Amelia looked on in horror from the small boat. Pieces of charred wood and tattered sail floated in the water around her, the remains of her once proud ship.
She collapsed exhausted and heartbroken, they were all gone. she had escaped one disaster only to sail straight into another. She was alone.The creak of rigging jarred her from her daze. Blinking against the harsh sunlight, she could make out the silhouette of a tall ship approaching. The wolves, she realized with dread. They must have spotted her boat and closed in while she was grieving. She had nothing left to give, her vision began to blur and before she could fight her way to the wakeful world she had slipped under.Rough hands seized her as the ship drew near, yanking her from the boat up onto the deck. They dragged her below and threw her into a cell."Amelia!" a familiar voice drew her back into consciousness. Finn's weathered face appeared between the bars."You're alive!" She fell into his embrace with relief. At least one of her crew had survived.Finn's expression was grim. "I'm the only one...." He trailed off, pain in his eyes.Amelia squeezed his hand, drawing strength from her loyal friend. "We'll get out of this, Finn. Together."Their reunion was cut short by the cell door slamming open. Finn was wrenched away and Amelia dragged up to the deck. She blinked against the sudden sunlight, taking in the crowd of leering faces."Well well, the little runaway princess," a voice rumbled. The captain strode forward, tall and imposing. Gabriel. She'd escaped him once now here she was again. His green eyes glinted with amusement as he looked her up and down."You have some explaining to do," Amelia said coldly, holding his gaze. She wouldn't be intimidated. "Why did your mutts attack my ship?"Amused murmurs rippled through the werewolves. Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "You dare speak to me that way? After running from my gracious hospitality?" He towered over her.Amelia stood her ground. "I speak only the truth. What quarrel do you have with me that you destroy my ship and slaughter my crew?"Gabriel stared her down. For a moment she glimpsed uncertainty behind his stony facade. Her words had struck something."My reasons are my own," he said finally. "You humans have meddled too long in werewolf affairs, princess."Amelia's blood boiled. "So you sink my ship and kill innocents? You're nothing but a coward and a murderer! I've meddled in nothing!"The werewolves bristled, yellow eyes glowing. Gabriel seized her arm, claws digging in. "Watch your tongue," he growled. She saw the conflict raging within him. But why? What was he hiding?Wrenching free, she drew her dagger, the crew gathering with bared teeth. "Enough games," she spat. "What is your true purpose, wolf?"Gabriel hesitated. In that moment she saw past the monster to the man beneath. There was more to this attack than met the eye.Gabriel turned away. "Lock her up," he ordered. His eyes met Amelia's for a heartbeat. A silent promise lingered between them.This was far from over.Amelia allowed herself to be led below deck, her mind racing.There was more to Gabriel than she'd assumed. The wolves had an agenda. But what?She thought back to their confrontation, the secrets hinted at beneath his surface. Her instincts told her Gabriel wasn't the real enemy.Finn rattled the bars, snapping her back to the present. "We're trapped like rats down here!"Amelia squeezed his shoulder. "We'll get out of this, I promise."Footsteps sounded on the stairs. Gabriel appeared, expression unreadable. Amelia's pulse quickened."Princess," he said. "A word alone."Finn bristled. "You'll not lay a hand on her, beast!""It's alright, Finn," Amelia said. "I can handle him."Finn reluctantly left them. Gabriel approached the bars, torchlight flickering over his chiseled features."You seek answers," he rumbled.Amelia lifted her chin. "You'll tell me everything, wolf."His eyes bored into hers. "Not everything. There are forces beyond my control...a scar you might say upon my pack."Her brow furrowed. "A scar? What do you mean?"Gabriel gripped the bars, conflicted. She glimpsed his inner torment."I've said enough." He turned to leave."Gabriel, wait!" Desperation tinged her voice.He paused, muscles taut, poised on the edge of revelation. Amelia held her breath.Finally, he glanced back, eyes glowing in the shadows. "For now, princess...have faith."Then he was gone, leaving her with more questions than answers. But she would uncover the truth.There was more to Gabriel than met the eye. And despite everything, she realized her heart trusted him.Amelia paced the cell, her mind spinning. There was more to this situation than a random werewolf attack. Gabriel's words hinted at some deeper mystery, some mark upon his kind.What weren't they telling her?She thought back to the ferocity of the earlier battle, the inhuman savagery in the wolves' eyes. Gabriel had restrained them, as if holding back a rabid force.Amelia shuddered. She had never seen creatures so consumed by bloodlust. It was as if they were possessed...The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her thoughts. She steeled herself as Gabriel appeared again outside the bars."Come to interrogate me further?" she challenged, masking her nerves with bravado.His expression remained impassive. "The moon rises soon. We must prepare."Cryptic as ever. Amelia crossed her arms."I'm not going anywhere with you, beast."Gabriel's eyes flashed. In two strides he was at the cell