Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

AURORA

T he food had worked, and I could feel the pain again, which only made me wish that I’d been strong enough to starve myself. The sound of Merk’s distinct whistle sent a shudder through my body, and even though I knew it was useless, I curled up into a ball and buried my face against my legs, holding on as tight as my weak arms could.

“Did you eat?”

I didn’t answer. The door to the cell banged open, and Merk grabbed me by my arm and shook me like a child’s toy.

“Answer me, you insubordinate bitch,” he ordered, hitting me in the stomach, making me cry out and almost throw up what I’d just eaten. “See, I knew you could make noise. Don’t worry, I’ll make you scream.” He dropped me to the ground, and as his hands went to the tie on his pants, I tried to crawl out the open cell door. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I yelled, unable to help myself as his fingers dug into my hips, and it felt like he was going to crush the bones. Merk yanked me back—my knees and fingers scrapping along the hard stone floor—and then pressed me face down on the rock slab that was to be my bed. I tensed, knowing what was coming, fresh tears trailing down my cheek. Why did I eat and drink?

“Merk! We need help. We’re under attack,” Jarvis yelled.

“Fuck!” Merk let go, and I fell off the slab. He ran out and slammed the cell door closed on his way.

“I hope you die,” I whispered. If the Goddess had a heart, she would let them die so I could rot here in peace.

The din of battle intensified. The scent of fire and death invaded my cell, and…there was something else. A rich, woodsy fragrance that made my heart pound harder. My eyes fluttered closed, and I let the smell envelop me. The sound of men walking down into the cell area crushed my hopes until one of them spoke, and I didn’t recognize the voice.

“Get them all out of here and take them to Solaris for inspection.”

My cell rattled as the door was opened, and two men grabbed my arms. They were far gentler than anyone who had touched me in so long. I’d almost forgotten what it was like not to have fingers clawing into my skin. Even though it was dusky outside, I blinked at the bright lights. When was the last time I saw the sun? I couldn’t remember.

I was dropped on the ground, and the warm, homey scent that had filled me in the cells was more potent out here, making my head feel even lighter than usual. The ground shook as something drew closer, and I assumed that Alpha Gorrin was going to use me for some reason, no longer happy just having his guards abuse me. But as the feet stopped moving, I sucked in a deep breath and shivered.

A hot muzzle touched my neck, and I pulled away, curling up into a tighter ball, but the scent was so strong that my body tingled all over in a way I’d never felt before. Even though it took all my energy, I had to know where this amazing smell came from. Lifting my head, my eyes went wide as I stared at the bottom of a hoof larger than my skull and knew this was it. I was going to die. My chin rose to make sure it was a clean hit, and my stare locked with a pair of unfamiliar eyes. My heart stopped beating in my chest, everything slowed, and I sucked in a ragged breath.

He placed his foot down and nodded to the men who had brought me out. As they picked me up, I saw Alpha Gorrin dead on the ground and noticed how everyone else was on their knees with their heads bowed in respect. I yelped as I was tossed into the back of a horse-drawn wagon. Others piled in, and I crawled to the furthest corner, pulling my knees to my chest. I’d escaped one cell only to be sent to a different one, but I couldn’t go through that again. I needed to escape.

The journey took a long time, but I heard men calling out that we were getting close. I didn’t recognize anyone in the wagon, but they all stared at me like they were disgusted to be so close to a prisoner. Keeping my head down, I crawled past their feet, thankful that they pulled away instead of kicking me. Peering out, I spotted one guard following, but he was off to the side of the wagon. Fog was rolling in and getting thicker by the minute. I waited for the perfect moment. There was a bend in the road that put the guard’s head out of view, and I slipped out, biting my lip as my legs buckled. I rolled into the tall grass at the side of the road and lay perfectly still.

Staring up at the almost completely dark night sky in the cool grass, I could die happy. This was my first taste of freedom in so long, and I wanted to savor it, but I didn’t have much strength, and the bit of bread and water wasn’t going to get me very far. I poked my head above the grass when I could no longer see or hear anything. Sniffing the air, I could still smell the new Alpha, but it was faint.

Choosing to stay off the main trail, I followed my instincts and started through the dark forest. Everything would be so much easier if I could shift, but it had been so long since I had that I didn’t even feel my moose in me anymore. Had I lost that part of myself completely? It didn’t matter right now. Wrapping my arms around myself, I put my head down and took one tentative step at a time, following the scent of water. If I didn’t make it, at least I was dying on my terms and not at the hands of Merk and Jarvis or this new herd. Anything was better than that.

SOLARIS

My feet slammed down on the partially frozen ground, and my knees cut through the fog, which was an omen of change to come. I didn’t like it any more than I liked the reaction I had to the female. My stride lengthened as I pushed myself harder until my hooves sounded like thunder as I tore through the forest, trying to clear my head.

