Page 9 of Forced Alpha Bride (Wolfshade Brides-for-Hire #3)

When I wake in the warm firelight, it feels like I’m home and my race through the snow was just a bad dream. I tug the blanket tighter around me and close my eyes again, hoping that if I stay in this dreamy, half-awake state, I won’t have to face reality.

No matter how hard I try to put myself back under, small details impress themselves on me, making it impossible to sleep.

The floor is incredibly hard and uncomfortable, and the room is chilly, even with the fire and the blankets.

Outside, I can still hear the screaming of the wind, howling like a demon desperate to claw its way through the shutters.

I roll over onto my back and see Damon sitting on the couch. He’s startled when he looks down and sees my eyes open, and I wonder how long I was out for.

Are we going to miss the deadline? Maybe I should just pretend to be asleep…

I’m surprised when he brings me some tea and biscuits, but as his anxiety rises, I realize it’s probably got more to do with the marriage ceremony than my well-being.

Hoping I can delay him further, I put my cup down and curl up on the floor again. My fingers and toes are aching, and all my muscles are sore. If I tell Damon I need more time before we head back, I’m not exactly faking.

I listen to Damon fidgeting for a while, keeping my eyes on the fire and breathing deeply to relax. I want to convince him that I’m too tired to travel, and aside from that, I don’t really want to talk to him.

“Winnie?” he says softly.

I jump in surprise, tightening my grip on the blanket. “Hmm?”

“We need to get back. I want you ready to move the second this storm breaks.”

A flood of emotion rushes through me, so powerful that tears spring to my eyes. I bite my lip to stop myself from sobbing and curl up even tighter.

He’s only been nice to me so he can get me back for the ceremony. He doesn’t actually give a fuck!

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes,” I sniffle, trying not to sound scared.

“The wind is still strong right now, but it should settle down soon.”

I press my lips together, refusing to answer. I’m either going to bawl uncontrollably or scream at him, and I don’t want to do either. All I can do is stare into the flames and pray that the storm rages long enough to make us miss the ceremony.

Before I realize it, my eyelids are drooping, and my body feels heavy. The floor feels like a soft bed instead of wood, and I drift off to sleep.

***

It feels like no time has passed at all when I open my eyes, except that the room is bright and the sound of the wind has stopped.

Oh no.

I try to throw the blanket off me, but I can’t move. I struggle stupidly for a couple of seconds, thinking I’m caught in it, and the truth is so horrible that I can’t even absorb it at first.

I’m tied up!

The realization streaks panic through me, a racing wave of fire that energizes me so much, I twist on the floor like a fish in a net. I fight the ropes desperately, trying to free my wrists and ankles.

“Winnie.”

I look up to see Damon standing above me, his face somber and his eyes dark.

“What have you done, you fucking jerk?” I scream at him. “How dare you tie me up. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I couldn’t take the risk you’d run again,” he answers. “I need you. The storm has broken, and we can get going now. I found some clothes for you and checked you over for wounds and frostbite. You’re ready to travel.”

I stare at him in disbelief, and my panic is slowly replaced by another intense feeling I can’t quite identify.

Did he touch me all over while I was asleep? Run his hands across my skin, treat my wounds, dress me? And tie me up so tight I can barely move?

I can feel my cheeks getting hot as arousal flushes most of the fear out of my system. I look away quickly, knowing I can’t face Damon’s eyes when I’m trying to suppress my desire.

Why does he have to be so fucking hot?

I blink hard, forcing the sexual thoughts from my mind before I look up at Damon again. He’s wearing a pair of faded, ripped cargo pants and nothing else. I can’t exactly see what I’m wearing, but the clothes feel soft and a bit oversized.

I don’t think there would have been much to choose from at that cabin. I’m lucky to have clothing at all, but it does make me wonder who lived out here.

I realize Damon is still staring at me, and I frown at him, holding my hands up.

“Are you going to untie me?”

He doesn’t answer at first, just stares at me with a thoughtful expression. “I don’t think so,” he finally says. “We just don’t have time. I can’t take the risk of you running because I can’t chase you all over this fucking mountain. We have to get back.”

“So what are you going to do, carry me?”

My comment was completely sarcastic, but to my shock, he takes one step towards me, grabs my tied wrists and ankles, and hurls me over his massive shoulders.

I scream, shocked as he tosses me through the air.

All the fight goes out of me as he walks out of the cabin with me across his back like a dead pig.

At first, I don’t believe he can carry me far, so I just stay still and wait for him to tire.

By the time we get halfway up the mountain, I’m beginning to realize that might not happen.

Damon moves forward with long, steady strides, pushing through the heavy snow.

He keeps his arms up on his shoulders, bracing my ropes against his hands so my weight is spread across his back.

How strong is he? All shifters are strong, but this is something else.

I can tell by the slant of the sun that he’s moving quickly enough to get us back before the cutoff time. At this point, he’s obviously not going to get tired and stop.

Time to make some noise.

I start twisting and wriggling against his back, fighting his grip. At first, he just grunts and leans forward into the pressure, but I use all my strength against him until he lets out a sharp yell and drops me face-first into the snow.

“Dammit, Winnie, we don’t have time for this!”

“That’s exactly the point, asshole!” I yell, spitting out snow as I roll over. “Do you really think I want to get back there in time to marry you?”

He scowls at me, his eyes as dark as a violent storm. “Whatever your personal feelings are really doesn’t matter at this point. We have a contract.”

“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.”

The three tough-looking guys fan out behind us, and Damon shoves me forward, making me walk ahead of him. Dread begins to build in me, and as the high spires of the manor rise before us, I begin to lose hope completely.

Surely, he can’t do this. He can’t tie me up, force me to the altar, and marry me without my consent. Not in this day and age!

When we reach the courtyard, I see a huge crowd has gathered. Mostly the extended Brent family, but some people from town, and all of the elders.