Page 84 of Forcing Fate

He heaved me into his chest with one quick jerk.

At the same time—he flew back.

I stumbled forward into the sudden void as the man let out a surprised grunt. A thick, corded arm wound around his neck, wrenching him away from me. His face reddened, starving for air as he sputtered. He scrambled and ripped at the chokehold, dragging him back.

Relief weakened my knees, and I dropped to the ground.

General Rafe.

He hurled the man into a tree, pinning him with his elbow against his throat

“What. Do. You. Think. You’re. Doing?” He bit out every word, slow and deep. His growl reminded me of a leashed bear, ready for the kill.

The man glared, fighting at his arm. Through my haze of terror, I noticed he didn’t kick at the General, he only sought to free himself. He didn’t attempt to answer or speak. The title ‘General’ still demanded respect from this soldier, even if I meant nothing.

General Rafe lost patience. His fist slammed into the man’s face. He sagged, lip bleeding, and General Rafe landed another blow. Spit and blood splattered as he lolled to the side. When he doubled over, the General snapped his knee up, ramming it into his nose with a sickening crunch. The man crumbled to the ground, wrapping his arms over his head and curling his legs to his chest. General Rafe pulled his thick leg back and drove his boot into him as hard as he could—into his back, his neck, his ribs—over and over without mercy. The man’s guttural, anguished cries filled the clearing.

I must have made some sound of horror because his furious eye snapped to me. I shrunk away from the rage in that gaze. He kicked the man one last time in the neck. The man went limp and silent.

General Rafe lunged my way and realization spread, deepening my fear. He was not going to stop. His heated gaze was trained on me. Rage stiffened his strides as he arrowed toward me without slowing. There would be no tenderness from him. He reached down, hauling me up by the front of my dress. My feet slid and slipped against the forest floor as he forced me through the thicket of thorns, snaring and tearing my skirts. My back slammed against a tree, knocking the air from my lungs. I gasped as he crowded in, crushing his body against mine.

He leaned down, his furious eye a breath from my face. “How stupid are you?!” The force of his words stung against my skin.

I flinched away, pressing myself into the tree as if I could become one with it and disappear from his sight.

“You asked for that. You flat out asked for it!” he roared.

I closed my eyes, tears falling as I squeezed them shut as tight as I could.

“What did you expect? That you’d make it through the wolf’s den without getting caught?” Rough fingers caught my jaw, and he forced my face to his. “Look at me.”

A sob tore from my throat and I shook my head as much as his bruising grip would allow.

“Look at me!!” His livid shout thundered, deafening and terrifying. Spittle sprayed my cheek.

Terrified, my eyes shot open to seek his dark gaze. He grabbed my wrists in one hand and pinned them above me. His hips thrust against my body hard enough that the rough bark stabbed into my back. I whimpered and my teeth sank into my lip. Blood seeped into my mouth.

“Is this what you wanted?!” he growled, squeezing my jaw. “YES OR NO! IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?!”

“No!” I sobbed, sagging against him.

Terror and shame consumed every inch of me. I was naïve even after the Healer’s warning. I should have known better. Regret devoured me whole. I closed my eyes again, blocking out his glare.

His hulking form pinned me tight, leaving no room to suck in my sobbing breaths. He held me like that for what seemed like an eternity, his rigid body crushing mine. I cried against the tree, while he watched my suffering, my remorse.

He waited until my sobs slowed to a hiccuping stutter. I dared peer up at him through my tears.

“Do you understand what could have happened?” He dropped to a low whisper, his voice catching on syllables as he spoke.

I wanted to take comfort in that voice, but it was laced with far too much wrath.

“Yes,” I breathed.

His pupil constricted as he looked into my eyes. “Do you know what he would have done with you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know how he would have left you?”

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