Page 41 of Bound to Four Alphas

“Should we try and find them?” asked Malek, black eyes flashing. “What if they’ve been caught?”

Elian shook his head. “They’d have to kill Ronan to stop him from defending Selena, and he’s not dead. We’d feel it if he was. Chances are he just couldn’t travel as quickly with her.”

“If they’re not here by morning,” Kaelen said with finality, “then we go after them.”

“Deal,” said Elian, glancing back at the gates. “It’s a few hours journey through the mountain pass until we get to the Marble Halls, but I don’t doubt word has reached my father. He’ll be expecting us.”

Kaelen glanced back into the trees, worry gripping his throat. It was going to be a long night.

Chapter 19 - Ronan

Selena had been terrified when she had appeared to him at the western edge of the clearing, her limbs shaking with cold and her hands clasped over her stomach. Wordlessly, he had drawn her into an embrace, rumbling low in his chest to try and put her at ease. She was so tiny in his arms, so fragile. This sort of life, traveling, camping, running, fighting; it wasn’t meant for someone like her.

She was supposed to be safely guarded in luxury with everything her heart desired. As Ronan picked her up, shielding her from the cold air of the dying night, he promised himself that one day he would give her everything she deserved. He would clothe her beautiful, luscious curves in silk and fur. He would feed her by hand. And he would rip her enemies limb from limb before they even had the chance to threaten her.

Their child would grow, surrounded by those who loved it, safely tucked against the breast of its mother and protected by four ferocious alphas. He would see it done.

He tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb rubbing circles over the smoothness of her cheek, entranced by the ethereal silver glow of her eyes.

“I’m honored you chose me, sweetness,” he rumbled, watching with satisfaction as pink flushed her cheeks, dusted the top of her soft breasts.

“It was random,” she replied. “I flipped a coin, like Elian said to. But, I’m glad to be with you.”

Ronan leaned down to press a kiss to her lips, his hand crushing her against his chest so that he could feel every pliant curve pressed against him. She mewled in shock, her little hands flying to grasp his shoulders, her scent spiking.

“This won’t be an easy journey,” he pulled back with a grimace. “I’m sorry for that.”

“I know,” she replied, slightly breathless. “It’s okay. The sooner we get there, the better.”

“And this time,” Ronan carefully set her down on her feet, stepping back a few paces to shift into his wolf, “there’s no Kaelen to tell me traveling in shifted form is a bad idea!”

He had meant it to lighten the mood, make her laugh, but her eyes widened with worry and bit her plump lower lip. “I wish we could all travel together.”

Lowering himself to the ground, he gestured with a tilt of his head for her to climb on his back. She approached nervously, not even reaching his jaw despite his prone form, and squealed when he used his paw to boost her up.

“I do, too,” he replied, standing back to his full height, eyes sweeping over the rest of the clearing. Whatever magic Elian had used was very effective. He couldn’t see, smell, hear, or even sense any of his packmates.

It was unnerving.

He hadn’t wanted to split up, every single one of his instincts screaming that there was strength in the pack. When he had started considering the other three alphas as packmates, he didn’t know. But he also wasn’t the type to mull over hypothetical questions. It was what it was, end of story. And he didn’t doubt that any one of them would lay down their life to keep Selena safe. And Selena had become the single most important being in his life. Her, and the child that she carried.

Selena buried her hands in his fur, leaning down low so that her body was flat against his back. He turned his gaze to the forest. It wouldn’t be long now.

They were silent as they waited, and he took the time to cast his senses out into the trees, trying to find any hint of the human soldiers that had plagued them since they left the priestesses. It was almost inevitable that they would encounter trouble on the journey. But he was fast, deadly fast, and impervious to nearly any weapon. As long as Selena stayed low on his back, they could run straight through any attack waiting for them.

The first rays of light broke through the trees, and Selena yelped as a golden dragon shot into the sky with an almighty bellow.

Ronan took off.

For the first few hours, he maintained a brutal pace, never stopping or slowing as he weaved through the trees. At first Selena had clung to him with terror, but slowly, she got used to the rhythmic movement and relaxed slightly, allowing her body to move in sync with his.

They were not following any path. Ronan knew the direction of the Marble Halls, and he shot like an arrow straight towards it, uncaring of the bushes and bracken he tore through in his gallop. Subtlety was for Malek, or Elian. He used brute strength.

The sun was high in the sky by the time he slowed, the scent of water beckoning him.

“We can rest for a moment,” he growled at Selena, lowering himself to the ground so that she could slip off, her legs wobbly as she hit the forest floor.

“Oh,” she trembled and nearly fell, but he caught her with his paw, lowering his head to scent her.

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