Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Sky smiled and after she managed to stand, she glanced at each of the two wolves there and spoke softly. “Slayer is a friend and will help me get home now. I am grateful for your help, and I will be here for you if you are ever in need of help.”
Slayer almost took a quick step forward when his wife cringed as she took steps toward him. She had suffered an injury, her leg or ankle most likely from the way she limped, but he saw no other visible injuries on her. No blood stained her disheveled garments, though debris from the pine tree clung here and there to her and pine needles stuck out of her hair that had fallen loose from its braid.
“Reach out and claim me, so they know I belong to you,” Sky said when she got near him.
Slayer was only too happy to do as she said. He eased his arm around her and drew her to rest against him, then he looked to each of the wolves as she had done and said, “My thanks for protecting my mate.”
The largest of the wolves approached them, his eyes on Slayer.
“Stay as you are,” Sky whispered.
The wolf came to a stop beside Sky, his eyes remaining on Slayer. He pressed his body against Sky’s leg, and she brought her hand to rest on his head.
“Again, I thank you, my friend,” she said, and the wolf stepped back, his eyes never leaving Slayer.
Though it was difficult for him, Slayer kept silent as they walked away. It was not until they neared a stream that he went to speak, but Sky spoke first.
“I hurt my ankle and I ache from the fall but other than that, I am good.”
“You knew what I would ask,” he said, not surprised, they both having come to know each other so well.
“Just as I knew you would find me,” she said and stopped to turn and rest herself against him.
“Always,” he said and held her close, though not tightly, worried he would cause her more pain. “We can take a quick drink from the stream and then we need to move and not stop until my men reach us.”
Sky nodded, eager to quench her thirst and even more eager to return home.
He took hold of her arm and lowered her gently to sit by the stream and he almost cringed along with her when he saw the pain it caused her.
“You will rest when we get home,” he ordered and could not stop himself from kissing her lips ever so gently after sitting beside her.
“I look forward to it and more of your kisses,” she said and cupped her hands to take a drink and gasped lightly at the chilly water stinging the scratch on her face.
Slayer took a gentle hold of her chin and turned her face toward him. “You landed on the pine tree, didn’t you?” He ran his hand gently over the minor scratch.
“Aye. It saved my life as did the wolves. I kept drifting in and out of consciousness. They poked me with their nose to wake me and warn me someone approached. Not knowing who it was, I tried to hide, so I could see if it was you, but the wolves kept urging me away, so I trusted them.”
“It was Lester and a few of his men.”
“Oh, he told me he meant me no harm. He would have helped me.”
“Nay. The wolves were right in urging you away. Lester and his men were attacked. He was the only one to survive, though not for long if my men do not reach him. The group who attacked him were searching for you to take to someone. Lester says you are a daughter of the Wolf clan and this person looking for you blames you for something and seeks revenge.”
Sky was stunned. “Lester knows who my parents are?”
“I imagine so since he is from the Wolf clan.”
She reached out to grab her husband’s arm. “I do hope he survives. There is so much he could tell us.”
“Hopefully, my men have reached him. I did what I could for him, but I could not stay with him. I needed to find you.”
Sky rested her brow to his. “And I could not have been happier to see you.”
She kissed him gently this time, lingering a bit until Slayer ended the kiss reluctantly.
“We need to go. Drink your fill for we will not be stopping again,” he said, annoyed that he had to rush her when she needed to rest.
Her brow narrowed in worry.
He knew what concerned her for it concerned him as well. “I will keep you safe.”
“Not at the cost of your life,” she cautioned.
“Drink. We must leave,” he ordered.
Sky did not argue with him. It was futile to do so. He would have his way, though not if she could help it.