“Let go of me you brute!” she mumbled into the hand over her mouth.
He laughed, and so did the other men, sending more chills over her body.
The man dragged her, towards the trees. Her eyes widened. She had a faint idea of what they were about to do. She planted her feet on the ground but it was of no use. He pulled at her with more force.
“Enough!” Bear Claw yelled as he grabbed one of the men from behind, a dagger at his throat.
“Bear Claw.” The hold on her loosened but not enough for her to escape.
From within the trees emerged more men. She relaxed when she identified them as the men from the village.
The men began to speak but she could not keep up with them. Bear Claw looked really pissed. She had never seen him this way.
She gasped as the hold on her tightened. From the way the man sounded, he didn’t seem happy. Her eyes widened as the dagger flicked the man, blood flowing.
Her knees bruised the ground as the man pushed her. Bear Claw let go of the other man and she scrambled into his arms. Tears welled in her eyes, but she was not going to cry. At least not here.
His arms wrapped around her as he said some words to the other man. The other man said something back to him harshly.
“They are leaving,” Bear Claw said tenderly to her. She pulled away just in time to see the men leaving. The one who had held her threw her a dirty look that made her go cold instantly.
They were swallowed by the trees, and it was only then she relaxed. She realized her heart had been racing with so much fear.
She burst into tears as he wrapped his arms around her. She had never been as scared in her life. Not even when she had been kidnapped on the trail. If he hadn’t come, not only would they have raped her, she knew they would have killed her. Just the thought sent chills all over her body.
Bear Claw was mad at her for running off. He should punish her, but her fear was enough punishment. He shuddered to think of what could have happened if he hadn’t found her.
“Who was that?” Hannah asked, pulling away, as she dabbed her eyes.
“Chua,” Bear Claw said with distaste.
“What... What did you say?”
He had threatened to kill one of Chua’s men if he did not let the woman go.
“Kill him then. He’s of no use to me. But this woman shall warm my bed,” Chua said.
The dagger deepened and the man underneath his hold struggled.
Chua laughed. “So it is true that you have been charmed by a white devil. I never thought the day would come.”
“Let her go,” Bear Claw said. “You don’t want to make an enemy of me.”
It was those words that had made Chua loosen his hold on her. Bear Claw was known to be a calm leader, but a fierce warrior. His enemies avoided battle with him, and his friends cherished the peace.
“I found her Bear Claw. And by law, she be—”
“You found no one Chua. She’s under my protection. She’s mine,” Bear Claw sneered.
“I will let her go, but the next time I see this white devil, she belongs to me.”
He glared and the man laughed, just as he pushed Hannah to the ground.
“You should not have gone on your own,” Bear Claw said.
“So now it is my fault that... That...” Tears welled in her eyes.
“Chua is a cruel leader. He hurts things. Humans. Animals.”
