Page 7 of The Orc Outcast's Miracle

This woman was a slave to her own grief. There was no logic with her. “I am sorry for your loss. Truly.” She glanced at Rogeth. “And you, too. It must have been horrible to lose your father like that.”

Rogeth flinched. “He . . . wasn’t . . .”

Miranda blinked in confusion, though she realized Rogeth was far too young to have been born around that time. He was younger than Govek.

“I have honored their legacy. By raising the babes of this clan whose mothers refused to do the duty. I alone take on the role the conquests of Oakwall Village abandoned. I am mother to this entire clan,” Maythra said haughtily, as if the original agreement between conquests and orcs wasn’t for the male to raise the babe on his own.

Before Miranda could even think of how to respond, the thundering sound of feet and the cracking of branches sounded in the distance. Getting closer.

“He’s coming!” Wolvc yelled as Rogeth’s still blurry form took shelter behind him. Coward.

“No!” Maythra screamed, as Miranda got to her feet. “It must be in the hall! We have no witnesses!”

Too bad, Miranda thought as Govek’s brutal, hulking form burst through the underbrush and hurtled into the clearing.

He skated to a halt and the sight of him took Miranda’s breath away.

He was gone. His eyes were glassy pricks, glowing in the darkness. His breathing was labored and his muscles were bunched, ready to spring into action. His fists were tight, ready to swing.

His gaze landed on Miranda, piercing her right through. She froze and her rational thoughts winked out. He looked like he was ready to rain pure carnage down on them all.

And she wanted to let him.

That single moment of hesitation was enough permission for Govek. He ripped his eyes away from her, found Wolvc, and slammed into him. The young male barely had time to flinch before Govek’s fist connected with his jaw.

The crack ricocheted off the trees and reverberated all the way up Miranda’s spine. Blood exploded from Wolvc’s mouth as he fell. Govek followed him down and raised his fist again as Maythra screamed for help.

Miranda wanted to let Govek vent his fury and get revenge on her behalf, but it wasn’t fair. He would regret this to the depths of his core just as he did everything else.

“You stole my mate.”

Oh lordy, him and his fricking voice. Unfortunately, he seemed too far gone to notice Miranda at all. All his attention was focused on the male that cowered beneath him.

Govek hesitated and his grated words revealed why. “I challenge you, Wolvc. Stand up and face me.”

Wolvc coughed and choked. Unable to get up. He only held up his hands to fend Govek off. “I—yi—” The sound came out garbled and strange. His jaw hung oddly loose. “Y-yield.”

Govek’s face contorted and Miranda’s heart fell right out of her chest.

His fist rose, tightened, muscles bunched. “I’m not fucking done.”

He would kill him.

Miranda lost every sense of reason she had and rushed in. She grabbed the fist that was in the air and yanked it to her mouth. Govek’s attention snapped to her and adrenaline spiked down her spine. He was so terrifying, but the surprise loosened his muscles enough for her to pull his fist down and unclench his hand. She extended his finger, drew it to her mouth, and licked from his knuckle to the tip of his claw.

Everything seemed to go still, from the males, to Maythra, to the wind in the trees. But most importantly, Govek froze.

His mask of blind rage fell from his face and something closer to complete disbelief settled over his features.

“What the fuck?” Rogeth said and almost gained back Govek’s attention.

She sucked his finger into her mouth. She kissed and licked him carefully, trying not to cut herself on the sharp edge of his claw. The taste of salt and burned wood washed over her tongue.

Govek’s eyes bulged, and he shivered. “Miranda.” His hand twitched as if trying to get it away from her. “Not safe.”

“Is that so?” she asked softly around his digit.

“Miranda!”

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