LYCAN DAUNTE'S BRIDE

Chapter 4

Nadia's Pov

How could a rogue be my mate?

No, scratch that. How was it possible that I met my mate while running from a ruthless Demon Lycan King?

"If you want to make it out of here alive, I advise you to come with me." He pressed when I didn't move to accept his hands.

I looked around the dark eerie forest that seemed to be crawling with creatures I didn't want to be alone with and glanced back at him.

I placed my hands in his and grabbed it, dragging me forward to walk beside him.

"Who are you?" I asked softly, staring at him, trying to control my wolf's excitement.

She was just about ready to claw out and jump him.

"Name's Dan. I'm a merchant."

He said. Even his voice was attractive. It sounded like honey over granite. Rough but smooth.

"A merchant? You don't look like a merchant." I noted, taking in his appearance.

"Really? What do merchants look like?*

He asked as he gave me a sideways glance.

"Not big and tall and… mysterious."

"Mysterious?" He asked as he crossed the huge fallen tree on the ground, carrying me across as he did.

"Thank you and yes, Mysterious. You also killed those rogues. Most merchants aren't that skilled at killing people."

He chuckled and my heart was set aflame at the sensual sound. Was there anything about him that wasn't simply perfect?

"Seem to know a lot about merchants, huh?"

"Yes, my father was one."

I answered.

"Well if you must know, I used to be a soldier until I quit years ago."

"Why did you quit?" I asked, intrigued by who he was. I didn't know why but I felt the inexplicit urge to know everything about him.

"Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions?" He stopped to face me.

"Uhh… I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"I'm joking. By the way, what are you doing on these paths? This is no place for a young woman." He said, looking me up and down as if taking me in.

"Oh, um. I… I ran away from home."

"Why?" He asked, looking unfazed, or at least that's what I thought. Since the only visible parts of his face were his eyes and nose.

Why was his face covered? Did he have some kind of a scar he was hiding? Or was it some kind of enchantment to prevent rogues from sensing him? I had so many questions.

"I was to be married to a monster," I whispered admittedly.

Something ticked in his eyes.

"Worse than the one out here?"

He asked as he began to walk again.

"Way worse."

I replied, shivering at the thought of the demon king.

"I see." He nodded.

"What makes him so terrible?". He asked after a long stretch of silence.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I said.

"Try me." He looked over at me and my breath caught.

"He's a monster, a war criminal. And worse of all, he's known for Killing and torturing his wives He's had three wives over the last four years and they've all been killed and tortured by him."

"That's terrible. How did you get to be betrothed to a mate like that?"

He questioned, his eyes darting from side to side as if he was expecting something to jump out of the woods. I didn't blame him. He was the only reason I wasn't as scared as I should be.

"I wasn't. I was… sacrificed." I stated.

"By who?" He asked.

The image of my stepfather flashed before my eyes and I shivered.

The man had been a monster most of my life especially since my mother died years ago but this had been the last straw. Selling me to a ruthless Alpha like King Daunte was… diabolical. I could never forgive him.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," I said as the feeling of betrayal crashed against my heart.

"Okay." He stated simply and I was grateful for the fact that he didn't push any further.

"Come on, we are almost there," he pointed at a car just outside the woods but close enough to hide it.

"Is that your car?" I asked.

"Yes, You can sleep in there tonight and figure out your next move tomorrow."

"Why are you just parked here, did something happen to your car?"

"I was robbed by rogues. I was able to fix my car today. Maybe this was fate. Us meeting."

"Thank you," I glanced up at him and caught him staring at me intently.

Did he know he was my mate or had imagined it?

"You are welcome…?" He phrased it as a question.

"Nadia, my name is Nadia," I answered.

"Lovely name." He murmured and I smiled nervously at him.

"Thank you."

He walked over to the car opened the back door for me and I entered into sleep. He got into the passenger side placed his bow and arrow on the driver's side and faced the window as if on a lookout.

"Thank you, Dan… for saving me," I said to him, and smiled at me through the rearview mirror.

I fell asleep thinking about him and wondering whether or not he was truly my mate and if he was, why hadn't he acknowledged it yet?

"Hey," I felt someone tap me right awake. My eyes opened up sharply to find green eyes staring down at me.

"Hey," I abruptly sat up bumping into his head.

"Argh!" I whined, clutching my head.

Dan chuckled as he held his head too.

He was so close that I could smell him.

"I'm so sorry," I tried to apologize but he waved me off, still laughing.

"You are extremely clumsy, do you know that?" He asked.

I pouted as I woke up.

"It's morning," I said.

"Yes, and It's time for me to leave." He said.

"Oh," I murmured. For some reason, I didn't want to let go of him.

"You seem sad…" he observed.

"No, I am not" I shook my head. "Thank you again for your help," I said and made my way out of the car.

I needed a bath and a way to get to my mother's pack. That was if they'd accept me.

"Wait!" Dan stopped me.

"What?" I asked, turning to look at him.

He let out a sigh.

"How about you come with me to my pack? You don't have a place to go and well, no offense you are not very equipped to fight off the rogues and other creatures crawling in the woods. So…" he left the sentence hanging.

"First of all, I can fight for myself, and secondly, yes. I'd like that!" I squealed.

He burst out laughing and opened the passenger side for me to enter.

"Where's your pack?" I asked.

"It's only a day's journey from here, well, twelve hours," I answered.

"I see. Thank you. You are literally my guardian angel sent from above."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that." He murmured.

He settled down and put on his seat belt And ignited the engine of the car.

As the car roared to life, he looked over at me "Buckle up, he murmured and I did as I was told.

He drove off into the horizon.

I couldn't believe it. I had actually escaped the wrath of the King and my father!

I knew I should feel bad for abandoning them but I couldn't find it in me to. That tried to sacrifice me first.

I was safe and free thanks to Dan.

It had been at least nine hours since we left the territory of the rogues.

I was exhausted but excited to be finally welcomed into a new life. No more suffering, no more beatings, and more Importantly no Demon king. I still had a chance to live.

"Why do you always have that around your face?" I asked out of the blue. I had been staring at him the whole ride, taking note of his features. From his green eyes to his big hands and muscly body to his pointed aristocratic nose.

He was such a beautiful man and had such a potent s*x appeal that I had never experienced before even with Sebastian.

"Do you want to see my face?" He asked after a long stretch of silence.

I nodded, eagerly.

"Maybe when we get to the pack."

"Why not now?" I asked.

"Because I'm driving." He replied as if that should have been an obvious answer.

"How long till we get there?" I asked.

"Thirteen minutes." He answered.

"Wait, really?" I asked.

"Yes," he nodded.

Excitement flooded every part of my body.

"I really did it!" I said as the gate of his a became more visible.

"I escaped!"

"Yes, you did. You escaped the king!"

"Yes!" I said excitedly but then stopped as I realized something.

"Wait. I didn't tell you I was running away from the king. How do you know that?" I asked shakily.

Just then, Dan stopped the car and faced me. I couldn't see his face but I could tell he was smiling.

Slowly, he unwrapped the cloth covering his face and glanced at me.

"Because my darling, I am the king.

Demon king Daunte Wolfgang. "He growled, all signs of amusement had disappeared from his tone and eyes as he stared into my soul with utter hatred.

"Did you honestly think, you could get away from me?" He smirked.