Free Web NovelChapter 84: A Proposal
Raven
I didn’t speak for a long time, but I hadn’t expected Thor to speak either.
Silence settled between us comfortably, almost like an old companion neither of us cared to chase away.
Behind me, the guard subtly moved farther back, making it clear he intended to leave us alone. Thor merely gestured for me to follow him before turning away.
I obeyed quietly. freeweɓnøvel.com
We walked slowly through the cold night, my footsteps soft against the ground as I followed several steps behind him. Obedient on the surface, but cautious underneath.
I had no intention of following him deep into the forest.
I was wary of Axel.
And I was just as wary of Thor.
All of them held power over me, and none of them had any issue using me however they pleased. Letting my guard down around any alpha would only end with me being hurt.
Thankfully, Thor stopped before we reached the forest.
We stood near the border of the pack lands instead, the cold wind brushing against my skin as he finally turned to face me fully.
The intensity in his gaze hit me immediately.
Thor simply stared.
And stared.
The weight of his attention became suffocating enough that breathing itself started to feel difficult.
"Alpha," I said quietly, lowering my head while keeping my eyes fixed firmly on the ground. "Is there a reason you wanted to see me?"
If all he wanted to do was stare at me, he could have easily snuck into my room while I slept. There was no need to drag me outside in the middle of the night just to watch me squirm beneath his gaze.
I waited for an answer.
None came.
Honestly, I had expected as much.
Thor had barely spoken since calling me out here, so his silence no longer surprised me. I continued staring at the ground patiently, waiting while the cold air settled around us.
Eventually, my racing heart began to calm.
The fear slowly loosened its grip on my chest.
Then finally, Thor spoke.
"I have a proposal for you," he said evenly. "One I think you would like."
I stayed silent and listened carefully.
"You want freedom?" he continued. "I can give it to you."
My head jerked upward instantly.
Shock widened my eyes as I stared directly into his face.
Thor towered over me.
He was massive, all hard muscle and intimidating strength, forcing me to crane my neck just to properly look at him. Any one of the alphas could crush me without effort if they wanted to.
Thor especially looked like he could snap someone in half.
Surely this was some kind of joke.
There was no reason to drag me outside in the middle of the night simply to mock me.
Lowering my head again, I forced myself to answer respectfully.
"Alpha—"
"You want to leave the pack?" he interrupted immediately. "Then I’ll help you."
I froze.
"Instead of completing the ritual for all three of us," he continued calmly, "you’ll only complete it for me. After four times, you’ll no longer have to do it again."
The more he spoke, the more impossible his words sounded.
"Alpha..." I tried again weakly.
But once again, he cut me off.
"The alternative," he said, his tone turning colder, "is remaining here weak and hopeless with no chance of escape."
My entire body instantly stiffened.
Because he was right.
His offer was tempting.
But unknown to him, Lilian’s plan was far better.
I would rather stay in this pack and become invisible to everyone because I couldn’t conceive than become Thor’s personal possession.
Maybe something in my expression gave me away.
Because the moment I looked back up at him, Thor spoke again before I could.
"Rex controls you because of the oath you broke," he said. "But if you agree to my offer, I’m willing to kill him."
Every warning bell inside my head erupted violently.
Fear slammed into me so hard it nearly stole my breath.
Why?
Why would he go that far?
Yes, the ritual gave power, but I refused to believe Thor cared enough about power to murder his own brother over it.
Thor was apathetic about almost everything.
My expression darkened as I instinctively stepped backward.
"Why?" I asked quietly. "Why would you go that far?"
Rex was still his brother.
Half-brother, at least.
Yet Thor had spoken about killing him with absolutely no emotion whatsoever.
No hesitation.
No anger.
Nothing.
It was that emptiness that terrified me most.
Thor opened his mouth like he intended to explain himself, but panic instantly surged through me.
I shook my head quickly and lifted my hands.
"No," I blurted out immediately. "No, I don’t want to know."
I truly didn’t.
Whatever twisted reason existed behind his offer, I wanted no part in it.
"It’s none of my business," I muttered quickly.
Thor remained silent.
Swallowing hard, I forced myself to continue.
"I refuse," I said firmly despite the fear crawling through me. "I refuse to willingly continue defiling my body like that. What difference is there between one person and three?"
I forced myself to look directly into his eyes as I spoke.
If I had said something like that to Rex, he would have exploded instantly.
Thor didn’t.
He only stared at me with mild curiosity, almost like he found my reaction interesting.
That somehow unsettled me more.
His gaze stayed fixed on me intensely, and once again I found myself wondering what exactly went through his mind.
"I’m guessing you already have a plan," he said eventually.
My stomach twisted painfully.
"That’s unfortunate," he continued. "I hoped you would be desperate enough to accept mine."
The fear inside me deepened.
I lowered my head quickly.
"I don’t have another plan," I lied.
But the moment the words left my mouth, Thor spoke again.
"You were talking to a woman earlier," he said calmly. "In the evening." frёewebnoѵēl.com
My blood ran cold.
"It looked intense."
I said nothing.
"If I tortured her," he continued casually, "what do you think she would say?"
The words hit like a direct threat.
Thor exhaled slowly, sounding mildly annoyed as he ran a hand through his blond hair. Strands fell across his broad shoulders while I focused desperately on his neck instead of his eyes.
I was terrified he would see the truth written across my face if I looked at him directly.
"What if I simplify things for you?" he asked.
But the violent pounding in my chest only grew louder.
