Chương 49: C45.P2. Silverback Pack
Continuing Jossie's POV:
Casimir's movement began to slow before he came to a complete stop. I wasn't sure how long it had been since we last stopped. The king's territory was so massive. I picked my head up as I caught the foul scent of blood on the earth. I looked around frantically as worry filled my thoughts. Casimir's body was tense and high on alert as we stumbled over a small creek that was iced over with blood spilled across it. There were different scents mixed in. Different blood. Casimir leapt across the creek and over onto the next bank as he made his way up it. We reached an opening to a snowy field that was covered in iced over blood spots. There were a few dozen bodies barely breathing as they were bleeding out to death.
I caught the familiar scent of Ethan's and hopped off of Casimir's back. Before I could make a step away from Cas, I could hear a rumble start up in his throat. He was worried and warning for me to come back to him. I wasn't going to listen, I had no plans to. He growled and got under me to prevent me from going anywhere. I groaned as I looked around for Ethan's body. My thighs throbbed in pain from how long I had sat on him. I needed a break. He was being protective of me.
"Over there," I said quickly when I spotted Ethan's body. He was unconscious and still breathing. A gash was healing across his spine as he was buried face downward in the snow. Whoever did this meant to leave him alive. He was out cold from what looked like the lack of blood. "I know him- that's Beta Ethan. The one that we were let into the manor by," I reminded Casimir. Surely he would recognize him.
'Let's get out of here. None of this is our business,' Casimir said quickly. I heard a howl as a tracker was close by and picking up on our scent. 'Looks like they'll find him here and he will be rescued. We have to go.' Casimir took off running for the other side of the field.
"What happened to them!? What if whoever did this is still out here?" I asked in concern.
'We have to go,' he told me as he growled deep within his throat. He took off at a fast pace. I ducked down into his fur to get the wind off my face.
"I need rest," I whined. "Is there are burrows nearby that you know of?" I asked softly. I was reminded again of the first place I shifted at. Where he took me was somewhere in this territory.
'No, I'm afraid there isn't any on this side of the territory that I would know of. We need to keep moving and get out of this territory before we're discovered.'
"It's so cold," I whispered. I felt exhausted already. It was almost dawn, the sun was just on the horizon but the stars were fighting to stay in place above our heads.
Casimir slowed down as a clear presence was heard running just up ahead of us. I sucked in a deep breath as I felt scared that it could be Camren. We had made it out of the clearing. Casimir growled in alarm when he was certain we had been spotted. The sound of it's paws were coming our way now. He changed directions as he took off away from the sounds. I felt my heart race in my chest with fear.
Casimir came to a suddenly halt and I was thrown forward and plummeted into the snow. He jumped over me to protect me as he started to growl. Another growl was heard and I looked up through my messy hair to see another wolf preventing us from going any further. I sensed it wasn't Camren and grew somewhat relieved. He didn't threaten us as he stopped growling and eyed us over- his eyes particularly landing on me.
'You're Josephine Cromwell?' I heard an unfamiliar voice asking me. It was weird to hear someone else's voice besides my family or mate inside my head.
"Yes?" I asked and heard Casimir growl as he grew angrier.
'Follow me, I know this territory. I'll help you,' he insisted suddenly and took off running a few feet before pausing to look over his shoulder. 'I am Alpha Artyom. You can trust me,' he insisted. I looked towards Casimir and got on his back.
'He says he's Alpha Artyom and he's wanting to help us,' I thought towards Casimir. 'He wants us to follow him.'
'He has no treaty to Camren but he is his cousin. Are you sure he sounded trust worthy?' Casimir thought back to me before taking off running to follow him anyway. 'His scent is similar to the one covering that bloody field back there.'
'Maybe that means he has a reason to help us?'
I could feel Casimir set on trusting Artyom now.
Our feet carried us away from the territory and further west toward Silverback territory. I followed the stars with my eyes to try to recognize where we were headed. We must be closer to Silverback territory since we were headed in that direction. I knew south was Blackridge, North was my homeland, and east was Deadbite territory. There were four pack territories bordering the pack of Deepfur. I nudged Casimir with my hand to be as discreet as possible.
'Why are we going toward Silverback?' I needed to hear it for myself.
'His territory is closer,' he told me. I nodded as I felt instantly better about where we were going. I still wasn't sure how I remembered the borders of the packs all of a sudden. It must had come from my lessons in school. I never paid any attention to history classes. It would have been mentioned in it.
We came to a suddenly stop as the scents were being mingled by two different kinds. I knew one was familiar to this area, the Deepfur's scent. So the other scent markings came from Silverback's territory. We crossed the scent markers that were only a few feet apart from each other. My mind fell at ease when I realized we were safe now. We haven't been followed for miles. Probably from them finding those injured pack members.
'I'll lead you to your pack's border but first let's enter my territory a little deeper,' Artyom suggested.
'Artyom said we should go in deeper. Probably because the farther from the scent markers the better off we'll be. He will take us to your pack's border,' I told Casimir.
Casimir growled in slight annoyance and I could feel it radiating off him in heat waves but he would comply. He was secretly grateful for Artyom's assistance. I nodded toward Artyom. He took off to lead us away from the scent markers. Casimir took a few steps before falling over suddenly. I widened my eyes when I noticed he had collapsed from exhaustion and his body suddenly transformed back into human under me. He was unconscious. I rolled him over and pulled his head into my lap as I tried to get his head off the snow.
"W-wait," I called out towards Artyom. He turned around and looked surprised as he walked back over and sniffed Casimir.
'Maybe you two should rest in my territory a few days,' Artyom suggested. I looked up into his eyes and nodded. One night would do us some good. 'Help get him on my back.' He bent his body down and I forced him onto Artyom's wolf form. I made sure to balance him out and held onto his back.
