My chest grows and grows every day on these meadows, making me whole again. Fixing parts of myself I didn’t knowwere broken—not because of what Wolf did to me initially, but because everyone always took from me, never replenishing my love with theirs. I never realized just how empty I walked through life until now. Until I wasn’t empty anymore.
I never thought I’d say this, but I’ve built up a little routine here that I enjoy.
My days are filled with the smell of freedom, of letting loose under my husband’s hold over my body. And every night, when I return from the stables with the wind in my hair, he licks between my aching thighs, praises me and stuffs me with his hard cock, stretching me out.
We have coffee on the balcony every morning now, and he tells me things he’s never told anyone—the things he’s done, the things he dreams about. I haven’t told him this yet, but I think… I think I want my husband more each day and the life he laid out for us.
I let Alaska take me down into a small valley peppered by small bushes and wildflowers. The day is ending, and we should be heading back. A thrill flashes through me at the thought of showering with Wolfgang, of being held by his strong arms while he bends me over and…
A loud bang shatters the silence.
Alaska freezes, her ears flicking back.
In the next second, she rears up, pushing off her hind legs with a violent force, lifting her body—and me—into the air.
Her sharp neigh cuts through the air as she bucks, and despite my grip on the reins, I’m thrown off, tumbling to the ground. Alaska stands, tense, snorting, her chest heaving as she recovers from the shock.
“It’s okay, girl. It’s okay,” I tell her while I push into my arm.
I’m not hurt, I don’t think, but I could also be running on adrenaline right now.
Someone shot at me. At us. And they missed, which means… they’ll attempt it again.
But Alaska looks too frightened for me to get back on the saddle. No time for comfort, I push into my limbs and stand up, gripping the reins in my left hand while I pull her with me, protecting her from the direction of the bullet.
She doesn’t have to think twice—as soon as I start running, so does she. She’s faster, and I haven’t done this in a long time, but I have to try. For her.
Because if anything happens to her, not only will I never forgive myself, but I…
“Victoria!” a faraway voice calls out. A voice that’s deep and desperate, and one I’d recognize out of a million. I squint my eyes and see my husband running toward me at full speed. He calls out for me again, and again, and again, and every time he does it, I know we’re a little closer.
Another bullet flies off somewhere around me and I fall to my knees in horror, screaming.
Alaska pulls the reins so hard they fly out of my fist and I can see her running in front of me. She’s not wounded. She’s not. If she were… then she wouldn’t be running. She wouldn’t.
Once again, I try to get up, but more bullets fly by.
They seem to be going right past me.
I scream, and scream, and stay with my eyes closed until…
Strong hands wrap around me, pulling me close. “Hey. You’re okay. Look at me, love,” Wolf says, his body solid against mine. “Victoria.”
My trembling eyes crack open, and my husband’s face comes into view. He looks focused, cold almost, a stark contrast to the warmth emanating through his hands. His gaze shifts across my body, as if to check for any scratch.
“A-Alaska. She ran off…”
“Ivan and the others were behind me. Someone got her, love. I promise.”
I shake my head. “You don’t know that. Please… she could be hurt.”
“You’re shaking. Come here. Let me hold you.”
I protest, and he holds me against his chest until my voice quiets down and my breathing returns to its normal pattern. Safe. Being in his arms is safe, and if he’s here, it means I have nothing to worry about. I know that much.
The sound of many footsteps sounds around us.
“Ran off?” Ivan asks as he catches his breath.
