Ruthless Alpha, and his Curvy Saint Chapter 6

Alpha Terrell’s POV

"Witch, why haven’t you found her yet?" I voiced out in frustration. I’d been riding through these damned woods for three days straight, and my patience had worn thinner than parchnt.

Sheena sat behind on my horse, her fingers digging into my sides as we rode through a rocky path. "We’ve been patrolling for days. Are you certain this woman is my mate? Because I swear to the gods, if this is so stupid prank..."

"She is your True Mate, Alpha." Sheena replied in desperation. "I would never play with sothing this sensitive. The Moon Goddess would strike dead where I stand. She’s human, which makes her difficult to trace. Their scents are weaker, their presence less..."

"Excuses." I glared at her over my shoulder. "You claid to have all these mystical powers, yet you can’t find one lost human girl in a forest?"

Behind us, my generals snickered, murmuring vile words that only I could hear. None of them liked Sheena. They tolerated her because I tolerated her, but the distrust was mutual and palpable.

We rode in silence for another hour, my brain still trying to accept the fact that I’m fated to a human girl.

And I was supposed to do what with her? Court her? I can’t even bed her. The girl will die on the first night.

"Stop!"

Sheena’s sudden command made pull hard on the reins. My horse whinnied in protest, and behind us, the others halted abruptly.

"What is it?" I demanded.

"I can sll her." Sheena slid off the horse, her eyes unfocused, distant. "She’s close. Her scent is stronger here."

"She has a scent?" I dismounted as well, frowning. "Humans don’t have scents. Not like we do. They’re practically scent-blind, and they emit nothing worth tracking."

"This one does." Sheena walked forward slowly, like she was following an invisible thread. "She’s human, yes, but her scent... it’s distinctive."

Kade rode up beside , his expression dubious. "Alpha, with all due respect, I think the priestess might be..."

"Wait." I held up a hand, suddenly alert. "There is sothing."

I’d been catching whiffs of it for the past half hour - sothing sweet, unfamiliar. I’d assud it was so forest plant or wildflower, but now that Sheena ntioned it...

"Describe it," I ordered. "This scent. What does she sll like?"

Sheena closed her eyes, breathing deeply. "Sweet. Like... like vanilla biscuits fresh from the oven. She has this gentle, powdery fragrance that makes you want to..." She paused, searching for words. "To hug her. To cuddle her close and protect her. It’s the sll of innocence. Of purity. Like a baby."

"A baby?" I went completely still. "How old is this woman again?"

"Twenty-four, Alpha."

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. "Okay. I can work with that." Twenty-four was young by my standards - I’d been alive a thousand years - but at least she wasn’t actually an infant. "Now explain to why she slls like baked goods and infants. Is this so human thing I’m not aware of?"

"I don’t know how to explain it better," Sheena admitted, still following that invisible trail. "It’s not just vanilla and powder. There’s sothing underneath. Sothing warm and comforting, like fresh bread or honey or..." She gestured helplessly. "Like ho. She slls like ho, Alpha."

Behind , one of my generals snorted. "The Alpha’s mate slls like cookies. That’s just perfect."

"Say that again," I growled without turning around, "and I’ll remove your tongue."

Silence.

I focused on that scent - now that I knew what I was looking for, it was unmistakable. Sweet vanilla, powder, warmth. It was completely foreign to . In my thousand years, I’d never encountered anything like it.

"I don’t like it," I announced, turning away and striding back to my horse.

"Alpha?" Sheena looked confused.

"It’s too... soft. Too sweet." I swung back into the saddle with more force than necessary. "I don’t like it at all."

But even as I said it, I found myself breathing deeper, trying to catch more of that strange, intoxicating scent. My beast - usually so savage and uncontrollable - stirred with interest rather than violence.

Mine, it whispered. Find her. Protect her.

I ignored it and kicked my horse forward. "Well? Are you coming, witch? Or are you going to stand there slling the air all day?"

Sheena ca back and mounted the horse behind , and we continued forward, following that vanilla-and-powder trail deeper into the woods.

