Mated To An Enemy

“He’s late.�

“He’ll be here,� Sofia sighed, moving across the room to check that all the crates were sealed correctly.

“He was supposed to arrive yesterday,� the large man with the silver hair said, following Sofia closely.

Sofia turned and smiled up at him, placing her hands on his chest.

“Soren,� she said.

The large man leaned down and gave a soft grunt.

Sofia moved her arms around his neck and pulled him gently to her to place a soft peck on his lips.

“He will be here,� she whispered against his mouth.

Soren took a deep breath through his nose and then grunted in acquiescence.

Sofia smiled and pulled away from him. Turning back to continue checking that all the crates were ready to go.

“These look good,� she said. “Are the runners ready?�

“They should be,� Soren said in his gruff voice. “But Remi was organizing them.�

Sofia raised an eyebrow.

“Then get Remi,� she smiled. “You’re the one sitting here gruffing and growling at me that time’s running out, and yet you are wasting mine.�

“I’m sorry, my Alpha,� Soren said, lowering his head.

Sofia let out a soft chuckle.

“I’m just messing with you, love,� she said. “But, seriously, go get Remi. I want these ready to go at a moment’s notice.�

Soren gave her a quick smile before turning and leaving the room, ducking his head as he went through the door.

He was a beast of a man in every way.

Sofia never expected to find herself in a relationship after everything she had been through, much less a relationship with two men. However, Remi and Soren were unlike other men.

The same two men who had supported her on the day she met Caleb had somehow become her lovers and escape.

They were a balance of devotion and carnal bliss. If they had it their way, they would never leave her side. At first, she had found it annoying and overbearing. But in the months since she returned, she relied on them for her mental clarity.

Remi offered her a quiet comfort; she could look into his eyes and feel his calming presence. He helped her to focus and breathe.

Soren made her feel safe. She knew that if anyone ever tried to hurt her or force her into anything, he would tear their throat out without a word. All the while holding her tenderly every chance he had.

Together, these two men offered her everything she wanted. They warmed and comforted her heart, challenged her mind, and drowned her body in ecstasy.

But right now, her focus was on another man. The one that had promised to keep her people safe.

Alpha Caleb was a day late arriving in Burning Ember.

He had called her just before setting out to cross the pass. He confirmed what the Winter scouts had already told her: a war party was gathering high in the mountains. Enough to quickly destroy her pack.

He gave her instructions on an evacuation plan, and she did everything he said. Her people were mainly ready to go. Only the smiths refused to leave their work unfinished.

She had expected this.

The wolves of Burning Ember took great pride in their work. They never left it unfinished or of low quality.

Caleb had said he would arrive in two days. The plan called for them to leave on the third day. It was now the third day.

Sofia paced the room; she wasn’t sure what she should do.

If she started the evacuation now, it was likely that she would be able to get her people far enough south to avoid any losses before the fae reacted to the move.

It was the smart thing to do, the safest option for her people. But part of her couldn’t leave until she knew where Caleb was.

He was an honorable man. He would keep his promise. This meant that if he was late, there was likely a reason, possibly a reason, that required her help.

The door to the storage room opened. Soren ducked his head and stepped inside, quickly followed by Remi. His dark eyes turned to her, and a softness settled into them as he saw her.

Instantly, she felt the tightness in her chest falling away as he approached her.

“Are you all right?� he whispered as he got close, pressing a soft kiss to her throat.

“Better now,� she replied, turning toward him.

He smiled and kissed her lips. A brief but pleasant greeting between them. Now was not the time for intimate acts.

“The runners are ready to go,� Remi said, “but the last crate isn’t ready yet. The smiths say it won’t be ready until the morning.�

Sofia took a deep breath.

“I want the rest moved,� she said, looking at him thoughtfully. “Get them out as fast as possible.�

Remi nodded.

"It will take a few hours, but it will be done."

Sofia turned to Soren.

“He’s late,� she said softly.

Soren’s eyes widened briefly, and then he nodded.

“We’ll begin the evacuation once the runners have left,� she continued. “But I’m not leaving any of my people behind. You will lead the evacuation; I will stay with the smiths and join you in the morning.�

Soren let out a soft growl.

“Sofia...� he began.

“No,� she shook her head. “I understand that we need to get going, but if any wolf of Burning Ember is still here, then so am I.�

“Then I will stay with you,� Soren replied.

“So will I,� Remi added.

“You will stay, but only because I need you to run that last crate the second it is ready,� Sofia said, looking at Remi. Then turning to Soren, her expression softened. “But you have to go.�

Soren clenched his jaw and flared his nostrils. To anyone else, he looked angry, but to her, he looked scared.

