Page 7 of Unruly Hearts

Agis

Istumble through the woods, whiskey bottle in hand. The trees blur together in the darkness, but I don't need to see where I'm going. My orc instincts help me avoid most obstacles, though I occasionally bump into a branch.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I mutter to myself in Orcish.

The whiskey burns going down, but not as much as the need burning in my veins. Serenity offered herself to me, and I ran like a coward. But what else can I do? The moment she touched me, I knew – she’s my true mate. The one female in all the world meant for me.

And I am the worst possible match for her.

I take another long pull from the bottle. How can the universe be so cruel? To give me a mate who is not only human but also good and pure?

I'm a gambler.

I nearly got myself killed more times than I can count trying to win big at cards. She deserves better, but there would never be anyone else for me.

The sound of voices makes me pause. This deep in the woods, there shouldn't be anyone else around. I creep closer, my bare feet silent on the forest floor despite my size.

Through the trees, I see lights – not the harsh fluorescents of the wildlife center, but the warm glow of lanterns. A cabin I didn't know existed sits in a small clearing. Cards and chips clatter on a table visible through the window. My fingers itch at the familiar sound.

"Double or nothing," a gruff voice says from inside.

I edge closer, careful to stay in the shadows, and peer inside. Five men sit around a poker table, cigarette smoke clouding the air. Stacks of cash pile high between them. This is no friendly game – the stakes are serious.

"Ethan's gonna be pissed if he finds out you're running games without him," one man says.

“He’s too busy chasing what’s-her-name up at the Wildlife Center,” another responds. “Serenity, was it?”

“Yeah, twit owes him a lot of money.”

The cards smack against the table. “The boss’ll get her good,” the first man says. “She won’t know what hit her, just like her parents.”

I nearly drop the whiskey bottle. This Ethan is threatening Serenity? My mate? A growl builds in my chest.

"Shut up about Ethan," another man snaps. "He's going to own the Wildlife Center soon. The land’s worth millions to developers.”

The growl escapes before I can stop it. One of the men looks toward the window, and I duck back into the shadows.

"What was that?"

"Probably just a bear,” his buddy answered. “Deal the damn cards."

I should leave. I should go back and tell Serenity what I learned. But the familiar click of poker chips draws me in like a siren's song. I can win enough to help her save the center. One last game…

"Agis?" A whispered voice makes me spin around.

Serenity stands a few feet away, wrapped in a thick coat. Her blonde hair glows in the darkness.

"What are you doing out here?" I hiss, moving closer to block her view of the cabin.

"Looking for you, you big idiot," she says. "You're injured and it's freezing."

"You shouldn't be here." I try to guide her away, but she plants her feet.

"Neither should you. What's going on?" She peers around me at the cabin.”Why are there lights in there?”

Before I can stop her, she steps forward and a twig snaps under her foot. The voices in the cabin go quiet.

"Someone's out there," a man says. "Check it out."

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