Claimed by the Cursed werewolf

Chapter 5

I woke up to my back throbbing as if someone had split me in half. The constant rough motion forced my eyes to open.

I blinked away the grogginess from my vision and slowly realized I was in a boat. I drew in a deep breath and almost threw up at the stench of the sea.

Confused as to why I was in a boat, I tried to lift myself but felt something cold around my wrists and feet. The place was dark, and I could only see because of a distant lamplight.

A rattling sound echoed from the ground, and my breath caught in my throat when I realized the cold sensation around my wrists and ankles wasn't just from the temperature—I was chained.

My heart pounded hard as I tugged at the chains, but they held firm against my skin.

I heard a low groan from behind, and when I looked back, I saw shapes moving in the dim light. They were bound and kneeling on the ground, just like me.

My head throbbed as painful memories flooded in.

My marriage to Rollo. The attack on my people. Everything came rushing back, crashing over me. A flood of emotions swelled in my chest.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry and raw.

My teeth clenched as I realized the truth—Rollo had captured me as his slave.

"Hello!" I yelled. "You will not get away with this!"

"You killed my people and captured me," I spat. "You will suffer the wrath of the gods. You and—"

"Stop talking, or they will hit you," came a voice from behind. "Do you want to be thrown into the sea?"

I twisted my neck, spotting a small figure crouched behind me. Her tangled hair was matted with dirt, and grime was smeared across her face.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"On a slaver's ship," she murmured while picking at her fingernails.

"What?" My eyes widened. A slaver's ship! That meant Rollo never took me. Or he thought I was dead and left me behind.

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest as I remembered Siggy's death. Her eyes had been squeezed shut, whispering prayers to the gods in her final moments. Tears burned my vision. I hadn't been able to save her. I couldn't stop her death.

"This must be some misunderstanding," I said. "I am not a slave."

"You are the daughter of the Chief. I know who you are. But now, you are a slave," she said.

I frowned slightly.

"You see, today was my wedding. I am not supposed to be here."

She tilted her head. "You think I don't know what happened?"

I fell silent.

"I am from Kattegat," she said. "Everyone in this boat is from Kattegat. The slavers raided our village after Rollo left. They took what remained of us. We are bound and headed north."

Headed north.

My blood ran cold. That only meant one thing—we were to be sold like cattle.

I felt another wave of nausea from the rocking sea, but I forced it down.

"How long have we been out here?" I asked.

"A day," she replied. "Maybe more. But they keep us here like animals. Some tried to fight back, but they were beaten and thrown into the sea."

My eyes widened, and a sharp pain shot through my back—the pain from Rollo stabbing me.

I tried to sit comfortably, but the chains and my wound wouldn't let me.

"They put maggots on your wound to speed up the healing process," she said. "You're healing too fast."

"I still feel pain," I muttered.

"Oh dear gods, ease our suffering!" someone suddenly screamed, snapping my attention away from the girl.

I turned toward the voice. It was a young woman.

"Help us!" she shouted, pulling on her chains. The woman cried harder, praying and struggling, but suddenly, one of the men holding a lamp rushed forward and punched her in the face.

"Shut up! If I hear another sound, I'll throw you into the sea," he warned, his words laced with cruel intent.

Fear gripped the girl's voice, and she fell silent.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I stayed awake, haunted by my own thoughts.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Siggy's face covered in blood.

Her prayers echoed in my ears.

Tears rushed down my cheeks as I thought about everything.

Lost in my thoughts, I laid my head against the wall and stared into the darkness.