Though it sounded cliché, and Hope's behavior didn't reflect the urgency of their situation now. But, in reality,the white beast reacted to that.He snarled at the other centaurs that were still preventing him from approaching his mate. He bared his blade-sharp-like fangs as he tried to bite off the horse's body of one of the centaurs near him.
Fortunately, that young centaur had a good reflex to dodge the lethal attack that was thrown at him, or else, he would end up like the poor giant troll, whose body could no longer be recognized.
"Tell your people to move away," Hope said to Chiron, who was now following behind her closely.
However, when the beast saw this, he wasn't pleased at all as he shifted his attention towards Chiron. Then he sent a long vicious growl at the chief of the centaurs.
Chiron knitted his brows, since he could feel the hostility that the beast directed towards him. "Are you sure?"
"A hundred percent." Hope nodded decisively.
Chiron raised his hand and stopped walking to follow Hope, as he watched how the girl strolled across the clearing to meet her mate.
Chiron was aware that the mate bond was very strong, and this kind of gift was not something that could be taken lightly. He knew that there was something magical between the mate bond bearers. That one couldn't explain or put into the right word.
Hope stretched out her arms when she was close enough to the white beast.Even without amazing hearing ability, Hope could still feel the tension from the people, no, those supernatural creatures, behind her.She could hear their breath come to stop with every move that she took.
The white beast's familiar red eyes stared straight back into Hope's, after he made sure those lowly creatures wouldn't intervene anymore.
The moment when Hope's hand touched the white tufts of his fur, right away calmness washed over the beast. It was like a form of relief and something else that Hope couldn't put her finger on.
Though just a moment ago, this exact same beast just slaughtered a giant troll, whose size was twice as big as the beast' body.But Hope knew this was the same beast, who would allow her to scramble on his back and fall asleep covered by its warm fur.
A part of Hope, no, the whole part of her believed that Kace would never hurt her.
Never.
Hope's stroke the beast's ears carefully.Sure this probably looked like a suicide mission.But, fear never came to her heart.
Kace growled loudly at Hope, causing all the birds and wildlife to flee at hearing such a feral and predator-like noise.
The centaurs and the shapeshifters behind Hope tensed as the hairs on their body stood on end in response, and had to stop the urge to cower back.
In spite of Kace's vicious growl, Hope could see all of the insecurities, worries, and love were shining in the depths of his beautiful eyes.
Hope held her ground and didn't even flinch when she wrapped her arms around the beast's neck.
"It's alright, everything is all right now. We are fine. I am fine," Hope whispered softly.
How could she be scared of the man who chose to love her so unconditionally, and doted on her with everything he had? The man, who literally had known her for her entire life.
Why would Hope choose to run from him, when he needed her the most at this time, just because of a mere menacing growl?
Regardless what form he took, whether it was the beast, or the young crying boy, he was still Kace.
Hope could feel the beast sniffing her hair, and then the air, as his snout lifted high, looking for any form of danger around them.
After a while, Hope released the beast and stared into his, still, blood-colored red eyes, while he narrowed down to meet hers. His head lowered until his snout was only inches from Hope's nose.
Hope reached a hand out to touch his fur again, but then his ears perked up because of the slight noise behind Hope.
It was Bree.
Apparently, the little girl had woken up from her unconscious state, and was looking for her parents.
It broke everyone's heart when the girl didn't stop calling for her mother and father.But Ethan, who was carrying her, couldn't let her see her parents in such condition.
The beast c.o.c.ked his head to the side, and trailed his eyes back to his mate.
Hope curled her fingers around a tuft of his fur, and cupped his wolf face as she stared directly to his red eyes. "Shift back for me, okay?"
The beast didn't respond to her plea, he was still alarmed by the centaurs' presence there.He seemed to not like it when the other creatures were too close to him, or too close to his mate.
But then, after a few words from Hope, Kace's paw turned into hands, which curled around her body, and his white fur turned into flesh.
Within seconds, Kace had shifted back into his human's form.
"Hope…" was all he said before he fell on her laps, with his eyes closed and shallow breath.
==============
Hope was sitting on the ground, beside Kace's body.
They were inside the Centaurs' den since they couldn't take her to the village, fearing her scent would drive another attack from the demon wolves.
The village was in complete ruined condition to be able to hold back the second attack.Thus, here she was, coiling her body beside Kace, who was still asleep.
This place was like a hut, an ugly one.Since those centaurs lived in the wild, so there was no way they could provide her with the luxury that humans needed.
Hope yawned because she couldn't fall asleep. It had been two days since that dreadful night, and Kace hadn't given any sign of waking up. And because Kace was in this condition, so did Lana.
"Hey, wake up." Hope poked Kace's cheek with her finger lightly, and turned around to look at the window when she heard a gruff voice.
"Yes, my lovely…"