Page 57 of Fated to Her

“Are we getting close?” I ask him, stretching. My now visible baby bump pops out from under my shirt before I tug it back down.

“Sort of. The forest is dense and vast. Even with Cyrus running, it will take an hour to get to the village,” Eli explains.

“Don’t worry, love. We can take breaks on the way,” Cyrus says, glancing over his shoulder at me.

“What’s it like out there?” The word “village” reminds me of a time long before mine.

“It’s different. It could have changed. I haven’t been out there in three hundred and fifty years. Emery said it has power now and working plumbing, so I guess we will see,” Eli tells me, staring straight ahead and out the window at his father’s car in front.

Maverick pulls off the highway down a dirt track. The longer we drive along it, the faster night falls. By the time the cars finally stop, the moon is high in the sky, the road ending at a field, with a few cars sitting here and a track leading into the walls of trees ahead. Eli isn’t wrong about it being dense. Darkness swallows the forest, and I can’t see anything ahead. I can’t even see shadows between the trees. Now, light from the moon manages to break through the thick canopy. Glancing in both directions, the forest looks like a wall with no end.

I get out of the car, the headlights the only source of light, though it does nothing to help with visibility. Maverick is already out of his car. He takes a bag from the trunk. Emery hops out and does the same before quickly shifting while Maverick just stands there in his jeans, his eyes scanning the forest. Howls ring loudly through the darkness of the night. I take a step back, my back hitting the door of the car.

“Calm down, just my father’s pack,” Eli says, and I glance at Maverick, who nods to me before stepping off the dirt road and making toward the tree line through the long grass. It’s so high it goes to his waist. Staring at the tree line, I see glowing eyes before a line of men start stepping out and moving toward Maverick. They bare their necks to him.

Cyrus grabs a bag out of the trunk before placing it on top and opening it. He grabs one of their jackets out and brings it to me. I pull my arms inside it, and he zips it up, then pulls the hood over my head.

“You need to stop, just tell me,” he says.

Men come over to us. They are all naked and terrifying to look at. Scars litter their bodies. A tall blond-haired man holds his hand out to Eli, and Eli shakes it. His eyes are pitch black, and he smirks before his gaze falls on me. He holds his hand out to me before sniffing the air and jerks his back. He places them in the air in surrender, which confuses me until I remember what Emery had said about Eli scenting me.

“Sorry, we don’t get many newcomers. I was just curious,” says the man in a deep voice, his eyes going to Eli.

“Addie, this is Porter. He’s my father’s Beta,” Eli tells me, and I nod, stepping closer to Cyrus.

Porter looks at Cyrus, sniffs the air, and smirks, his eyes darting to Eli. “Bit overprotective, Eli.”

“Touch him and find out,” Eli growls.

Porter smiles deviously, his eyes flicking to Cyrus, who’s looking rather bored.

“I’m good, but it’s unnecessary. Your father has told everyone to be on their best behavior,” Porter tells Eli.

Maverick’s behind him talking to some of the men who came with Porter. They then walk toward the two cars, grabbing stuff from the trunks.

“You remember the way, or do you need us to show you?” Porter asks Eli.

“Of course not. Just tell your men to keep their distance, and no one will die tonight,” Eli tells him.

Porter nods, striding off toward Maverick. Cyrus grips under my arms, lifting me against his chest. I wrap my legs around his waist. My arms go around his neck, and I inhale his scent. My mouth is watering. This pregnancy is something else—craving inhuman things, their blood mainly, and I’m always hungry for it.

“She is insatiable. Be interesting how bad she becomes once I change her,” Cyrus says, pulling me closer.

Eli bites his wrist, and I grab it as it comes toward my face biting into him.

“Interesting human you have there, one who drinks blood,” Porter says from behind me.

Cyrus’s lips press to my cheek, and I reluctantly let go of Eli. It’s getting increasingly harder to stop, which worries me. Eli pulls his wrist away, helping me let go of him.

“She’s pregnant,” Eli growls at him, wiping his wrist on his pants.

“Good to know. I’ll tell people not to bleed around her,” Porter sneers at him, and Eli growls. I can see Eli doesn’t trust this man.

“I heard you challenged your father?” Porter asks.

“Yes, I did. So, mind your tongue, Porter, because once I take over, I won’t hesitate to remove it for you. Now, get out of my face and away from my mates,” Eli tells him, his voice eerily calm as he glares at Porter.

“We are ready when you are,” Porter tells him before strutting off.