Page 46 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

He ran a hand down a saddle. “We work with what we’ve got.”

“I’ll ride with the kid,” Kieran offered quickly, already heading for the second horse Riley was busy admiring.

“You two... figure it out,” he smirked, hopping on the horse with trained efficiency.

Aza’s head snapped toward him. “Excuse me?”

Kieran only grinned, lifting Riley into the saddle. The boy nestled against him with a grin.

Aza glared at Marcus. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

“It’s a temporary arrangement,” Marcus said flatly, tightening a strap. “We just need to reach the safe zone.”

“And I suppose you just had to be the one I rode with?”

“Would you rather, Kieran?”

She scowled. Then swung up behind him without a word.

And they rode speedily in silence.

The forest closed around them like a living tunnel, with branches arched overhead and roots curling beneath the damp earth. The birds were eerily quiet. Even the wind stilled. The only sound they could hear was the steady thud of hooves against the damp soil.

Aza hadn’t spoken a word. She held herself rigid behind him. He could feel her muscles tense as if the proximity alone might spark something volatile between them. But Marcus couldfeel her—every breath she took, every twitch in her fingers, and every slight shift in her weight.

They were halfway through their journey when the stillness broke.

A low, feral growl slithered through the trees like smoke.

Marcus’s back stiffened. He drew the reins tight, and the horse came to a halt.

Athena straightened behind him immediately. She had heard it too.

Kieran had stopped as well, his eyes scanning the underbrush. Tension rolled off the group like heat from a forge.

“Why did we stop?” Riley asked from behind, his small voice breaking the hush.

Marcus shot a quick glance at Kieran. It was time.

Earlier, he had passed Kieran a handkerchief laced with a sprinkle of dream powder—just in case.

Kieran nodded in understanding.

“Close your eyes, boy,” he murmured gently to Riley.

Riley obeyed, and Kieran moved swiftly, covering the child’s nose slightly with the handkerchief. Within seconds, Riley slumped forward on the horse, unconscious and peaceful.

Almost immediately, a shadow darted across their trail.

It was too fast, too smooth.

The forest held its breath again.

And then—

“Keep Riley back,” Marcus barked to Aza, dismounting the horse.

Aza slid off the horse in a fluid motion, her body moving automatically into a defensive run to pace in front of the boy who lay forward on the other horse. Kieran had dismounted the horse as he drew out his knives, readying himself for whatever had disturbed their ride.