“I’m sorry,� she whispered, stepping forward and reaching her hands up to his face. He bent forward to make it easier for her. “I need to know my people are safe. If I can’t be there, I need you to be.�

Soren reached his hand to palm her cheek, looking at her with sincere concern.

“I need to know that you are safe,� he said.

Remi moved behind her. Wrapping an arm at her waist and laying his head on the back of her shoulder.

“We both do,� he said quietly. “I knew I would have to leave, but I thought Soren would be with you still. Please, don’t do this.�

Sofia closed her eyes and swallowed. She took a deep breath and then looked up at Soren.

“If you want me to let you stay by my side,� she said. “Then you need to find me someone else to protect my people.�

Soren furrowed his brows, and then understanding fell over him. He looked away from her and nodded. He caressed her cheek with his thumb.

“There was no need for a trick, my queen,� he said softly. “I am yours to command at all times.�

Sofia swallowed.

“I will find the Alpha of Summer and bring him to you,� he said, opening the door.

“Wait,� Remi called, pulling away from Sofia and looking between them. “If Soren goes to find the missing Alpha, there is no telling what he will find. There is a good chance they will not be back before the runners have all left.�

Soren looked at Sofia.

“We still have the warriors that were sent from Winter. They will protect the people,� Soren replied. “If we have not arrived by the time the runners are all gone, it will fall to you to decide what to do. Give up the last crate, convince the smiths to abandon the forge and join the evacuation, or send the pack south on their own.�

Sofia did not like her options.

The smiths would never agree to abandon their work. It wasn’t their way. And though she knew that the warriors from Winter were all good people, she hated the idea of not having one of her own leading the pack.

“It seems like a very simple solution,� Sofia replied.

She stepped forward and grabbed the front of Soren’s shirt, pulling him down roughly so they were eye to eye.

“Don’t be late,� she said, leaning forward and kissing him fiercely.

***

The sky burned with the sun’s dying light as the last of the runners took their cargo out of Burning Ember territory.

Sofia felt her heart beating heavily in her ears as she stared into the distance, hoping, praying to see her silver-haired giant.

Another hour went by.

“Sofia,� Remi called to her gently.

She turned to him; her expression was pained. She struggled to hold back her tears.

“He’s coming back,� she whispered.

Remi swallowed and pulled her into a hug.

“Of course he is,� he whispered, gently squeezing her. “He would never leave you wondering.�

Sofia took a deep breath and nodded.

“Okay,� she whispered.

Slowly she pushed away from Remi and nodded her head.

“It is time,� she said. “With or without Alpha Caleb, our people must--�

“Sofia!� Remi whispered loudly with surprise. “Look.�

Sofia turned around. She saw three large shapes in the distance emerging from that empty space she had spent hours staring at.

Three large men, but only two of them were walking on their own strength while carrying the third man between them.

Sofia gasped as they got closer, and she could finally see that the man they carried had a head of silver hair.

She took off in a run toward the men. Her heart had found its way into her throat, and she felt as though she were choking on it.

The closer she got, the worse she felt.

She now recognized one of the men, Saul, the Beta of Winter. And the other was Alpha Caleb.

Sofia wanted to feel relief that they had finally arrived, but all she could see was the red that had mixed into the silver. All she could feel was dread and panic as she could now see that he wasn’t moving.

“Soren!� she screamed as she pushed harder to reach him.

Caleb lifted his eyes to see her, the pain in her expression.

“Set him down,� he whispered to Saul, “gently.�

They set the large man down, and Sofia immediately went to his side. Grabbing at his face, trying to force him to look at her.

“Soren!� she screamed. “Soren! Look at me! Look at me right now!�

At first, he didn’t move. But after she shouted, he stirred just a little. He turned his head, and she saw the large wound. All the blood pooled into his hair. Her eyes trailed down to his chest, another injury, his stomach, his leg. All deeply wounded.

“Soren...� she whispered unsteadily through tears, looking back into his eyes. “No...no... you can’t...�

“Sofi... Sofia...� he whispered. His voice was barely audible. “I’m sorry... my queen, my love...�

“Please,� she whispered, leaning closer to him, her tears falling freely. She squeezed his hand tightly. “Please, don’t do this... don’t leave me....�

“I’m sorry... I was late...� he whispered with a final breath as he faded into the night.

“Soren...� Sofia half whispered. Squeezing her eyes tightly and feeling the heaviness dragging into her lungs, she desperately tried to pull in even a breath of air. But all she could do was let out an anguished and silent scream.