Page 34 of Unclaimed Bonds
Another round of laughter circles the group. “Alright. Alright,” he mumbles and lifts my hand to his mouth to kiss the back of it.
Heat flames in my cheeks. I quickly draw my hand back, causing more snickers from the others. I turn to the guard on Ean’s other side.
“I’m Sodie. I was by the gate. You kicked me in the chest,” he explains, rubbing his shirt where I kicked him as he speaks.
I hang my head, silently apologizing. Ean claps him on the back.
Sodie is nearly as tall as Charlie and as broad as Ean, but he doesn’t have that heavy-on-the-top look. His hair is a dark reddish-brown, and his brown eyes are lighter than Ean’s.
Suddenly, another voice speaks up from the back of the room. “I’m Liam,” he says, giving me a two-finger salute. He is the shortest of the group, but not by much. He has rich copper-colored hair, closely shaved on the sides and longer on top, which falls on his forehead just above his matching-colored brows and golden skin. His dark lashes surround steel gray eyes, burning with intensity as he scrutinizes me in return. Light freckles dance across his nose and cheeks, and he wears a diamond stud in his left earlobe. He leans against the wall, one leg propped up behind him. His muscular arms fold over his chest, and carved muscular biceps flex against the sleeves of his t-shirt. I catch a glimpse of chiseled abs beneath the raised hem of his shirt. I scan down the rest of his body and notice his sweatpants stretch over his muscular thighs.
He looks irritated, almost like he wishes he were anywhere but here. He is different-looking compared to the rest of the guards but still very handsome. He makes me blush a little as he continues to look me over.
Quickly, I look back at Ean, who adds, “The other one is Shadow. He’s not here. I’m sure you will meet him soon.” He bends at the waist so we’re eye level. “I hear you’ve been cooped up in this room. Want to take a walk?”
Leaving the room sounds amazing. I nod enthusiastically.
“I checked with the doc, and he thought it would be good for you.”
I glance around the room and then down at myself, grateful for my baggy sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt. I complainedto myself about my behind hanging out for everyone to see in that clinic gown so Shakti brought some clothes for me.
Without a second thought, I shoot out of bed and grab my shoes, the hoodie I found that first night I woke up, and a baseball hat Jeremy gave me to cover my bald head. Scrambling to put everything on, I move toward the door.
“Slow down, Little One. Where’s the fire?” Ean jokes. I grin. I desperately need a change of scenery.
“Geez, you’re fast. Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sodie asks, his expression filled with concern.
“Nah, she won’t go anywhere. We’re friends now,” Charlie claims, resting an arm around my shoulders. Shaking my head, I slip from under Charlie’s arm and shove Ean closer to the exit.
Ean laughs. “Alright, Little One. Don’t get pushy.”
I have never been more excited to take a walk in my life. I continue to urge Ean out faster, and chuckles follow me from the rest of the guards—well, except Liam.
I flick a quick glance at him over my shoulder. He looks irritated as hell. I wonder if this is some kind of punishment, being here, or if I crushed his ego when I ran from them. I shrug at the thought. Maybe he just sucks at being a guard, and it pisses him off that an untrained teenage girl like me got the best of him.
“I’m glad you brought a sweater. The weather has been a bit unpredictable lately. It’s either gloomy as hell with small peeks of sunshine, or storming, especially at night. Never seen the weather quite like this before,” Ean chats as he leads me out of the building. Sounds fitting, like my mood. As we step outside, the weather offers clear skies and sun. Perfect for a walk.
“Well, I’ll be damned. It was gloomy just a few minutes ago, and I swear it was going to rain,” Sodie remarks, frowning and looking up at the sky.
“See? That’s what I’m talking about,” Ean moans.
We start our tour at a statue of three wolves in front of the clinic. The clinic sits at the heart of the Emerald territory, combining both the Emerald Pack and the Guards. At the beginning of their time here in the LS territory, the guards were known as the Black Obsidian wolf pack, which came from a long line of warriors from the original Northern A territory before it was divided. When the small group of Black Obsidian wolves arrived in the LS territory, the White Wolf Alpha granted the Alpha a territory of his own next to the Emerald Pack territory. In appreciation, the Black Obsidian Alpha swore their allegiance to the white wolf Alpha and offered their services as protector to the white wolves. During the last great war, many of the guards died lending aid.
When the Emerald Pack Alpha was named King of the LS territory, the Black Obsidian Alpha swore their allegiance to the Emerald Pack Alpha, now known as the Alpha King of the LS territory. Because so few Black Obsidian wolves survived, they merged with the Emerald Pack, and the Black Obsidian Alpha resigned himself to head guard.
The Alpha King and the head guard worked to rebuild the guards. Over time, with still so few guards available between both packs, they decided to allow recruits to join from other packs. Because both territories merged, the Black Obsidian Territory became the training grounds for the recruits and home to some of the guards. The statue represents the original White Wolf Alpha, the Black Obsidian Alpha, and the first Emerald Pack’s Alpha King.
Ean grins. “My family carries the original Black Obsidian bloodline. For generations, we have either been in the guard or had a hand in leading it.”
“Thank you, kind sir, for the brief history lesson. For a moment there, I thought I was back in orientation,” Liam mocks.There’s a subtle accent in his speech. I wonder which area of the LS he comes from?
“Watch it. You’re still a recruit, and I am your commanding officer,” Ean sneers.
With a smirk, Liam shakes his head and continues to walk alongside Sodie, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Charlie bumps my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Little One. You’ll get used to the overabundance of testosterone around here.” He winks and smiles before turning his attention back to Ean.
I blush, not used to this kind of attention. Seriously, has he seen me?
