival gangs get a hold of her, she could be their pawn.'

     "Raze, take the seer back to his place, and make sure you accompany him with gifts," I wave at Raze who has been standing in a corner of the room, watching our little drama unfold.

   He nods, "Yes boss."

   Once we are alone, I give Asha a weary look. The frustration in my chest has built up to the point I'm literally choking.

    'Maybe she should have let me die. That would have been better.'

   She audibly gasps, placing a hand over her mouth.

  "What is it?" I snap, getting irked by her rather odd behaviour.

   "You can do things your way," she laughs nervously, placing her hands behind her, "Just make sure to come back before the time runs out."

   "You don't know how frustrating that is," I hold my face as if I can physically push the frustration out of it.

   "It's not my fault."

  "It's clearly your fault," I roll my eyes, "Why do you have hidden powers you don't even know of?"

   She stamps her right foot, "How am I supposed to know that? Did I wire them into my body at birth?'

   "Oh please just shut up," I drop my head, thinking of what else to do.

   "You leave me no choice," I sigh deeply, "You're following me back home. I've got some shady businesses to take of."

   "Wh- I can't indulge myself in those!" She squeals.

  "It's not as if I want you to be involved either. We just don't have a choice. Besides, if my wolf is close, maybe he can speak to me through you."

    She stands there looking puzzled.

   "Welcome to the underworld, cupcake."

Asha

   "Your place is lovely," I coo, staring wide eyed at the room he brings me to.

    He sighs deeply, taking off his jacket, "Please don't be a nuisance to me. I beg of you."

  I scowl at him, "What do you even think I am? It's not as if I want to be stuck with your grumpy old ass either," I cross my arms over my chest, scoffing.

     I plop on the bed, "Oh it's so soft!"

  "Get up. We've got a mission to take care of. Well, I have a mission to take care of."

    I groan, "Oh come on. You should go without me, just be back before the end of three hours."

    I feel a shadow fall over me, and I snap my eyes open. Auren stands over me, giving me a grimace.

   "Stand up. We don't have time to waste," he swirls around, walking away from the bed.

   "You don't have any right to be rude to me," I sit up on the bed, "If you're not going to be nice, then forget about it."

    He looks over his shoulder, his eye twitching, "You can't be for real right now," he grits his teeth

    My cheeks light on fire, I clench my fists, grinding my teeth until I hear them creak.

    'This was not the kind of omega I was expecting. How is she all so defiant? Not one sign of her shaking in her toes.'

     A small proud smirk teases my lips, and I cross my legs over each other.

   There, I put him in his place. Hmph!

   "Are you going to stare at me, or are you going to be nicer now?" I grin foolishly at him.

    He rolls his eyes, then holds his face as if trying to push away the frustration building up on his veins.

    'Okay Auren, be nice. Be nice.'

  He raises his head up, and forces a weird grin onto his face, "P- lease. Come with me."

   "I didn't quite catch that," I tilt my head to the side, holding my ear.

   'i should probably take my life. This is too much for me.'

   I furrow my brows, "You're chaotic, and proud. What do you mean you want to die?" I blurt out.

   He holds his head, giving me a confused expression.

  'Is she reading my mind?'

    I whip my mouth shut, swirling around on my heels so I can avoid his eyes.

    He doesn't have to know I can read his mind. I have to keep this a secret, or who knows what he'll do to me?

   "Come on, you're wasting my time," he stamps to the door, "We have to leave immediately, we still have a long way to go," he orders.

   "I ain't taking a step from here until you say that nicely," I plop back on the bed again, burying my face in it.

  'Dear moon goddess, maybe I should kill her, and kill myself.'

   Heavy footsteps fill my ears, approaching my bed. Suddenly, a large arm grabs me by the waist, hauling me from the bed.

   "P-le.." he grumbles something under his breath, his eyes avoiding mine as he slumps me over his shoulder.

   "Enough of this little play of yours. We're leaving," he scoffs, marching towards the door.

   "Put me down. I didn't tell you I couldn't walk!" I hit on his shoulder, kicking my feet in the air.

   "Can you please quiet down? You're giving me a stroke," he grunts.

    'The next would be a heart attack, and boom, thus dies the Lycan kingpin.'

   My face flushes with anger, the tension in my veins are building up with rage, ready to explode at any damn moment.

    "As if you're some kinda hotshot," I scoff, my shoulders slumping in defeat.   

Good girl. Please remain like this for the rest of the day."

   "No I–"

  'Dear moon goddess, kill me instead of torturing me this way.'

   ***

   It's already nighttime as we approach the den of the rival rogues we are supposed to ambush. Auren, I, and eight other guys all wait in ambush outside their hideout.

    You guessed right.

  My heart's pounding like crazy, I'm sure the rogues inside can hear me from their hideout.

  "D-do I have to be a part of this?" I shiver, my teeth clattering as I try to stay put, but it's not working.

   "You're only staying here. You're not going in with us," he reminds me for the umpeenth time.

   "You'll leave me here? What if I get eaten by someone?" I place my hands over my mouth.

   "Boss, it seems they have let their guard down. We can attack," one of the men with us informs Auren.

   "Let's go then," he signals for the rest of his men to stay filing into the hideout.

    He jumps out of his hiding spot, but I'm quick to hold his arm. The sound of my heartbeat filling my ears makes me even more nervous. My palms, and armpits are buried in sweat, my lips won't stop trembling.

    I'm trembling! I'm literally in  enemy territory!

"P-please don't leave me alone here," I hug his arm, my body still shaking like a leaf lost in the wind.

   "Stay here," he makes me return to my initial hiding position, "Nothing will happen to you. I'll make sure of that," he pats my head, turns on his heels, then calmly walks into the building.

     'It's payback time for making me run like a chicken you motherfuckers.'

    Run like a chicken?

    'Time to crush those bastards.'

   'I can't wait to get a million grand just for killing these people!'

   'We should get this over with. I'm bored already, ugh.'

  The thoughts of those chaotic men pour out in my head, making my thoughts drown.

   "Jeez, mind reading is apparently a lot, I'll have to get used to it soon," I groan, holding my head.

    'What a stupid Lycan lord? Who does he think I am, that I'd be prone to ambush? Tch, today comes your downfall, lord Auren, hah!'

    Chills run down my spine as I read those thoughts. I crouch lower into my position, figuring out who had those thoughts.

   My eyes finally land on him. A tall blond, on a piece of black tailored suit. His eyes are so cold, they send a thousand shivers down my back.

    'Wait until I bomb this whole place. You're a nuisance to the underworld, and it affects me, punk.'

     I almost squirm, but I press my hands over my mouth to stop any sound from coming out of me.

   Auren is in trouble, and I have to do something!