Leah's POV
I despise the darkness. Ever since I was a little girl, I've had a phobia of dark, narrow places.
“Leah, are you okay?” Finn turned back, concern etched on his face.
"I... I don't know, Finn. Something's wrong," I whispered, feeling light-headed and disoriented.
"Can you walk? Do you need me to carry you?" he asked, already moving towards me. Before I could respond, he had scooped me up and slung me over his back.
At that moment, the world spun chaotically around me.
"Hang in there," Finn urged, picking up his pace. "We’ll be there soon."
Even as my head swam, my mind raced uncontrollably. Anxiety gripped me, and I couldn't shake it off. Was it because of the pregnancy? I didn't know. I had never felt anything like this before, but then again, I had never been in such a dire situation either.
My breathing grew labored, and I clenched my fists. Finn noticed and reassured me, “We’re almost there, Leah. Stay with me.”
I shut my eyes tightly. I had never felt so vulnerable and helpless before. Suddenly, there was a loud creaking sound, like heavy doors being opened. The fresh scent of grass and earth filled the air.
I gulped in mouthfuls of air, desperate to steady myself. When I opened my eyes, I saw that we were lying in a meadow. For a long while, I lay motionless, sleepiness enveloping me. I wished I could just lie there and drift into a deep sleep, but there was no time for that. We were being hunted, and we had to keep moving.
"Finn..." I finally managed to catch my breath and looked over to see Finn lying next to me. His face was pale, eyes shut as if in rest. For a moment, terror clenched at my heart – I thought he was dead. But then I saw the gentle rise and fall of his chest. He was just sleeping, too exhausted to stay awake.
"Finn, wake up," I nudged him gently. "We need to get going."
He opened his eyes, and almost instinctively, he pulled me into his arms. "Sorry," he murmured, kissing my forehead. "I passed out. I was just so exhausted."
"Where are we?" I asked, looking around the unfamiliar place.
Against the dawn, I saw the dark silhouette of the mainland rising on the other side of the river.
The gentle light of dawn spread slowly, hesitantly, casting everything in a pale, washed-out glow.
The land of the outlaws sprawled beneath a morning sun that seemed perpetually blistering, casting long shadows across the rugged terrain.
"We're in Mediland now. We can't drive; there will be checkpoints everywhere. Can you walk?" Finn asked with concern.
With Finn's support, I struggled to my feet, my legs like jelly beneath me. I didn't want to be a burden to him, so I took a few shaky steps on my own.
My feet were numb, and my entire body ached. My heart raced wildly, and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.
"Let's go now, Finn," I said, shaking my head to clear it. "I'm ready."
"It's going to be a long walk," Finn said worriedly. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Yeah. Sure," I replied, trying to sound confident. "Let's go."
As we walked through a yard, Finn snagged some clothes from a clothesline. I wrapped my head in a shawl and slipped into an oversized dress, while Finn donned a fisherman's hat and jumpsuit. We blended in perfectly as just another pair of fishermen in Mediland.
At the first checkpoint, the soldiers barely gave us a second look. They asked Finn who we were and where we were headed.
In a deep, scratchy voice, Finn replied, "My wife and I are heading to the Port."
The soldiers glanced at us, seemingly uninterested, and let us pass.
As we moved forward, the road became more crowded with people.
"Where are you all headed?" I asked one man.
"Haven't you heard? Alpha Mick is marrying our Luna. We're going to see the wedding ceremony."
Wedding? That scumbag Mick is getting married?
A sense of dread washed over me. "Who’s our Luna?" I asked, pretending ignorance.
"Clara Farrow from the White Walkers Pack," he replied.
Clara?! Lucas' unstable sister, Clara? This marriage would be a disaster for Mediland.
I glanced at Finn, who was frowning deeply. "Are we joining them?" I asked.
"Yeah," Finn replied. "Blending into the celebrating crowd will make it easier for us. But don’t talk to anyone else."
"Got it," I nodded. "You still haven't told me where we're going."
"To the slave market," Finn said.
"What? Why?" I asked, horrified. The idea of returning to a place that had caused Finn so much pain was unbearable.
"There's someone there who can help us find a boat and get out of here," he explained, taking my hand. "Don't worry. He won't hurt us."
The slave market was at the north end of town. My father had abolished all slave markets on the mainland, but Mediland remained a lawless territory where such practices persisted. The slaves were mainly rogues and war prisoners, along with a few local criminals. I couldn't imagine the cruelties they endured, and I never thought I'd ever step foot in a slave market.
"Who are you?" the guards at the gate demanded.
Finn replied, "We're here to see Alpha Kyle. Tell him Finn's back."
The guards sized Finn up, then one walked away. He returned a short while later. "Come with me," he said.
We followed him into the market. Contrary to my expectations, there were no slaves being tortured. The place resembled a mix between a theater and a nightclub.
The guard led us into a lounge. "Stay here. Do not go anywhere. The Alpha is in a meeting but will be with you shortly," he said before leaving.
I glanced around and noticed familiar patterns on the drapes—patterns that matched the tattoos on Finn's chest.
"Finn, who’s Alpha Kyle?" I asked.