Chapter 4: The Bleeding Bride

Thora POV

The wild branches slashed her skin as she blazed through them. Her updo was now in tatters, flying in the air. Her skin was bleeding with tiny cuts she was yet to feel.

Somewhere along her desperate attempt to live, Thora had ripped and discarded the long train of her wedding dress. The corset felt numb to her as she ran, trying to remember familiar terrains in the thicket of the forest.

“Follow the sound of water.” She kept chanting in her noisy head, amidst the snarls of wolves behind her. She had spotted a river during one of her trainings. If she could find it, maybe she could jump in and hope the wolves don’t follow. If she made it out alive, only then would she process what she had just seen.

Werewolves were a myth. That was what she’s been told all her life, what every human believed. When her parents were found mauled and dead in the woods where they had gone camping, the reports claimed it had been an animal attack, possibly a bear. But what if it wasn’t?

Thora didn’t dare to get distracted by her wandering mind. She just had to get to the stream.

When parting clusters of wild branches only exposed more greenery in front of her, her throat clogged. She needed plan B.

With the wolves almost on her heel, she made a last-minute decision to climb a tree. But as she began, she felt sharp fangs sink into her thigh bone. A guttural cry erupted from her throat as the beast yanked her down.

Thora crawled backwards, pulling her bleeding leg while the beast circled her. Before it launched the next attack, she grabbed a fistful of sand and sent it flying directly into its eyes. With seconds to spare, she limped to the tree and dragged herself using her hands and a burst of adrenaline.

She didn’t look down even when the snarling increased, or when more wolves began circling the tree. She didn’t stop climbing until she was halfway to the top. Her leg bled onto the bark of the tree, dripping off the leaves like rain drops.

When she finally looked down, there were seven wolves beneath, growling with murderous intent. Thora wrapped her arms and legs around a sturdy branch, panting heavily. This was no escape but she was grateful to have a second to rest.

Her eyes widened like saucers when the wolves shifted back to their human form one after the other and she recognized the most aggressive one that had bitten her; Penny!

***

“It’s true what they say; humans are so dumb.” Said Penny. Smiling mischievously, she winked at Thora. “I really should have worn that gorgeous dress. My acting is top tier, don’t you agree?”

Thora swallowed the burning questions in her throat out of shock but convinced herself it was to conserve her energy.

“Damn, I was hoping you’d go for the river like you did last week. Didn’t take you for a climber but guess what, that’s an even dumber move. You’re trapped anyway.”

She laughed in an unfamiliar, eerie way. “Say something back, you vermin! You couldn’t shut up about your doubts so why are you mute now?”

The girl next to Penny turned to Penny. “If you’re not going to do it, I will.” Then she smiled wickedly at Thora. “I’m coming for you, bottom feeder!”

And just like that, she started climbing up the tree. Thora gasped as the other wolves joined her while Penny egged them on, cackling like a witch. The leading girl tore a leaf soaked with her blood and ran it across their nose.

“Hmm. Seems like someone is about to die.”

Thora pulled herself up another branch but she was going slower than the wolves were coming up. When she felt the leader’s hand clamp around her ankle on her injured leg, she kicked with all her strength.

“Get her, Rhylan. Make that gutter rat pay for kissing MY Roman!” Penny yelled below.

Thora screamed when Rhylan dug her nails into the open wound on her thigh.

A loud snarl came from beyond the tree, echoing heavily across the forest. Everyone shuddered, including Thora.

“Get down, all of you. Now!”

The other wolves leaped off the tree and stood meekly with their head bowed in front of the man who had spoken. Penny squared up to him, eyes blazing with fury. Through her blurry vision, Thora thought the man had a striking resemblance to her groom, except his hair was shorter.

“Don’t interfere, Regan. This is Roman’s order.”

“No, it’s not. This ritual wasn’t ordered by Roman. It’s our culture and even then, you’re breaking the rules. You’re supposed to hunt and scare her in wolf form. You are also not supposed to kill her.”

Steamed, Penny’s frown deepened.

“Roman won’t let this slide even if you’re his brother.”

Regan rolled his eyes. “He may not care for humans but he cares for rules, especially given that he’s being punished for breaking one.” He edged close to Penny till their noses were inches apart.

