Page 101 of Oath of Revenge

His hand dropped weakly to his side as he pleaded. “Scarlet, I accept you.”

“You’re not enough,” she said. Immediately, her stomach twisted, and he reared back, his face going slack. “I mean, I need more. I need a family.”

But he only clenched his jaw as he said, “Give them time to come around. You haven’t even talked to any of them since shifting into the rabbit and deer. Once they understand, they’ll love you just the way you are. Just give them a chance.”

“No, they won’t, and I can’t,” she said stubbornly, ignoring the stab of pain in her chest.

His hands fisted at his sides. “If you can’t accept them, how will they ever accept you? You hold people at arm’s length and refuse to let anyone close. Well, being tough is going to get you killed, and if it doesn’t, you’re going to be damn lonely and miserable.”

She blinked rapidly as he stomped to a bush heavy with icicles. Her dad’s voice echoed in her head, and she stood frozen to the ground until he turned and thrust a bag at her. Her hands automatically took it, opening the drawstring and wiping her cheek.

She thought through his words as she pulled on the pants and shirt. They were loose, but warm. She found a plain brown cloak too and a pair of leather bottomed socks.

Damn it, Wulfric was right. Her dad was right. This was fucking shit. She wasn’t some weak woman to cry like this. She glanced at him. He stood a few paces away, staring with hard eyes as she dressed.

“If you won’t come back to camp, where will you go?”

“First to my brother, then to find the Queen.”

His jaw clenched, and he crossed his arms. “Of course.” His voice was so bitter and disappointed, it made her stomach knot.

She sighed, pulling the cloak around her shoulders. “Damn it, Wulfric, why do you have to be so noble and good all the time? Why can’t you just–”

“Be a typical bloodthirsty Growler?” he said quietly, crossing his arms.

She glared at him, but he just shook his head. “You know, Scarlet, I don’t think I ever had a chance with you. We may be mates and I accept you as you are, but you’ll never be able to accept me. You’ll hold on to your prejudices forever, won’t you?”

The last wasn’t really a question, but a resigned sigh. He walked around her and shook his head. “The mate bond is finished, so neither of us will die now. You’re free to run off and get yourself killed, but know this.” He half faced her, finger raised to point. “If you do, I will feel it. Every pain of yours is pain for me.”

She swallowed hard as he raked a hand through his hair. “I’ll be arriving within a week to speak with your brother. Perhaps I’ll see you then, and we can talk this out.”

She couldn’t speak, was frozen in place as his words sank in.

He stared into the dark forest, the snow falling on his black and gray mane of hair as he stood naked and proud. “I’d like to talk this out. I’ll have no one else for as long as I live, Scarlet. You’re it for me. There will be no others.”

Her breath caught in her chest, but he wasn’t finished as he turned to face her, his beautiful eyes glowing in the soft afternoon light.

“But if you don’t want this, a mate, a life together...me...I won’t force you. I may be alpha, but I’m not a monster. Decide what you want, bunny.”

Then he turned and walked away. Scarlet’s heart broke, but she refused to give in. There was no decision to make. She couldn’t live like this. Why couldn’t he see that?

She stomped north to the main road in her leather soled socks, muttering under her breath and ignoring the icy winter around her.

Her anger and rage carried her through the long trek through the frozen forest, well past nightfall. Weariness clawed at her, but she didn’t stop. Birds twittered in the distance, mixing with the sounds of her footsteps crunching below. The temperature dropped steadily until she had to walk with her hands under her armpits. Around midnight, she made a pitiful campfire and shivered as she struggled to stay warm.

She’d had no problem being warm with Wulfric near. He was like a furnace. She’d brought this on herself, yet still she continued on. She woke before dawn and broke camp. She needed to move and get her blood pumping. Every step was an ache.

But when she stood in the middle of the road, the long frost-covered dirt stretching out before her, her soul cried out in pain.

Son of a bitch, he was right. She looked up at the morning sky, the sun not quite visible with the trees. Her stomach growled in hunger for breakfast, but she’d been too cold to hunt or trap anything last night.

The road stretched before her, empty and barren like her life. The emotions within her built, and her head pounded.

She didn’t want to leave him. She could live with the Growlers, form a life at his side, right?

It had been fun, fighting back-to-back and defending him against Brody. Perhaps she could still use her Hunters skills, and she’d make Grandma and Knox proud if she could help bring peace to the forest. She was shit at talking in front of a crowd, but surely she could get to know people and help. Surely they would get to know her and accept her in return.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, ashamed and afraid of rejection again. The icy fingers of fear licked up her spine. It squeezed her chest, making it hard to breathe. She ripped off her cloak and dropped it to the ground. She still couldn’t fill her lungs.

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