Claimed By The King(s) Of Kings

Aina

The line leaving Whitlock territory was not as long as usual.

Most of the time, there would be crowds of people coming and going, and with a population of over fifty thousand in the pack, it could get chaotic.

But today there were no more than five people. Most of the people were either avoiding going outside so they wouldn’t have to face Alpha Silverwing, or they were at the mansion preparing to mock Aina.

Aina arrived at the checkpoint, keeping her head down so no one could see her eyes, constantly fidgeting with her cap to make sure her hair didn’t stick out.

She was only a few places away from reaching the front of the line and ultimately passing through the checkpoint if the guard believed her lie about forgetting her ID at home.

"Next," the guard called, stamping the person’s ID in front of her. Everyone moved forward, and Aina was second now. "Next," he said again as the person ahead of her stepped forward. Her heart pounded in her chest as she moved closer to the tall guard built like a wall.

"ID, Now." he demanded, holding out his hand.

Aina trembled, balling her fists. "I... I..."

"All guards to Alpha Whitelock! He’s calling for an emergency!" another guard shouted, ringing a bell and interrupting her.

"Yes, sir," the guard said, turning to the other.

Aina seized the opportunity. She speed-walked out of the pack territory and past the towering walls. She kept walking without looking back, not until she was far enough into the forest where, even if she turned, she wouldn’t see the walls that surrounded Whitlock territory, only dense trees.

For the first time in her life, she was outside the pack’s territory. But instead of excitement, fear gripped her so tightly she thought she might soil herself. Maybe I should have used the toilet before running away, she thought bitterly. This forest was not just any forest. It was rumored to be filled with violent, cannibalistic rogues.

The forest swallowed her whole. Branches clawed at her arms, roots tangled around her feet, and every sound made her flinch.

She imagined glowing eyes watching her from the shadows, teeth bared, waiting for her to stumble. Her backpack weighed heavy on her shoulders.

I am strong. I can do this. I am strong, she repeated in her mind before letting out a helpless yelp as she stumbled over a fallen log. Her arms scraped against the bark. "Ouch..." she groaned, kicking the log in frustration. Not even an hour in, and she was already hurt.

She forced herself back up and pulled out her phone. Relying on her nonexistent wolf instincts to guide her clearly wasn’t going to work. Not at all. She opened her GPS and typed in Cento Train Station.

"Oh, I was going the wrong way this entire time," she muttered, shaking her head before turning left and walking again. Things would have been faster if she shifted into her wolf form, but Aina would rather walk on fire than shift. It hurt too much.

She could feel every bone crack when she transformed, every nerve screaming.

She continued her journey on foot now with the help of GPS. She walked through lakes, the water biting cold against her skin, her jeans clinging to her legs. Her teeth chattered, but she pressed forward.

At night she hid beneath fallen trees, curling into herself, listening to distant howls that made her blood run cold. She imagined claws tearing into her, imagined her body left broken in the dirt, but dawn always came, and she was still alive. For some reason, never once did she see a rogue.

Days blurred together.

Hunger gnawed at her stomach, but it wasn’t something she wasn’t used to. Thirst cracked her lips, but she kept walking.

She crossed rivers, climbed hills, and pushed through thickets that tore at her skin. Her shoes wore thin, her body ached, but the thought of Silverwing’s hands on her kept her moving.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the forest thinned, and the world opened. The tall walls that protected Cento rose on the horizon, and thankfully these walls did not have a checkpoint. After waiting in a deadly long line, she was finally allowed to enter Cento.

Cento was alive with noise and color even in the dead of night.

It was a train station and marketplace combined, sprawling and chaotic. Lanterns swung from iron posts, casting golden light across the crowd. Vendors shouted, waving skewers of meat, baskets of fruit, and trinkets carved from bone. Children tugged at their mothers’ skirts, grandparents shuffled slowly, their eyes wide at the chaos.

Cento had history. Built generations ago by the royal family, it was one of many stations scattered across the world, designed to connect distant lands. For common folk, it was salvation, a cheap, fast, reliable way to get from one place to another.

