Page 83 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
Lifting my gaze, I find I am in a small clearing, not as many trees through this patch, and I understand why.A river splits the earth, the rapids moving fast.Peering around, I move along the forest edge, keeping as low as possible as I jog toward the river.Yet, the closer I get, the more I realize the only means of escape is crossing it.Moving to the edge, I shudder, knowing how cold that water will be before jumping in.The moment I break the surface, the harsh, bitter coldness steals my breath.
I wade through the chest-deep water to the other side, huffing and panting at the cold seeping through me.Before I can drag myself out of the water, I spot Zeke emerging from the trees.I immediately drop below the bank so he can’t see and lean back into the water, letting the river wash my floating body downstream.
My heart races in my chest as I stare up at the sky, waiting forhim to find me.After a few minutes of bobbing in the cold water, I lift my head to find I can’t see him anymore.I am no longer in the clearing.Instead, the trees aren’t thick here as they canopy over the river.
Birds are whistling and frogs croak loudly, making it harder to hear my surroundings.This part of the woods doesn’t seem as dense.Carefully, I try to stand back up, but the water has deepened unexpectedly, and my head slips below the surface.
I kick and paddle my way above water, gasping for air as I haul myself onto the bank.Crawling my way out, I flop down on my back, trying to catch my breath.
Think, Zirah!I scold myself.I can’t keep running because he will catch me.Instead, I need a plan.Rolling onto my side, I look at the trees, debating whether to attempt to climb one, but I know that will make me a sitting duck.
Grabbing the bag beside me, I open it, finding the rope and the broken knife.Tossing the bag aside, I look for the best spot to create a snare trap.It takes me forever to hide it with leaves and cover my tracks, all while glancing over my shoulder, expecting him to catch me at any second.When I am done, I climb the tree I set the trap in, snickering to myself.Sitting in the high branches above, I wait, feeling for the tree’s vibration and watching the birds swing on the vines that lead down to the ground.
It isn’t long before I hear movement, and I glance around nervously.Planting both hands on the tree trunk I am perched on, I look at the ground, waiting for him to come into view.
“Really, a snare?”Zeke questions, looking up at me.He picks up the rope, holding the noose in his hands while I feel for the energy of the tree.The leaves rustle and the vines twitch.The very vines I made my real trap out of.
“I am honestly a little disappointed.I thought you may have been smarter.Although, I didn’t think you would jump in the river, given how cold it is.You must be freezing,” he taunts.I stare down at him in his Lycan form.In this form, he is a huge gray beast with long claws that could easily cut through flesh, sharp teeth that could bite through bone, and gunmetal gray fur.He is a magnificent sight, but a petrifying sight at that.
“I really don’t feel like climbing a tree.How about you jump down, and I will kill you quickly.I can tell Daddy, you got eaten by wild wolves when you tried to escape, or maybe bush turkeys since your human and those fuckers are vicious.Then I can go home and have a drink.If you make me climb this damn tree, I will pull you apart limb by limb and make it excruiat—” his words cut off when takes a step forward and the vines wrap around his feet.A strange shriek that also sounds like a howl escapes him when the vines tug, sending him to the ground before he is ripped upside down in the air.
The vibration of the tree makes my runes on my back tingle, and I gasp at the sheer power of the tree.The second rune, which I know is earth magic, rushes through me.Not even I expected it to be quick or so easily manipulated.It gives me a taste of how powerful Granny was.The vines twist and wrap around his body, encasing him quickly as he spins violently in a blur of fur, and he is suddenly hanging upside down.The rune on my back I feel burning out makes me hiss.And then there were three.
“What the fuck!How did you do that!What kind of fucking Neanderthal shit is this?”Zeke roars, thrashing against the vine’s stranglehold on his body, but he can’t move even an ich.His only ability right now is to sway upside down.I jump from my branch.Landing beside him, and he glares at me.
He snarls.“Where did you learn that?”
“I guess this Neanderthal is smarter than you expected.Neanderthal’s gotta eat too.”I taunt.Zeke swipes a hand at me, swinging wildly.
“The difference between us, Zeke, is that I don’t hunt to kill.I hunt to live.”
“Zirah, cut me fucking down.”I pause, looking up at him.
“Wasn’t this part of our date.We’re hunting, aren’t we?”I smile deviously at him.
“I’m going to fucking kill you!”he snarls back.
“I’ll be back at the castle waiting while you hang around.Good day to you,” I tell him, wandering off back through the trees, laughing to myself while he curses my name and spits vile words at my back.
I glance at my hands, shocked by the power that came fromthem.I know it wasn’t mine, but for it to be that strong, I could only wish to yield magic and have the power Granny lent me.I can still feel the aftereffects of it buzzing through me, giving me a taste of what it means to be a born witch, not a made one.
I always tried to understand what Granny meant because how could one be made and not born.But feeling her power, even if only briefly, I can tell how miniscule mine is in comparison.
Reaching the river, I am about to cross when I hear Zeke growl menacingly.I stop, peering back at the trees, wondering if he has escaped.Another loud roar sends ice through my veins, and I turn back.The second roar rips through the clearing again, and there is no doubt in my mind that it’s a bear.
My subconscious tells me to keep going, leave him, abandon him like he would have done me.Yet, my mind goes to Regan and Zeke, knowing their lives are linked to his.Swallowing that down is like swallowing acid.
“This is your chance to run.They’ll all be dead and humanity will be free of them,” I remind myself.I should leave him...I should...but why can’t I seem to move?My heart races when I hear Zeke make a pained noise before he growls loudly.His howl echoes off the trees, sending the startled birds to the sky.He must be calling for help.I should go!
Yet as I turn back to the river, I know they won’t make it in time.Cursing, I pull my hatchet from the back of my pants and run back toward the trees and Zeke.It takes me about five minutes to reach him, and when I do, I find a huge grizzly bear swiping at him.I stop in my tracks at the sight of it.A gasp escapes me, and I stagger back.Zeke has managed to get one arm free, his furry face has huge claws marks down one side.
His blood spills to the earth and onto the bear.The bear swipes at him, its claws raking down the vines, slicing through them like a hot knife through butter, and Zeke groans as its claws tear through his shoulder.He thrashes trying to get free, and only just lifts his head in time when the bear swipes at him again.
The next time it reaches for Zeke, I throw my hatchet.It hits the bear’s paw, making it roar furiously and spin on me within seconds.
Chapter 39
The bear drops back down on its paws and runs at me, and Inarrowly miss its body barreling toward me when I dive out of the way.The bear turns, and I scramble on the loose leaves and twigs, rushing for my hatchet beneath Zeke, who is still thrashing to get free.My hands lock around the hatchet just as the bear’s claws hook into my ankle, and I scream as pain slices through my leg.
