"Join us Rieka. You can be part of a new family." Offered Uncle Liam. "I can teach you how to survive. How to control the wolf. You won't be alone anymore."

I blink away the memory and glare at mama's brother. "Alittle far away from the pack aren't you, Uncle?"

"Shut your traps over there!" One of the men shouts, making me jump from his outburst.

Uncle Liam snarls, "I should claw all of your faces off. Release us!"

"Oh ho ho!" Laughs the same man as he approaches. Seeming to make the ground shake beneath his feet. He sways to the side drunkenly as he slurs, "What will you do wolf? Howl at the moon?"

His friends laugh with him as if he told the most funniest joke in the world. He smacks Uncle across the face before leaving us.

I turn to Uncle Liam who glare at the man's back with murder in his eyes. "They know we're werewolves?"

He nods, "Aye, they're werewolf hunters. Nobody believes them that we exist so they're going to showcase us like animals. Your friend, the prince, will be held as hostage for ransom."

He regards me for the first time, "How you been Rieka? You doing well?"

"Why do you want to know? To run back to your alpha and inform him of my status?"

He chuckles without humor, "Of course not. I left the pack remember? I want to find you so then it can be just us like your mother would've wanted."

His gaze drifts to the men when he mentions mother. Every since the humans killed her he's hated them which was why he joined Axel's pack.

I turn toward Aaron who was already looking at me. His gaze darts between us and was seeming to ask me questions with his eyes that I couldn't interpret.

Turning back to Uncle I ask, "So can't we just break out of these cuffs with our strength?"

He shakes his head, "No, they're made of silver. Basically werewolf proof. Boneheads are smart I'll give them that."

"So we need a key?"

"Yep."

I look towards the men. They're slapping each other on the backs as they feast upon our food like animals and congratulating each other that they caught themselves a prince and two werewolves to showcase to the kingdom as they guzzle down bottles of alcohol.

I know that even with my wolf powers I couldn't take them by myself. They're too big and strong while we are outnumber and unarm. And there was also no guarantee of complete control over the wolf without my cloak if I transform.

I turn towards Aaron and give him a reassuring smile. Hoping he'll understand that we will get out of this. I turn back to Uncle.

"I hate to ask-"

"Yes I will help." He interupts before I could finish. "We have to work together to get out of this alive."

Sighing I ask, "Do you have a plan?"

"We need to get you over there by the prince so when they fall asleep you will cut him loose-"

"So then he gets the key," I finish. "But how do I get over there?"

"Well you're a woman, flirt with them alittle. Make it seem like you're non-threatening and guilt trip them into bringing you closer to the fire."

"Wha- I can't flirt!" I say flabbergasted.

"Come on you're a woman! It should come natural!" He encourages as he nods his head toward the grown men's direction. "Go on. Get their attention."

"I hate my life," I say giving up. Taking in a shaky breath, I clear my throat. "Excuse me," I call out, trying to make my voice sound innocent as possible.

They ignore me.

Come on Rieka. We can do this. Its just flirting. Easy right?

"Hello," I sing. I grimance when I made a high pitch squeak. They finally pause and look back at me. I gulp under their gaze. Knowing that they have the high ground and I am just a girl chain up.

"What do you want?" Ask the man who smacked Uncle across the face. "A stick to play fetch with?"

Once again he earns himself a couple of belly laughs from his buddies and I giggle hoping they didn't hear the nervousness behind it.

"Oh you're so funny! Sadly no, I just notice that we haven't been properly introduce. My names Rieka. And what are yours?"

"My names Galvin!" Chirps one of them standing guard by Aaron. He raises his hand and waves at me.

"Oi shut up!" Exclaims one of the larger blokes next to him. "She's just tryna sweet talk ya."

I force a smile on my lips. "Well nice to meet you Galvin."

He smiles back, showcasing missing teeth as he stands up and stumbles to where I sit. I try my best to keep the smile on my face, but I couldn't stop the whirling thoughts in my head of what they can do to me.

"Thats Bo," he says as he points to the man who yelled at him. I gag at the smell of his breath. It was like he hadn't brushed in months! The alcohol wasn't helping either. "And thats Olly, Anders, Hoss, Nick, and Cal."

They all wave happily and lazily except for Bo who Im assuming is the leader of the gang.

"What do you call yourselves?" I ask curiously, "As a group?"

Galvin scratches behind his head thoughtfully, "Bandits!" He announces.

"Bandits? Thats it? Come on you have to think of something more fearsome than that!" I say with disappointment in my voice.

"More fearsome?" He questions.

"Yeah! When people hear your group's name they will coward in fear!" I exclaim. "So got any ideas?"

"The Night Eagles!" He exclaims.

"Ooh thats good, sadly its taken." I suck in a breath between my teeth, "You can't use the same name as others; thats just cold." I try to come up with a fearsome name myself. "Ooh, how about the Fallen Titans?"

"Wow you're so smart! Thats good!" He agrees before yelling, "Hey guys! For now on we're the Fallen Titans!"

They all just nod their head, "Alright!" And went back to talking amongst themselves.

I shiver and clatter my teeth together, "So cold." I whisper, hoping he'll hear me.

