Chapter 7 Chapter 7
Sloane
“My name isn’t little rabbit you know.” I said through chattering teeth.
It wasn’t even just the cold that had me shaking although that was a big part of it.
No, it was the looming blackness I could see through the trees. So much darker than the shadows of the night around us.
The wall.
It was rapidly approaching much faster than I wanted it to because beyond that wall lay nothing but death.
My death.
And I was in no rush to go towards it.
Rushing was exactly what we were doing. He moved slowly, putting one foot in front of another. A leisurely stroll if you were well over six foot five and had massive strides.
I had to jog to keep up.
Which just made the wall get closer and closer,
What was I doing?
I slowed and then stopped completely. Reaching down I rubbed at my ankle.
“What are you doing little rabbit?” He asked in his gravelly voice.
I rolled my eyes and he was on me in a second. Curling his fingers under my chin he straightened me up. My neck cracking from the unnatural angle he tilted my head.
“Do not roll your eyes at me little rabbit. It’s rude.”
“So is calling someone by a name that doesn’t belong to them.” I countered.
Maybe if I made him angry he would realise that I wasn’t what he thought I was and let me go.
Or maybe he would just kill me and leave my body here in the gathering snow.
“Why did you stop Sloane?” He asked in a tone I couldn’t hope to understand. “What is wrong with your leg?”
“I think I twisted my ankle.” I grimaced theatrically.
He froze, his eyes darted from my face to my leg and a line appeared between his thick dark eyebrows as he frowned.
“Is that so?” Moving so fast , I didn’t have time to prepare myself. He fell to his knees. Ignoring the snow that soaked his trousers and lifted my boot.
“What-“
Pushing up my skirts , he drew my ankle to his nose and sniffed. Over and over again he rubbed his face against my leg.
“There is no injury that I can smell.” Slowly he dropped my leg but his fingers stayed wrapped around it. “Maybe you are just tired. We will have to work on your stamina little rabbit.”
“Don’t call me-“ I sighed. What was the point of telling him my name was Sloane. He wasn’t going to listen to me. I might as well save my breath.
Shaking my head I stared down at him. “And why do I need stamina?”
In answer his fingers slid up my calf as he smiled up at me.
“Oh.” Looking away quickly I blushed scarlet. “Well . Yeah.”
What was I meant to say to that?
I needed stamina because he planned to use my body for his own sexual need.
Would it hurt, I had heard the girls and women in the village say it did.
And this wasn’t any ordinary man in front of me. He was a wolf, at least some of the time. Not to mention he was huge compared to the men in the village.
“It’s going to hurt isn’t it?” I whispered before I could help myself.
His eyes widened in shock. “Yes.” Shaking his head he stood. “Yes I suppose it will hurt you a great deal.” Reaching out he touched my pale cheeks. “For the first few times, but not forever. There will be pleasure as well. I’d like very much to give you that pleasure, and so will my brother.” A shadow passed across his face. “If he can keep the beast at bay for long enough. I think with you he will manage it. You’re not like the others.”
“Others? How many others have there been? What happened to them?”
He didn’t answer me, instead he turned in the direction of the wall and sucked in a breath.
Almost like he was tasting the air. And whatever he found on it made him nervous.
“Dawn is coming and we need to be on the other side of the wall before that happens. Can you walk on your sore ankle?”
Planting my feet apart with my hands on my hips I glared at him. “What happened to the other girls?”
His sigh blew my hair from my face.
He was frustrated and that was fine so was I.
“They weren’t you little rabbit.”
“What does that even mean?”
He gave me a pointed look and I stared at him with my mouth open.
He didn’t need to say anymore. I got it.
He didn’t need to explain what had happened to the other girls.
“We need to move fast now. So I think your time walking is over. Come here-“ he paused and smiled. “Sloane.”
“I can walk.”
His grin grew. “Why walk when you can ride?”
Bewildered I looked around. Searching the darkness between the trees. “Do you have horses here?”
Throwing back his head he laughed. “Horses no, why would I need a horse when I can run faster than any animal here?”
“You really are in a rush to take me to my death aren’t you? Can I at least know you and your brothers name?”
“No.” He stepped closer. His body curling around mine. “If you survive the meeting I will give you my name but not before. Now can you ride?” He asked again.
“You mean you? Can I ride you?”
He nodded his head.
“I don’t know. I’ve been on a horse once. I guess I can hold on for dear life.” Shrugging I eyed him.
His lips curved up. “Holding on will work. But let’s get one thing straight little rabbit. You try and run and I’ll catch you and when I do it won’t be pleasant for you.”
“I’m not going to run. You promised you would help my brother if I behaved and I want him to be safe.” I said defiantly.
“That’s my good girl. I should probably warn you not to scream either but-“
It happened suddenly. Bones cracked with a wet snapping noise, his skin moved, and hair rippled over his body which had morphed into something huge and animal like.
I couldn’t help it I screamed.