The young femme knew fear, she had known it her whole life. Fear was not something that was new to her. But this…this was a whole new level. Not just fear but terror. She thought she had truly felt terror when Perdere had first captured her, thought it when the fire had raged through her home, thought it during the battle when her mother was killed. But this…this was something different. There was something about this place…these wolves…that made everything from before somehow much less worse. Shilo didn’t know how to process what she was feeling or what to do to save herself. She knew that she should have fled, should have never followed Perdere here. But despite their beginning, despite him kidnapping and threatening her, the pair had some weird bond. She was still mad at him for what he did to her and for how he had made her feel. But he had changed. He was much nicer to her now, still telling her what to do, but in a different way. Shilo had never been a confident wolf, and never would be. She didn’t know what to do with herself and having someone there to make decisions for her and tell her what to do actually made her feel better. In some weird twisted way she had grown fond of him, and grown to like him.

But was liking him really worth all of this? This place was crazed, surely Perdere saw that? Why did he want to stay here? Why couldn’t they just leave and go out on their own, like they had before they had ever gotten back to her home. But it definitely was not home anymore. Home was long gone. But there was something that tied Shilo to Perdere. Even though she never wanted to return to this pack, she found herself doing what was needed to enter the pack. Sindicate, the twisted male that was alpha, wanted skinned heads to be brought to him to show that they were worth being allowed into the pack. And the other kalak had told her that he was staying within this pack, so she would do the same. He didn’t demand for her to stay, but just the fact that he told her was enough for her to decide to stay as well. She was the second last to arrive, only followed by one other female who brought along her offering. Seeing all these dead and mangled bodies made her stomach sick, and she was afraid that she physically would be sick if she had to take in the metallic scent of blood for much longer. But she stuck to her friend’s side and remained where she was, swallowing bile the whole time. Frightened cool mint orbs looked up for a moment when Sindicate began speaking, before she looked down to the ground again. She remembered the glare that the alpha had given her when she had approached, and was afraid to meet his eyes again.

As the alpha spoke, addressing the crowd, his anger was palpable at some of them. And Shilo knew that some of that anger was directed towards her. She hoped that she would never feel that wrath personally. If she could just stay hidden in the shadows, that would be the only way for her to survive. As his words went on and on, the femme tried to make herself disappear into the dirt. Her belly was pressed against it, hunkered down in a submissive pose next to Perdere, hoping that Sindicate would stop talking soon and they could all go about their way. But that was not to be the case. One of the other wolves, Draven, spoke next, and Shilo’s mint gaze glanced his way for a moment. But when she realized what was about to happen, she wished that she could just flee. Surely Perdere was not enjoying watching this other wolf be tortured? Even if she was the lesser breed. Turning her head to be in Perdere’s shoulder, she whispered to him, hoping that enough attention would be on Draven’s show for anyone to notice her words besides the male she trusted. ”Are we really going to stay here…with wolves like this?”

Draven was not the only wolf to be into the torture though, and the large female who brought in the mountain lion’s head, approached him, asking details about taste. Something that Shilo could no longer stomach. She had lost sense of where she was, and all she could see was the blood from the small femme. She couldn’t be here any longer or she would pass out or go mad or something. She began to back away from the horrific scene, the her tail firmly tucked between her limbs, eyes wide with fear. She had forgotten hat since his speech, Sindicate had moved and had circled around the gathered group. And that he was more behind her now. Shilo only remembered when she felt her rump hit something. And when she turned ever so slightly, she saw that it was none other than the alpha. There would be no way to explain why she was trying to escape, why she was not meant to be here. Not without being killed. She tried to stifle the soft whimper that threatened to break through, not wanting there to be any more proof of her terror. But now she was rooted to the spot, trying not to panic as she glanced to Perdere, praying that his smooth talking could save her. The tall stilted femme had no other option. She had no friends here besides the kalak she had come in with. And she didn’t stand a chance fighting an injured wolf, nevermind one as skilled and as strong as Sindicate. Surely if he wanted he would set any of the wolves here on her. This is why she had never wanted to stay in this pack, she didn’t belong here. She didn’t belong with any wolves.

Picture and table credit to Casey!

//Shilo//Fae//Daughter of Shae and Caspian//Sister to Tiresias, Malina, and Rylan//Crith Thalmhainn//Young Adult//Violet//