Unlike planes, which were costly and reserved for the wealthy, the Cento bullet train carried everyone. It was said the train could cross oceans, glide beneath the waves, and showed passengers the world from angles they had never imagined.

Aina froze, mesmerized. The train gleamed like silver and gold, its body long and sleek, stretching farther than her eyes could follow. Its windows reflected the night sky, and when it roared to life, the ground trembled. She had never seen anything so powerful, so beautiful.

People bustled around her, families clutching tickets, lovers holding hands, merchants dragging carts. The smell of roasted meat mingled with the scent of oil and steel.

Sellers shouted, "Fresh bread! Hot stew! Jewelry for the journey!" Aina’s stomach growled, but she ignored it. Her siblings had traveled, but she had been caged. Now, she was free, and she understood why her sister always wanted to go on trips.

"Thank you, GPS," she whispered, kissing her phone that was on one percent before slipping it into her pocket. She rushed into a nearby pawn shop that caught her eye. The bell rang as she opened the door, and the air inside was thick with the smell of dust and greed. A man with sharp eyes and a crooked smile leaned over the counter when he saw her enter.

"What do you want, girl?" he asked.

"Hello to you too," Aina scoffed, rolling her eyes as she pulled her gold earrings from her backpack and placed them on the table. "I want to sell these."

The man’s eyes gleamed at the sight of the earrings, but he quickly masked his interest with disinterest. "Cheap trinkets. Worth nothing."

"They’re gold," she snapped, her voice trembling with anger. She was already on her last bar of energy and patience after the trip to get here, and she was ready to blow up on anyone. "You know they’re worth more."

The man leaned closer, his breath sour. "I’ll give you five silver coins."

"Ten," Aina shot back, her fists clenched.

"Six."

"Eight."

They glared at each other, the tension thick. Finally, he sighed. "Seven. Final offer."

Aina’s jaw tightened, but she nodded, even though she knew she was being scammed. At least she was getting something. "Fine." She snatched the coins and left the pawn shop feeling robbed.

I was also going to sell my necklace to you, little thief, but not anymore.

The train’s final call echoed through the station. Panic surged through her as she realized she had wasted too much time. She bolted from the shop, her backpack bouncing against her shoulders, her coins clutched tight. She raced to the ticket booth, breathless. Luckily, there was no line, people were clearly more punctual than her.

The man at the booth looked up, his eyes kind. "How can I help you, ma’am?" he asked softly.

"Please," Aina begged, out of breath. "I need a ticket to the capital. I have the money. Please."

He studied her for a moment, then smiled. "Unfortunately, all our economy and business class seats are booked, but we do have a seat in our first-class unit."

Aina’s eyes widened. "First class? How much would that be?"

"Ten silver coins."

Ten! Will I be sitting with the goddess herself? Ten silver coins is enough to feed a family of four for five years.

"Do you not have the money?" the man asked, tilting his head.

Aina sighed and nodded. "I only have seven silver coins."

"Alright, we will take that. The rest will be on the station," he said, sliding the ticket across the counter.

"Oh... really? Thank you so much," Aina exclaimed, handing over all the coins she had just earned to the man and taking the fancy-looking ticket that read: FIRST CLASS PASSENGER IN PRIVATE CABIN 03.

The man smiled, nodding at her words. "No problem. I hope you enjoy your ride with us."

Tears burned in her eyes. She removed her glasses to wipe them, overwhelmed. This was the kindest anyone had ever been to her. It proved there were still good people left in the world, she just hadn’t met them yet.

"Ma’am, you might want to hurry. The train is leaving," the man pointed out.

Aina instantly stopped crying, shoved her glasses back on, waved him goodbye, and ran toward the train, dodging people and their luggage.

"Greetings, ma’am. May I please see your ticket?" the attendant asked, flashing a smile and reaching out her hand at one of the many train entrances.

"Of course," Aina said, handing her ticket over.

The lady took one look at it and gave it back. "Ma’am, you are in first class. Please follow me. This isn’t where you board." She began walking along the train path, and Aina followed, her heart pounding as her freedom drew closer.

I’m free. I’m really free.

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