Chapter Five - Challenging Him

Lyra’s POV 

After ages, the car stopped, and I looked around at the tranquil surroundings. A log cabin came into view on the banks of a semi-frozen lake stretching ahead of us. It was almost covered by silver birch, blueberry shrubs, cloud berry plants, and caribou moss. Was this where he kept his prisoners?

We got out of the car and he trudged down the snowy terrain towards the cabin with me hot on his heels.

“Is this yours? I don’t want to live here like a prisoner.” I stared at the picturesque log cabin perched on a rock knoll overlooking the lake. 

“Yes, it’s mine. You asked for it, babe! So, you can’t back out at all.” Not a soul was around and a tremor went up my spine. He unlocked the cabin and walked inside, muttering curses at the mess all around. 

“It’s filthy! I can’t live here, Leandros!” He walked inside and took out the cleaning supplies. 

“Then start cleaning, princess! This is the only place for us now until Zephyrus forgives us and allows us entry in Lucania.” I gaped at him and at the supplies in his hands! I didn’t know how to clean! We always had lots of help to do those.

“I don’t know how to clean. It’s your house, so you can do it better!” My mind was now more on how to escape the crazy wolf than on learning to clean! 

“Fine, I’ll clean, but you have to go out and catch some fish from the lake! Then you can make a piping hot lunch for me!” I gaped at him in disbelief. Wasn’t it his job to provide for me? 

“I have never caught a fish in my life! You can catch the fish. I’ll just make lunch!” He gave me a bewildered look, as if I had said something ridiculous.

“Are you sure you’re a shifter? Hasn’t your wolf caught any fish in White Ridge Village?” I hung my head in shame. How could I tell him I hadn’t experienced my first shift yet? 

“Amazing! What did you do for seventeen years? Run after the likes of Nick Berkeley?” I wanted to wipe the smirk off his face with a resounding slap. He had no reason to judge me when he knew nothing about me. 

“No, I tried to adjust myself to a rogue’s life after witnessing my family burned alive right in front of my eyes. I tried to make new friends and forget the trauma. My uncle saved my life but dumped me in Hay River and forgot to visit me. I was too traumatized to experience my first shift. So does that answer your question? Maybe I’m wolfless because I haven’t experienced my first shift yet to catch fish!” 

I snatched the cleaning supplies from his hands and started working without casting a glance in his direction. Maybe I could drown the hurt that had resurfaced after two years by his callous remark. 

He stood frozen for a minute grasping the information I blurted out unwillingly. I hated talking about myself, but he pushed me to the edge. 

“I’m sorry for your loss, Lyra. I didn’t know about the fire!”

I scoffed and continued with the cleaning. “Stop the act, Leandros. I know you Lucerians had torched my family home!” That’s what my uncle told me, although my suspicions were on the Flame Hounds, our old enemy. 

He gave me an agitated look as he came closer, but I stepped away from him. I was now determined to escape him. He was a Lucerian and our enemy. He could never be my mate. 

“You’re mistaken, Lyra. We haven’t torched your home. All of us were in Aromania, Greece, Zephyrus’s ancestral home before returning and battling it out with Alpha Atticus, your uncle. We defeated him on the battlefield and overpowered him. Zephyrus doesn’t believe in underhanded tactics. He’ll fight with you face to face!” He picked up his fishing rod and walked out of the cabin. It was my cue to plan my escape. 

It would be my only chance since once I reached Lucania, I wouldn’t be able to go out without his permission. I watched him from the window as he trudged towards the lakeside to break the ice and catch an arctic grayling. 

I picked up his wallet from the coffee table and drew out some money. I needed it to reach home safely. Leandros was busy with the task at hand, and I slipped out of the back door as quietly as I could. 

The vast treeless tundra stretched before me with nowhere to take shelter. I had to creep up to the boulders and go farther until I could hitch a ride to Hay River. It would take almost three long days to reach home! It wasn’t impossible! I could do it! There was another way, too. 

If I got access to a phone, I could call uncle Derrick. He was more approachable than my uncle. He would surely come over in my uncle’s helicopter to get me. 

“Focus, Lyra!” I preferred the latter option and planned to hitch a ride to the airport. I could use a public booth to call uncle Derrick. I made a dash towards the main road, keeping a watch on Leandros engrossed in catching fish. 

A pickup truck sped down the highway towards me. Should I stop it and hitch a ride? I inched towards it and waved my arms frantically in the air to stop it. The truck screeched to a halt a little farther away, and the driver peered at me. 

My jaws dropped at the sight of a burly man with yellow teeth, and long hair tied up in a man bun. He looked like an ogre, ready to eat me alive! Panic settled in my heart when the passenger door opened and a similar-looking guy emerged. 

“Hey, little princess? Where did you come from? Need a ride?” said the driver, his lustful eyes sweeping over me. With the other guy approaching me to grab me and force me into their car, I stepped backward. 

“No, it was a mistake. I don’t need your help.” I took three steps back until I hit the boulder where I had taken refuge from Leandros.

“Aw, don’t be scared. We know just the thing you need.” The man kept on approaching me and I panicked. 

“Go away,” I yelled, moving away to run back to Leandros’s cabin when I collided with someone! Petrified, I looked up to see Leandros glaring at me, the mad fury in his eyes threatening to punish me. I didn’t mind as I clung to him for dear life. 

“The girl is mine. Hand her over!” snarled the man. 

“Oh, is it? How about I hand you over to the cops for bothering my girlfriend?” muttered Leandros, easing me off him and taking a menacing step towards the man. 

“Girlfriend? She stopped us for a ride,” gritted out the man. 

“Now she’s going back home with me. Get it, loser? Now f*ck off before I rip you into shreds!” 

The man pushed at Leandros’s chest to challenge him to try. It angered him even more, and he punched the man in the face. It was so powerful that the brunt of the hit made him fly backwards and fall on the road. Leandros took another step towards him, but the man panicked and ran towards his car. Within minutes, they disappeared down the road! 

I stood there trembling with fear, knowing my fate now. He was mad at me! Obviously, he realized I had attempted to escape him. 

He came towards me and I stood frozen at the spot, waiting for his punishment. But he stopped in front of me, simply picked me up on his shoulder and marched towards his cabin in silence. This time, I didn’t protest or fight him. He had, after all, saved my life! 

He dumped me in front of the cabin, and I gaped at the clean, sparkling interiors. When did he clean the place up? 

“Don’t try such a stunt again, Lyra. Don’t jeopardize your life just to challenge me. I won’t be there to save you every time.” 

“Thank you for saving me, but I want to go home.” He shook his head, his eyes cold and unapproachable now. 

“That’s not an option left for you. A blizzard is brewing up in the northwest! You will not step out now. Is that understood?” I nodded, as I looked outside with dread. He was right, indeed. How had I not noticed it before? 

Strangely, I felt thankful to be back in the sanctity of his home. I couldn’t think of what I would have done caught up for days at the airport in a blizzard! No one could reach me until the weather cleared up. 

I gazed at my mate as he parked his car in the garage and locked it. He locked all the windows around the house and ensured we had adequate supplies to tide us through. Now I knew why he bought so many supplies. Did he know about the weather? 

“Did you know about the weather conditions?” He nodded without looking at me. My eyes widened as he cleaned and stored almost ten trouts and one arctic grayling he had caught. So many fish? How long would we have to stay locked up here? 

“How long will the blizzard last?” 

“A week almost!” My mouth hung open at his reply. 

How would I stay locked up here with him for a week in the middle of nowhere?