Page 28 of The Orc's Promised Bride

“Lothar entered the Trials,” Jessamin added quietly. “He could have been one of the winners, but he withdrew to give another male a chance - a male who had already formed a bond with one of the Brides. He is a good male.”

“I know he is,” she said fiercely, fighting back a sudden urge to cry.

It was because of that decision that he’d been in the woods to find her, to save her, and she was suddenly, fiercely glad that he’d made that choice.

CHAPTER 15

Lothar shifted his weight against the stone wall, the carved reliefs digging into his back as his fingers drummed restlessly against his thigh. Every few seconds, his gaze darted to the heavy wooden door separating him from Jana. He took several long, deep breaths, trying to calm the urge to burst through the doors and reclaim her.

A group of Brides passed by, their eyes lingering on him with undisguised interest. He turned away, remembering how different Jana’s gaze felt - curious but never predatory, warm rather than calculating. His chest tightened at the thought of losing that connection.

The past week had changed everything. Each morning he’d woken to find her curled against him, her trust in him evident even in sleep. Every smile, every tentative touch had carved itself into his heart. The kiss they’d shared on the mountain still burned in his memory.

But what if the answers she sought led her away from him? The thought twisted in his gut like a knife. He hadn’t prayed for her.He hadn’t earned her. What right did he have to keep her when she might be meant for another?

His fists clenched at his sides. His Beast stirred beneath his skin, rejecting the very idea of her with anyone else. He forced it back down, reminding himself that she wasn’t his possession. She deserved answers, deserved to know why she’d been brought here. Even if those answers shattered his heart.

Voices murmured behind the door, too low for even his keen hearing to make out the words. He straightened, fighting the urge to press his ear against the wood. Whatever she learned in there could shape both their futures. All he could do was wait, and hope.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and he turned to see another one of the Brides approaching. This one was alone and he recognized her immediately - the female who’d shown such concern for Garak during their match. Her blonde hair fell in waves past her shoulders, and her green dress highlighted her curves. Pretty enough, he supposed, but his heart didn’t skip a beat the way it did when Jana smiled at him.

She stopped a few feet away, hands clasped in front of her.

“I’m Imara. I wanted to thank you for what you did at the trials.”

“No need for thanks.” He shrugged, remembering the ache in his chest when he’d walked away from the arena. “Garak is a good male. You two seemed… connected.”

“We are.” A soft blush colored her cheeks. “Ever since the first moment we saw each other, we knew. I just… I feel terrible that you gave up your chance.”

His lips curved into a genuine smile.

“Don’t. It was the right choice.” His gaze drifted back to the door where Jana waited. “Sometimes the gods have other plans.”

Imara’s fingers twisted nervously in her skirts.

“I was wondering. What if… what if Garak loses another match? What if the winner isn’t as kind as you? What will happen to me?”

He opened his mouth to reassure her, then paused. The discussion around the Trials had always focused on finding mates for their males. He’d never considered what would happen if a female’s choice didn’t align with one of the victors.

The rules had seemed clear enough - fight, win, woo and claim a Bride. But what about the females’ wishes? What about males like Garak who might lose multiple matches but who had already formed a bond?

“I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “The trials were meant to find worthy mates for the Brides, but perhaps we didn’t think it through completely. But I do know Ulric is an honorable male. He wouldn’t force anyone into an unwanted match.”

Imara’s shoulders relaxed slightly, but he could still see the worry in her eyes.

“I hope you’re right. I just… I can’t imagine being with anyone but Garak now.”

The words struck uncomfortably close to how he felt about Jana. He couldn’t imagine watching her end up with another male either, even though he had no claim on her. The thought made his Beast stir restlessly beneath his skin.

Wulf’s worried face flashed through his mind. His brother had questioned the ethics of the Trials from the beginning,concerned that the females might have been pressured into participating. At the time, he’d brushed off his concerns, caught up in the excitement.

“I’ll speak with King Ulric,” he told Imara. “Find out what happens after the Trials end.”

He’d withdrawn from the Trials on impulse, wanting to spare one female pain. But what about the others? What about the females who might not want any of the males fighting for them? His Beast growled at the thought of females being forced into unwanted matches. That wasn’t the orc way - they were protectors, not tyrants. Their ancestors might have been savage raiders, but they’d evolved beyond that.

“Thank you,” Imara whispered, relief evident in her voice. “Just knowing someone will ask…”

She trailed off as footsteps echoed down the corridor, and he nodded. He’d failed to consider these implications before, but he wouldn’t ignore them now. Ulric was a very thorough male - surely he’d considered what would happen after the Trials concluded. There had to be provisions for females who didn’t want to mate with one of the victors.

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