Page 6 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

I pulled on a pair of simple cotton pants and tied the string. “Well, you won’t know unless you say it.”

“The female Shale put in the next room is from the Mountain Ridge Herd. She’s Alpha Torrid’s daughter, and the rumors are true. He traded her to Gorrin’s herd to pay off a substantial debt.”

I stared from one to the other. “You’re serious?”

“Yes, and there’s more. I spoke to a few of the guards who submitted to us and apparently, Gorrin demanded his payment from Torrid in land or his daughter. Even though Torrid had lots of land, he chose to send his daughter. He said she was worthless, nothing more than an omega. Gorrin only wanted her because he thought she was beautiful. But his mate found out about him fucking her and threatened to leave and sever their bond. Which, as you know, would weaken him, so he tossed her to the guards for them to…um…for their….”

“Their what,” I growled, a dangerous rage brewing inside of me. I knew what Chase was going to say, but I needed to hear the words for myself.

“For them to use.” He cleared his throat. “In any way they liked. Would you like details?”

I snarled at my friends, and they took a step back from me. “I don’t think that is wise right now. How long has she been with Gorrin’s herd?” Chase and Shale looked at one another and then down at their feet. “Tell me.”

“She was handed over shortly after her eighteenth birthday. The guard I spoke to said that she’d been there just over a year.”

“And the guard you spoke to, was he one of the ones who indulged himself,” I asked. I could feel her essence pressing in on me, consuming my mind. The thought of countless men hurting her made my blood burn as hot as the red lava that poured from the volcanoes across the sea. I had wanted to lay waste to Torrid before this, but now I would rip his heart from his chest and eat it in front of his herd.

Shale opened his mouth to answer, but a scream pierced my heart. I was on the move and wrenching the door open to Aurora’s room. Aurora was on the bed, pushed all the way to the headboard. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the three females who were sent up to help feed and bathe her.

“Alpha, I’m sorry we did not mean to scare her,” Spring said as she bowed low.

“It’s fine. Everyone leave us,” I ordered, my eyes never leaving Aurora. She had a pillow gripped tightly in her fists, held to her body like a shield. The flickering candlelight danced on her face. It had only been a few hours since laying eyes on her, but I knew I would sacrifice my life for Aurora.

I took a step forward. Aurora’s pupils dilated, and her trembling grew more pronounced. Her gaze darted around like she was looking for an escape or maybe a weapon. She scampered off the bed and pressed herself into the corner, grabbing the sword off the wall on her way. She pulled it up in front of her, but the blade dipped and touched the floor with a thud.

“I’m not going to hurt you, Aurora. You can put the sword down.” I held out my palms. She looked at them and then into my eyes. She tried to lift the sword again and shook her head, frustration evident in her gaze as she let it fall to the floor.

“You’re him? The one who brought me here.”

I nodded. “My name is Solaris, and I’m the Alpha of Vicious Winds.”

“You’re a rogue. How can you be an alpha?” She tilted her head as she stared at me. “My father said you were an angry bastard of a child because you were born unable to have children and that you crushed the souls of all the herds you conquered.”

Well, that was certainly an interesting spin on my legend. I laughed and shook my head.

“Nothing more than the ramblings of old men who feel threatened by me and refuse to change from their old ways. I do not crush souls unless they deserve to be crushed, and my mother and father were happily mated until they were killed by Alpha Zeal, who attacked my herd twelve years ago. I did kill him. As for my mating status, well, that is a much longer and more painful story, but I can mate.” I dared to take another step closer, continuing to hold out my hands for her to see. “You trusted me in the forest. Please trust me now. I promise that no harm will come to you, not ever again.”

She nibbled her bottom lip, which I found completely endearing. I could see her debating with herself, her big blue eyes giving away everything she was thinking. It took a few more patient moments, but Aurora stepped away from the wall. Watching her reminded me of the dance of a nervous bird as she made her way across the floor to stand in front of me. The pillow was still tightly gripped in her hands. Her knuckles were bright white as she stared up at me with so much fear buried inside of her. I could feel it running under her skin like blood, and I hated it.

I didn’t move. Not a single muscle flexed as she reached out with one hand and let it hover over mine. I sucked in a deep breath as I stopped myself from grabbing and pulling her into my arms. Aurora’s eyes flicked between my hands and my eyes as she slowly touched my palm.

I closed my eyes and groaned as the same powerful current stormed through my body. The scent of magnolias and sweet spring grass was strong in my nose, driving me wild. My heart thumped hard in my chest as it raced in time with hers. I took in a calming breath, and her hand molded to mine. When I opened my eyes, Aurora stood before me, the pillow forgotten on the floor. Her eyes were still closed, and a wistful grin turned up the corner of her lips. She was stunning, the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I understood what was happening as clearly as if it was written on paper in front of me.

Her eyes snapped open as I moved her hand to my lips, but she didn’t tug away. I kissed her scraped and battered knuckles before laying her hand against my cheek.

“My mate,” we said together.

Chapter

Five

AURORA

Solaris was not at all like I pictured him when I heard the tales of his villainy. He was tall, so much taller than my father, and his shoulders looked like they could lift boulders. His eyes were bright gold, which I’d never seen before, and they matched the thick, dark waves of hair that fell to his chin. A mean scar sliced through his eyebrow, matching the rugged shadow from his last shave and the tattoos that lined his neck and chest. He was nothing like the guards who had attacked me. He was far deadlier. I could see the power radiating from him, and yet the look of kindness in his eyes was confusing.

“Will you let me help you bathe and eat?” I looked at the tub in the middle of the room and trembled. Solaris cupped my chin, and I tensed as I readied for the slap that would come from being insubordinate. His thumb ran over my bottom lip. “I will never hurt you. I will lay down my life for you, and I will protect you with my dying breath. You never need to worry that I will raise my hand to you or take you to bed unwillingly.”

“I don’t understand, Alpha. You are very handsome and powerful and in command of a large herd. I’m sure many would be better suited for someone of your status, not an unwantedomega with no purity left to give.” Tears filled my eyes as the weight of my words sank in. I was truly insignificant now. My father made it known what I was worth the day he handed me to Gorrin and never looked back. Gorrin kept me like a pet for his pleasure for a short time before I was locked up. “Why would the Goddess saddle you with the likes of me? You should reject me, and I’ll accept before the bond grows. This is the only gift I can give you.” He smiled, and I couldn’t help the crushed feeling in my chest as I waited for him to say the words.

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