Page 8 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings (Unwanted #1)
As I turn, all the breath rushes from my lungs in a sharp gasp.
Hackles up and growling, I am met with the red eyes of one wolf stepping into the maze’s center.
Another growl rings out from the side. Their white fur has been stained red with the blood they have spilled throughout the night.
They reek of it. The third wolf steps out of the shadows, and they size me up as they each take calculating steps toward me.
They step closer, caging me in, and as the biggest one growls at its brother, it snaps its teeth in return. Great, they are fighting over who gets the first bite.
The third wolf cocks its head to the side, sniffing the air.
“Are you trying to decide which part is juiciest? Sorry boys, I’m probably more like jerky. You won’t find much meat on these bones, so no need to fight. I’m sure I taste as bitter as I look,” I tell them. The big wolf huffs, cocking its head to the side.
My diet of leafy greens, fish, and the occasional deer doesn’t allow for putting on much weight, especially this time of year when we were competing against the bears for every morsal of food.
Two of the wolves are still bickering over their midnight snack, which quickly turns to a clash of claws and teeth. As they fight, I am long forgotten, and the other wolf turns its attention to its brothers for a second.
“I’m chewy, I will definitely get caught in your teeth, you don’t want this,” I tell them.
Yet, the third one tilts its head to the other side as if it understands exactly what I am saying.
It sits back on its haunches, watching me.
Maybe he is deciding I do look chewy, or maybe he had his fill of the red.
She looked tasty, but obviously not much to his taste considering he only ate part of her. He must be a picky eater.
My eyes flick across the two wolves fighting, the bigger one slamming its brother on the ground. I take a step closer to the nearest exit when the wolf suddenly rises, and once again, all attention is back on me.
A feral growl tears out of the big one and the second one as they both charge at me, and I know I am gone. Yep, they were definitely fighting over which bone they wanted.
Instead of running, I accept it. I can’t outrun these beasts, so I give in, knowing death is inevitable.
Why fight it? Besides, I would rather go this way then be cleaning toilets in the castle for the rest of my life, or scrubbing the kings’ backs, or worse, being King Regan’s sex slave.
Death by wolfy chew toy sounds far more appealing.
I squeeze my eyes shut, praying to the fates that I get to see Granny in the next life, and drop to the ground on my ass.
Dew covers the grass, wetting my already cold skin, the dress offering nothing in the way of protection from the elements.
Growls tear out around me while I wait for my death to come.
Their paws pad against the soft grass, and I wait expectantly for the tearing pain.
Instead of sharp teeth to the throat, a whine next to my ear makes me flinch.
Then a wet nose pokes my cheek, and another furry muzzle prods my neck as they sniff me. Fur brushes my skin as one wolf weaves its body around mine like a cat, rubbing itself on me.
My eyes fly open when the smallest, which is not small at all, nudges my hands, trying to get his nose under it while whining loudly.
My hand shakes as I lift it, and it drags its face beneath my palm as if it wants me to pat it. I swallow, my heart thumping against my rib cage when the biggest one drops onto his stomach, resting its head in my lap.
I blink down at it. The other one seems inquisitive and keeps sniffing my hair, my face, and my neck before finally, it lays down behind me. My hand gently pats the small one’s head, too afraid to stop and upset the beast.
Eventually, it lies on my other side. I remain frozen in place, too scared to move or even breathe loudly, while wondering why they aren’t killing me.
Yet, as the night sky lightens, and the stars start to disappear, my eyes droop and my head falls forward.
I shiver, the frosty air chilling me to the bone.
As I’m drifting off to sleep, I feel paws hit my chest and jolt me awake.
The wolf’s paws hit my shoulders and shove me into the one behind me.
I tense, waiting for it to rip me apart as the huge wolf presses me against its brother.
The wolf behind me whines loudly and lifts his head.
He licks my cheek and lays back down. The other wolf lays across me, and the others suddenly move and wiggle, covering me with their huge bodies and warming me.
For a moment, I can almost imagine I am home in my cave with a warm fur pelt wrapped around me.
After a few tense minutes, I realize their intention is to keep me warm, or maybe they are heating their breakfast. I’m not sure why I am still alive after watching and hearing them maul everyone who entered this maze.
Knowing I am never going to get that answer, I finally relax, and the warmth they offer sends me crashing from exhaustion.
It doesn’t take long before I fall asleep, huddled with the kings’ wolves.