Page 42 of Bound to Four Alphas

“Are you alright?”

She nodded and smiled, using his leg to lean on as she stretched out her muscles. “Yes, thank you. Just a bit dizzy.”

“Drink,” he gestured to the stream, “this is the only stop we’ll make before nightfall.”

He stood over her, forepaws planted into the ground on either side of her as she knelt and drank, splashing her face with water. Only when he was finished did he dare lower his guard enough to lap at the water, eyes never leaving the trees.

“Um,” Selena’s voice, tinged with embarrassment, distracted him. “I need to … you know…”

He fought to roll his eyes. Humans and their delicate sensibilities.

“Go in those bushes,” he growled. “Don’t go too far, or I’ll come and drag you back.”

She huffed, crossing her arms, “You sound like Kaelen.”

“Oh no, sweetness,” he nuzzled his nose into her stomach, breathing in her scent. “I’m much worse.”

She batted at his muzzle, scowling at the amusement dancing in his eyes, and disappeared into the bushes to attend to her business.

He was almost bowled over by the spike of anxiety at having her out of his sight. That was one thing he instantly missed about the pack. One of them was always with her, always watching over her, four sets of eyes searching and guarding instead of just his.

He was open, vulnerable even. He growled, tail lashing as he stared into the water of the stream.

Selena was back very quickly, obedient despite her complaining. It seemed pregnancy had done a great deal toremind her just how fragile she was. It made sense. Back in his territory, pregnant omegas rarely left their nests, emerging only to get some fresh air and exercise. Selena should be safely wrapped in furs and allowed to rest, comforted by the presence of all four of her mates.

He growled again, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, I want to cover decent ground before night.”

She nodded and, with his assistance, climbed back up onto him. He let her shift until she was comfortable, and then set off again with renewed speed and purpose.

Two days they traveled like that, stopping only to drink, relieve themselves, and catch food. At least Ronan caught himself food. Selena nibbled on bread carried in a small satchel, her stomach too churned by the constant movement to handle raw meat.

Although she never complained, he could tell the journey was difficult for her. He didn’t stop at night, and she was forced to get what sleep she could on his back whilst he ran. And without Elian’s magic to help, she struggled to get more than a few hours.

He hated it. As her mate, her alpha, it was his job to ensure she was nothing but safe and comfortable at all times. And he was failing. Even if rationally, he could tell himself it was for her safety, and as soon as they reached the Marble Halls it would be different, his alpha roared at him.

They were nearly there. There was a definite bite in the air as they got close to the eastern mountains on the third night, the forest becoming sparser, rockier. The Marble Halls were carved on the other side of an imposing mountain looming ahead of them, nestled deep within the range, almost impossibleto attack. There were only a few ways in and out, and they were carefully guarded by Fae soldiers.

Phaendar could apparently be rather paranoid.

Ronan only hoped Elian would be there to greet them. He had no doubt that he would be one of the last to reach the gates, as even with the fast pace he did have to temper himself for Selena’s sake.

He drew to a halt in a rocky outcropping, a small stream of water meandering down the gentle slope of a hill. As Selena knelt to drink, his eyes combed the forest with wary precision.

“Is that the mountain we’re heading towards?” Selena asked, huddling close into his for warmth.

“Yes,” he said. “The gates are just beyond that stretch of forest.”

“I’m glad.” She climbed back up onto him, stretching out over his back with a sigh.

“Have you managed to get any sleep?” he asked with a growl, ears flicking.

“I’m more worried about you,” she said. “How long can you go without rest?”

“As long as I need to.”

The forest was quiet. Eerily so. As winter drew closer, the small animals and birds were safely nested in their dens, hiding away from the cold.

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