Queen Of Wolves

He Won't Let Me Live

Chapter Six

I woke up with a groan, my head hurting and my stomach feeling uncomfortable.

For a moment, I couldn’t understand what was happening. Everything was moving, and I couldn’t even feel my legs properly. I tried to shift, hoping to find a more comfortable position, but something was pressing against my stomach, making it difficult to move.

“Where am I?” I mumbled.

“Oh, good. You’re awake.”

I knew that voice.

I opened my eyes and realized I was being carried over Thorne’s shoulder. My eyes widened as I finally understood why everything had been moving so strangely. I was practically hanging upside down, with my hair falling over my face and my stomach pressed against his shoulder.

“What the hell? Put me down!”

He stopped walking and dropped me onto my feet.

I stumbled, almost falling, and quickly grabbed his arm to steady myself. Once I was sure I wouldn’t end up face-first on the ground, I released him and glared at him.

“Did you have to drop me like that?”

He looked down at me, completely unbothered. “Would you have preferred I threw you?”

I stared at him, wondering what kind of creature had made this man an Alpha. Was there really no one in his pack who could teach him some manners? And how did he manage to walk around with that much arrogance without tripping over it?

I looked around. We were in the middle of a forest, and I couldn’t recognize anything. The trees were unfamiliar, and I had no idea how far we were from the Night Light Pack.

“Where are we?”

“On the road.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re so funny.”

“I know.”

He started walking again, leaving me with no choice but to follow.

“How long was I asleep?”

“Three hours.”

I stopped. “Three hours?”

“Yes, Aurora. Three hours. I’ve been walking for three hours while you slept comfortably on my shoulder.”

“My mating bond just snapped! What did you expect me to do? Dance?”

“Don’t tempt me. I’d pay to see that.”

I glared at his back. “You’re a horrible man.”

“I’ve been told.”

“And you’re proud of it?”

“Very.”

I wanted to slap him...Alpha or not... I wanted to slap him...

Instead, I followed him in silence, determined not to give him another reason to laugh at me.

People said Thorne was a terrible man. They said he killed without mercy and that even other Alphas were careful around him. From what I’d seen so far, I could believe every word.

The problem was that he seemed to enjoy being terrible.

I stuck out my tongue at his back.

I heard him chuckled then say, “Childish.”

I quickly pulled my tongue back in immediately.

How had he seen that?

I looked away, pretending nothing had happened.

“Stupid big headed dog,” I muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!”

He chuckled, and right there, I decided I would never speak to him again.

That lasted about ten minutes.

My legs were beginning to hurt, and I was struggling to keep up with him. I hadn’t trained in years, and the only exercise I got these days was walking between my quarters, the great hall, and the prayer temple.

I used to be a warrior’s daughter. Now I couldn’t even keep up with a man walking at a normal pace.

I stumbled over a root and caught myself before falling, but I couldn’t keep going for much longer. Eventually, my legs gave way, and I dropped to the ground.

“Alpha,” I called.

He kept walking.

I took a deep breath. “Thorne!”

He turned around, looking annoyed.

“What now?”

“I need to rest.”

He looked at me for a moment before smiling.

“Were you this weak with Kael, too? No wonder he took another woman. I’ve heard Omegas are much better in bed.”

I glared at him.

“Do you ever get tired of talking?”

“Not when I have such entertaining company.”

“Well, I’m not entertained.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

I was already exhausted, and the last thing I needed was someone reminding me of Kael and Jasmine.

“I haven’t been allowed to train in years,” I told him. “My body isn’t used to this anymore.”

“Or perhaps you were never good at anything physical.”

I stared at him, speechless.

He held out his hand, but I didn’t take it.

“These woods aren’t safe,” he said. “I would have brought a horse if I’d known I’d be returning with a liability.”

“A liability?”

“Yes. Someone who can’t walk, can’t fight, and can’t keep her own mate.”

I got to my feet, ignoring his outstretched hand.

“Stop taunting me, Thorne.”

“Or what?”

“I’m warning you!”

He laughed. “I’ve been threatened by armies, witches, and creatures far more dangerous than you. And now a little Luna thinks she can frighten me.”

“Keep laughing. I’ll wipe that smile off your face.”

“I’d love to see you try.”

I growled at him.

My canines lengthened, and my nails sharpened. Thorne’s smile widened.

“That’s better. Now, show me what you can actually do, except loose your man, of course.”

I charged at him without thinking.

He moved aside, and I fell flat on my face.

I pushed myself up, spitting dirt from my mouth.

“Are you serious?”

“Get up.”

“You could at least pretend to give me a chance!”

“Would you like me to pretend to lose, too? Is that why you ket an omega birth a child for your mate?”

I glared at him and charged again, only for him to catch my wrists and throw me off balance.

I fell for the second time.

He hadn’t even broken a sweat.

“You fight like a child,” he said. “No wonder Kael never took you seriously.”

“Stop bringing Kael into this!”

“Why? Does it hurt?”

I was about to attack him again when he suddenly stopped smiling.

His eyes were fixed on my hair.

I touched it, confused, and realized it was glowing.

My eyes had changed too. I could feel it.

For a moment, I forgot about Thorne.

My wolf.

I had never fully transformed, not even once in my twenty-four years. The priests always said my wolf was bound by the curse, and Lauretta had never given me a proper explanation.

Sometimes, when I was angry or frightened, I could feel my wolf trying to reach me. It was like she was behind a glass wall, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never get through.

I had almost given up on ever reaching her.

But now, I could feel her more clearly than before. It was as though the wall between us had begun to crack, and for the first time, I could almost reach her.

I looked at Thorne, who was still watching me.

“What?” I asked. “Why are you staring at me?”

He didn’t answer.

I didn’t have time to question him. Without thinking, I charged at him again.

He caught both my wrists in one hand and pulled me toward him before throwing me to the ground.

I landed hard, groaning as pain spread through my body.

“Enough,” he said.

“You’re the one who keeps provoking me!”

“And you’re the one who keeps attacking me.”

“I hate you!”

He laughed. “You don’t have what it takes to hate me yet, Aurora. But at least you’re angry enough to fight. That’s a good start.”

I stared at him. Was he actually trying to encourage me after throwing me to the ground three times?

“You have a strange way of helping people.”

“And yet, you keep trying.”

Before I could come up with a response, he turned and walked away.

Was he seriously going to leave me here?

I struggled to get up, wincing as my body protested. I was still brushing the dirt off my clothes when I heard something moving in the bushes nearby.

I froze.

Whatever was there wasn’t making much noise, but I could hear it moving closer.

I glanced at Thorne. He was already some distance away.

I didn’t want to call him. He would probably laugh at me again, but I wasn’t stupid enough to stay where I was when something could be lurking in the bushes.

I got to my feet and started walking toward him.

Then I heard the sound of a bowstring.

Before I could turn around, an arrow struck my thigh.

I screamed and fell to the ground, clutching my leg. The pain was terrible, and for a moment, I could barely breathe.

Forcing myself to look toward the direction the arrow had come from, I felt my heart stop.

Kael stood between the trees, holding his bow. He was already preparing another arrow.

He had followed me.

And judging by the look on his face, he hadn’t come to bring me home.