I told myself I didn’t like how soft she slled.

I told myself I was only doing this because a True Mate was too valuable to lose, regardless of species.

I told myself that the eager pounding of my heart ant nothing.

But deep down - deeper than I wanted to acknowledge - I couldn’t wait to et the woman who slled like sweet powder and ho.

******

Angel’s POV

I couldn’t feel my feet anymore.

That should have worried , but honestly, it was almost a relief. The numbness ant I couldn’t feel the blisters that had burst and re-ford, the cuts from sharp rocks, the aching burn of muscles pushed far beyond their limits.

"Move!" The Boss cracked his whip near my head. "You’re slowing us down, girl!"

I tried. I really did. But my legs were shaking so badly they could barely hold my weight. Each step was extrely painful, and the rope binding my wrists ant I couldn’t even use my arms for balance.

I stumbled, caught myself, stumbled again.

The sun was setting - our third day of travel. Three days of walking from dawn until dusk with only brief stops for water and stale bread. Three days of the traders’ complaints and curses. Three days of knowing that at the end of this nightmare journey, Lord Hawkins waited.

He killed the last three girls you sold him.

The words echoed in my head with every painful step.

"Boss, she’s gonna collapse," the young trader warned. "Look at her. She can barely stand."

"Then she’ll learn to stand better." But even the Boss sounded annoyed now rather than threatening. "We’re only a day out from the eting point. She can last one more day."

I couldn’t.

My vision blurred, dark spots dancing around . The ground tilted sideways, then righted itself, then tilted again.

"Angel, you need to keep moving!" One of the won from the carriage called out. Her voice was hoarse, probably from screaming or crying. "Don’t give up! Don’t let them..."

"Shut up in there!" Soone banged on the carriage, and the woman went quiet.

My foot caught on a root.

This ti, when I fell, I didn’t get back up.

The ground was cool against my cheek, almost comfortable. I could just stay here. Just close my eyes and let the darkness take . At least then I wouldn’t have to face Lord Hawkins. Wouldn’t have to beco his whore, his plaything, his victim.

Maybe death was rcy after all.

"Oh, for fuck’s sake." The Boss’s boots appeared in my line of vision. "Get up."

I didn’t move.

"I said, GET UP!"

He kicked in the ribs, sending sharp pain through my torso. I curled into myself instinctively, but I still didn’t stand.

I couldn’t.

"This is ridiculous." The dismissive trader from before spat near my head. "I told you she’d be dead weight. Should’ve left her in the forest."

"We’re losing daylight because of this fat bitch," another complained. "We should’ve been at the river crossing by now."

The Boss crouched down, grabbing my hair and yanking my head up. I cried out, tears streaming down my face. "You listen to , girl. You either get up and walk, or I tie you to the back of the carriage and drag you the rest of the way. You’ll be alive when we get to Hawkins - barely - but you’ll be nothing but at and broken bones. Is that what you want?"

I couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe.

He released , and my face hit the dirt again.

"We’re taking a break," he announced to the others. "Thirty minutes. Let her rest, get so food in her. Maybe she’ll be useful after that."

"Thirty minutes?" soone protested. "Boss, we’re already behind schedule..."

"And we’ll be even more behind if we have to drag a corpse." The Boss walked away, barking orders. "Soone get the fire started. You - check the horses. You - make sure those bitches in the carriage stay quiet."

I lay there in the dirt, my body a symphony of pain. Mama’s face flashed through my mind. Her smile, the way she used to stroke my hair when I was sad. You’re beautiful, Angel. Don’t let them tell you otherwise.

But I wasn’t beautiful. And now I’d never even get to properly mourn her.

"Here." The young trader appeared, holding a waterskin and a chunk of hard bread. "Eat. Drink. You need your strength."

"Why?" I whispered. "Why does it matter?"

He looked uncomfortable. "Boss says we already sent word to Lord Hawkins. He’s probably riding out to et us halfway. Should be here by tomorrow afternoon." He paused. "If you’re lucky, he’ll kill you quick."

He walked away before I could respond.