Page 21 of Huntress and the Thorn Court
“How can he not choose who he sleeps with?” I asked taking a bite of the French toast. It was divine. The outside had almost a candy coating of crispiness that made syrup unnecessary.
“Oh he can choose, but that would create havoc. Carla wants to be Luna, as the most dominant female she’s an excellent candidate, except Gideon’s wolf wants nothing to do with her.” She spoke as she busied herself around my room, picking up clothes and trash I’d left out. When I first arrived, I protested her attempts to help. Now I knew it was just easier to let her do as she wished. She would regardless and this way saved my breath.
“How do you know that?”
She shrugged. “He’d have claimed her by now. Carla doesn’t want any other females to outrank her, so she scares them off before they can catch Gideon’s eye.
“Okay, but still, if Gideon wanted another female he could put Carla in her place.”
“You’re right on that. He’s a man. He has needs, but as far as a preference to who satisfies them? I don’t think he honestly cares. Carla’s there. That’s enough for the moment and I honestly don’t think he uses her for anything more than the full moon hangover.”
“Hangover?” I never heard the term used in that way.
“The morning after the full moon, in the more dominant wolves, their wolf runs too close to the surface, not willing to relinquish their hold. Gideon uses the release to satisfy the animalistic cravings and regain full control. Carla thinks it may lead to more, but that girl will never be Luna as long as Gideon rules this pack.”
Yawning, I quickly apologized, worried I’d offend her by making her think I found her talk boring when it was in fact the opposite.
“Eat, then sleep. I’ll be back to check on you later.”
Without arguing, I did exactly as she asked.
* * *
I creptthrough the darkness convinced someone was watching me. I turned the corner, quickly banking to the right then left, hoping to throw them off. The scuffle of feet behind me had me spinning. The squeak of the door opening nearby drew my attention. Heavy breathing—that wasn’t mine—echoed, swimming around my head. I ran. Everywhere I looked, I was alone, but the feeling, the breathing, kept arguing that I wasn’t.
A palm pressing on my shoulder had my eyes shooting open just in time to throw my hands up, blocking the downward plunge of a blade. It nicked my right palm and I instantly knew I was no longer dreaming. Heat rushed to the cut, burning as blood bloomed. The man above me, I only assumed it was a man due to his large build, as his face was hidden behind a ski mask, seemed surprised I was awake. He quickly snapped out of his shocked state, pushing his weight onto the knife, attempting to drive it down. He had the advantage. Gravity was on his side. It was pointless for me to waste my energy when he’d eventually win. Instead, I rolled out of the way, allowing his own momentum to bury the knife in the mattress, but not before it sliced my arm. I’d feel it later.
Out of bed, I was on my feet before he even realized his blade had missed. Staring shocked at the mattress, he glanced up as I charged for the door. My hand twisted the knob and was pulling open the door when he slammed into me. He twisted my hair in his hand then banged my head steadily against the doorframe three times before I managed an elbow to his stomach, followed by a fist to his groin. The first blow knocked the air out of him. The second had him dropping to his knees. I was dazed from the impact to my head. Even with my eyes unfocused, I could tell his body was blocking the door from opening far enough for me to slip past. Instead, I reached for the bedside lamp. Turning too quickly, I felt the world spin, but managed a hard hit to his head. When he fell to the ground with a thump, I clocked him again for good measure.
He didn’t twitch. I reached for the doorknob once again. This time I slammed it into his body repeatedly until I created a space wide enough for me to slide out. I was just over the threshold when my foot slipped in something warm. I fell knocking my head hard as everything went black.
* * *
“What if word leaks out?”someone asked. I tried to speak but no sound came.
“No one outside of this room will know what happened. We wait until she wakes, then reevaluate.”
“What does it matter, Gideon?” a third person stated. “She’s a prisoner. Prisoners sometimes die.”
“Not this one, Trey. Whoever is responsible for this attack will answer to me.”
“A bit protective over the huntress that has killed members of your pack, aren’t you. What would others think.”
There was a scuffle then a thump. “Iamprotective of her. If she dies under my care, it will mean war with the Order. A war that would rob us of money and manpower and its one that I’m not entirely sure we could win. So how about you do all of us a favor and keep your mouth shut until you think before speaking.”
I drifted back off.
When I woke again, I was able to pry open my eyes. A small sliver of daylight managed to peek through the barely opened curtains, causing me to wince.
Turning away from it, I groaned feeling my head ache.
“Isabel?” a voice whispered.
I blinked focusing my eyes. “Gideon?” Why was he in my room? “What happened?”
“What do you remember?” He reached out brushing his thumb across my upper arm. It felt nice which momentarily distracted me from both the pain and confusion. I tried to remember. It was like searching through a veil.
“I was attacked,” I recalled. Lifting the arm he’d been touching, I felt a bandage wrapped around my upper left arm, which drew my attention to another around my right hand. I had fought back. “Is he dead?”
