All Chapters of Wild Hunter, Wild Husband: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I sat on the edge of the bed and moaned my head in my hands. I just didn't know what to believe anymore. I wanted to jump up and run away - from Lex, from my father, from her plans; Run far away and never come back But something was holding me back. Someone . "Taleon," I whispered, feeling a tear roll down my cheek.

In the next few days I was accompanied by constant nervousness and fear. An ugly premonition broke out in me and gave me no peace. Every time the name Lex was mentioned, I involuntarily winced. After the incident in the bunker, I could hardly bear the man who so many admired and whom they all followed blindly around me. I noticed more and more things that I didn't like about him. The way he looked at me, the way he twisted words and used them to his advantage. Perhaps my mother had a similar feeling about him and therefore always distrusted him? I thought back to my dream, the warning she had given, and kept wondering if Lex was who he was claiming to be. Was the intent behind his plans really only to remedy

I finally nodded off in the early hours of the morning and was woken up by my father a short time later. "You should have a good breakfast," he said. "Lex is afraid that you might upset again otherwise."I automatically grabbed my upper arm. "He doesn't have to worry about that, this time I'll take care of myself." And don't turn my back on him , I finished the sentence in thought. 

"I knew you couldn't be trusted," I hissed, feeling a panic rise within me. My gaze slid to One, who was watching us with angry eyes as he slowly straightened up after the blow.“Shut up now, Riley,” said Lex. “So, Taleon One, are you going to tell me what I want to hear? Or should I decorate the walls with your little one's brain in addition to your blood? " 

I looked at Ones face as he slept, his hardened features gradually relaxing. He really didn't seem to be dreaming because after that his face was completely blank. Was that a blessing now? With what he had been through, probably already. How many times have I wished I could escape the nightmares that haunted me from time to time? But then I would have to forego all other dreams, the good and beautiful ones. That would be a bitter loss, because I saw in them at least my steadily fading memories of my mother and sister and of the good times that we had not been granted.

After a while, three of the six dogs that surrounded the tree disappeared into the bushes and I exhaled with relief. "Maybe the others will give up soon," I said hopefully."Or there will be new dogs," One destroyed my hope and straightened up a little. "We have to get away from here."

We discovered a young woman on the densely overgrown river bank not far from our hiding place. She was filling a bucket with water and wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. I motioned for One to stay hidden so as not to frighten her too much, and stepped out of the bushes.The woman noticed me and immediately straightened up, whereupon I raised both hands slightly to symbolize that I did not want to harm her.

The next morning started with heavy rain showers, which One noted as a good sign as it meant that we were now in the northern region. It was very strenuous to pound through the damp, muddy earth, but we had to keep going and couldn't let it stop us.After a short time I was soaked to the bone, I was cold and I couldn't hide my shiver for long. One stopped and frowned at me.

"Riley."I blinked open my eyes and looked into One's."How are you feeling?" He asked.

I ate breakfast, let a little time pass, and finally cleared a space in the living area by moving the sofa. I went through all of the moves and exercises that Aljona had shown me, and that did me incredibly well. I could literally feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins as soon as I imagined a fighting situation and performed the movements to be able to assert myself in it. It wasn't the same without an opponent to stand up against, but I had an occupation that distracted me from other thoughts.