Page 25 of Running from the Orc
Mate.
If I was Varkaan’s Mate, then he was mine.
And I had always fought for what I believed was right. What I believed was owed me.
Aye, he was an arse to leave me here alone, but he had treated me beautifully when we were alone. He accepted me as I was, and returned my knife to me, instead of thinking meweakorincompetent.
And I liked his easy smile and ready wit, even if I scoffed and vowed to run from him.
But now…now I knew I wanted to stayhere.
And if I was going to stayhere, then there was only one male I wanted to be with. My Mate.
Slowly, I lifted my head, a plan forming in my mind.
I vowed to stay, but there was one way to ensure I would get what I wanted.
I had to run.
Chapter 8
Varkaan
I was returning home empty-handed.
This had never happened before, and I thought it fooking telling that I wasn’t even concerned about the shame.
Ten days. Ten days ago I’d dropped Roxanna in the village and, ignoring her scowls, retreated to the solitude of my hunt, because I knew there was no way I could stand to breathe her scent and see the challenge in her blue eyes…without claiming her.
Mine.
I’d said that, but I couldn’t fulfill my vow. Because she was my brother’s prisoner, and he surely had plans for her. Leaving was the hardest fooking thing I’d ever done.
Which meant that for the last ten days, I’d been distracted.
I hope that’s obviously an understatement?
I’d grown up in these forests and glens. I knew the animal trails, I knew their habits. I knew where theplarketsnested and where thewulfshunted and where to lay in wait for the mightybkarnswith my heavy bow.
But every single bit of that knowledge had failed me.
I’d spent ten days scoring naught more substantial thanmallentfor my own dinners, crouched in downpours, stumbling through pine groves, getting stuck in briars… Because I was distracted.
My thoughts weren’t my own. Mybodywasn’t my own. MyKteerhad my blood pounding uselessly through my limbs, and I frequently felt like tearing my kilt off and running, roaring off a cliff.
I wasn’t certain what that would prove, so I did my best to ignore the urges.
I led my horse back into the village, ignoring the stares from my family and friends. I told myself ‘twas because they’d never seen me return home empty-handed, and that explained the whispering.
When I dropped the animal at the stable, I found myself glaring at the ladassigned to its care, and clamped down so tightly I heard my jaw creak. I needed to get out of here.
Nay, ye’ve been out of here for days and it didnae help.
Well, whatwouldhelp?
Seeing Roxanna.
My subconscious wasn’t helping.
