Chapter 4 What are you?
Rue tore through the forest in blind haste. Her breath burst out in harsh pants, her heart pounding rapidly.
She threw fearful glances behind her occasionally, making sure she wasn't being followed.
Her gown dragged behind her, catching on tree roots and stumps, slowing her down. In anger, she gripped the hem of the dress and ripped it until the torn hem fell away. Then she took off again.
Sharp branches tore at her arms and face as she raced further into the forest, and exhaustion burned in her chest, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.
Because she knew Thane would chase after her. She knew he wouldn't let her escape so easily, not after buying her.
As if on cue, she heard a loud roar shake the forest. She gasped and stopped, leaning against a tree, her eyes darting around frantically.
The earth shook beneath her feet as paws pounded heavily towards her. The sound drew closer, accompanied by furious growls.
Rue spun and fled, pumping her arms, throwing her feet to go faster. She knew it was only a matter of time before Thane caught her, but that didn't stop her.
Suddenly she tripped on a thick tree root and crashed to the ground. She heard the sickening crunch as she snapped her ankle.
A painful scream escaped her. She looked down at her foot, noticing the odd shape of her ankle. It wasn't just sprained. It was broken.
That didn't stop her though. She was determined to escape. She crawled through the grass, moving forward, gritting her teeth against the pain. Anything was better than getting caught by Thane who could kill her the moment he caught her.
Out of nowhere, an enormous lycan burst out of the forest. It landed before her, over seven feet tall, fur as dark as midnight, eyes glowing bloodred in the darkness, razor sharp canines gleaming pearly white.
Rue screamed, backing away as quickly as she could. She started to turn around when the beast grabbed her, lifting her from the ground.
She felt the pressure of his grip around her. She had never felt so helpless. He could crush her in one move.
He brought her closer to his face, his furry face twisted in rage. She shut her eyes, certain that this was the end, that he was going to kill her.
But he didn't. Instead, something else happened.
A faint, golden thread of light appeared between them, twisting and forming a bond around them.
Rue looked up sharply, her blue eyes clashing with the beast's red gaze. He released her instantly, and the thread broke.
She landed on her behind and scooted away as the sound of bones crunching filled the air. With wide eyes, she watched as Thane shifted to his human form.
His fur receded. Claws retracted and his form shrunk until he stood above her, his hair tousled, a deep frown marring his handsome face. All that was left were his eyes, glowing bright red.
"What are you?" He whispered, staring at her unbelievably.
Rue was dumbfounded too. She didn't understand what just happened. That golden threat of light, it felt like a bond... a mate bond.
But it was impossible. She had no wolf. Without her wolf, she was useless. And there was no way she would be mated to Alpha Thane.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice Thane walk towards her. He grabbed her arms and pulled her to her feet.
When she started to struggle, he yanked her close until their faces were inches apart.
"Enough of this, she-wolf." He snarled. "You can't escape from me. No matter where you run to, no matter where you hide, I will find you. You became my property the moment you were sold. Run from me again, and I swear, I will kill you."
Rue noticed the rage in his eyes. She knew he wasn't bluffing. The fact that she was still alive, even after running away from him, was a miracle. She couldn't keep pushing her luck.
He released her arms and started to drag her back with him, but she collapsed, crying out from the pain in her ankle.
He looked down at her foot. When he spotted the misshapen bone, he muttered a curse.
Without another word, he leaned down and scooped her into his arms. Then he turned and headed back in the direction of the carriage.
Rue kept her eyes lowered, several thoughts running through her mind. Why did he want her? Why was he so hellbent on owning her?
Thane arrived at the carriage and softly lowered her into it. But he didn't get in immediately.
He took off the leather belt in his vest and handed it to her.
Rue silently took it, wondering what he was about to do.
"This will hurt. So bite down on it." He murmured.
Before Rue could ask what he meant, he grasped her ankle and snapped the broken bone into place.
Rue's screams echoed through the forest. Watching her with cold, red eyes, Thane ripped off the sleeve of his vest and tied it around her ankle, knotting it tightly.
"This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't escaped." He snapped.
Rue gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the pain and the delicious warmth of his fingers on her skin.
Her gaze travelled to his bare arm where he ripped his sleeve off, watching as the taut muscles bunched with his movement.
He got in beside her, carefully moving her foot to the side. Then the door shut and the carriage continued its ride.
Silence enveloped them, but this time, it wasn't tense.
After a while, Thane looked at her. "What's your name?"
Rue was surprised, somewhat. She sniffed and looked away from him.
"Rue." She murmured. "Rue Lowell."
"Rue." Thane hummed, her name rolling off his tongue smoothly.
"What do you want with me?" She asked after a while.
Thane didn't respond. He just stared at her, his eyes intent on her face.
"The least you can do is tell me." She continued. "You're the Lycan King. You could have sent your guards to get me, yet you came on your own. Makes me wonder why I'm so important."
"Don't flatter yourself." He cut her off sharply. "When it comes to what I own, I collect them myself. Don't delude yourself into thinking you're worth any importance. You're not. You've been sold. I can do with you however I please."
His retort silenced Rue completely. She fell quiet, keeping to herself as they continued towards Eryndor.
...
A few minutes to dawn, they arrived at the Lycan Kingdom, Eryndor.
Rue was fast asleep, curled into a ball. Her brows were knitted in discomfort, and each jolt of the carriage made her whimper softly in pain.
As the carriage rode through the large bronze gates into the kingdom, Thane opened his eyes.
His gaze traveled to Rue, then to her ankle. A purple bruise had formed around the swell. She was clearly in pain.
When the carriage stopped in front of his castle, he got down and reached forward to shake her awake.
But something stopped him. He didn't know why, but the urge to protect this helpless she-wolf tugged at his heart.
Before he could stop himself, he leaned into the carriage and lifted her. Her hands curled around his neck, and she rested her head on the curve of his shoulder.
She fit perfectly in his arms, her soft curves pressing against him in all the right places. Her beauty was breathtaking, something he failed to notice earlier.
His heart jerked, and he muttered a curse. He couldn't be growing soft towards her already. It was impossible. He was only feeling this way because she was hurt.
But deep down, a little voice whispered, 'liar'.
There was something about Rue that tamed the beast within him, something about her scent that put a leash on his monster.
It wasn't the mate bond. It was something deeper.
And if he didn't stop it, history would repeat itself. And he would have to kill her, just like he killed his mate.