Page 18 of Hunting for her Heart
When I place my hand in his, I see his eyes light up. Although, I don’t understand why he’s looking at me like that, or why I like it. I follow as he gently guides me back to the large tree.
As soon as we step into the small clearing, my eyes widen at the sight of the other two men, standing shoulder to shoulder as they stare down at me with an intensity that has my stomach clenching. Where did the third man come from? I hadn’t noticed him earlier, although I do recognize him from the clearing.
I take a step back, pulling my hand free from Bo’s and holding them to my chest as I watch the three of them nervously. I’m unsure what will happen now.
“This is Hawk, and Ronan,” Bo says, breaking the silenceas he points to his friends. Hawk is the man who had been here last night and killed the others, and Ronan is the tallest of the three, the one who offered to get rid of mybrotherfor me.
They stare at me as I look back at them. This isn’t exactly what I expected to happen when I got caught. I thought there would be a lot more screaming, at least on my end. But they haven’t really done anything to harm me. Not yet.
Suddenly, Ronan slams his fist over his chest, the same way he did the last time I saw him. The other two repeat the action, and I stare at them in confusion.
“It’s an oath,” Ronan says, seeing the question on my face. “It means we pledge our lives to yours.”
My mouth opens in surprise, then it snaps back shut. I stare at them in stunned silence, unsure what to say to that. I don’t think I fully understand why they are doing it or what it actually means. Luckily, Bo breaks the awkward silence as we stare at one another.
“You didn’t run,” Bo says, making me turn to him with a frown. “When I left you alone, you didn’t run.”
“Was I supposed to?” I ask, realizing that maybe that was part of the game, that I wasn’t supposed to give in so easily.
“No,” Ronan says, his intense green eyes still staring at me. “It means you trust us.”
I glance at the others as I lick my lips. “I-I don’t understand.”
“What part?” Hawk asks.
I shake my head. “Any of it.” When nobody replies, even the fear of being harmed for asking questions can’t stop all my thoughts and fears from spilling out. Their presence somehow makes me feel free to finally unburden my mind with all my worries. “Where am I? What is this place? Why aremen hunting me? Why haven’t you hurt me yet? Are you going to eat me?”
Tears start to roll down my cheeks, and I squeeze my eyes shut, covering my face with my hands as embarrassment and a feeling of being overwhelmed fills me. A spark of warmth flashes through my entire body when I find myself being rocked in someone’s lap, being held firmly against a broad chest. A soft musical sound surrounds me as they hum a soothing tune that finally helps to drain some of my tension away.
Someone uses soft leaves to wipe at my nose, then large fingers brush the tears away from my cheek. I tilt my head up against the chest to find Ronan’s warm green eyes staring back down at me.
“I don’t understand what’s happening,” I whisper. I feel lost and confused about where I am and what’s going on, but what’s even more confusing is how much I want to stay right here, in the lap of a complete stranger.
I trace one of the tattoo patterns over his large chest as he speaks softly, his voice still rough and powerful, even though he tries to dim it for me. “Here’s what’s going to happen, my tiny treasure. We’re going to clean you up and treat your wounds. Then we’re going to make sure you’ve been properly fed. After that, we can talk about what happens next.”
“Please don’t eat me,” I blurt out, making him frown. I quickly add, “Or hurt me.”
His eyes darken. “You have my promise that we are here to protect you. You have nothing to fear from us.”
It’s not exactly a direct answer, but I can tell he’s telling me the truth. I’m not sure how I know that, but I do.
“Now, let’s get you cleaned up,” he says, standing with me cradled in his arms.
“I can walk,” I tell him when he starts to move.
“You most certainly cannot,” he says sternly. When I glance up at him, he tells me, “You’re not wearing any shoes.” He can’t be serious, can he? I haven’t been wearing shoes since I ran from the compound in only my nightgown.
I keep my mouth shut, though, and eventually rest my tired head against his shoulder as he follows Bo through the forest. Hawk must be behind us, as I can’t see him, and the three of them move so quietly, even I can’t hear their footsteps.
When Bo stops moving, frozen in his tracks, Ronan does the same. Bo tilts his head, as if listening for something, and that’s when I remember the Mating Hunt is still happening. It isn’t the first to find me who wins, it’s who has me in a week, when the horn blows.
I press myself tighter against Ronan, worried there’s a looming threat somewhere nearby. “You’re okay,” he whispers quietly before kissing the top of my head. I look up at him in surprise, not expecting something so tender from him.
He doesn’t smile when he looks down at me; in fact, I don’t think I’ve seen him smile yet. But something about his gaze has me pressing my legs tightly together as a strange warmth blooms between my legs.
Chapter Eight
Ronan
