He screamed and released her. She jumped around in time to see him crash to the mud.
For two seconds, nobody moved.
Then he sprang up so quickly she could only gape as claws shot for her face. Terrent impacted with Roger a second before those deadly points connected. The men smashed into a tree, sending the century-old pine crashing down. Several small birch trees fell under the onslaught. Branches cracked and pinecones flew through the air.
Terrent punched Roger in the face, following up with five claws to the neck.
Roger’s head joined the downed tree.
Terrent turned around, blood on his face, darkness in his eyes.
Maggie’s knees trembled. She settled her stance. Enough of the panic. Oh boy, did her mate have some explaining to do. “You lied to me.”
“Yes.” He strode toward her.
Almost on its own, her fist darted out, nailing him right in the mouth.
Chapter Eleven
After hitting the pissed-off wolf, she did what any woman with a brain would do. She ran like hell.
Dodging downed pine trees and storm damage, she hurdled several snags, only falling twice. Jumping up and taking inventory, she ran harder. How dare he lie? He’d hunted her for months. Her people had killed his. Damn Terrent.
How could he lie to her? The thoughts whirled in her head so quickly, her ears rang.
He’d lied.
They’d mated.
Son of a bitch.
Hurt slid through her veins. Wait a minute. That wasn’t hurt. Fury roared through her veins.
She should’ve hit him harder. A lot harder.
He suddenly rose up before her, a powerful figure in a dangerous storm.
She skidded to a stop, her ankle catching on a tree branch.
Her yelp of surprise coincided with her rolling into a ball.
She hit him mid-center.
He folded over with a muffled “oof,” grabbing her in a bear hug. His shoulders smashed a blue spruce. The towering tree split in two, branches pelting the ground until the trunk sides hit hard.
Terrent held her at arm’s length. Bruises spread across his face, and his lower lip had fattened. “Jesus, woman. You’re a menace.”
Her hand clenched into a fist.
He shook his head. “Hit me again, and I promise you won’t sit for a week.”
She slid her dominant foot back in a fighting stance. How dare he threaten her? “You lied to me.” Yeah, she was mad.
Something hurt in her chest, too.
His strong jaw hardened. “I’m sorry, but I love you and didn’t want to lose you.”
“I know that, you stupid son of a bitch.” She’d stomp her foot, but in the mud, she’d probably fall on her ass.
He frowned, cocking his head. “You do?”
Did he think she was a moron? “I may be brain-damaged, but I know love when I see it.” The hurt hit her full force.
“You didn’t trust me enough to believe you. To still love you after knowing the truth.” Damn if that didn’t cut through her sharper than any knife.
He scrubbed both hands down his damaged face. Even so, relief relaxed his shoulders. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“You kept my memories from me. Stuff I should’ve known.” She wasn’t quite ready to let him off the hook.
“I know.”
“Is that why we fought? The day I was taken by the Kurjans?” The wind whipped her hair into her face, and she shoved the curls back.
He frowned. “No. We fought because you wanted to hunt werewolves with me, and I thought the idea was too dangerous.”
“So I knew? All about our people’s pasts?”
“Sure.” He sighed, eyes darkening. “Your reaction was similar the first time, and I didn’t want to take the risk of losing you this time. Plus, I thought you had enough to deal with from being kidnapped and working so hard to regain your memories. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “I’m not damaged.” He had to believe she was complete. She couldn’t go through life feeling that he didn’t see her as strong enough to be his mate.
“You’re perfect.” His frown matched the storm raging around them.
Though, they were natural enemies. He should’ve come clean. Why hadn’t he? “Once you were trained, why didn’t you go after the Vaile pack?”
His expression went blank. “I sought information and discovered the names of the men responsible for attacking us. Most of the raiding party that had destroyed my pack was killed in the war. So many died in the first war.”
“
A shield fell over his eyes. “Except for three men.”
“And?”
“I hunted them.” His voice remained calm and devoid of emotion.
She breathed out while chills danced down her spine.
“You killed them.”
“Yes.”
Well, okay then. Couldn’t exactly blame him. But, had he been atoning for that revenge his whole life? Being alone just to make amends? Protecting the world from werewolves in an effort to make up for the killings? “So, you’ve done your time, Terrent. You don’t have to be alone any longer.”
He blinked.
She sighed. Getting through to him would take time.
“What about my people who still live? I mean, are they all jerks like Felix?”
“I don’t think so.” Terrent glanced around the quiet forest before focusing back on her. “What little research I’ve done show they’re decent people now who are, I mean were, led by a jackass. Though . . . they’re still assassins.”
She didn’t feel like a killer. “So, what now?”
“Well, now we need to find you somewhere to live.” Terrent wiped blood and rain from his cheek.
“So you can go hunt werewolves.” Her shoulders slumped.
“Yes. We fought about this before. I’m not fighting about it again.”
Awareness opened her eyes. Finally. “No, Terrent.” She shook her head. “We argued because you have to make a choice to not be alone any longer.” Yeah, the words felt right.
“Your whole life, you’ve been alone. Even when you hunt, I bet.”
A flush covered his high cheekbones.
She nodded. “You have your friends in a compartment.
Your enemies. Your allies. Now, you want to put your mate in one, too.” The poor guy had no clue what taking a risk meant.
“You want me, there’s no putting me in a compartment. Somewhere safe while you go off and work.”
He studied her with the alertness of a hunter. One in thoughtful contemplation. Not hungry right now, but