I knew and understood what a mate was. I’d seen members of my herd find their chosen and marry, but that was not something that was ever supposed to happen to me. Of all the females to be paired with, why a prisoner who didn’t even smell like a moose? Then again, I couldn’t smell much past the dirt, blood, and come from other males. The thought of another male touching her had a fury burning in my gut that would’ve sent me into battle against a thousand Alphas, and I would still emerge victorious.

Bursting through the trees of my herd’s home base, the guards glanced at me as I raced past but didn’t move from their posts. From the first herd I’d taken over, I’d grown the group to over five hundred members and had more guards and soldiers ready to lay down their lives for me than any Alpha before. But that didn’t stop the rumors from circulating that I was bloodthirsty and only out for the power. I did want the power, but not because I wanted to subdue others. I realized that my home—before it was ambushed and taken over—had been different from other herds. Alpha Jasper had been kind, and my family and others lived in peace without fear of abuse, but we were not the norm. I planned on making the North strong and powerful but peaceful. I wanted it to become a place that others chose because we were undeniably the better choice.

The massive castle and other structures that made up the homes for my herd rose eerily out of the fog before me. Another line of guards stood with weapons strapped to every inch of their muscular bodies.

I shifted, happy that my cock had finally stopped trying to stand on end. Cracking my neck, I walked up to Chase, my third in command, and he handed me one of my thick cloaks, which I wrapped around my shoulders.

“All went well,” he asked.

“He didn’t last a single blow. They seem to be mostly women, young and old,” I said, and Chase snorted in disgust.

“We need more soldiers if we are going to protect this stronghold. What will a bunch of needy mouths do to help us?” He crossed his arms, and I tilted my head to take in my friend.

“If I remember rightly, it wasn’t that many years ago that your old herd would’ve been considered the needy bunch, and look at you now.” He rolled his eyes, his finger tapping the top of the massive broad sword he kept at his hip.

“Fine, I concede. But winter is coming. We need more food in storage and still need to deal with the Southern Wranglers. They are getting closer, and their Alpha is said to be comparable in size and strength, but he has one thing over you….”

I waved my hand at him. “Yes, yes, I know. He’s mated.”

“Don’t wave it off, Sol. You know that a mated Alpha gains strength from his female, up to three times the strength. It is why mated Alpha’s herds are never attacked until their female dies. If he comes here….”

“Stop,” I commanded, my thoughts going to the woman in the back of the wagon on its way here. “The Goddess is not going to pair someone like me with a destined mate. We’ve been over this. I’ll figure out another way to defeat Alpha Wrangler. Anyone who names their herd after themself must be a blow-hard, right?”

Chase shook his head at me, but the trumpeter gave a short blast, letting us know that the wagons had arrived. The long precession of my men came first, and then the new members. Crossing my arms, I waited for everyone to be brought before me. I scanned the group for prospects but also looked for the little female that had affected me.

Once they were out and lined up, I walked the rows and sniffed the air, but with each footfall, I knew she wasn’t there, and every instinct screamed that I needed to find her. I marched over to those who had been guarding the wagons.

“Where is the missing prisoner?”

The guards looked at one another. “They were all placed in the back of the wagons, Alpha,” Cedar said. I jogged to the back and looked inside, but they were empty. I sniffed the wagon that held the female, and her scent was on the edge of the wood. I spun around and looked at the tall gates. She had jumped out.

“Are you looking for the female you were going to kill,” Shale asked as he walked up to me.

I pulled the tie around my throat. “Yes.”

“Let her go. Who cares if she took off? She was a prisoner for a debt. It’s not some great loss.”

He was technically correct, but it didn’t feel that way. I sucked in a deep breath and thought about just giving my speech and going to bed, but my stomach churned with the thought of her out there alone. Fuck, what the hell was with this girl? Could she really be my mate?

“This is going to sound insane, but I need to find her.” Shale’s face contorted like he’d eaten a mouthful of sour berries.

“Say what now?”

I let the cloak drop to the ground. “Do the speech. I’ll be back.”

“Wait. Do you want guards,” he called after me.

“No,” I yelled and then shifted.

I ran for the gates and the large wall that protected the castle. There was only one other way in which I’d used to arrive, but it was tough going and would take longer to get around to the main road. One of the gates opened for me to storm through, and I ran with my head down and nostrils open, looking for her scent. With each stride, my fear for her notched up another level. This was wild country, and there were other threats in the area besides the Southern Wranglers. Careening around a corner, I skidded to a stop, tossing stones and dirt into the air as her scent filled my nose and stirred the desire in my chest.

Wheeling around, I backtracked and sniffed the edge of the road until I found where she’d hidden from sight. The fog and tall grass would’ve made it easy for her to slip out and hide. Smart.

