Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

AURORA

W as I losing my mind? I’d spent days and nights for months dreaming of running away from my prison cell, and here I was, willingly touching my new captor. He hadn’t shifted, which made things easier for me. The guards never took me in their shifted form. When I became too weak, my ability to shift was lost. They would’ve killed me if they’d tried. I pulled my hand back from his cheek and marveled at the sheer size of him.

He was the largest male I’d ever seen, and I could understand how Gorrin was defeated in battle. He stepped back, and I pushed myself up out of the water, trying to cover my nakedness as best I could. There was a tugging sensation in my chest that made me want to touch him again, bury my nose in his fur, and hang on forever. I shook my head out of the dreams of na?ve little girls.

“I can’t go back to being a prisoner. If you’re here to capture me, then I would rather throw myself to the river, or you can kill me now.” I held my chin up as best I could and stared the Alpha in the eyes. At another time in my life, I wouldn’t have been so bold, but not having anything to live for helped me find the courage I didn’t know I had inside of me.

I shivered in the cool night breeze, the icy water clinging to my body. He stepped forward, and I yelped as he pulled me closer with his head. He was exceptionally warm, and even though I knew I was walking a dangerous path, I wrapped my arms as far up his neck as I could reach. He made a rumbling sound, and I closed my eyes as I fought off the tears. An act of kindness was rare, and I didn’t know how to handle the torrent of emotions welling up inside of me.

“My name is Aurora,” I said, my voice breaking. How long had it been since I was called anything other than omega or something derogatory? When he shifted, what would he choose? Would it be my name or something terrible?

Stepping away, he kneeled down. It was a sign of trust among our kind to allow someone on your back. He nosed at me as a wolf howled not far off, and a few more answered. I looked over my shoulder to the river. I could run, dive in the water, and maybe live, or I could trust this man I didn’t know. His great head wrapped around my waist, pulling me tight to his body, and the decision was made. I had no way of knowing what he planned to do with me, but something connecting us urged me to trust him.

It took a couple of tries, but I finally made it up onto his back. Exhausted, I leaned forward and held on as my eyes closed. I’d spent all my energy and just needed to rest for a little while. It didn’t take long for his easy strides to lull me to sleep.

It felt like only a blink when he stopped walking, and hands grabbed me off of his back. I immediately missed the warmth and began shaking. I tried to open my eyes, but they only cracked so far before going blurry.

“What do you want me to do with her?”

“Take her to the main house and put her in the room connected to mine. I need to speak to the guards,” Even though I couldn’t see, I knew it was his rough and gravelly baritone voice that made my heart pound harder. “Also, have food brought to my room.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it,” he said. I could feel him walking away, and my body dimmed without him near.

“I really hope you’re not a witch.”

I didn’t know what that meant, but exhaustion pulled me under, and everything went dark.

SOLARIS

The guards were dealt with, and I met Shale as he paced outside my room.

“What did you find out?”

“Chase is on his way up. We should speak in private.” My inquisitive nature wanted to push for the answers now, but I nodded and entered my bedroom. I felt Aurora’s presence, and I wanted this meeting over so I could go to her.

I scented Chase’s arrival before he knocked. Pouring myself a drink, I called out, “Come in.”

He closed the door, and as I turned to look at Chase and Shale, I didn’t know if I was going to like or hate what they had to say. They wore the same annoying expression that said they had big news, but neither wanted to share.

“Well, out with it,” I ordered, taking a sip of the malt whiskey. I wandered over to my closet and opened the doors to grab something to cover myself. Walking around naked was common here, but I could sense that Aurora was already nervous enough, and I didn’t want to add to that.

I looked at my second and third, who also happened to be my friends, and shrugged.

“What the hell is so bad that you two are this tongue-tied?”

Chase sighed. “It’s not so much bad news. In fact, I think it’s good news. But I’m not sure how you’ll see it.”

I pulled on a pair of simple cotton pants and tied the string. “Well, you won’t know unless you say it.”

“The female Shale put in the next room is from the Mountain Ridge Herd. She’s Alpha Torrid’s daughter, and the rumors are true. He traded her to Gorrin’s herd to pay off a substantial debt.”

I stared from one to the other. “You’re serious?”

