Chapter Seven – Giselle
The forest was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Giselle stood still, her silver-gray fur blending seamlessly with the shadows. Her golden eyes were fixed on the spot where he stood—her mate. The pull towards him was undeniable, a magnetic force that had drawn her back to this perilous place despite her family's warnings too many times.
Her paws shuffled in place, muscles coiled tight, ready to bolt. The closer he came, the stronger the bond tugged at her heart. It was magnetic—inescapable. It begged her to surrender. Her wolf whimpered in her head, desperate to bridge the gap.
‘This is madness’, Giselle thought, barely able to keep her emotions from spiraling. She’d watched her mother get hunted down by wolves like him, seen the suspicion in their eyes anytime they caught the scent of a rogue. How could fate tie her to one of them?
And yet…
She had returned to this spot three times since the skirmish. She told herself it was to scout enemy movements, maybe to map out their defenses. But the truth was undeniable.
She came for him.
A part of her hoping that he could rescue her from her life on the run and save her and her family from their ruthless leader. But that was foolish to think about when you are a rogue wolf, and she knew better than to have hope.
Her mate took a cautious step back, giving her the space she desperately needed. “I know this is sudden,” his husky voice runs over her. “But I feel the bond between us. Don’t you?”
She tilted her head slightly, nostrils flaring as she scented the air. There was no denying who this wolf was to her or the fact that she desperately wanted to dive into the safety of his arms, but she was a rogue, and this was enemy territory.
With her mate being the enemy. Even if she wanted to forget everything and go to him, she couldn’t be that selfish. Her family needed her, and that was her priority right now.
A twig snapped in the distance, making her ears perk up in search of what was out there. A familiar scent floats to her on the breeze, making her fear for the wolf that has captured her heart.
In a flash, she turned and bolted, disappearing into the forest as fast as her legs would take her. She could hear her mate calling out for her to “Wait!, but she couldn’t slow down when his life could be in danger.
She could hear his footsteps take off in her direction, chasing after her once again, but she couldn’t allow him to follow her to where she was headed.
She chanced a peak over her shoulder, just in time to watch his foot catch on something, sending him sprawling to the ground. He groaned, pushing himself up to his knee, and that was the last that she saw of him.
She weaved through the forest, taking unpredictable paths, doubling back, and crossing streams to mask her scent. Each step away from her mate felt like a dagger to her heart.
‘We can't leave him!’ her wolf cried out within her. ‘He is ours!’
‘We have to,’ Giselle responded, her voice laced with sorrow. ‘Our family depends on us.’
The internal battle raged on as she finally reached the outskirts of the rogue camp. Just as she slowed her pace, a figure emerged from behind a tree. Tall and imposing, the leader of the rogues stood with a menacing grin. His face was marred by scars, each telling a tale of violence and survival.
"I saw you with the Alpha," he sneered, his eyes narrowing.
Giselle's heart skipped a beat. He knows.
"I... I didn't mean to—"
"Save it," he interrupted. "You're his mate, aren't you?"
She hesitated, then nodded slowly.
"Good," he said, stepping closer. "You're going to get close to him. Find a way into their pack."
"No," she said firmly. "I won't use him like that."
His expression darkened. "Think about your mother. Her health is deteriorating. And your sister? She's nearing maturity. The others are taking notice."
Giselle's blood ran cold. The look on his face let her know he wasn’t given an empty threat, and that he was one of the wolves that have taken notice of her sister’s beauty.
Bile rises in her throat at the thought of this ruthless wolf anywhere near her little sister. She would do whatever she had to do to ensure that her sister stayed safe and protected! Even if it means going against her own mate and risking losing him.
"Fine," she whispered. "But it will take time. After today, it would be suspicious if I sought him out immediately."
"You have two full moons," he warned. "Fail, and your family pays the price."
He disappeared into the shadows, leaving Giselle trembling. She made her way back to her tent, the weight of her decision pressing down on her.
'We have to tell him,' her wolf pleaded. 'He can protect us.'
'And risk everything?' Giselle countered. 'We can't.'
The silence that followed was deafening.
Entering the tent, she found her mother lying on a makeshift bed, her breathing shallow. Her younger sister sat beside her, eyes wide with concern.
"I'll protect you both," Giselle vowed, tears streaming down her face. "No matter what."
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