Chapter 136
"Quiet," a voice hissed in my ear. Gregor.
My stomach dropped. "Let me go," I tried to say, but it came out muffled.
He pulled me back into the trees, his grip unrelenting. My pulse roared in my ears.
"You shouldn't be here," Gregor said lowly, his voice like ice. "You have no idea what those men would do to you if they found you."
"They were talking about me. I am the one they're looking for," I said desperately when he finally let me breathe.
"About Rowan. He's my—"
"You're not the one," Gregor cut me off sharply.
His eyes were cold, hard. "They're lying to draw you out. They want to kill you, Ariadne."
I shook my head. "That's not true. I heard them. They said he's gone mad with grief and he keeps sending men to look for me. That he's still looking for me. I have to find him!"
Gregor's hand tightened on my arm, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't be ridiculous Ariadne! Why would a pure blood Alpha King of the most powerful werewolf kingdom in the continent be married to an otsayak?! Did you stop to think of how ridiculous you sound?! Alpha King Rowan's queen is Queen Arin. She is a close relative of the Emperor of Braam and a part of the Emperor's royal family. She is a royal human being with pure noble blood. Does that sound like you?!"
Tears burned in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. My heart felt like it was tearing in two.
"You're lying," I whispered. "Why are you lying to me?"
Gregor's jaw tightened, his voice dropping to a near growl. "You're ridiculous. You've gone mad thinking you're a queen. How could someone like you ever be a queen? I'm just trying to protect you. They'll kill you, Ariadne. Wolves from Zaire won't be as kind to you as you think. They'll kill you and spit on your grave. I won't let that happen."
I stared at him, his face illuminated by the moonlight. For the first time, I realized just how afraid he looked. Not for himself — for me.
But fear didn't matter anymore. I needed answers. I needed Rowan.
If he wasn't mine then who was he?
I knew he was mine. Deep in my heart I knew he was someone I knew and loved, I just wish I could recover my damned memories so I could remember something.
Anything that would help me.
………….
The moon hung high and pale as I moved through the dense trees, my breath misting in the cold night air. My legs ached, but I couldn’t stop — not yet. The weight of my old clothes felt familiar, like a piece of myself I had finally reclaimed. Gregor’s voice echoed in my mind, his promises of safety and marriage. I couldn’t let him trap me any longer. I had to find the truth.
Earlier that day, Gregor had gone to the chief. I heard him speaking through the walls of the hut, his voice low and urgent.
“We can’t wait any longer,” Gregor had insisted. “Marry us by sunset. It’s for her safety. Do it immediately.”
The chief’s voice was steady, unwavering. “You said it yourself that she is hesitant to marry you. Why rush? I will not wed anyone without full consent. That is our way.”
Gregor’s frustration was palpable. I could feel it, even without seeing his face. He was losing patience — with the chief, with me. I knew then that I had to leave. I couldn’t understand why he was so desperate to marry me. If I waited any longer, I wouldn’t get the chance.
I found Freya’s hut while she was away. My old clothes were tucked in the corner, still smelling faintly of smoke and pine. I stripped off the heavy garments Gregor had given me and slipped into my familiar clothes. They were rough and worn but felt like home. I pulled my hair back, tucked it beneath a hood, and wrapped a shawl around my hair to hide the Otsayak mark.
Nightfall came, and the village grew quiet. Most of the clan had left to prepare for the full moon. It was the perfect time. My heart hammered as I slipped out of my hut and into the shadows.
Branches scratched at my arms as I stumbled through the underbrush. My heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from the driving need to find the truth — to find Rowan. His name felt like a flicker of light in the darkness of my mind. He had to be real. He had to.
After what felt like hours, I was exhausted.
I needed to rest.
To journey in the night would be to expose myself to danger. I had to find somewhere to stay hidden for the night.
I found a cave tucked into the side of a hill. It wasn’t much, but it was shelter. My body screamed for rest. I crawled inside, curling up against the cold stone floor. My eyes drifted shut, exhaustion finally claiming me.
I woke to the low, rumbling growl of a wolf.
Panic surged through me. My eyes snapped open, and in the faint moonlight filtering through the cave entrance, I saw it — massive, dark-furred, and staring at me with glowing amber eyes. My throat tightened.
“Easy,” I whispered, though my voice shook. The wolf didn’t move, its gaze locked on me. I could feel the raw power radiating from it, a predator watching its prey.
I swallowed hard, trying to stay calm. “I’m not a threat.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
