ALISTAIR
No, really, that woman would be the end of me. I predicted correctly that she would be late for our little date and gloated to myself when I saw her strolling in the direction of the stables, knowing that I outplayed her this time. But when she went inside and stayed there, I decided to check.
I did my research on her. And I knew very well exactly what kind of woman she was. She changed men more often than she changed her gloves. I didn’t expect to receive a werewolf virgin bride, of course; that was rare for our species. But Eiryn Landon was really something! Hell, she could be compared to me in my better days! And that wasn't something to be proud of.
The reports showed, however, that she could behave if she wanted to. She had periods of time in her life when she devoted herself to studies and philanthropy and didn’t date anyone for months and months. But then suddenly everything would go back to normal, and she’d start accepting new suitors every week.
Overall, I wasn’t surprised that her family was ready to send her off to Phevran. Back in Ruvia there hardly would be a noble ready to marry her. Unless it was her mate, of course. Mates could forgive everything.
“And you are not looking for ours.” My wolf’s voice appeared in my mind after days of absence.
“Look who is still alive!” I teased him, while I went down to get my nosy fiancée out of those stables. I was hoping that he would say something else, but he didn’t.
So, I was already slightly pissed when I entered the stables. But when I saw my fiancée putting her hand on the Omega’s and rubbing it gently, a loud growl escaped me.
And that was strange. I knew exactly what I was going to see here. Only I disliked it more than I anticipated. Moreover, I hated her being so close to him and smiling. She smiled at me too, but it was a different kind of smile. Not sincere…
“Oh, Ally!” She giggled when she saw me while the poor stableboy turned white. “There you are! Don’t scare Alex like that!”
Of course she knew his name already. Was that what I was going to get? A woman who sleeps even with the pack’s omegas? She could have chosen a warrior at least.
No. My wolf suddenly appeared out of nowhere again. Our woman should only belong to us.
Seriously? I snorted. Now you call her ours?
You are going to marry her, right? He mimicked my tone. Then all the rules apply. She is ours. And ours only.
Tell that to her, I taunted him.
I will, he growled. Just let me have control.
Nice try! I said as I closed the connection. I almost fell for it. If I gave him control, I bet he’d run looking for that girl in Ruvia he considered our mate.
“Should we leave you alone?” Ryn raised her brow and crossed her arms on her chest. Her pink dress had a ridiculous number of frills on it and she looked like a pastry. Desire to look at what was underneath all that fabric rose inside of me, but I shove it down quickly. That wasn’t the plan with her.
The plan was to make her marry me and then send her off to one of my faraway estates. And forget that she ever existed. Until the next family gathering at the castle, of course.
“I am sorry I am late.” I took her hand and kissed it gently. It was covered with a glove, of course, and I felt a little disappointed. “Pick a horse and let’s go.”
“I thought we were going for a walk?” She fluttered her eyelashes at me.
“Why walk if we can ride?” I smirked. Most werewolves hated horseback riding. And I wanted to annoy her after the breakfast and what I just saw.
“You are right.” She shrugged and pointed at my favourite mare. “I pick that one.”
Without any kind of response or permission, she just turned and hopped onto Thunder. But what was worse, he didn’t protest or tried to shake her off as he did with everyone else. The stableboy was as shocked as I was, and the nasty pastry only gave out a little laugh before she spurred the horse, and it stormed out of the stables together with her.
“Catch me if you can!” she shouted, and the most primal instinct took over me. I got onto the second horse and followed her.
What the hell was all that?! What kind of she-wolf would mount a horse and speed off like that?
But she seemed comfortable enough and looked like she knew what she was doing. I spurred my horse but still saw only her back. Sounds of her iridescent laughter touched my ears and my wolf insisted, “Catch her! Get her!”
Well, he got over losing the trace of our mate fast. But that was probably for the best. Eiryn was what we needed right now. However annoying.
She finally stopped before she reached the forest and waited for me with a smug face.
“Who knew that the mighty Alpha was so slow?” She smirked, looking at me with a challenge. The woman was seeking death.
A growl escaped me as my wolf wanted to show her what we were worth, takimg over for just a second. And her horse reared up and then rushed to the forest as if its life depended on it. Sh*t.
She let out a scream and I spurred my mare to follow her. Branches slashed me from time to time as we were away from the road now. She leaned down and surprisingly did everything right to try and calm the horse. Yet it wasn’t working. And I knew that soon they’d reach the end of the cliff.
“Jump!” I shouted to her. A few broken bones were nothing compared to a broken neck. But the stupid woman did not listen. “Jump!” I roared and her horse stood on his back feet again, terrified of me, throwing Ryn off his back. She fell down to the moss-covered ground and rolled down the small hill we were at. Her stalliom ran away and I jumped off mine.
“Eiryn?” I called her but didn’t hear a sound. Goddess, please tell me I didn’t kill her on our first day together. Father would disown me on the spot for something like that.
She didn’t answer and I came closer to look for her. Honestly, what was she doing? Even if she hurt herself, she should have healed already.
At last, I saw a pink spot beneath me and bent down to check on her. She moved slightly and opened her eyes. There were a few scratches on her that hadn’t healed yet, for some reason.
“Are you all right?” I asked, getting closer.
“Do I look all right?!” she snapped at me and for a moment it seemed that her eyes were blue and not green. But when I blinked everything was normal again.
“Let me see,” I knelt next to her and she flinched. Ouch. I didn’t like her much, but it’s not like I did it on purpose.
“I am fine!” She rubbed her face and tried to stand up, looking for support from the nearby tree instead of me. Understandable. I’d probably have to buy her some necklace later.
“Your scratches didn’t heal,” I pointed out and she quickly turned away from me.
“I heal slower when I am angry!” she said and that made absolutely no sense. However, when she turned back to glare at me, her face was fine.
“I am sorry.” I offered her my hand, which she declined.
“You just tried to kill me.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “I am afraid ‘sorry’ is not going to cut it!”
She lifted up her chin and made to step away from me, but her face immediately contorted in pain and she almost fell down again. Luckily, I caught her in time.
“Let me check,” I said and placed her on the ground, lifting up her skirt in one swift move.
“What are you doing?!” she yelled in shock, and I chuckled at her acting skills. Nudity was natural for us and there were no exceptions. So, I really didn’t know what she was playing at here.
“Checking your…” I started explaining but had to whistle at the size of her swollen ankle. “That doesn’t look right.”
She snorted and forced her skirt back down to cover everything.
“Don’t do that again!” she warned me, and somehow, I felt that the threat was real.
“Why are you healing so slow?” I asked her and she lowered her eyes. There was definitely a story there. And I needed to know it.
“My wolf and I,” she sighed heavily, “we don’t have the best relationship.”
Neither did Tyr and I. But he never failed me like that.
“She hasn’t talked to me for months.” A little tear fell down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. “I keep healing slower and slower with every day.”
“I see.” I tried to give her a reassuring smile. That sucked big time. And I wouldn’t wish it even for an annoying girl like her.
“We’ll have to be a bit more gentle with you, then, right?” I chuckled and lifted her up in my arms as she squeaked from the surprise.
And that’s when I saw it – the black diamond lily brooch…
Aksara