Page 30 of Oath of Revenge

She glared and jerked out of his hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His heart ached for her, his tough little bunny. What had she been through that had toughened her so? He wanted to hear all her stories. He wanted to kiss her and make her feel better.

Instead, he just shook his head and took a guess. “You lost something and had to put on a tough persona to make it through, didn’t you?”

Her eyes searched his. Did he go too far? Pressure on his chest increased as she stood up, the bowl and jar forgotten on the floor. Hands on hips, she glared at him.

“Yeah, I lost my mother. To a raiding pack of Growlers. Then my father to the war.” Her pain-filled expression was like lightning to his gut.

His stomach twisted and dread spread through him. If Growlers killed her mother, would she ever see him as more than a monster?

His poor bunny, how did he not know everything about her? He should’ve known, should’ve asked more questions first, before kissing her and telling her of the mate bond.

“I’m sorry,” he said simply.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, hands clenching. “See? You don’t know me. You know nothing about me, and you definitely don’t know what mates are because that’s not us.”

She spun on her heel and stormed out the front door. She went into the snow without a coat, and he didn’t want her to get too cold.

He half rose from the chair, but his vision started spinning, and he sank back down. He breathed through it, his mind racing through different things he could say to her, ways he could get to know her so she’d accept the mate bond. Then they could claim each other.

A tingle in the back of his head spread, and for the first time since becoming a Growler, he worried about the family he might’ve left behind. When he’d been turned and lost all his memories, he’d taken it as a fresh new start on life.

But now he wondered what he’d lost. He had no way of knowing what town he’d come from, what his job was, or what kind of man he’d been. Had he had a mate before? The humans called them wives, didn’t they?

He sighed and grabbed the ointment from the floor. Slowly, he began to lather it on his open wounds. They were closing up nicely on their own and would probably be completely regenerated by tomorrow morning, other than a few scars.

He’d gathered several in the past few years, and he wondered if they bothered Scarlet. She’d been so gentle with him, taking care of him like the softie she was. She didn’t want anyone to know, but he knew. He could see under the hidden layers.

No, his bunny wasn’t bothered by his scars. She had a tough shell, was a powerful warrior in her own right, but inside she was soft, sensitive, and caring.

Now he just needed to convince her of the truth of their matehood, complete the mate bond with her, and reclaim his position as alpha. Then he could spend the rest of his life peeling back her other layers and getting to know her.

The key was going to be fixing her curse. She’d cried when she’d realized her antlers and ears had changed from the tea. If he could convince the Elders to fix her, she might open up to him and see him as something more than just a savage Growler. She might see him as a fucking hero.

Chapter 9

Scarlet stomped through the snow, the crunch the only sound in the stillness of mid-morning. Stupid fucking Growler thought he knew everything, but he didn’t. He didn’t know her.

And he never would. She had to keep him at arm’s length. Because the way her lips had tingled at his kiss... She’d seen stars, just like she’d always heard girls talk about at the taverns.

She shook her head and pushed open the door to the barn. Grandma was brushing Rain but didn’t look up when she came in.

“So what do you think?” Olive asked, the wind outside picking up with a howl.

Scarlet scowled and began to pace in front of the stalls. “He thinks he’s my mate. What the fuck? There’s no way the fates would be so cruel.”

“The fates don’t make mistakes, child,” Olive said softly. “It’s as the dream foretold.”

Scarlet glared at her, then spun on her heel. So that’s what Olive hadn’t wanted to talk about in the house? The fucking mate bond. “I refuse to accept it.”

Olive’s sad eyes glowed in the lamplight. “Then you’re both doomed, child.”

Doomed? Surely she was being overly dramatic.

The whipping wind outside increased, and Scarlet used her hand to make a cutting motion. “No, I won’t let it be. Not that it matters right now. What matters is getting you safely to Eirwyn. They’re anxious about delivering the egg. You’re the only living person who’s even seen a dragon egg hatch before. You need to be there.”

Olive nodded and waved to a bag by the door. “I know, that’s why I packed my bag a week ago. I’m ready when Knox gets here.”

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