Love & Hate with Alpha Mate

Chapter 8

Elara nodded, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "I know just the place," she said. "But first, we need to get Ava ready. She can't go where we're going looking like a princess from the castle."

Ava looked down at her clothes, realizing that Elara was right. Her dress was torn and dirty from their escape, but it was still far too fine for wherever they were going.

Elara bustled over to a large trunk in the corner of the room, rummaging through it until she pulled out a bundle of clothes. "These should fit," she said, handing them to Ava.

Ava took the clothes, surprised to find that they were a pair of worn leather breeches and a simple tunic. She had never worn anything like them before, but Elara assured her that they were perfect for where they were going.

As Ava changed into the new clothes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had no idea where they were going, but she knew that it would be an adventure.

When she emerged from behind the screen, Elara and Elijah were both staring at her in surprise. "You look like a completely different person," Elara said, a smile spreading across her face.

Ava smiled back, feeling a sense of freedom that she had never experienced before. She was no longer a princess from the castle, but a young woman on the run, with a whole new world of possibilities ahead of her.

"Let's go," Elijah said, his eyes gleaming with a sense of adventure. "We have a long journey ahead of us.As they set out, Ava felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a dash of fear. She had never been on a journey like this before, and she had no idea what lay ahead.

They traveled through the night, the only sound being the soft thud of their horses' hooves on the earth. Ava's horse, a sturdy mare with a gentle disposition, seemed to sense her nervousness and stayed close to Elijah's stallion.

As the hours passed, Ava began to feel a sense of wonder at the world around her. She had never seen the countryside at night, and the stars twinkling above her were like diamonds scattered across the sky.

Elijah rode beside her, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. Ava felt a sense of gratitude towards him, knowing that he was risking his own life to protect her.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Elijah reined in his horse and turned to Ava. "We need to rest," he said, his voice low and rough from lack of sleep. "We can't keep riding without giving the horses a break."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was tired, too, and the thought of resting was heavenly.

Elara, who had been riding behind them, came forward and nodded in agreement. "There's a small village just ahead," she said. "We can rest there for a few hours and then continue on our journey."

Ava's heart lifted at the thought of a warm bed and a hot meal. She followed Elijah and Elara as they rode towards the village, feeling a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time.As they rode into the village, Ava was struck by its quaint charm. The thatched roofs of the cottages were a warm golden brown, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of baking bread.

Elara led them to a small inn, where they were greeted by a friendly innkeeper who showed them to a cozy room with a roaring fire. Ava felt a sense of relief wash over her as she sank onto the soft bed, feeling the weariness of the past few days begin to seep out of her bones.

Elijah and Elara sat down at a small table, poring over a map of the countryside. Ava watched them, feeling a sense of curiosity about their plans.

As they studied the map, Ava noticed that Elijah's eyes kept drifting back to her. She felt a flutter in her chest, wondering if he was watching her because he was concerned for her safety, or if there was something more to it.

After a few moments, Elijah stood up and came over to Ava. "We'll be leaving soon," he said, his voice low and gentle. "But for now, you should rest. You're safe here."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. As she lay back on the bed, she felt Elijah's eyes on her once more, and she wondered what he was thinking.

As she drifted off to sleep, Ava felt a sense of peace wash over her. For the first time in days, she felt like she was in good hands.Ava slept soundly, lulled by the warmth of the fire and the softness of the bed. She was vaguely aware of Elijah and Elara moving quietly around the room, but she didn't stir until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.

"Ava, it's time to go," Elijah said, his voice low and gentle.

Ava sat up, rubbing her eyes. She felt a little groggy, but otherwise refreshed. She looked around the room, taking in the sight of Elara packing up their belongings and Elijah standing by the door, his eyes fixed on her.

As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, Ava felt a sudden jolt of pain. She winced, remembering the injury she had sustained during their escape from the castle.

Elijah was by her side in an instant, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

Ava nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm fine," she said. "Just a little sore."

Elijah nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "We'll take it easy," he said. "We don't have to rush."

Ava smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. As they left the inn and mounted their horses, Ava felt a sense of excitement. She had no idea where they were going, but she was ready for whatever lay ahead.

As they rode out of the village, Ava noticed that Elijah seemed more relaxed than he had in days. His shoulders were back, and his eyes seemed to sparkle with a sense of adventure.

"What's wrong?" Ava asked, noticing that Elara seemed a little tense.

Elara glanced around nervously, her eyes scanning the horizon. "I don't like it," she said. "Something feels off."

Ava's heart skipped a beat as she looked around, wondering what Elara had sensed. But the countryside seemed peaceful, with nothing but rolling hills and green forests stretching out as far as the eye could see.Elijah's eyes narrowed, his gaze scanning the horizon. "What do you sense, Elara?" he asked, his voice low and serious.

Elara hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth. "I'm not sure," she said. "But I feel like we're being watched."

Ava's skin prickled with unease as she looked around, wondering if they were indeed being watched. But she saw nothing out of the ordinary, just the rolling hills and forests stretching out before them.

Elijah nodded thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving the horizon. "Let's keep moving," he said. "We can't stay in one place for too long."

As they rode on, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows. But there was never anyone there.

After a few hours of riding, Elijah reined in his horse and pointed to a small clearing up ahead. "We'll stop there for a while," he said. "We need to rest the horses and get some food."

Ava nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was hungry and tired, and the thought of resting and eating was heavenly.

As they dismounted and led the horses into the clearing, Ava noticed that Elara seemed more relaxed. She was smiling and chatting with Elijah, and Ava sensed that she was feeling more at ease.

But as Ava looked around the clearing, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The trees seemed to loom over them, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground. And the air seemed to vibrate with an eerie, unnatural silence.

Suddenly, Elijah's head snapped up, his eyes locked on something in the distance. "What is it?" Ava asked, her heart racing with fear.

Elijah's face was grim. "We have company," he said.Ava's heart skipped a beat as she followed Elijah's gaze. She saw a figure emerging from the trees, a tall, imposing man with a stern expression.

"Who is that?" Ava asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elijah's eyes narrowed. "I don't know," he said. "But I don't like it."

The man approached them, his eyes fixed on Ava. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he drew closer, his presence seeming to fill the entire clearing.

"Can we help you?" Elijah asked, his voice firm but polite.

The man didn't respond. Instead, he reached into his cloak and pulled out a small piece of parchment. He handed it to Elijah, who took it with a sense of trepidation.

As Elijah read the parchment, his expression grew darker. "What is it?" Ava asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Elijah's eyes locked onto hers. "It's a message from the Order," he said. "They know where we are."

Ava's heart sank. They had been discovered. She felt a sense of panic rising up inside her, but Elijah's calm demeanor helped to steady her nerves.

"What do we do?" Ava asked, looking to Elijah for guidance.

Elijah's eyes narrowed. "We leave," he said.Now.