She understood why the crowd had seemed to become so quiet when he entered the town.
She should be terrified, but she wasn't trembling in fear.
Alice was itching to get down and rush to him.
Laurel pressed her thighs together as he spoke, embarrassed and thrilled by how rich his voice was, dripping with sensual knowledge and warmth.
How was she supposed to speak to him if his voice was enough to make her wet and willing?
"Oh, yes..." She cleared her throat.
"I-It's Laurel."
"Laurel is a lovely name... I am Adolph Raymond. Please, call me Adolph."
Soldiers came after him, "Your Majesty, what"
Laurel's heart skipped a beat and fear seized her. He stiffened, he must have smelled her apprehension and fear.
Adolph Raymond? The king of the werewolf kingdom? Basil's father?
Quickly, the similarities seemed to scream at her. Basil had his father's hair, but Adolph's hair was lighter in color.
Why would the goddess do this to her? How could she?
Had she not seen how much she had struggled and suffered trying to gain Basil's affection and failed?
Basil wasn't half the man his father was! What hope did she have to gain his affection? How could her mate be such an unattainable man?
Her heart clenched, and she stifled the sob. It seemed as if every dream of meeting her mate and their blissful lives together shattered and fell into a deep canyon in her soul.
She had left the Imperial City and the royal family, she had hoped for good.
Did the goddess simply want her to suffer further trying to chase after the king's affection? Maybe she found Laura's plight amusing.
Alice moaned, trying to push through Laurel's despair, but even her usual optimism wasn't enough.
How long would she be dragged back into the den of the nobility of the werewolf kingdom? Would she never be free of the Raymonds?
She had to leave. She had to escape now before anything else happened before she truly couldn't escape. She could live a life without her mate, but she had to live first. She turned quickly and shrieked as her hand slipped.
Gravity took hold and she covered her face, her heart hammering and remembering the river and rocks rushing up to her in her past life.
She closed her eyes, yet there was no pain. In place of pain and darkness, there was warmth and the most delicious scent filling her nose.
She clung to the warmth, trembling and struggling to breathe around her panic.
"You're safe," Adolph whispered.
His voice was warm and comforting.
"I have you now. I'll take you somewhere safe."
Adolph sunk his hand into her hair and held her close, taking deep breaths of her sweet scent and feeling the bond warm between them. He had never expected his mate to resist him, but he would soothe her fears.
"You're safe," he said again.
Laurel quieted and her breathing slowed. She gasped and didn't lift her face to look at him.
"My apologies, Your Majesty, forgive my rudeness."
She turned as if to escape his arms.
"My muddy skirt must have soiled your armor and cloak--"
"It is not rude for my mate to do anything to me," he said.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head stiffly and slipped free of him, bowing her head and backing away slowly.
"M-My apologies, Your Majesty."
He was accustomed to people bowing, but the sight of her head bowed irked him. She was his mate, bestowed upon him by the goddess.
A blessing, not a commoner! No matter her status at birth, she was his equal and match in every way.
She would be his luna.
"Excuse me!" Laurel said, turned, and hurried away towards the crow.
Adolph turned his horse, his heart clenching as she hurried through the crowd towards a side road that led out of Silver Blade.
"Wait!" Adolph called, sliding off his horse to follow her.
"Your Majesty!"
The townspeople gasped and murmured, but parted for him allowing him to catch up to her quickly as she exited the town. He heard the sound of his unit and his horse following him, but he couldn't heed it.
"Please, wait!"
Laurel skidded to a halt at the crossroads leading out of Silver Blade and curses. Her eyes were burning with tears.
The sign's lettering had been worn away with time. Neither path was familiar to her, and she was certain they had come into town down a different path.
Her heart raced as she tried to decide which way to go.
Maybe she could find Amanda?
"Wait!"
Adolph called again as a group of men on horses shot past him and cut off her path. She stumbled back from them, hands trembling.
"P-Please, I..."
Adolph reached her, taking her hand gently, barely holding it as if not to frighten her as he lifted it and pulled her closer.
"Laurel, you need not fear me or my men," he pulled her ever closer, filling her senses with his scent.
"What pack are you from? I can escort you home."
Laurel lowered her head. What choice did she have? She couldn't offend him any more than she likely already had.
"S-Sapphire Lake, Your Majesty."
"Please, call me Adolph. I know the way," his horse trotted to him with a neigh and he stroked his flank, offering her his hand.
"Let me help you up, my mate."
Laurel shook her head, "I-I would rather walk, and y-you could just tell me the way..."
Adolph waved his hand and his horse fell in line with one of the knights as he stepped closer and offered her his arm.
"I would never allow my mate to walk alone on such an unsafe road."
Laurel hung her head and eventually wrapped her arm with his. The knight moved to border the right-hand path and Adolph led her forward, slowing his gait to accommodate her shorter stride.
Laurel hoped they could simply pass the walk in silence as quickly as possible, but she could feel his gaze on her. She tried to focus on the shifting scenery "I-Is there something on my face, Your Majesty?"
A soft flush appeared on his cheeks and he shook his head, "No. Forgive me... You did not give me your full name."
"It's Laurel Miller."
He stopped as one of the knights gasped. Adolph's brow furrowed as he looked at her.
"... Do you know Jack Miller?"
She smiled, "Yes! He's my father. You know him?'
His gaze turned solemn and the knights seemed uncomfortable.
"My apologies, Laurel... He was a brave man and a great warrior."
Laurel felt her insides turn cold and her body froze with trepidation. It couldn't be.
"...W-was, Your Majesty?"
"He was killed by a vampire two weeks ago."