Page 13 of Her Possessive Minotaurs

My fingers tighten around my axe, knuckles cracking in anticipation.

"They've come for her," I mutter. My voice sounds more like a growl, even to my own ears. My eyes narrow, watching their every step.

They move with caution, their dark armor glinting in the patches of light filtering through the trees. The air around them seems to chill further, tainted by their presence.

One of them steps forward, his helmet adorned with twisted horns. He looks around, suspicious but not yet aware of my presence. Good. Let them come closer.

I flex my muscles, feeling the tension coil within me like a spring ready to snap. These bastards think they can just waltz into our territory? Think again.

Thalos's words echo in my mind: "She's trouble."

Maybe she is, but she's our trouble now. And I'll be damned if I let these dark elves take her back to that hellhole she escaped from.

I inch forward, my movements silent and deliberate. Each step brings me closer to the edge of the ridge, closer to them. I count their numbers—five—scouting party, light armor but well-armed. They won't be an easy kill.

But then again, nothing worth fighting for ever is.

One of them stops suddenly, raising a hand to signal the others. He sniffs the air, his eyes narrowing as if sensing something off. A trickle of unease runs through me. Do they know I'm here?

I grip my axe tighter and roll my shoulders back. If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get.

Their leader motions for them to spread out, searching for any signs of disturbance. They’re methodical but not infallible.

A branch snaps beneath one of their feet—a tiny sound in this vast forest but loud enough to betray their position to me completely.

I smirk and take one last breath of the crisp air before pushing myself off the slope with a powerful leap.

"Surprise," I whisper to myself as I descend upon them like a force of nature.

The first elf doesn’t even see it coming—my axe swings down with brutal efficiency, cleaving into his shoulder before he can react. His scream cuts through the forest air as his comrades whirl around in shock.

Too late for them now.

I stand, rolling my shoulders, my weapon familiar and comforting in my hand. The metallic smell of blood and adrenaline lingers in the air, a testament to the brief but violent encounter. For a moment, I debate my next move, eyes scanningthe forest for any signs of more dark elves. But there's nothing. Just the stillness of the wilds and the soft rustling of leaves.

Thalos needs to know.

Turning back toward the lair, I move with swift, powerful strides. The forest parts for me as if sensing my urgency, branches and underbrush yielding to my passage. The distance melts away under my determined pace, every step bringing me closer to our stronghold.

As I approach the entrance, the familiar scent of home—earthy, musky—fills my nostrils. The firelight flickers within, casting dancing shadows on the rough-hewn walls. I step inside, my brothers looking up at my arrival.

“Dark elves,” I say, my voice laced with disdain. “They’re close. Probably looking for the girl.”

Thalos’s jaw tightens, his eyes narrowing with a mix of anger and calculation. He crosses his arms over his broad chest, his muscles tense beneath his fur. For a moment, he says nothing, just staring into the fire as if seeking answers in its flames.

“We’re not using her as bait,” Thalos finally says, his voice firm. “At least, not yet.”

Kael looks up from his place by Laia’s side, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp. My gaze flicks between us all, a smirk playing at my lips.

I cross my arms as well, waiting for Thalos’s next command. The tension in the lair is palpable, but there’s also an unspoken understanding among us: we protect our own.

For now.

My eyes flick to Laia, who’s standing nearby with a pale face. She overheard the conversation, her hands trembling slightly. A wicked grin spreads across my lips.

“Maybe she should decide,” I say, my voice dripping with challenge. “If she wants to prove herself, this would be the way to do it.”

Laia steps forward, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “I don’t want to be abandoned,” she says quietly. “I’ll help. However I can.”

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