The silver haired stranger

Elora’s POV

The sheets covering my body did little to stop the chill that seeped into my bones. My head pounded like I’d been hit by a rock, and my limbs felt heavy. I struggled to part my eyelids, but they wouldn’t budge. The smell of the room was strange. No matter how hard I sniffed, I couldn’t recognize it.

Where was I?

It was raining outside, I could hear the sounds of soft raindrops.

Fear shot through my bones, causing my eyes to open widely. Rain never came during this part of the year. How far away from home was I?

My fingers brushed the soft fabric of the bed beneath me. It wasn’t familiar. Nothing here was.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing me to lie back down.

It all came rushing back.

The attack. The wolves. The pain.

My hand flew to my side, expecting to feel open wounds, but instead, there was nothing but smooth skin.

What happened?

Amidst my confusion, the door creaked open.

Frightened, I pressed my back against the headboard and I looked up at the intruder.

The last thing I had remembered seeing was a silver wolf leading me up to meet the goddess. But this definitely wasn’t heaven.

“Don’t be scared. I don’t bite.” There was nothing calming about the man’s voice, or his stance.

He was tall, far taller than the door. I watched him bend slightly to enter the room, and it was only when he walked in that I could make out his features.

His pure white hair, wet and shiny, fell past his shoulders. On his body was a loose shirt that clung to his muscular frame, water dripping from the tips of his hair onto his broad shoulders.

He looked like he belonged to the heavens with amber eyes that lit up his face. He was handsome, far more than I wanted to admit.

“You’re awake.” His deep voice broke the silence, startling me.

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t.

“Kiara feared you’ll be dead. Your injuries were very severe. She said your wolf is a strong one. Saw you through.” He ran his eyes over my entire body, assessing my injuries.

Was he scrutinizing me?

He frowned, narrowing his eyes at me.

“I’m not the most cultured man, I accept. Perhaps you have heard of me.” He tucked his hands into his pockets, and I found myself corking a brow.

Arrogant much?

“But from the little I know, I believe this is the time you thank me for not allowing you bleed to death in the middle of nowhere.”

At that moment, my eyes widened.

He was the silver wolf?!

That explained the hair.

Still, I didn’t flinch. I simply stared into his eyes, waiting for the moment he will realize it. If he was smart, it’ll be soon. If not…well, I was determined to watch it play out.

“Are you being a rude ingrate, or can’t you speak? If it’s the former, you must know I have no tolerance for…”

He paused. His hands fell from his pockets as he lowered himself, resting his body’s weight on his knees so that he could look closely at me. I swallowed hard.

“You can’t speak, can you?”

I shook my head.

No, I can’t.

Took him long enough.

I hadn’t known what to expect when he finally understood, but it definitely wasn’t what he did.

He threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep, rich sound, but it made my stomach twist.

Why was he laughing?

His amusement only seemed to grow as he looked back at me.

“This has to be a joke,” he said, more to himself than to me. “I’ve waited years—years—for the promised silver wolf that would be mated to me, be by side and help me take everything the ingrates at the north took from me. Now she’s here, and she can’t speak?”

Mate?

My heart skipped a beat. He had to be mistaken.

Sierra?

I tried to contact my wolf, but she didn’t respond. The fight must have taken a lot from her.

He let out a bitter laugh again, and I frowned this time around. I had been laughed at all my life. I had learned to block it out and not let it affect me, but something about his tore past my defenses, reduced me to nothing. I normally didn’t care. But for this man, I did.

For the first time in a long time, I felt the sting of my shattered pride.

“Stop,” I signed, my movements sharp.

He tilted his head, his amusement fading slightly. “What was that?”

Of course. He didn’t understand.

I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

His silver eyes softened slightly, a curious smile playing on his lips. “Feisty, aren’t you?” He stepped closer, the air around him commanding and overwhelming.

I wanted to move away, but my body wouldn’t obey.

“Well, it seems I’ll have to be the one doing the talking now.” He rose to his feet.

“That’s splendid. I’ve always dreamt of a woman who can shut the fuck up.”

I wanted to lunge at him, reach for his neck and twist it with all my strength, but I remained still. He would probably kill me before I had time to reach him.

“My name is Ryker Veylard,” he continued.

The last name rang a bell in my head, but I couldn’t place my hands on it.

“And you’re my mate.”

White hair, golden eyes…

It dawned on me.

Veylard! The wolves of the south, and our sworn enemies. The reason the war was happening, the reason the prophecy between Kael and I was a thing.

What the hell is the goddess playing at?