Page 88 of Oath of Revenge

Chapter 27

When they entered the tent, the fire was roaring. Someone had stoked it while they’d mingled with the pack outside. It was almost fully dark, and he could feel the moon rising. Soon the full moon would beam down at them through the hole in the ceiling. He wanted to time it so that they completed the bond at that exact moment. He wanted it to be perfect for her.

The glocken berry would be wearing off any day now, and the need for her to claim him back had risen with every hour they’d been in camp. A sense of urgency stole over him, and he led her to the bed, his stomach in knots.

She tilted her head. “Are you nervous?” The incredulity in her voice made him wince and shrug.

“Gods, yes. I don’t even remember being this nervous when I got married.”

She sat on the edge of the bed and leaned forward to unlace her boots. “Tell me about her?”

Wulfric reached behind his head and tugged his shirt off. It was probably against some rule to talk about a previous wife to his new mate, but he wouldn’t deny her. She could ask for the moon itself, and he’d hunt the heavens and Eoni itself to bring it to her.

He tossed his shirt into his chest of clothes. “She was the daughter of the tavern owners. I first noticed her at our village school before I could even read, but never talked to her until we were older. She always had her group of friends, and I had mine.”

Scarlet set her boots by the chest at the foot of the bed. “Was she beautiful?”

He paused, picturing her easy smile with the dimple on one side. “I always thought so. Deep brown hair like newly varnished oak and eyes to match. Gods, those eyes. She could’ve had anyone in the village. Hells, in all of Busparia. Yet she chose me, much to her parents’ dismay.”

He shoved his pants down, throwing it into his chest.

“They didn’t like you? Why ever not?” Her surprised anger made him chuckle as he laid on the bed, hands behind his head and ankles crossed. He watched as she unlaced her vest and set it on top of her boots, her face indignant on his behalf.

“I wasn’t good enough. My parents had raised me to run the general store, but her parents had lofty goals for their precious daughter. They wanted a noble who would provide for her. She loved to read, and they wanted someone who would let her read to her heart’s content instead of working her hands raw.”

“So they spoiled her.” Scarlet’s voice was flat now as she pushed her pants down and folded them, adding them to her pile of clothes.

He shifted on the bed, growing impossibly hard as he watched her undress. “Not really. They just loved her so much and wanted the best for her.”

Scarlet paused and frowned in confusion. “But that would’ve been you. You’re the best.”

Her sincerity made his chest swell with emotion, and he leaned up on one elbow. “Ah, bunny, your words are a balm to my soul. Look at what you’ve done to the captain now.”

He waved a hand at his crotch, and her eyes dropped as she grabbed the bottom of her borrowed shirt. She licked her lips as his shaft lengthened out of its sheath, growing thick and heavy. She shook her head and chuckled, eyes glancing away and head going high as she pulled her arms out of the shirt.

“Seriously, that nickname is ridiculous.”

He grinned and palmed his dick, sliding his hand up slowly. “At least I remember now why I call it that.”

“Your wife?” Scarlet paused, but he shook his head.

“No, actually. Shortly after I arrived in the army’s camp in Glathen, I was promoted to captain. Then the camp followers started hounding me. They gave it that nickname, and it sort of stuck.”

Her shoulders relaxed at the explanation, and she swept her shirt up and over her head. It only caught a moment in her little antlers, then she was tossing it to the floor with the rest.

“Did you fuck the camp followers?” When she met his gaze, her cheeks were flushed and her gaze accusatory.

He sat up, his hands settling on either side of his hips on the bed. “I did, yes. I’m not proud of it, but I’m not going to pretend that I’ve been celibate since my wife died or in the past ten years since I’ve been a Growler.”

Her breathing changed, growing shallow, and her pupils dilated, pushing the deep green aside. “Very well, but if any of the Growler women in camp make a reference to intimately knowing the captain, I’ll gut them before they even see the blades.”

He laughed, reaching for her hips just to be able to touch her and swinging his knees to brace her between them. He looked up into her fierce face, his chest full of emotion. “Ah I love when you get all protective and growly.”

She scowled and tried to pull away. “Well, don’t get used to it. Just because we’re completing the mate bond and are working together to keep the forest safe doesn’t mean we’re going to live happily ever after.”

He heard her words, saw her stiffen and hold herself away from him. The scent of fear emanating from her was palpable. Not the frantic, fight-or-flight fear of imminent danger, but a more subtle and complex fear. The fear of vulnerability and potential heartache, the fear of taking a chance on someone new. It wafted off of her in waves, mingling with the natural fragrance of her skin and creating an aura of trepidation around her.

His fingers flexed on her hips, his claws growing as his own flare of possessiveness made his chest burn. He wanted her to give in and trust him to not leave, to take care of her, to be a true partner in life. He didn’t want to take away her independence, but there was no way he could let her go now that he’d found her.

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