Chapter 39 Unexpected landing
Aloria
The world blurs as I leap from the window, the ground rushing up to meet me with a swift vengeance. I feel the air tear at my fur, the exhilarating rush of freedom flooding my senses.
I blink in confusion, my wolf instincts still thrumming through me, but I can’t hold onto it… probably because my wolf is so new to me… I feel the shift, the urge to change back overpowering. The transformation is almost painful, my body contorting as I revert to human form. I close my eyes, preparing for the inevitable crash.
But just as I brace for impact, something… no, someone… grabs me mid-air, wrapping around me like a warm cocoon.
I expected the hard ground… Instead, I find myself cradled in strong arms, a familiar scent enveloping me… woodsy, earthy, and undeniably comforting. I open my eyes to find River, his piercing gaze boring into me, a mixture of concern and relief flooding his features.
“Aloria,” he whispers, his voice low and urgent, as if he’s afraid the very air might shatter the moment. I am sure I must be dead, how else can River be here? Then he kisses me and I know it is real because my wolf bowls in my mind and the mate bond flere up like a golden chain.
He gently breaks the kiss, “What happened?”
I cling to him, trembling, my heart racing not just from the fall but from the intensity of our connection. “I ran,” I manage to gasp, my breath hitching as the reality of my escape sinks in. “I can’t marry him, River. I refuse to be a pawn in their twisted game… How can my parents want that?”
His expression darkens, and I see the strength in his eyes, the loyalty that has always drawn me to him. “It’s not your parents, Aloria. It’s your aunt and uncle… they’re the ones orchestrating this. They’ve dethroned your parents taking their place.”
I shake my head, confusion swirling within me. “But they are family, they wouldn’t want this for me…”
River’s grip tightens as he pulls me closer, his warmth seeping into my skin. “Sometimes family is not good, Aloria. Sometimes it’s suffocating. You need to understand that they see this union as a means to secure power… your happiness is secondary in their eyes.”
Before I can respond, the sound of running feet and harsh voices interrupts us. My heart drops as I glance back toward the castle, my breath hitching at the sight of the Prince and his men storming out of the grand doors, fury etched across their faces. The Prince’s eyes are wild, filled with a rage that sends a shiver down my spine.
“Aloria!” he bellows, the name echoing like a curse through the morning air. “Get back here!”
I feel River’s body tense beneath me, a low growl rumbling in his throat. “We need to go, now!” I urge panic swirling within me as I realize the Prince has already spotted us.
“Do you think you can run from me?” the Prince sneers, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’re mine, Aloria. You can’t escape your destiny.”
“I’d rather die than be trapped with you,” I shout back, the fire in my spirit igniting once more. But as I look at River, I know I don’t want to die… not now, not when I’ve just found a glimmer of hope in his presence.
I can feel River tense, he is ready to fight, ready to kill for me. And believe me I would love to see him rip the prince to ribbons, but River and his pack is outnumbered, and killing a prince would probably see his country attack the pack,
“Let’s go!” I say urgently, grabbing River’s arm. “I know you want to take him out, but here and now is too dangerous, for you and for our pack.
River growls, but then he nods and before I can think, he scoops me up again, his strong arms wrapping around my waist as he takes off through the thick trees surrounding the castle.
Branches whip past us, the underbrush crackling beneath our feet as we run, adrenaline surging through my veins. I can hear the shouts of the Prince and his men behind us, but River’s grip is steady, his speed unmatched. It feels like we’re flying, the world around us blurring into a vibrant tapestry of greens and browns.
“Where are we going?” I ask breathlessly, my heart racing not just from the chase but from the exhilaration of being with him.
“To the river,” he replies, his voice steady despite the urgency in our flight. “It’s our best chance to lose them.”
My mind races with thoughts of the Prince, of my au t and uncle, of the life I’m trying to escape. “What if they catch us?” I whisper, fear creeping into my heart.
River glances down at me, his eyes fierce and unwavering. “They won’t catch us. I promise you that.” His words are a lifeline, grounding me even as chaos swirls around us.”If needed we will fight.”
We burst into a clearing, the sound of rushing water filling my ears. The river glistens under the late morning sun, a beautiful refuge amidst the turmoil. River doesn’t hesitate; he plunges into the water, pulling me with him. The cold rushes over me, shocking but refreshing, and I gasp as we break the surface, our bodies entwined in the current.
“Hold on to me,” he says, his voice firm. I wrap my arms around his neck, the fear of being caught momentarily eclipsed by the warmth of his body against mine. Kellan and the others follow.
As we drift downstream, I can’t help but glance back toward the shore. The Prince’s men are searching the area, their shouts echoing through the trees, but they can’t see us. I close my eyes, letting the cool water wash over me, the weight of my fear slowly lifting.
“Where have you been?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper as we float further away. “I thought I lost you.”
River looks at me, his expression softening. “I was badly injured, and Daphne healed me back from the shadow world… I am so sorry.”
“Don’t be… I am just happy… and I am sorry I went alone,” My heart swells at his words, the bond we share deepening in that moment. “I want to go back with you. I don’t want any of this,” I admit, my voice thick with emotion.
“Of course,” he replies, his grip tightening around me as the current pulls us along. “But before we go home, I think we should try and find your real parents.”