CHAPTER 8: 008

Ashina pov 

The castle wasn't silent. It only pretended to be. I stood in the doorway of my chamber, my fingers tightening around the wooden frame as two women dragged a dead body leaving a thin trail of crimson behind them.

My stomach twisted as one of the women caught me staring.

"You'll get used to it." Used to it? I watched them disappear around the corner only then did I realize where I truly was.

The Rogue Territory, Growing up, the women in my old pack loved gossip. Whenever Mother entertained guests for afternoon tea, they whispered about the Rogue Alpha King. They called him a butcher, a monster. 

A man whose kingdom survived because fear ruled it. I had always believed they exaggerated. Standing here... I realized they hadn't exaggerated enough. The rumors hadn't even scratched the surface.

"Enjoying the view?" The deep voice made me jump as  I turned as  Draven stood at the end of the corridor, dressed entirely in black as his silver eyes fixed on me.

"I wasn't." He walked toward me.

"You weren't supposed to leave your room."

"I'm not a prisoner." I yelled. 

"Prisoner? " One corner of his mouth lifted.

"I seem to remember chasing one through my gardens." He added as  I looked away.

"You chased me because you locked me inside your castle."  My voice filled with anger. 

"And I'll do it again."

Before I could answer, another man approached as He looked close to Draven's age, broad shouldered with dark hair tied behind his neck. He stopped the moment he noticed me.

"My King..." His eyes narrowed.

"What is the Luna  doing here? This corridor is restricted." Draven answered without looking at him.

"She'll be working." The man frowned.

"Working?" His gaze swept over me.

"You brought a she wolf into the warriors' quarter?" Several nearby rogues stopped walking as  Every eye landed on me while  Draven folded his arms.

"Problem?" He said.

"A big one." The man didn't lower his voice.

"Half the men here lost family to Mooncrest. They're not going to like seeing one of their wolves walking around."

"I didn't ask whether they'd like it."  He ordered as Silence engulfed the corridor

"I gave an order." The man sighed.

"As you wish." Draven finally looked at me.

"You said yesterday you didn't want to sit around pretending to be Luna."

"Yes " My voice barely a whisper as I withdrew my face from his touch.

"Good." He started walking towards the exit leaving me behind. 

"Follow me." I hesitated.

"I can walk by myself."

"I know just to ensure you don't try to escape again " He glanced over his shoulder.

The castle opened into a large courtyard as warriors trained with swords while blacksmiths hammered glowing steel while Messengers sprinted between buildings. Healers carried baskets filled with dried herbs.

The entire territory moved with purpose. This wasn't a palace, It was a kingdom preparing for war. Draven stopped outside a stone building as his scent reached me before I stepped inside immediately My eyes widened.

An infirmary,Rows of wounded rogues filled the room. Some had deep claw marks while the others had broken bones wrapped in rough bandages.

Several healers hurried between beds Without thinking, I walked toward a young rogue whose bandage was soaked through with blood.

"What are you doing?" Draven asked as I ignored him.

The herbs beside the bed were wrong. Whoever treated him had used too much wolfsbane.

"It'll poison him."  I said as I reached for the herds as every healer stopped.

"So whoever dressed this wound..." I picked up the bowl.

"...doesn't know what they're doing." An elderly healer frowned.

"Excuse me?" I ignored her while removing the leaves.

"You should be using yarrow first. It slows the bleeding while adding the  crushed comfrey. It'll help the flesh close." I instructed as the room fell silent. The old healer stared at me.

"Who taught you that?" He asked. 

"My grandmother." I carefully replaced the herbs.

"She healed our entire village." The healer slowly examined the wound as looked at me again.

"...She's right." Several heads turned, Even Draven's eyes lingered on me longer than before but I pretended not to notice. I wasn't trying to impress anyone, I simply couldn't watch someone die because of the wrong herbs.

Draven stepped beside me. "So..." His voice was quiet.

"You're useful." his voice filled with mockery as my anger rised. 

"I never said I wasn't."

For a second His lips almost curved into a smile. Almost.

"Fine." He looked toward the head healer.

"She will be incharge of here now " I blinked

"What?"

"You wanted something to do right?" 

"I meant I wanted freedom."

"You'll have it." His silver eyes met mine.

"Inside these walls." I folded my arms.

"So I'm still your prisoner." I asked as I shurdded my shoulders.

 "My responsibility." I laughed bitterly as his words filled every bit of my heart with hate for him.

"That's just another prettier word." I yelled as  He stepped closer until only inches separated us.

"If you disappear again..." His voice dropped.

"I'll find you."

"I'm beginning to think you're obsessed with chasing people." I whispered as fear engulfed me.

"No." A dangerous glint entered his eyes.

"I just enjoy winning." He added as I rolled my eyes.

"What if I don't come back after work?" He leaned down slightly.

"Then I'll come looking and when I catch you..." He paused just long enough for my heart to skip.

"...you'll wish you'd walked back on your own." I swallowed.

"I think I should be afraid of you." I added as I laughed.

"You should because I will make you regret ever being sold to me ." Our eyes locked as neither of us looked away. Then Glenn's voice shattered the moment.

"My King!" A rogue warrior burst into the infirmary, breathing hard.

"The western border has been breached." Every expression in the room changed while Draven's relaxed posture vanished.

"Who crossed it?" The warrior swallowed.

"The hybrids warriors." The room instantly fell silent.