Page 19 of Bound to Four Alphas (Silverthorn Alphas #1)

Selena had been terrified when she had appeared to him at the western edge of the clearing, her limbs shaking with cold and her hands clasped over her stomach. Wordlessly, he had drawn her into an embrace, rumbling low in his chest to try and put her at ease. She was so tiny in his arms, so fragile. This sort of life, traveling, camping, running, fighting; it wasn’t meant for someone like her.

She was supposed to be safely guarded in luxury with everything her heart desired. As Ronan picked her up, shielding her from the cold air of the dying night, he promised himself that one day he would give her everything she deserved. He would clothe her beautiful, luscious curves in silk and fur. He would feed her by hand. And he would rip her enemies limb from limb before they even had the chance to threaten her.

Their child would grow, surrounded by those who loved it, safely tucked against the breast of its mother and protected by four ferocious alphas. He would see it done.

He tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb rubbing circles over the smoothness of her cheek, entranced by the ethereal silver glow of her eyes.

“I’m honored you chose me, sweetness,” he rumbled, watching with satisfaction as pink flushed her cheeks, dusted the top of her soft breasts.

“It was random,” she replied. “I flipped a coin, like Elian said to. But, I’m glad to be with you.”

Ronan leaned down to press a kiss to her lips, his hand crushing her against his chest so that he could feel every pliant curve pressed against him. She mewled in shock, her little hands flying to grasp his shoulders, her scent spiking.

“This won’t be an easy journey,” he pulled back with a grimace. “I’m sorry for that.”

“I know,” she replied, slightly breathless. “It’s okay. The sooner we get there, the better.”

“And this time,” Ronan carefully set her down on her feet, stepping back a few paces to shift into his wolf, “there’s no Kaelen to tell me traveling in shifted form is a bad idea!”

He had meant it to lighten the mood, make her laugh, but her eyes widened with worry and bit her plump lower lip. “I wish we could all travel together.”

Lowering himself to the ground, he gestured with a tilt of his head for her to climb on his back. She approached nervously, not even reaching his jaw despite his prone form, and squealed when he used his paw to boost her up.

“I do, too,” he replied, standing back to his full height, eyes sweeping over the rest of the clearing. Whatever magic Elian had used was very effective. He couldn’t see, smell, hear, or even sense any of his packmates.

It was unnerving.

He hadn’t wanted to split up, every single one of his instincts screaming that there was strength in the pack. When he had started considering the other three alphas as packmates, he didn’t know. But he also wasn’t the type to mull over hypothetical questions. It was what it was, end of story. And he didn’t doubt that any one of them would lay down their life to keep Selena safe. And Selena had become the single most important being in his life. Her, and the child that she carried.

Selena buried her hands in his fur, leaning down low so that her body was flat against his back. He turned his gaze to the forest. It wouldn’t be long now.

They were silent as they waited, and he took the time to cast his senses out into the trees, trying to find any hint of the human soldiers that had plagued them since they left the priestesses. It was almost inevitable that they would encounter trouble on the journey. But he was fast, deadly fast, and impervious to nearly any weapon. As long as Selena stayed low on his back, they could run straight through any attack waiting for them.

The first rays of light broke through the trees, and Selena yelped as a golden dragon shot into the sky with an almighty bellow.

Ronan took off.

For the first few hours, he maintained a brutal pace, never stopping or slowing as he weaved through the trees. At first Selena had clung to him with terror, but slowly, she got used to the rhythmic movement and relaxed slightly, allowing her body to move in sync with his.

They were not following any path. Ronan knew the direction of the Marble Halls, and he shot like an arrow straight towards it, uncaring of the bushes and bracken he tore through in his gallop. Subtlety was for Malek, or Elian. He used brute strength.

The sun was high in the sky by the time he slowed, the scent of water beckoning him.

“We can rest for a moment,” he growled at Selena, lowering himself to the ground so that she could slip off, her legs wobbly as she hit the forest floor.

“Oh,” she trembled and nearly fell, but he caught her with his paw, lowering his head to scent her.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded and smiled, using his leg to lean on as she stretched out her muscles. “Yes, thank you. Just a bit dizzy.”

“Drink,” he gestured to the stream, “this is the only stop we’ll make before nightfall.”

He stood over her, forepaws planted into the ground on either side of her as she knelt and drank, splashing her face with water. Only when he was finished did he dare lower his guard enough to lap at the water, eyes never leaving the trees.

“Um,” Selena’s voice, tinged with embarrassment, distracted him. “I need to … you know…”

He fought to roll his eyes. Humans and their delicate sensibilities.