He turns to me and frowns, "You're cold?"

I nod and before I can react he picks me up, carries me near the camp fire, and sets me down right next to Aaron. Perfect.

"Oi why'd you bring her over here?" Asks Bo as he glares at both Galvin and I. I recoil beneath his gaze, he looks at me with hunger that I have never seen before in a man's eyes. I realize he wasn't hungry for food.

"Well she said that it was cold Bo! We can't let her freeze to death!" Explains Galvin as he sits next to me on my left. "Don't worry I'll keep an eye on her."

Bo reluctantly agrees, but continues to watch me like a hawk as he sits back down on the other side of the camp fire.

The rest of the night I don't look or talk to Aaron. Making sure I give Bo no reason to remove me from the camp fire. They continue drinking and celebrating until finally they all pass out.

"Rieka?" Aaron whispers.

I gaze at the men sprawl on the ground before turning to Aaron, "Shh, turn around."

He does so and I look down at his hands that were tied up in a rope. I could see that he already tried to untie himself, but to no prevail.

"Think your claws can cut me loose?" He asks.

"I don't think so. We didn't plan this part." I admit as I examine the rope.

"Who is that over there?"

"Thats my uncle. Uncle Liam. Aha!" I answer as I spot a dagger near the camp fire that was smoldering.

"Your uncle? Is he a werewolf?"

"Yep," I scoot using my legs to move my body closer to the dagger. Slowly I scoot past a snoring Galvin. Using my feet I focus on picking up the dagger using the tip of my shoes and cradle it between my feet.

Quickly and silently I scoot back to Aaron, I drop the dagger behind him before turning away from it to grab it in my restrain hands.

I sigh in exasperation as I try to catch my breath, "That was alot."

"Good job, come on cut me loose and I'll get the key." He encourages.

I put my back against his and saw the rope with the dagger. I hear him snap the ropes apart and immediately goes to untie his feet before making his way silently to Bo.

I held my breath as he digs in Bo's pocket and pulls out a small key. "Be careful!" I whisper nervously as he made his way back.

Finally he reaches to my side and unlocks the shackles around my feet. He puts them aside silently and unlocks my hands.

I sigh in relief, "Lets go!" I jump to my feet. "Wheres Bently?" I rub my wrists with my hands, they're red from having contact with the silver.

"They left him outside, here," he hands me my cloak in which I gratefully took. He takes my wrist and we scramble to Uncle's side.

"Come on," Aaron says releasing the shackles around his feet. He pulls him up to his feet by his arm. Making no move to remove the cuffs on Uncle's hands.

Uncle frowns, "You're not going to unlock these chains?" He holds his hands towards Aaron.

Aaron looks at him then at the men. "No." He holds him by the shoulder and leads the way. I follow closely behind, taking one last glance at the men.

"Oof!" I feel my body hit the ground. Of course I trip over something. I groan when I feel the hard cold ground collide with my body.

I freeze when I feel the ground beneath me vibrate as footsteps approach. I look up to see that we are now surround by the seven large men.

"Now you're gonna release me?" I hear Uncle ask.

"Uh, yes."

"Get them!" Bo orders.

"Whoa!" I feel large hands grab me, picking me up off the ground.

"Rieka!"

"Let go of me!" I yell as I scratch my captors face.

The man cries out and drops me to the ground to cradle his face. I take the opportunity to transform to my wolf form, quickly. I open my eyes to see that three of them surrounds me.

They take caution steps to me and I growl. Warning them to back away. Two approach me at the front. Trying to distract me from the man stalking behind me.

I lower myself to the ground in predator position and they froze. Expecting me to attack. But I go for the man behind me. I push myself up and onto the man's body taking him by surprise as he stumbles back and lets out a scream.

I claw him across the face, but then another round of hands grab me by my sides. Lifting me up. I struggle to bite at my captor as he held me far away from his body. I see Uncle rushing to my aid and he shoves against the man who then drops me to the ground.

I spot Aaron swinging his sword at Bo, who dodges away, but he wasn't expecting Aaron to swing at his leg that was left wide open and cuts him deep. He howls in pain as blood spill out and he falls to his knees to place his hand over the open wound.

"Rieka! Come on!" Aaron shouts gesturing for me to follow. I made my way towards him.

"Gotcha!" I hear Bo yell right as I feel large hands clasps around my tail. This time I cry out in pain when he yanks me back towards him.

"Let her go!" I hear Uncle shout from next to Aaron. He grabs Aaron's sword and as swift as a fox he rushes to my side and brings the sword down on Bo's wrist. I was released as soon as the sword touch Bo's wrist and cuts it clean off.

I fall to the ground and transform to my human form. I stay still paralyze at the sight. So much blood. A hand with no arm or body connected to it was sprawl to the ground lifelessly.

Uncle grabs me by the arm and hoists me up with his free hand while the other held tightly to the bloody sword. "Come on we got to go," he says breathlessly. I notice his eyes were glowing as they stare at the bleeding man with pride and glee.

I turn away quickly and climb to my feet and together we ran out of the cave. The sounds of the horrid screams echo from the cave seems to follow us into the night.