Chapter 17
1124 Words
Draco’s POV
“We’ll make camp when we get to the border before the Blackmoon pack.” I ordered.
The horses we rode pounded against the floor of the forest in one rhythm. My mind wasn’t on the ride.
It was on her.
My Scarlett.
I hadn’t touched her before I left, no kiss, no hand squeeze, not even a look to keep me anchored.
She said she wasn’t feeling well.
I didn’t question it out loud but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me.
I knew why she had said it.
She had been different with me after I told her about my intended battle with the Black Moon Pack, she was still soft and warm but she was watching me differently.
Like she was noticing something different about me, like she was measuring my every move.
I’d seen the look before, it was the same look generals had before battle, and some women before a problem occurred.
There was no hate in her eyes anymore.
But there was something worse yesterday.
She was disappointed.
And for the first time in my life, I actually cared enough to want to change how she looked at me.
***
When we made camp near the border before the Blackmoon pack, I ordered the tents to be put down in a valley just out of arrow range from their pack. My men dismounted quickly, cracking joints and tightening their sword sheaths.
Others cleaned weapons, polished their silver and adjusted their gear.
Everyone expected an immediate attack.
That was what I always delivered.
But this time…
I stood at the very center of the camp, looking at the grey skies above the trees shielding the pack walls.
And I remembered Scarlett’s voice.
“What if they’re like my pack?”
I clenched my jaw.
Then I turned to one of my commanders. “Send a messenger.”
He blinked. “A messenger? My Lord?”
“Tell the Blackmoon Alpha that he has until dusk today to surrender his pack’s allegiance to my rule and to pay his tithe to the kingdom and to release that rogue into my custody.”
I paused. “Tell him if he complies, we will leave his pack untouched but if he doesn’t…”
My voice dropped low.
“If he doesn’t, then we will reduce his pack to bones and dust.”
The commander blinked again.
No one said a word.
But I could feel the weight of their silence. My men were surprised.
It wasn’t fear, it was shock.
They’d never seen me give mercy to a pack, they’d only see me give mercy to one person.
The day I let Scarlett, the heir of an Alpha live.
And now?
I was offering a diplomatic approach, they didn’t understand what was happening.
Truth was, even I didn’t really understand it.
***
Hours passed since we sent the message.
There was still no answer.
Typical of fools.
Scarlet had asked me to give them a chance and I had given it to them.
But the pack had taken my patience for weakness because they didn’t just keep me unanswered.
They attacked at dusk.
***
The night fell heavy and fast.
We heard the wolves before we even saw them, their teeth were bared and their eyes glowed through the dark in the forest. They came with blades and bodies and foolish confidence.
They thought the element of surprise would be enough to topple my army.
It wasn’t.
My men tore through their ranks before they even reached the edge of our camp.
I fought like the devil they knew and feared, ripping throats, slicing men and roaring orders. I tore down the Alpha’s strongest soldiers with just my bare hands. I didn’t even unsheath my sword, I was bloodthirsty.
Within two hours, it was done.
Their Alpha lay beneath my boot, so puny and foolish. His chest rose in jagged gasps as he held onto life.
I didn’t kill him immediately.
I made him kneel first
By morning, the pack’s leaders had already surrendered. What was left of their army were disarmed and their park’s crest was torn from every wall and burned in their pack’s center.
I stood in the center of their meeting hall with blood drying on my knuckles when my soldiers returned.
They bowed in respect.
“My King,” one said, “the bounty is ready and is yours. We’ve gathered ten pure blooded she wolves from their high lineages. They’re not mated, untouched and ready for the royal harem.”
They stepped aside, showing ten women behind them.
Some were trembling in fear, the others had hate in their eyes and the left looked resigned.
I looked at them all.
They were young, beautiful, and perfectly selected by my soldiers. There was no doubt about that.
Not too long ago, I would have taken at least three women or maybe even all of them.
A new victory always tasted sweeter when there was a fresh girl at the end.
But now?
Now I could only see one face. The only one I wanted to be with after this battle.
Scarlett.
I shook my head. “I don’t want them.”
The soldier hesitated, not sure if he had heard me right. “Your Grace?”
“Prepare them for the journey back to the palace,” I said simply. “No man is to lay a hand on any of them, await my instructions when we arrive in my kingdom. I repeat, they are protected by me, anyone who touches them answers to me.”
The silence around the room was louder than any war trumpet.
I wasn’t sure if I was proud of my decision or if I looked pathetic to them.
Maybe it was both.
But when I took a look at the girls, the gratitude written in their eyes and they way they clutched each other’s hands, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years or even ever.
Pride.
This pride didn’t come from their fear or from power.
It came from my restraint.
That night, I sat alone in my tent.
I held on to one of Scarlett’s scarves I had taken from her clothes. She had tied it in her hair once during our very eventful nights. Her scent lingered on the scarf.
Scarlett’s scent filled me up, she haunted me. Not in the way a ghost would.
But like a promise.
I had conquered more land than any other King that came before me, even my crazy father. But I couldn’t stand to lose Scarlett over some silly conquests.
I had something more than a throne to protect.
I had… what I had with her.
- Writer