door, rattling the bars."You know nothing of what's to come," he growled. "I am the only one who can protect you now."Amelia stood her ground, pulse racing. His hulking form seemed to fill the tiny cell, his presence overwhelming.Yet she sensed the desperation behind his anger. Her defiance wavered."Protect me from what?" she asked, softer now.His jaw clenched, the shadows accentuating his sharp features. For a moment, his guard dropped, and she glimpsed a soul-deep torment."From myself," he whispered.Their eyes locked, and in that charged moment, Amelia felt the force of his inner battle. She reached for him without thinking...Gabriel pulled away sharply with a guttural snarl, leaving her hand extended through the bars, her heart pounding.There was much left unsaid between them. But she knew then that Gabriel wasn't the real enemy.Amelia slowly lowered her hand, her mind racing. There was more to Gabriel's behavior than she realized. She had to get him to open up."Gabriel," she began gently. "I know there's something you're not telling me. Let me help you."He turned away, raking a hand through his dark hair."You can't help me," he said hoarsely. "When the moon rises, the beast takes over. I won't be able to stop it from hunting you."Amelia's breath caught. "The moon...it turns you feral?"Gabriel nodded grimly."I've fought it for so long. But the wolf is stronger." His fists clenched. "You being here has made the battle harder. Your scent, your voice...you awaken things in me I've tried to bury. I know I have spoken harshly but the wolf can be, Possessive"He looked at her then, eyes burning with longing and self-loathing. Amelia's heart ached for him. She reached through the bars again, caressing his cheek. This time he didn't pull away."This isn't you," she whispered. Amelia had always had a good sense of people. She could tell who was genuine and who was not. This was not the man who had captured her initially. That was a façade of bravado and anger. This was a man fighting demonsLeaning into her touch, Gabriel closed his eyes with a pained expression. Amelia's words resonated within Gabriel, sparking a glimmer of hope in his darkness. But the sun was setting, and he could feel the wolf stirring inside, clawing to get out.Reluctantly, he stepped back from her touch."I have to go," he said raggedly. " There is a private cabin just behind that door and there is an iron door beyond this point." His eyes flashed with urgency. "No matter what happens, or what you may hear, don't come out."Before she could respond, he turned and strode away, his tall frame rigid with tension. Amelia watched him go.As darkness fell over the ship, Amelia retreated to the small cabin she'd been given, barricading the door. She had tried to coax fin into the cabin but he assured her he would be just outside behind the bars of his holding cell. After all she was a lady and deserved her privacy. She paced the cramped space, straining to hear any sounds from above deck.Suddenly, an anguished howl split the night air. Gabriel and his crew. Her pulse racing, Amelia pressed her ear to the door. She could hear the crew shouting in pain, then the sounds of a scuffle, a snarling wolf's cries.Every fiber of her being wanted to run Amelia sent up a prayer. Somewhere in the dark, the wolf howled again, as if in answer.Gabriel awakened with a start, his body aching from the intensity of the previous night's feral moon. Moonlight still filtered in through the portholes of his cabin, casting an eerie glow across the floorboards. He rose slowly, every muscle protesting. The transformations always took their toll, but last night had been particularly brutal. Gabriel ran a hand through his dark, disheveled hair and sighed. The ship creaked and groaned around him as it sailed on calm seas. At least the chaos of the full moon was behind them for now. He dressed swiftly and made his way above deck, bracing himself for the state of his crew. Most were still in their bunks recovering, while a few bleary-eyed souls manned the essential stations. Tattered sails hung limply from the masts, and scratches marred the polished wood of the railings. Signs of the inner beasts unleashed.Gabriel's thoughts turned to Amelia and Finn, confined below deck for their own safety during the long
The sunlight sparkled off the calm blue waves as Amelia leaned against the ship's railing, breathing in the salty ocean air. She watched Finn laughing with Remus as they prepared the evening meal in the galley below. At least Finn had found his place among the crew, she thought wistfully. But where did she belong?Amelia sighed, running her hands along the smooth wood. She had always longed for adventure, but now that she was living it, she felt adrift. The pirates had accepted her readily enough, impressed by her swordplay and determination. But she was still an outsider, a princess among ruffians. "Getting your sea legs, lass?" Amelia turned to see Gabriel approaching, his green eyes glinting in the sunlight. She gave him a rueful smile."I'm trying to figure out where I fit in. Finn's taken to the galley like a fish to water. But I don't know what my role is yet."Gabriel nodded thoughtfully, crossing his arms. "It takes time to find
