42

AEROS

"Vienna, my pack does not take kindly to thieves. We do not appreciate you coming into our private garden and taking what is not yours," I began softly, not wanting to scare her into retreating into her shell.

“I did not steal those herbs,” she snapped back.

I was taken aback by how confident and bold she sounded. I had expected her to be a timid and easily scared woman, but she seemed far from that.

“Those were general herbs, and if you had any knowledge of them, you’d know they are not supposed to be hoarded in a private garden. They should be shared with the rest of the world,” she added.

“Shut your mouth,” a guard growled, shoving her forward roughly. She turned and shot him a glare. Irritated by her defiance, the guard raised his hand to strike her, but Jonathan grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.

My lips curved into a thin smile. I was sincerely amused by how she spoke back without fear of the consequences. She sounded nothing like the timid woman I had initially expect