Page 29 of Forced Alpha Bride

“One I’m going to try and get out of as soon as I can!”

He shakes his head. “Go on and try. I don’t care—I just have to complete the ceremony to maintain my position. After that, I’ll deal with your… issues.”

“We won’t make it,” I swear to him. “I’ll make sure we don’t.”

Damon lunges forward and grabs me, hauling me up by my ropes and throwing me across his back again. I twist and squirm, trying to kick him and break his grip. It isn’t long before he drops me again.

“Fucking goddamn it, Winnie! Stop it!”

“You stop it!” I scream, kicking at him. “Let me go, you fucking jerk!”

Damon glares at me, his face cold. Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a huge, sharp knife.

What the fuck?

Fear rushes through me, but then he leans down and cuts the rope around my ankles. Relief takes the place of fear, and I actually feel faint.

He’s letting me go!

“Up!” he yells, grabbing my wrists and dragging me to my feet. Damon slips the knife back into his pocket and shoves me ahead of him.

“Walk,” he commands.

I immediately drop to the ground again.

“Get up,” he growls.

I shake my head.

Growling, Damon grabs my hands again and forces me to my feet. He wraps an arm around my waist and starts walking in quick, long strides, making me keep up.

I keep trying to drop back to the ground or tear my hands from his grip, but he yanks me back to my feet and holds my bound wrists high so I can’t fall. Being pressed up against him is starting to do things to me, and a heavy dose of shame and confusion adds to my fear.

What is wrong with me?

Damon doesn’t look at me, only forward. We crest the edge of the north slope and see the town below, and he picks up his pace. I jog with him for a while, too tired to fight.

He’s a man of singular focus, driven and ruthless. I wonder what it would be like to have that attention all on me…

I stumble in the snow, and he wraps his arm more tightly around my waist and keeps running. The pressure of his hand and the heat of his body next to mine distract me even more.

Finally, we reach the trees that lead to the valley. I’m too tired to even try to escape now, and even though I still don’t want to marry Damon, I’m not so sure I want to get away from him.

This is ridiculous—some kind of Stockholm syndrome or just straight-up delirium. I’m not attracted to him… I can’t be.

When I see the gardens and the manor behind them, I almost sob with relief. Even though I tried as hard as I could to get away, I can’t deny that I’m in desperate need of a rest, clean clothes, and an incredibly long, hot shower.

Howls sound out around the manor, coming from every edge of the grounds. Four wolves come through the woods to greet us, shifting as they stop in front of Damon.

“Am I glad to see you!” one of the men says. “I thought you were a goner, man.”

“You should know not to underestimate me, Flint,” Damon replies. “As you can see, I’ve got my bride. Make sure the council is ready for the ceremony.”

“Understood,” Flint answers, shifting back into his wolf and running towards the manor.

“What about us, boss?” another man asks Damon.

“Stay with me, and make sure Winnie doesn’t get away.”