Amelia's hair whipped around her face as the sea breeze gusted across the ship's deck. Her piercing blue eyes were narrowed, fixed on Gabriel's brooding figure before her. "You arrogant, stubborn wolf!" she shouted, jabbing her finger toward his chest. "Who are you to forbid me from joining the shore party?"Gabriel's green eyes glinted dangerously. His jaw clenched as he stared down at the defiant princess, his muscular frame tense. "It's too dangerous," he growled. "We cannot guarantee your safety." Amelia threw her hands up in exasperation. "Dangerous? I laugh in the face of danger!" She stepped closer, glaring up at him. "I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much."Gabriel crossed his arms, accentuating his commanding presence. "My duty is to protect the pack. If anything happened to you..." He trailed off, looking away."Oh, so I'm just a burden to you and your precious pack?" Amelia scoffed. "I don't need your protection." She poked him hard in the chest. Gabriel bl
Amelia stared out the porthole window of her cabin, watching the moonlight dance across the dark waves. Her mind churned with unanswered questions. What was Gabriel hiding from her? She had to know the truth. A knock at the door made her jump. She turned to see Gabriel silhouetted in the doorway, his piercing green eyes glowing in the darkness. "We need to talk," he said, his voice low. Amelia crossed her arms. "Yes, I believe we do." Gabriel stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Even in the dim light, Amelia could see the tension in his broad shoulders. She waited, holding her breath.Gabriel ran a hand through his dark hair. "You asked about the curse on my pack," he began. "I should have told you sooner."He moved to the window, gazing out at the moon's reflection on the water. "Werewolves are meant to find their true mates. But this curse...it robbed us of that ability." His hands clenched into fists. "Any childr
The wind howled fiercely, whipping Amelia's chestnut hair wildly around her face as she clung to the ship's railing. Icy sea spray pelted her skin like tiny needles as the ship pitched and rolled on the storm-tossed waves. She squinted against the stinging salt, peering out into the gloomy darkness. Somewhere out there, through the inky black night and driving rain, lay the island and the answers she sought. Amelia tightened her grip, resolve steeling her nerves. She had not come this far by giving up at the first sign of hardship. This was merely another test, and she would pass it, just as she had all the others. Turning from the railing, she made her way carefully across the slippery deck. The ship lurched beneath her feet, but she adjusted her stance, moving with the roll of the waves. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the shadows until they landed on a hunched form near the mast. One of the werewolf pack members. She approached slowly, sensing his tension.
Amelia stood at the bow of the ship, her chestnut hair blowing in the sea breeze. The sun was setting over the horizon, bathing her in a warm, golden glow. She closed her eyes, breathing in the salty air, a moment of peace in the chaos of recent days. "Quite a view," came a deep voice behind her. Amelia turned to see Gabriel approaching, his piercing green eyes fixed on her. He moved with a quiet grace, despite his large frame. Her heart quickened as he came to stand beside her, their arms nearly touching on the railing."It's beautiful," Amelia said, turning back to the sunset. "I've always loved the ocean. It makes me feel...""Free," Gabriel finished in a hushed tone. A charged silence fell between them. Amelia was intensely aware of Gabriel's presence, his earthy, masculine scent enveloping her. She felt his eyes tracing the lines of her face in the dying light. "Amelia..." he began, hesitation in his voice. "There are th
Amelia stood her ground on the ship's deck. Her piercing blue eyes flashed with anger as she stared defiantly at the tall, imposing figure before her. Why did they always have to fight like this."I don't take orders from you," she spat, hands balled into fists. Gabriel's green eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. "You're under my protection on this ship. I'm responsible for your safety.""Oh please," Amelia scoffed. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you hovering over me like some overbearing father."Gabriel crossed his arms over his broad chest. "We had an agreement. Perhaps if you didn't act like a child, I wouldn't have to." Amelia stepped closer, craning her neck to glare up at him. "I agreed to nothing. I'm a princess, not some damsel for you to boss around.""You know nothing of the dangers on the open sea," Gabriel growled. "As captain of this vessel, you will respect my authority.""Respect is earned, not
Amelia jolted awake, the cabin was dark, lit only by the occasional flash of lightning through the porthole. Thunder rumbled menacingly overhead. She sat up, disoriented She was in her cabin, curled up atop the blankets on her bunk. Dinner. She had come here to rest after dinner. But that had been hours ago!"No, no, no," she muttered. She leapt from the bed and rushed to the porthole. The sea roiled angrily beneath the stormy night sky, waves crashing against the ship's hull. She should never have let herself fall asleep. While she had been dozing, the others had been attending to their duties on the ship. What if something had gone wrong while she was unconscious? What if someone had gotten hurt?Amelia pressed her palms against the cool glass of the porthole, cursing herself. She had to find out what she had missed and make sure all was well.With determination, she straightened her rumpled tunic and breeches and slipped from the cab