Baird’s POVThe warriors looked at each other, their heads turning and shoulders shrugging almost imperceptibly.“Well?” I sat up, my head spinning slightly. “Where is she?”One of the warriors raised his hand and frowned. They had no idea who I was talking about.“Serena!” I shouted. “The girl who saved me!” I shook a fist at them, as if it would get my point across faster.A warrior stepped forward, a stunned expression moving from his face to all the others. “Serena?” he asked.I nodded emphatically.“Wasn’t she the one who hurt you?” The warrior shot a glance over his shoulder at Kevin.Kevin smirked. “I guess she was telling the truth after all.”I scowled at all of them. “What are you saying?” I asked. “Is Serena in danger?” When no one answered, I set my eyes upon Kevin. He seemed to be the one with the answers. “Kevin?” I asked, noticing the way he shifted from foot to foot and toyed with his fingers in front of his body. “Kevin, what are you not
Baird’s POVI felt my strength returning with every step I took. I was still weaker than was normal for me, but my willpower was pushing me onward, and I would not fail. I couldn’t. Serena’s life hung in the balance. When I arrived onto the execution grounds, I discovered my thoughts about Serena’s life were quite literally true. The first thing I saw when I entered the grounds wasn’t the crowd pushing in around the platform, but rather Serena, hanging by her neck in the middle of it, struggling to take a breath. Her face was an odd shade of blue, and I knew her end was nearing. I didn’t have any time to waste.Instead of pushing through the crowd, I turned into my wolf and rushed around the back of the crowd to the platform at the center of the space. I leapt onto the platform in one jump, forgoing the stairs that the humans used. I didn’t have time for stairs. Serena didn’t have time.The warriors heard my paws hit the ground and turned to face me, but they were no match
Serena’s POVI could see the shock move through the crowd, from one face to another. No one was sure what to believe. They were surprised that the military court would make such a mistake. And yet, if they hadn’t, then how was Baird here when he had been attacked by rogues? There were too many pieces of the puzzle to put together for so many people who had not been there to see the events themselves.“He has saved us!” A member of the crowd close to the platform yelled. “Surely the Moon Goddess would have punished us had we executed a savior, not a spy!”“Yeah!” Another person agreed. “A combat hero’s savior! We would all be doomed.”I took another deep breath. It was good to be able to breathe at will again. Things were taking a turn for the better. The crowd was on our side! They agreed that I was not a spy, but rather a savior. At the very least, they weren’t willing to take a chance and execute me—for their own good. It was better than the alternative, and I was gratefu
SerenaWhen I woke up, my face was stiff, but my eyes were finally dry. My cheek rubbed against rough fabric. I rubbed my eyes before opening them.“Good evening.” Baird smiled down at me as he pushed my hair away from my face. My head was in his lap! “I hope you feel better. We just arrived.”“Arrived?” I sat up fast and my head spun. “Arrived where?” For an instant, I almost wondered if he had taken my home, but when I looked outside and saw a forested road around the car, I knew that was not the case.“As a so-called ‘special service agent’ of mine, I figured you didn’t have anywhere specific to live. I thought it best that you stay with me.”Live with Baird? In his castle? I ducked my head to see out the front window. I couldn’t see much.“Let me show you.” Baird opened his door and extended a hand behind him, helping me out of the vehicle. I felt better than I had earlier, but I would still be sore for a while.I frowned when I noticed a small cottage standing
Serena’s POV“Tired?” Baird asked.I was. Desperately. Even though I’d slept in the car, that had been the exhaustion of grief. My body needed way more rest if I was going to feel normal again. I felt as if I could sleep for a week. “Yes, very,” I croaked as I glanced around the cabin again.“The bedroom is right through there.”The bedroom? As in the only bedroom? Was he expecting me to sleep in the same bed as him? Baird pushed his chair back from the table and moved across the small cottage. He opened a cabinet I had yet to notice and pulled out a blanket. He spread it on the floor. Is that where he wanted me to sleep, then?“You take the bed,” Baird ordered. “I’ll sleep here.”“On the floor?”He shrugged. “I’ve slept in the woods before. This is much more comfortable in comparison.”I forced a smile. I felt bad making him sleep on the floor in his own cottage, but the bed called to me. My body physically needed any comfort I could give it after what I’d been
Baird’s POVI felt the hard cottage floor beneath me before I opened my eyes, but I was used to discomfort. Though I was still wounded, I had slept better than I had in a long time. I stretched one arm above my head, but realized I couldn’t move the other. I opened my eyes and glanced down. Serena was curled around my arm, but of her hands wrapped around it and her face pressed against my bicep.A smile tickled my lips. The woman almost looked like a cat, curled up against me like that. A wave of sympathy passed over me. She acted aloof and picky about my lifestyle, but overall, she was a scared girl in a strange environment. She might even be using her disgust over the bread and the river to cover up her fear.Tenderness washed through me. I reached my free arm over my body and pushed her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. It was much softer than it was before, now that it was clean. Even in the dim lighting, I could see the natural highlights and different c
Serena’s POVThe villagers had spotted me, just as I had seen them. When I turned and ran, they chased after me. I heard their fast feet and distant shouts behind me. What were they shouting? Hang her? I wouldn’t be surprised. The roads twisted and turned around me as I ran aimlessly. Would anything ever look familiar? I might be running in circles. I would never know.I saw a river at the edge of the village and ran toward it. Not that I’d had great luck with rivers before, but it was a landmark and it ran in a certain direction. It may help me find a direction and go with it. Following the river had helped me to get away from enemies before, even if Baird hadn’t turned out to be an enemy, exactly.I glanced behind me. The villagers were gaining on me. They probably knew all the right streets to take to cut me off. I doubled my speed. I wasn’t sure how much longer my legs would hold up. I veered closer to the river. If I ran on its banks, my footprints would disappear fast. W
Serena’s POVFive minutes later, I found myself sitting in the living room, surrounded by a mix of warriors and villagers. The atmosphere was tense, but not hostile. It was more like the awkward tension at a family reunion. Apparently, what had just happened was a big misunderstanding.The warriors, who had burst in so suddenly, were actually Baird’s men. They had come to check on me, worried that I might not be able to adjust to life in the Storm Pack or that I might not know how to cook lunch for myself. It was all Baird’s arrangement, but he had forgotten to mention it to me. The resulting chaos had been an unfortunate consequence of this oversight.Kevin, one of Baird’s closest friends, stepped forward. His face was a mix of guilt and determination. He sat next to me, his expression softening as he tried to make me feel at ease. "You know, Serena," he began, his voice lighter now, "this whole thing was a pretty big mix-up. We were just worried about you. Baird told us to c