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Chapter 11: The Storm
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I sat on my bed for hours, staring despairingly at the wooden floorboards. Rose and Tobias were downstairs busy making dinner meaning I was free to wallow alone, just as I wanted to, and process what the hell had just happened in that forest.
After overcoming the initial shock, my predominant emotion was anger.
How could the Goddesses give me Alpha Rivers as a mate? For years, I'd watched Rose and Tobias love each other, dreaming of one day meeting someone who would make me as happy as they were.
But with a man like Alpha Rivers as a mate, it could never be like that. I could never experience that kind of happiness and that disappointment was crushing me.
But I felt ashamed for it.
I shouldn't need a mate to be happy.
I am a leader of this pack. I have duties and a purpose. I am fulfilled.
I don't need a mate and I certainly don't need Alpha Rivers. I was disgusted to have enjoyed the kiss with such a vil
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With my boots sodden and squelching, the leather rubbing on my damp softened skin, I ran as fast as I could for as far as I could.But my clothes were heavy with water and my legs soon grew clumsy, tripping and stumbling over the roots and branches.Half an hour of battling through the forest later, I tripped once more. This time so overcome with exhaustion that I couldn't save myself from falling and I dropped to the floor, catching my foot under the root. I whimpered, pressing my nails into the muddy floor as pain surged through my ankle. It already throbbed and when I hauled my self to my feet, I could barely put weight on it.The storm was still raging on, refusing to have mercy even as I limped, dragging my injured foot behind me.My eyes welled up and soon the rain-diluted tears dripped down my face."Are you trying to die out here, Esme?" a voice said from behind me.I flinched and spun around only to see Alpha Rivers emerging f
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I ran in silence towards the village with Alpha Rivers beside me."It's been weeks," I said eventually, breaking the quiet, "Where did you go?"He looked down at me, a sly smile creeping onto his lips, "Why? Did you miss me?""No," I said sharply, "But how could you just vanish like that? It's unsettling.""I had things to do," he replied shortly before the silence resumed until we reached the edge of the village."How many of them are there?" he asked."Forty. There are two villages and a few lone houses around the territory," I said.He nodded, "My men will round them up."I clenched my jaw, "Pheonix men," I said, "The same ones who have killed their friends and family members? There are kids in those houses who are orphans because of them.""We can leave them to die if you'd prefer?" he asked, "Or you can round them up yourself and have your most vulnerable pack members wondering through a warzone unprotected."
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