“Yes, and there’s more. I spoke to a few of the guards who submitted to us and apparently, Gorrin demanded his payment from Torrid in land or his daughter. Even though Torrid had lots of land, he chose to send his daughter. He said she was worthless, nothing more than an omega. Gorrin only wanted her because he thought she was beautiful. But his mate found out about him fucking her and threatened to leave and sever their bond. Which, as you know, would weaken him, so he tossed her to the guards for them to…um…for their….”

“Their what,” I growled, a dangerous rage brewing inside of me. I knew what Chase was going to say, but I needed to hear the words for myself.

“For them to use.” He cleared his throat. “In any way they liked. Would you like details?”

I snarled at my friends, and they took a step back from me. “I don’t think that is wise right now. How long has she been with Gorrin’s herd?” Chase and Shale looked at one another and then down at their feet. “Tell me.”

“She was handed over shortly after her eighteenth birthday. The guard I spoke to said that she’d been there just over a year.”

“And the guard you spoke to, was he one of the ones who indulged himself,” I asked. I could feel her essence pressing in on me, consuming my mind. The thought of countless men hurting her made my blood burn as hot as the red lava that poured from the volcanoes across the sea. I had wanted to lay waste to Torrid before this, but now I would rip his heart from his chest and eat it in front of his herd.

Shale opened his mouth to answer, but a scream pierced my heart. I was on the move and wrenching the door open to Aurora’s room. Aurora was on the bed, pushed all the way to the headboard. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the three females who were sent up to help feed and bathe her.

“Alpha, I’m sorry we did not mean to scare her,” Spring said as she bowed low.

“It’s fine. Everyone leave us,” I ordered, my eyes never leaving Aurora. She had a pillow gripped tightly in her fists, held to her body like a shield. The flickering candlelight danced on her face. It had only been a few hours since laying eyes on her, but I knew I would sacrifice my life for Aurora.

I took a step forward. Aurora’s pupils dilated, and her trembling grew more pronounced. Her gaze darted around like she was looking for an escape or maybe a weapon. She scampered off the bed and pressed herself into the corner, grabbing the sword off the wall on her way. She pulled it up in front of her, but the blade dipped and touched the floor with a thud.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Aurora. You can put the sword down.” I held out my palms. She looked at them and then into my eyes. She tried to lift the sword again and shook her head, frustration evident in her gaze as she let it fall to the floor.

“You’re him? The one who brought me here.”

I nodded. “My name is Solaris, and I’m the Alpha of Vicious Winds.”

“You’re a rogue. How can you be an alpha?” She tilted her head as she stared at me. “My father said you were an angry bastard of a child because you were born unable to have children and that you crushed the souls of all the herds you conquered.”

Well, that was certainly an interesting spin on my legend. I laughed and shook my head.

“Nothing more than the ramblings of old men who feel threatened by me and refuse to change from their old ways. I do not crush souls unless they deserve to be crushed, and my mother and father were happily mated until they were killed by Alpha Zeal, who attacked my herd twelve years ago. I did kill him. As for my mating status, well, that is a much longer and more painful story, but I can mate.” I dared to take another step closer, continuing to hold out my hands for her to see. “You trusted me in the forest. Please trust me now. I promise that no harm will come to you, not ever again.”

She nibbled her bottom lip, which I found completely endearing. I could see her debating with herself, her big blue eyes giving away everything she was thinking. It took a few more patient moments, but Aurora stepped away from the wall. Watching her reminded me of the dance of a nervous bird as she made her way across the floor to stand in front of me. The pillow was still tightly gripped in her hands. Her knuckles were bright white as she stared up at me with so much fear buried inside of her. I could feel it running under her skin like blood, and I hated it.

I didn’t move. Not a single muscle flexed as she reached out with one hand and let it hover over mine. I sucked in a deep breath as I stopped myself from grabbing and pulling her into my arms. Aurora’s eyes flicked between my hands and my eyes as she slowly touched my palm.

I closed my eyes and groaned as the same powerful current stormed through my body. The scent of magnolias and sweet spring grass was strong in my nose, driving me wild. My heart thumped hard in my chest as it raced in time with hers. I took in a calming breath, and her hand molded to mine. When I opened my eyes, Aurora stood before me, the pillow forgotten on the floor. Her eyes were still closed, and a wistful grin turned up the corner of her lips. She was stunning, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I understood what was happening as clearly as if it was written on paper in front of me.

Her eyes snapped open as I moved her hand to my lips, but she didn’t tug away. I kissed her scraped and battered knuckles before laying her hand against my cheek.

“My mate,” we said together.