Page 47 of Their Rejected Queen

He growls again, but I have just been mauled by a wolf and unceremoniously plopped into the Alpha’s arms like I’m a stray pup. I can’t bring myself to care anymore.

When he starts walking, though, I bite his finger that has strayed too close to my face.

He flinches, then pauses.

“Did you just bite me?” he rumbles.

“We aren’t leaving without my friend,” I say, twisting in his hold until I can see Sofia crouched between a group of shifters. Their necklaces are smaller than Godric’s but boast the same runic shape.

The screams from inside have stopped, so either the feral wolf killed everyone, or more of Godric’s men have managed him.

Relief swarms me when three of them exit the building holding a wolf trapped by ropes. The beast violently yanks and pulls against them, but he’s no match for the three of them.

The remaining girls filter out of the building. Some are bloodied. Some are shocked.

Then there’s Ferra, Violet, and Coraline. All their gazes are like daggers aimed right at me.

I know they’ll blame me for this, meaning Sofia will get the brunt of whatever punishment is intended for me. There are worse deaths than starvation, and based on their current glares, they’d be satisfied with clawing either of us to death.

A female shifter in a white robe hurries to each of the girls and begins applying salves to their wounds.

“You have a friend?” Godric asks. He seems more surprised by that than anything else.

I roll my eyes. “Is that so hard to believe?”

The first glimmer of a smile appears before it vanishes again. The gesture reminds me of my dream, and my cheeks heat.

I’m really glad shifters can’t read thoughts.

“She can stay with Ulara, if you’re worried,” Godric begins, but I cut him off.

“Ulara is the reason we both almost died,” I snarl, then I wince as my arm protests against my movement. I try to go still, but it’s beginning to throb. “I don’t trust Ulara. I don’t care how well you think you know her. Sofia can’t be left alone with that beast.”

He frowns and considers me for a moment. “She can’t come with us,” he insists.

There’s no room for debate in his voice.

“Then put her back on the train and send her home,” I propose. “She’s not cut out for Monster Isle, and you know it.”

I catch Sofia’s gaze as I argue with him, and I don’t understand the hurt in her eyes.

She doesn’t actually want to be here, does she?

Godric’s expression hardens. “I don’t underestimate my pack,” he says with a tone I can’t place. He considers me for a moment, then eyes the guards. “The girl will be housed in the honorable pack housing.” He glances down at me. “It’s the closest housing to my tent. You can visit her whenever you like.”

“Honor housing?” one of the males repeats in disbelief. “But she⁠—”

Godric growls with a deeper rumble than before, one that makes my stomach twist and the urge to obey anything he says tingle my limbs. “That is the reward for saving the Alpha’s concubine.”

My vision sprinkles with stars.

Concubine?

I don’t say anything as Godric gives out further instructions to send both a medic and two Alpha guards to protect Sofia before he marches off with me in his arms.

All I can think of is Godric’s presence in my dreams as he carries me through the encampment, and then we’re inside his tent far too soon.

Alone.