Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
They had barely left the stream when the large wolf appeared in front of them, blocking the way.
“He is warning us. We need to go back to the wolf’s den and hide.” Sky shook her head when her husband looked ready to argue. “We must go. Now.”
“The wolves may not let me enter,” Slayer said.
“He will. He senses the danger.”
Slayer went to argue when he heard the thundering roar of horses’ hooves. It was no small group headed their way. He scooped his wife up in his arms and ran.
The two wolves paced in front of the cave once Sky and Slayer entered, and Sky worried what might happen to them while trying to protect her.
“A large troop approaches,” Slayer warned, sitting cramped in the confined cave with his wife tucked tightly against him.
“Not yours?”
“Nay. Not mine,” he confirmed, and his mind ran wild with what he could do to keep his wife safe and grew furious when he was unable to find a solution.
The horses suddenly sounded as if they stopped in front of the cave. But the horses were heard braying and pounding their hooves, unwilling to get near the wolves.
“Archers!” a man yelled.
“NAY!” Sky yelled before Slayer could stop her.
“Come out or we kill the wolves,” a man demanded.
“Do not respond,” he whispered.
“A daughter of the Wolf clan would never allow a wolf to die for her,” the man called out.
Slayer shook his head.
Sky kept her voice to a whisper. “They do not know you are here with me.”
Slayer shook his head again, knowing what his wife was thinking.
Sky pressed her finger to his lips. “Please. We have no choice. You must let them take me. It is the only way you can save me. Otherwise, you die here. And my fate? We do not know. Would you really leave me to suffer?”
“I grow impatient, woman!” the man yelled.
“Give me a moment. I injured my ankle,” she yelled out. She quieted her voice once again. “You will find me. You will always find me.” She grabbed hold of his face and kissed him.
“Nay!” Slayer said when their kiss ended. “I cannot let you—”
“You must. It is the only way we both have a chance of surviving and having a future together.” She placed his hand on her stomach. “I feared the fall would take the bairn from me, but so far it has not. If he can fight to survive, then so can we.”
How rage and happiness could exist together, Slayer did not know. There was so much he wanted to say to her but there was no time.
He kissed her hard so she would have part of him to hold onto, then whispered. “I will find you.”
“I know,” she said, moving toward the opening.
“I love you, Sky,” he said before she reached it.
She turned her head and smiled. “I know that too.”
CHAPTER 25
“Chase the wolves!”
Slayer heard the man yell as he moved closer to the opening of the cave to listen, fighting to stop himself from rushing out to protect his wife and unborn bairn. But that would be foolish, and Sky’s sacrifice would be in vain. He would wait, find her, and have his revenge.
Sky turned her head as she pointed to the cave behind her and whispered, “Protect and help him.”
The wolves did not hesitate, they entered the cave.
The two wolves lay by the entrance, watching Sky, and ignoring him.
Bloody hell, if his wife did not continue to protect him while sacrificing herself, sending the wolves to protect him so that the men would not come near the cave and find him. She was foolish, stubborn, and brave.
“She commands the wolves!” a man called out sounding frightened.
“Don’t look at her!” another man ordered.
“Cover her eyes so she cannot curse us,” another yelled.
Anger had Slayer clenching his fists and his jaw, the thought of her blind while with her captives infuriating him.
“It is how she commands the wolves and other animals, you fool,” a man called out.
Slayer had not given thought to that and wondered if it was the reason for her strange abilities with animals.
“We head home,” the man commanded. “Get her on my horse.”
“Let her walk,” someone called out.
“She will slow us down with that limp,” another said.
“I did not ask your thoughts on it,” the man said with a snarl. “Now do as I command.”
Slayer did not like that his wife would ride on a horse with the man, but it was better she did. Her injured ankle would only get worse and then there was the bairn to consider. He hoped whether it was a son or daughter who nestled within her that he or she would continue to fight and survive.
“Halfdan will be pleased that we have been successful in finding her.”
“We have yet to reach home.”
“Once we join the other two troops no one will be able to stop us.”