AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We staggered down the tunnel, and I peered over my shoulder to check Zacal and his wolves weren’t following us. Turning forward again, I grunted at Kade’s weight. “What the hell just happened?”
I hadn’t expected him to answer, but to my surprise, he said, “I couldn’t let them kill you.”
I swallowed, not sure why hearing that made my stomach tighten. Then I remembered the bond and the fact the Taratun wanted me alive. How could I think he’d saved me for any other reason? “Because if I die, you die.”
Kade didn’t respond, and the tightening in my stomach was replaced by the pang of…something else.Hurt?
“Why didn’t you fight the wolves when they first attacked you? You’re obviously stronger. You could have ended it before it even began.”
Kade still didn’t answer, and even though the rational part of me knew he was bleeding out, it still pissed me off. I’d gone back for him. Risked my escape and my life for him. I knew I’d been foolish, but I didn’t regret what I’d done.I tried not to think of the black wolf racing toward me, his gnashing jaws aiming for my head. It had been too close. If Kade hadn’t turned…
“The least you can do is answer me after I went back for you,” I said, my voice hard.
“You were reckless,” Kade finally growled. “Zacal wouldn’t have killed me. He just likes to prove his dominance in front of his wolves.”
“Dominance? By beating up a wolf who isn’t fighting back?”
“Something like that.”
Confusion made my head hurt. “Why do you let him treat you like that?”
“If I force Zacal to submit, I’ll have to take his place as alpha. The wolves respect strength. I don’t deserve to be alpha of the House of Worzel.”
“Really? Because it looked like he just submitted to you.” I pictured Zacal with his shoulders tipped down and his back pressed against the wall of weapons. That male was no leader.
“Both of us need to be in wolf form for it to count. He knows my wolf would likely tear his apart. That’s why he didn’t shift. Today still won’t look good for him, but the only other one watching was Roren, the black wolf. He’s one of Zacal’s most loyal followers. I doubt he’ll say anything.”
“From the looks of Zacal, the wolves would be better off with you as their alpha.”
“They wouldn’t,” Kade said, his voice so cold goose bumps prickled up my arms. Pain had begun to creep back into his gaze, dimming the light in his eyes.
We walked in silence, and I wondered if he was reliving the moment that haunted his memories. If he was remembering whatever had happened with his family. His arm began sliding from my shoulders again, and I pulled it back behind my neck, ignoring the stickiness of his blood against my fingers.Goddess, there was so much blood. “Why aren’t you healing like Asher?”
His golden gaze slid to me, and I saw the burning question there.Did the horned monster not tell Kade about me stabbing him?“All monsters heal faster than humans, but demons are the only ones who heal instantly. Wolves, like most monsters, can only be killed by having our heads severed from our bodies or being consumed in fire.”
Something in my chest eased knowing that Kade would be all right. I tried to tell myself it was just the annoying magic that bonded us, but seeing Kade hurting for his family made me feel closer to him somehow. Like we were kindred spirits, both haunted by a past we couldn’t change.
“Why did you make me save that gray wolf, Kasey?” I asked.
Kade sighed heavily. “She doesn’t deserve to die. I failed them all. It wasn’t just my family who was taken by the fae. I—” Kade cleared his throat, and I found myself aching for him. I could tell it was taking him a lot to speak about whatever had happened.
“I’d only been alpha for a month before the fae attacked,” Kade continued. “I was out with Locke and the others on the opposite side of the city, celebrating, when a portal opened near the House of Worzel and the wolves were attacked. I heard the howls, but I couldn’t get back fast enough. By the time I reached the house…” He paused, closing his eyes, and I could feel the tremble in his arm. Clenching his jaw, he opened his eyes, his gaze hard. “We lost twelve wolves that day.”
Twelve.My stomach churned. Sure, I hated the monsters who took villagers from my island, but no one should have to lose their family. And I was starting to realize that not all the monsters in this world were the same. They were so much more like humans than I’d thought they’d be.
Before I could think, I moved closer to him, pulling his arm tighter around my neck, and brushing my side against his as I subconsciously tried to ease his pain. Warmth burned where our skin touched, the pull of our bond humming now that we were even closer.
Abruptly, Kade stopped walking, and he turned toward me, his head leaning down as his gaze bored into mine.
I knew I should pull away. I was too close to the monster. Within his grasp, without a weapon. His wolf was powerful, and so was he. But I didn’t move.
“Thank you, Mahare,” he growled softly.
Stunned, I stood staring at him before I recovered myself, my heart beating faster at the surprising tenderness with which he’d said the name. Swallowing, I said, “My name’s Raine.”
“I know,” he said, his gaze not leaving mine. “Mahare means ‘fiery one’ in the ancient tongue.”
I squirmed, feeling uncomfortable under his intense gaze. “Uh, don’t mention it. Though, you were the one who saved my life.”
