Page 7 of The Orc's Promised Bride

“I told you they were just scratches.” She bit her lip, blunt little teeth closing on the soft pink flesh. “How do you know English? This isn’t Earth, is it?”

The simple question twisted his gut. She reminded him of Kari when she first arrived - lost, confused, but brave enough to ask questions. But Kari had been meant for Wulf. What if Jana was meant for someone else too? What if the gods had other plans and he was interfering?

“My brother’s mate taught me while I taught her our language. I believe she came from your world as well.”

Her ankle caught his attention - swollen and starting to bruise.

“This looks worse than the scratches.”

She winced as he gently probed the joint, fighting down his rising anger at her injuries. Someone should have been here to protect her.

“How did you get here?” he asked.

He needed to know if she’d been called, if someone was waiting for her. The thought made his stomach churn.

“I don’t know. I was in my workshop when this storm came out of nowhere. There was this light and then…” She gestured helplessly at the forest around them. “I woke up here. Wherever here is.”

Something had pulled her from her world to his, but why? He shoved the question aside.

“This is Norhaven. We are one of the Five Kingdoms.” He hesitated, uncertain how much to explain. “Sometimes women from your world are brought here by magic. Usually there’s someone…” He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

“Someone waiting?” Her mouth twisted. He couldn’t read her expression. Was that anger or sadness?

“Yes.”

“There was no one waiting for me.”

Definitely sadness. The words sounded flat, empty, and the urge to pull her close, to hold her until the sadness went away, was almost overwhelming. But he resisted. He had no right to give her the comfort she needed.

“My camp isn’t far. You’ll be safe there, and I can properly tend those wounds.”

He reached to help her up and she jerked back. Fear flashed across her face - the same instinctive terror prey showed when cornered. His hand dropped to his side, the rejection stinging more than it should.

Of course she is afraid.Even kneeling he towered over her. She was so delicate, so fragile.

“You are safe with me.” He smiled at her, trying to appear less threatening. “You need shelter and healing. Let me help.”

She hugged herself tighter, eyes darting between him and the dark forest. The fear in her gaze felt like claws in his gut. He’d never flinched before an enemy, but this small woman’s distrust cut deeper than any blade. His fingers twitched with the need to protect her, to sweep her up and carry her to safety, but her fear held him back.

“You are safe with me,” he repeated, hoping she could hear the sincerity in his voice. He would die before he let anything happen to her.

She searched his face, weighing his words against her fear. The wind rustled through the trees, and she shivered.

“How far is your camp?”

“Not far. Just beyond those trees.” He pointed back the way he’d come. “There’s a fire already built, and I have furs. And clothing.”

The skin covering her cheeks darkened as she looked down at the vine-held leaves that barely preserved her modesty. He followed her gaze, noticing the curves only partially concealed beneath the green foliage, and his body stirred. He did his best to force it back under control, worried about frightening her further.

“I suppose that would be better than being Jane to your Tarzan,” she muttered at last, and he frowned, disliking what appeared to be a reference to another male.

“I am Lothar, not Tarzan.”

“I know. It’s just… Never mind. I’ll come with you.”

She started to rise, then cried out when she attempted to put her weight on her injured ankle. He instinctively reached out to catch her, then froze as his arm curved around soft, lush female flesh.

Mate, his beast purred as his cock hardened.

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