Page 31 of Their Defiant Mate

Dawn’s feet started dragging. Claire tried to hurry her along, but Dawn simply wouldn’t move.

“Keep up,” one of the wolves behind them snapped.

“She’s terrified,” Claire responded in the same impatient tone. “We all are.”

“I hope they give you to me.” The wolf leered at her, his gaze moving lewdly over her body. “I like mouthy females.”

“And I like a female who knows how to use her mouth,” the wolf beside him added, and they both laughed.

Dawn sobbed, covering her mouth with her hand. She wasn’t moving at all now. She just stood there trembling.

Claire wrapped her arm around Dawn’s waist and dragged her forward a few steps. “Dawn, you have to walk or they’ll hurt you. Start walking right now.”

Dawn let out a plaintive cry and covered her face with both hands.

“What’s the problem, Richardson?” a large, shaggy-haired wolf demanded as he reached their group. His shimmering gaze assessed the scene even as he demanded answers.

“We have a straggler, alpha. She’s refusing to walk.”

Alpha? Wasn’t Elias the pack alpha? Claire was confused by the title. This wasn’t even the male who’d been shouting orders after the Shadow subdued Elias.

“What’s the problem, female?” the new alpha asked. “Is there a reason you stopped walking?”

Claire moved in front of Dawn, shielding her from the alpha. “She’s hysterical,” Claire stressed. “She’s so scared her body won’t cooperate.”

“Can you calm her down?” Despite his stern expression, a hint of compassion warmed his tone. A dark beard concealed his features, but his eyes were well shaped and jewel bright. The exact color, however, was lost in the shadows.

“I’m trying,” Claire insisted, “but they’re not helping. Their comments are making it worse.”

“Go on.” The alpha motioned for Richardson and his friend to continue down the passageway. “I’ve got this.”

“Yes, alpha,” Richardson said and walked off with long, brisk steps.

The line of captives flowed around them for a tense moment. The women looked at Claire curiously, but no one stopped to ask what was going on.

“What’s your name?” the alpha asked.

There was no logical reason to refuse, so she said, “I’m Claire. That’s Dawn. Why did he call you alpha? Isn’t Elias the pack alpha?” The newcomer smiled and a strange warmth spread through Claire’s abdomen. He was the first wolf who had shown any concern at all, the first who had treated them with respect. The exact shape of his features was distorted by his beard. Still, he seemed young and vital.

“There are eleven packs, and each has its own alpha. The strongest pack rules the village. The ruling pack has been Elias’ for the past couple of years. Obviously, that’s about to change.” He nodded toward Dawn. “No one will speak to her for the next ten minutes. Calm her down and get her moving again.”

“I’ll try, but she’s fragile. Always has been.”

“If she won’t walk on her own, I’ll send someone to carry her. No more excuses. Figure out a way to get her moving again.”

He walked off and Claire clutched her hands into fists. So much for a compassionate wolf. She should have known better.

His casual explanation surprised her. He’d made his village sound a lot more structured and civilized than she’d expected. All she knew about wolves was that they hated cats, they killed for pleasure, and they were willing to torture females.

Shaking away the discouraging thoughts with a heavy sigh, Claire focused on Dawn. “Look at me, Dawn.” Dawn didn’t reactso Claire placed her hands on Dawn’s upper arms. “Look at me,” she said firmly.

Still shaking visibly, Dawn raised her gaze until it connected with Claire’s.

“If you don’t start walking, a large wolf hybrid is going to pick you up and carry you. Do you want a wolf to put his hands on you?”

“No,” Dawn cried, shaking her head as fresh tears flowed from her eyes. “I don’t want them to touch me.”

“Then walk and keep on walking. I will stay right by your side.”

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