“You scared and injured her. It’s over. Now hurry to Roman’s bed before the other sex toys beat you to his limited bed slots tonight.”

Penny grinded her teeth. “Roman always keeps a spot for me and when he sees what I’ve done, he might even let me have him all to myself tonight.”

“Keep dreaming, Penny.” Regan brushed past her to stare up at the tree. “Poor thing’s lost too much blood. Forget Roman, the elders will punish you if she dies.”

“Oh, do you care about humans? If she dies, we’ll just pick another foolish, broke human girl by flaunting money in her face.” She eyed Regan. “Have fun playing with fire by sympathizing with the biggest foe of our kind.” She shifted and dashed into the forest, accompanied by her lackeys.

“Keep those eyes open, Ms. Storm. You’re not dying today.”

A lot of the conversation beneath was lost on Thora as her vitals weakened. Yet, the sound of Ms. Storm felt oddly familiar. Her eyes began to droop till Regan appeared double below her. Before her eyes shut completely, she heard arguing, lots of it.

When she opened her eyes, a small fire crackled nearby. It was a bit dark in the room. She tried to sit up and winced slightly. The pain in her leg, though dulled, still stung.

She saw someone in a chair across the bed. He sat in the darkness, his lower body half-lit by faint glow of the fire.

Suddenly, it all came back to her: the fake casting call, the fake wedding that turned real, the reality of werewolves being real and hunting her, the fact that everyone here was an enemy. Her hand fisted in the sheets. Then she attempted to run.

The stranger didn’t move while she limped and groped in the dark. Everywhere she turned, it was everything but a door. Finally, she found a knob and turned it.

“Go that way and you’ll run into patrol wolves circling the hall. They’re ten times more ferocious than Penny’s squad.”

She froze at the mention of Penny, the friend who turned out to have been fake, and now a female wolf hellbent on killing her. She still couldn’t believe it, what they all were.

When she turned, the stranger was right behind her. He stopped her scream with a hand to her mouth. The contact made something warm ripple down her spine.

He had her pressed against the wall. “Scream and I’d toss you to the bitter wolves out there that want the first opportunity to hurt a human. Shut up and listen to me, and there might just be chance you get out of this alive.

The longer they stayed close enough to exchange body heat, the more the chill intensified, Oddly, Thora felt her racing heart calming.

He took his hand off her mouth when she nodded obediently. She still couldn’t see his face but she recognized the outlines of his chiseled jaw and broad shoulders.

More importantly, she recognized the iciness in his tone. He was indeed her new husband, Roman Valcourt!

Roman stepped back. “I’ll keep this short, human. I don’t want you here. I never wanted you here and I didn’t choose you. I have a harem of the sexiest female wolves that give me all the pleasure I need. I have intentions to pick a Luna from one of the neighboring packs when the time is right. You’re here because I made a mistake. Marrying you is my punishment and you cannot begin to imagine what it costs me that you’re bearing MY name right now.”

Thora stayed calm and hoped he’d get to the part about her escape soon enough.

“Here’s the deal: We are to stay married for at least 12 months and conceive a baby before I can put in a divorce application to the council.” He ignored her wide eyes at his statement and continued. “I can get you back to your old life but I’ll need your cooperation and three months at the very least. If we work together to end this marriage, I get to restore my image and you get to go home. Be assured that staying in my world will be the most challenging months of your life. So, I need you to nod if you’re in.”

Thora’s eyes grew misty. She didn’t know if she was being foolish again by trusting a werewolf but her options were nonexistent right now.

“Do y-you guarantee my protection?” She dared to ask.

Clenching his jaw was the only giveaway that he didn’t like to be questioned.

“I can guarantee you don’t get killed but I can’t stop my pack from bringing you close to death’s door through torture.”

Thora’s shoulders sagged. “Can you keep your Penny off my back, at least till I heal?”

“That can be arranged.”

Thira shot a hand out. “Ok. Deal.”

Roman shook it, before both wrenched their fingers apart like it burned. He stormed out of the room without looking back, while she slid to the floor, clutching her chest.

“Three months, Thora.” She murmured in the dark. “You have to survive that long, and then go home.” Tears blurred her eyes as she repeated it. “Let the countdown begin.”