Chapter 85 85
Odette's Pov
Clarisse packed a few clothes for me while other maids helped me get dressed into more comfortable clothes. They were worried when I told them about the situation. Just to calm them down, I told them “everything is going to be alright” but I wasn't really sure about that.
I walked out to the courtyard where the wolves were already saddling their horses and prepping for travel. Was there really going to be war between Aaron and his brothers?
“My Lady,” a stern female voice said.
I turned and found a woman standing and strong with her arms crossed behind her back. Her long dirty blonde hair falling smoothly over her shoulders down to her waist. She was dressed in armour like the rest of the male wolves. I hadn't seen her before.
She bowed her head and introduced herself. “My name is Jane, my lady. I was assigned to you by the king. Do you prefer a white or a black horse?”
I blinked. What?
She repeated her question and I swallowed. I didn't know how to ride. I had seen horses before in my old pack and even during the Moon Hunt. But all my life, I was never let out, let alone learn anything. I was more a prisoner than a free, living being.
“She will ride with me.” A voice cut between the silence and I looked behind Jane.
Walking towards us with a small smile on his face was the man I had spent all day worried about.
“Aaron!” I gasped and before I knew it, my legs moved.
I lunged at him with my arms around his neck. He lifted me and I hooked her legs around his waist.
I buried my head into the crook of his neck. “You’re alive.”
“I am.” He breathed me in before letting me back on my feet.
“Where are we going?” I winced when the wind blew past my hair.
Aaron reached forward and brushed stray hair away from my hair. “We're going somewhere safe. You'll be safe, Odette.”
He cupped my cheek and I leaned into his touch. “You'll be fine.”
Then he pulled away and took my hand. Then he led me to his black horse and helped me climb the horseback.
Then, he got up in front of me and gripped the reins.
“I need you to hold on tight, Odette. We will ride fast.” He said softly.
“Okay.” I leaned in and snaked my arms around his waist as we rode off but I didn't expect it would be this fast.
Even while I thought we were riding too fast, the other wolves were riding at an even faster pace. For some reason, it seemed like we were trying to catch up with them. Was Aaron taking his time because of me?
“Aaron, you don't have to slow down because of me,” I mumbled in the back of his coat. “I'll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” He asked cautiously.
’Yes,’ I said with our mind-link.
He went silent for a moment before he finally replied. “Fine but hold onto me. I'll go really fast from now on.”
I wasn't given a moment's notice. I only felt a jolt and the rest was history.
My heart thundered so hard in my chest I feared it would shatter. We were riding so fast, I felt air whipping me in the face and I wondered if Aaron could breathe at all but he wasn't complaining.
I closed my eyes and tightened my grip around him. One slip up and I'd fall and who knows what will happen to me if I do?
‘Don't be afraid. You'll be fine.’ I heard him whisper in my head.
‘Easy for you to say.’ I replied shakily through our mind-link.
He chuckled. ‘Hold onto me, darling. I'd die before I let you fall.’
My cheeks heated as I buried my face further in his back and we rode ahead.
About half an hour later, we all dismounted and set up camp. It was barely dusk and half of the soldiers didn't get tired but I knew Aaron did it for me.
While resting up in our tent, I turned to Aaron. “Did your brothers really wage war on you?”
It wasn't really the right time to ask him neither was it the right question but I had to know for my sake.
“Yes.” He said.
“Will you kill them?” I whispered.
“Without breaking a sweat.” He answered immediately.
“Everyone?” I whispered.
“Yes.”
He must've sensed my worry because he reached for my hands. “It's going to be dangerous, Odette. That's why I have to know… Are you sure you want to come with me? I have allies I can entrust you to. Your life won't be in danger anymore.”
The answer was clearly written before me — go.
I couldn't fight a war let alone win one. Just the other day, I was nearly raped and beaten within an inch of my life. I couldn't fight to save my life. I had to run.
But…
What about Aaron? Why should I leave him when he needs me? He didn't need to tell me but I could see it in his eyes. At that moment, I decided that I would rather live in danger than live like a dead person, but that wasn't the main reason I didn't want to stay. I didn't want to stay because I wanted to be with Aaron.
“No,” I shook my head. “I'm not leaving. I'm staying with you.”
A strange look crossed Aaron's face before he replied. “Odette, please, don't make me choose.”
“You're not choosing. You'll have me.” I took both his hands. “Please, let me go with you.”
He cupped my cheek before dropping his forehead to mine. “You'll be the death of me, Odette.”
“Let me go with you, Aaron.” I looked at his closed eyes.
“Okay.” He breathed. “But you'll never leave my side.”
“I won't.” I smiled, then pulled back. “Where are we going?”
“To the Rogue territory.” He replied.