Chapter 4 Four

Eudora's pov

I ran blindly through the dense forest, my bare feet pounding against the cold, unforgiving earth. My legs trembled, my muscles burned, and my lungs screamed for relief, but I pushed forward, panting hard.

Branches reaching out as if in a bid to catch me scraped against my skin, leaving angry red welts, and sharp rocks tore my soles. It was dark, and of course with my night vision was to a fault as I had no wolf.

Soon, my knees buckled, sending me sprawling into the dirt but again I clawed my way back up each time, fueled by one thing. Revenge

Blood trickled down my arms, mingling with the sweat and grime on my skin. Every step was a like a battle, but the vision of the Lycan sitting smugly on my father's throne ignitef my fury. That was no bluff. I said I will kill him with bare hands, and that's what I'll do.

Finally, remembering the path I had taken earlier, I stumbled into a clearing, spotting the river from before, winding its way through the forest.

Relief swept through me, and I didn't even realize I had collapsed by the water's edge. I scooped handfuls of the cool liquid into my parched mouth, relishing the feel of it sliding down my throst.

My reflection stared back at me, disheveled silver white hair sprawled across my neck down my back, grazing my hip bone, determination swirling in my purple eyes.

Memories from Jamar sifting mud through my hair hit me in the guts and I immediately snapped my head at all sides, looking for something. If I could make it through the night, by dawn, I would arrive at my aunt's place. On the way there, I might encounter people who would recognize me in a heartbeat. They can't know who I am.

Quickly, I tore leaves from a nearby bush, crushing them between my palms to create a sticky green paste. With trembling fingers, I smeared the paste into my hair, using the reflection from the river water to watch the color dull Into a muddy, uninteresting green color.

My aunt was my mother's sister, and she was Alpha of her pack, Night Fang’s Pack, a place I had barely known but could remember vividly from my childhood. It was smaller and isolated but well known for breeding female rulers- just like my Aunt. She was a fierce Alpha who commanded respect even among men.

If anyone could protect me, it was my mother's bloodline of female Alphas.

I just had to survive the night.

A low growl behind me suddenly sent a chill up my spine. I froze, my heart hammering in my chest from the all too familiar growl.

Mid dyeing my hair, I turned to see him.

Oberon.

He stood tall, his golden irises, tainted with the crimson red color of his wolf, glowing in the dim light, his presence suffocating as ever. His long, untamed hair framed a face that was morphed Into a dangerous frown- teriffyingly cruel.

"For a wolfless weakling, you run really fast," he said casually, his voice cold, yet oddly calm.

My adrenaline kicked in a bit too late, but it did just as he approached me. I scrambled to my feet, my pulse racing. I tried to run away again, my instincts screaming at me to flee as fast as possible, but I barely even made it far before he caught me easily, his large hand clamping around my neck like an iron shackle.

I sighed helplessly, gritting my teeth as I was pinned underneath him again, this time, with my back to a tree.

"How did you even find me!" I spat, struggling in his grip again, unbelief in the tone of my voivem

"The mate bond," he replied simply, his tone as if the answer was obvious.

My jaw clenched, anger bubbling to the surface. "So you can feel it," I hissed, my voice heavy with venom. "And you acted like it was nothing."

His lips curled into a humorless smirk. "Because that's all you are to me, Princess. Nothing.... But .." his voice trailed. "For the meantime, you'll be of use to me."

My breath caught in my throat as he leaned in, his intoxicating scent clouding my senses, willingly forming an aching pain between my legs that incessantly yearned for his touch. "What do you mean?" I hated the waver in my voice but I couldn't help it.

"You have a chance to save the rest of your people from annihilation," he said, his tone clipped. "To save yourself from dying right here right now. We're getting married."

I surprised myself by laughing, but it was sharp and laced with bitterness. "You're insane if you think I'll ever marry you. You murdered my family, my people, and you want me to stand at your side like some docile little bride? What next, I'll start pumping out heirs for you?"

His expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened, the truth in them unmistakable. "I didn't come here to ask for your consent, Princess. Your bloodline may be useful to me, but it doesn't give you the right to think for one moment that I won't end your life right here, right now."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice faltering with unease at his words, although I'm aware of our close proximity and how his body moulds into mind like it belonged there.

He looked at me like I was stupid, and I burned in anger. For a minute he said nothing, just looking at me until the realization suddenly dawned on him that I truly didn't know. "Your father's heritage was only possible because of an allegiance between his blood line and the witches. It's the reason your bloodline stayed as Alphas and Kings- to keep a treaty between us and the witches. Now that it's gone..."

"Thanks to you!" I cut him off and his glare silenced me.

"The witches will retaliate unless I give them a reason not to."

My stomach twisted. I hadn't known this part of my lineage, and the revelation left me reeling. It was no wonder the witches who were sworn enemies of werewolves from the tales I read were suddenly heard from no more.

The entire time they actually existed and left us because of a treaty.

"So your solution is to marry me. And what... Fill me up with your heirs and have me push them out before you kill me."

The slight smirk on his lips before it disappeared told me that was his plan, but of course, he won't admit to it

"You're the last of the royal line..." His words caused me to hold back a whimper, making me remember that things wouldn't be this way if my siblings were spared at least. "The witches will accept an alliance if we get mated and have heirs, so yes, you'll be more of a breeder to me than a mate, but they don't have to know that."

My fists clenched. I wanted to rip the bastard apart, but his proximity, his unrelenting gaze, and the sheer force of his prescence left me shaken. Also, he had me pinned to a tree, but no big deal there I guess.

"I'd rather die." I smiled smugly.

"You think you have a choice?" I gasped as he tightened his grip again, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, his lips so close to mine, I was going crazy from the tension, forcing myself to focus on his gaze. "Marry me, and I'll give you what's left of your pathetic pack, and your freedom after we're finished with this pretense. Refuse, and I'll burn them to the ground. Choose wisely, Princess."

I hate Oberon. With every fiber of my being, I did. But the thought of what remained of my people being slaughtered because of my pride made me hesitate.

Our faces were inches apart now, the tension in the silence between us crackling like a live wire. Even the heat of his body on mine affected me. I hated myself for it.

"I hate you," I whispered.

His lips curved into a dark smile that stole the air from my lungs. "I can live with that."

I swallowed hard, hurriedly blinking back my tears as I looked into his eyes with defiance. "Fine. I'll marry you, Oberon Thorne."

‘I’ll make sure I take your head before you get the chance to Impregnate me.’