Page 38 of Her Possessive Minotaurs

With a swift kick, I send the dying orc crashing into his comrade. The forest erupts in chaos as more of them surge forward, but I stand my ground. Each swing of my axe is a promise—to Laia, to my brothers—that we will survive this night.

Another orc charges at me from the side, and I pivot just in time to parry his strike. My muscles burn with effort as our blades clash, but I force him back with sheer strength.

In the corner of my vision, Thalos fights like a whirlwind of fury and steel, while Irix’s wild laughter echoes through the trees as he tears through their ranks.

We’ve faced worse odds before. We will prevail.

With a final push, I bring my axe down on another attacker, ending his threat. The battle rages on around me, but in the back of my mind, there’s only one thought: Laia must be safe.

More come—five, six, seven of them, their weapons gleaming in the firelight. The orcs move with a savage purpose, their eyes fixed on us like predators zeroing in on prey. I grip my axe tighter, feeling the familiar burn in my muscles. There’s no room for hesitation.

They want to take Laia from us. These words keep repeating in my head, and I don’t need another reason to fight with my life on the line.

“Don’t let them get through!!” Thalos’s voice roars through the chaos, a command that cuts through the noise. His form is a blur of power and precision as he fends off the attackers.

Irix is going crazy beside me, his laughter wild and untamed. But my focus is razor-sharp, each swing of my axe is calculated, deliberate. The blade slices through flesh and bone, the scent of blood thick in the air.

An orc’s blade comes from nowhere, a flash of steel in the firelight. It slices across my arm, searing pain erupting along the wound. Blood drips down, staining my fur red. But I can’t stop. I won’t stop.

I thought of Laia’s retreating figure. A sharp pain twists my heart, more intense than the wound on my arm. Will I see her again? The thought drives me to fight harder.

With a roar, I push forward, my body moving on pure instinct. Each movement is a blend of rage and desperation. Another orc falls beneath my axe, his scream cut short by the blade’s edge.

As more orcs flood the area, I dig my feet into the earth, refusing to give an inch. My axe feels like an extension of my arm; every swing is a testament to my resolve. No one will get past me. Not tonight.

An orc lunges at me, and I meet his blade with mine, the clash of steel ringing in my ears. The impact sends a shockwave through my body, but I push back, forcing him to stagger. Aquick twist of my wrist and my axe slices through his neck, blood spraying across the ground.

My body screams with exhaustion, muscles burning with every movement.

An orc a foot bigger than me charges from my side, his eyes wild with bloodlust. I sidestep his attack and bring my axe down on his shoulder, cleaving through bone and muscle. He drops to the ground with a guttural cry, but there’s no time to rest—another takes his place almost immediately.

The batlle presses on me like a boulder wanting shut me down; every breath is a struggle. Laia’s safety depends on this moment, on our ability to hold the line against these monsters. My strength is slowly leaving me, blood seeping from my wounds.

Thalos’s voice cuts through the chaos, a command that resonates deep within me: “Stop them!”

My vision blurs for a moment as exhaustion threatens to overtake me, but I force myself to focus. Every drop of blood that spills from my wounds is a reminder of why I fight—why I can’t give up.

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28

LAIA

The roar of the waterfall drowns out everything else as I stumble toward it, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The icy spray hits my face, but it does nothing to cool the burning fear coursing through me. Behind me, the sounds of battle fade into the distance, but my heart remains there with Kael and the others. What if they’re hurt? What if Kael doesn’t come?

I find the cave hidden behind the curtain of water, just as Kael said. It’s well concealed; anyone would miss it if they didn’t know where to look. I slip inside, the darkness swallowing me whole. The air is damp and cold, a stark contrast to the fiery chaos outside. But the cave’s cool embrace does little to quell the storm of fear roiling inside me.

I pace back and forth, my mind spinning with guilt. I should be out there, fighting alongside them, not hiding like a coward. My fingers curl into fists, nails digging into my palms as I struggle to steady my breathing. The cave’s walls seem to close in around me, pressing down with all my doubts and fears.

Kael’s words echo in my mind. He needed me to go. He promised he’d come for me, but what if he can’t? What if this is the last time I see him? What if I lost one of them?

My legs feel weak, but I force myself to keep moving. Sitting still will only make it worse. Each step echoes off the stone walls, a constant reminder of my isolation.

I run my fingers over the rough surface of the cave wall, trying to ground myself in something tangible. The texture is harsh against my skin compared to the soft touches of my minotaurs.

Minutes stretch into what feels like hours. The roar of the waterfall outside is relentless, a constant reminder of the battle raging beyond these walls. I bite down on my lip until I taste blood, trying to push away thoughts of what might be happening out there.

Finally, I sink down onto the cold ground, wrapping my arms around my knees. Kael promised he’d come for me. Irix and Thalos... they’ll come for me as well. I just know it.

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