Sniffing the ground, I tracked her steps into the forest and knew where she was heading as she made a straight line west. The river wasn’t far off, and I’d bet that was her destination. Not wanting to spook her, I took off at a trot, keeping my strides light so that she wouldn’t hear me sneaking up on her. Her scent slowly got more robust, and as it did, so did the wild need inside me. I fought the carnal urge as my cock tried to drop from its sheath, and the same ache as before returned. Maybe Shale was right, and I should turn around. But if she was my mate, then Chase was right, and I needed her. I’d laid eyes on her for all of a minute, and my head was already a mess.

The sound of water rippling as it traveled downstream was louder, but it was the soft humming that had my ears pricking forward. It was her. I was sure of it. Reaching the edge of the forest, I stood in the dark shadows, transfixed to the spot at the sight of her. She was in the middle of the river, up to her shoulders, humming as she rubbed at her wet hair. The mud and grime were gone from her face, and her scent was no longer tainted by other males. The water had to be freezing, but she didn’t seem to mind or care as she stepped into the shallows and held her arms up, turning in a slow circle.

No matter how hard I concentrated, my massive cock pushed free of the sheath. It rubbed against my stomach, making me shudder. It had been so long, and I could feel the urge to come already threatening. Flexing my hindquarters, my cock rubbed against my body again, and I held back the grunt.

The female turned waist-deep in the water, and my eyes locked on her breasts and hard nipples. That was all it took for me to lose control. My cock rubbed feverishly against my stomach as I pictured breeding her. What would she smell like in heat? There was no holding back the groan or soft snort as I came. The load was agonizing in its relief as jet after jet of come shot from my cock and landed on the ground. Fuck, I’d forgotten how good it felt, but I stumbled to the side with the rush of pleasure, and the female sucked in a sharp startled breath.

I couldn’t seem to stop the release as more was forced from my cock and almost brought me to my knees. Maybe I was wrong, but I didn’t feel like this the last time I had sex.

She lifted her nose to the air and sniffed. I was upwind, not worried about concealing my presence. She tried to bolt from the water like a scared deer but stumbled and fell. Then she screamed and froze. I couldn’t see what she was looking at from my angle, but the loud growl was one I recognized.

I burst from my hiding spot and charged the grizzly as it stood up on its hindquarters and roared at my female. She tried to push herself backward while the grizzly lurched like it was going to attack. A battle cry ripped from my throat, and the bear turned, its dark eyes going wide as it recognized the danger. The bear raised its paw to strike at me, but it was too late. I was on top of it and slammed my rack into its side before it could take a swipe. I didn’t normally mess with the other animals or shifters who lived in the forests, but nothing and no one would hurt her. The impact sent the bear flying sideways, crashing to the ground and tumbling into the forest. Standing over my female, I pawed at the rocky shore and watched for any sign that the bear would return. If it was alive, it decided it had no interest in messing with me. Wise choice. I would’ve ripped it apart if it tried again.

Looking between my legs, I watched as my female slowly pushed herself back into the water like she was going to sneak away. Her eyes were wide and terrified, and she was noticeably shaking. Now that she was clean, it was easy to see the numerous bruises that coated her body and the handprints of whoever had attacked her. Some were very old, and others were fresh. As shifters, we healed much faster than humans, so I didn’t understand why she wasn’t healing like normal.

She looked up at my now flaccid but still dripping cock, and licked her lips. I’d never seen a sexier act in my entire life. But there was more than desire in her stare. There was terror. I could smell it in the air. I forced my cock back up into my sheath and carefully stepped over her.

When she didn’t immediately jump up and try to run, I lowered my head and sniffed her. Her delicious scent filled my lungs, and I wanted to close my eyes and savor the moment. Pressing my nostrils against her stomach, I chortled softly in my throat. She didn’t move away, but I could hear her heart pounding out of control. She was like me, but the scent of her moose was faint.

I needed to know what was done to her and by whom. If they were still alive, they would die. She was trembling so hard that I wanted to wrap her in a thousand blankets and hold her by the fire. A cloud moved, and the moonlight poured down onto her. She looked like she’d been kissed by the moonbeams as her skin shimmered and her blue eyes glowed. I’d never met one of our kind with blue eyes. Brown, hazel, and green were normal. I thought I had unusual eyes with my bright honey color, but blue…they were stunning.

I stood perfectly still while her eyes roamed over me. Something strange was happening, and if she had the ability to bewitch then she was undoubtedly pulling me under her spell. One tentative hand reached up out of the water, and I didn’t move as she touched my cheek. Her fingers were so light they could’ve been a feather. An electric shock raced through my body, and my heart swelled to twice the size in my chest. A protectiveness filled me, and I knew that no matter what happened or what I found out about her, I was keeping her. She was mine.