"I can run beside you," I suggested so that he wouldn't have to carry us both. Artyom wagged his tail and slowly got up. I steadied Casimir on his back for him.
'You won't have to for long. My pack will meet us halfway with a go-cart. We'll put him on and send him off with them. Hold in there a little longer, Josephine. I'm sure you're freezing.'
"Thank you for being so kind," I whispered. I wish I could transform freely between forms. Casimir wouldn't have passed out so fast if that was the case. I put him in this position right now. I thought back to how he knew my name from before and tilted my head as we walked together. "You knew my name," I said quickly. "I didn't think it would be known- were you at the party yourself? At the king's manor for the masquerade?"
'Guilty,' he said and whined. 'You're smart Ms. Cromwell.'
Not smart, really. I still don't understand what happened in the field back there or why I trust this stranger so openly. I should feel stupid- but I don't. It almost feels like we're on the same team now. I laughed as I remembered him call me by my last name. I really didn't think I would hear it again being outside of my home pack. I followed him as he sped up into a light jog. By the time my legs were too sore to continue on foot I could hear the go-cart as promised. I collapsed by my knees first into the snowy tundra and held onto Artyom's fur as a go-cart pushed past the snow through it's abnormal sized tires. It was lightening fast and had room for three extra passengers. A little boy was driving it as he slowed down and came to a stop in front of us. The engine rumbled alive.
"Alpha Artyom! Welcome home!" His child-like attitude welcomed us with a huge smile. Artyom nudged my shoulder. Suddenly he barked at the boy. He got off the go cart and was by me in seconds and helped me onto the large mechanical beast. It was unpleasant to hear. I looked out at Casimir and was surprised to find him still asleep. The boy helped me strap in before rubbing my head. "Alpha says you can sleep now," he told me. "We'll take good care of you. Both of you," he pointed with his thumb towards Casimir. I blushed as the boy turned around and helped Artyom get my mate onto the go-cart.
"Are you not coming?" I asked Artyom over the roar of the engine.
"Nah, he's got business with pack elders. He says I'm to take you straight to a warm bed," the boy spoke in his place. I watched as Artyom turned his back on us. But, I grabbed his tail to stop him.
"Thank you," I repeated myself. "I'll see you soon?" I asked him. He flicked his tail from my hand and barked at me.
'Soon,' he promised in my head. It was loud enough to roar over the engine rumbling in my ears. I smiled as I watched him run off. The boy got into the go-cart and sat behind the wheel. He looked at me as he held a blanket out to me.
"It's all I got," he said in sorrow. "Hold tight!" He sped the go-cart around and snow went flying. I clung to the blanket as we drove off into the morning sunrise. The woods opened up soon into a huge mountain side that he spun across and started to drive upwards on a path against a frozen waterfall. I closed my eyes tightly in fear as it climbed up with no problem thanks to the tires. We were soon on flat level and my eyes were back open as he was on a trail leading into a cave system. It was carved out thousands of years ago by TNT. The sunlight disappeared and my eyes adjusted naturally to the dark. The go-carts dull lights turned on automatically as we drove through snow doons that piled in from the entrance. It would fade away as we were now across a gravel path. Above our heads started to open up to the glow of sunlight.
About a few miles in and we were leaving the cave and following a path outdoors. It kept going until we reached a booming city. Definitely the size of Las Vegas from the pictures in the books. I imagine it was just as crowded. This could almost compete against the king's pack size. There were bullet trains leaving the town and going further up the mountain path. I saw the kid glance at me with a surprised face. He looked happy suddenly.
"Ah, I see you're awake still. Welcome to Alpha Artyom's pack. This is pack Silverback. Alpha Artyom's pack house is at the top of the mountain. You should pay your respects to him after your day of rest. I'm sure he will be waiting for you to wake up. He requested I take you up there myself." I felt my jaw dropping. I didn't know this was how big his pack was! Nobody talks about Silverback's size! Is it even known?
The boy drove us up a hidden passage as it went straight into a diagonal cave. We drove up a steep slope for a good while before exiting and being brought out into a vast warm springs with a welcoming shrine-like building overseeing the hot land. The air for the first time felt warm to my touch as the springs kept the temperature up. There were fifteen maidens waiting for us at the entrance as he turned off the go-cart. They were dressed in sacred robes.
"This is the pack house of Silverback. We usually use this for important affairs," the boy said as he waved at the maidens. They blushed and waved back at him. Some were instantly whispering how cute he was. I smelled the air curiously and found them all to be omegas. "Ladies, will you take these two inside and treat them with care? Alpha Artyom will be home soon." I watched as they separated in a hurry to come straight to us. Half lifted Casimir up and away from the go-cart to take him side. The others swooned us.
"Won't you stay too?" One asked him in a pleased tone.
"I will, I will," he said in a promising tone.
I smiled slightly as I got out of the go-cart. I was lead inside by a few stray maidens as they brought me in the same direction Casimir was taken to. Something in my heart suddenly spoke to me that this was the end to all my worries. If I had a powerful pack like this as an ally then Camren wouldn't dream of coming after us. I could live at peace here with Cas if I wanted to. It was all up to fate to steer Camren's heart in another direction. Maybe, he will forget about me as I will of him.
They brought us to a private room with windows overseeing a hot spring. The morning light was coming in and disturbing the room of it's quiet nature so I had them covered immediately. I wanted Casimir to get as much sleep as possible. He had to rest up so he could see all of this for himself. We were left alone after I assured them we were in need of nothing. I found myself curling up to him as a toasty fireplace warmed us. My eyes would soon drift to sleep on their own.
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