“Go in those bushes,” he growled. “Don’t go too far, or I’ll come and drag you back.”

She huffed, crossing her arms, “You sound like Kaelen.”

“Oh no, sweetness,” he nuzzled his nose into her stomach, breathing in her scent. “I’m much worse.”

She batted at his muzzle, scowling at the amusement dancing in his eyes, and disappeared into the bushes to attend to her business.

He was almost bowled over by the spike of anxiety at having her out of his sight. That was one thing he instantly missed about the pack. One of them was always with her, always watching over her, four sets of eyes searching and guarding instead of just his.

He was open, vulnerable even. He growled, tail lashing as he stared into the water of the stream.

Selena was back very quickly, obedient despite her complaining. It seemed pregnancy had done a great deal to remind her just how fragile she was. It made sense. Back in his territory, pregnant omegas rarely left their nests, emerging only to get some fresh air and exercise. Selena should be safely wrapped in furs and allowed to rest, comforted by the presence of all four of her mates.

He growled again, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, I want to cover decent ground before night.”

She nodded and, with his assistance, climbed back up onto him. He let her shift until she was comfortable, and then set off again with renewed speed and purpose.

Two days they traveled like that, stopping only to drink, relieve themselves, and catch food. At least Ronan caught himself food. Selena nibbled on bread carried in a small satchel, her stomach too churned by the constant movement to handle raw meat.

Although she never complained, he could tell the journey was difficult for her. He didn’t stop at night, and she was forced to get what sleep she could on his back whilst he ran. And without Elian’s magic to help, she struggled to get more than a few hours.

He hated it. As her mate, her alpha, it was his job to ensure she was nothing but safe and comfortable at all times. And he was failing. Even if rationally, he could tell himself it was for her safety, and as soon as they reached the Marble Halls it would be different, his alpha roared at him.

They were nearly there. There was a definite bite in the air as they got close to the eastern mountains on the third night, the forest becoming sparser, rockier. The Marble Halls were carved on the other side of an imposing mountain looming ahead of them, nestled deep within the range, almost impossible to attack. There were only a few ways in and out, and they were carefully guarded by Fae soldiers.

Phaendar could apparently be rather paranoid.

Ronan only hoped Elian would be there to greet them. He had no doubt that he would be one of the last to reach the gates, as even with the fast pace he did have to temper himself for Selena’s sake.

He drew to a halt in a rocky outcropping, a small stream of water meandering down the gentle slope of a hill. As Selena knelt to drink, his eyes combed the forest with wary precision.

“Is that the mountain we’re heading towards?” Selena asked, huddling close into his for warmth.

“Yes,” he said. “The gates are just beyond that stretch of forest.”

“I’m glad.” She climbed back up onto him, stretching out over his back with a sigh.

“Have you managed to get any sleep?” he asked with a growl, ears flicking.

“I’m more worried about you,” she said. “How long can you go without rest?”

“As long as I need to.”

The forest was quiet. Eerily so. As winter drew closer, the small animals and birds were safely nested in their dens, hiding away from the cold.

He sniffed the air. Once. Then twice.

Nothing.

With wary eyes, he lowered his head to the stream to drink.

Heat and pain exploded into him, and he reared back with a snarl of shock and panic.

Fire. There was fire.

More came raining down.

Barrels of pitch, launching through the sky, exploding upon impact.

“Hold on!” he roared to Selena, jumping and diving, lashing about to avoid the flames.

Selena’s hands tightened in his fur, her cries of fear echoing in his ears, driving him on. He had to protect her. He had to. Whatever this attack was, whoever it was by, he would not fail her.

But the fire kept spreading, the blazing pitch streaking across the stone, wall after wall of fiery inferno lashing out into the air.

Panic clawed in his chest.

He wasn’t immune to fire.

This attack had been meticulously planned.

He snarled as cloaked figures, human soldiers, melted out from behind the trees, his mind racing in confusion. How had he not seen them, smelled them? Heat licked at his fur, smoke thick and acrid in his lungs.

Magic. It had to be. The weapon the humans had could mess with his senses.

He crouched low, teeth bared as he faced down the growing number of men, fully ready to pounce and rip them apart.

One of them threw a torch. Ronan barely had time to look down, to spot the line of pitch, before the flames erupted.

He was trapped in a ring of fire.

The humans got closer, waving spears. Selena’s gasping coughs brought his mind back into determined focus.

He did the only thing he could think to do.

He raised his head to the sky, and howled.