Their Hidden Princess (Zora and Maximus) novel Chapter 251

Chapter 251

Thorne’s POV

After storming out of the house, Thorne shifted into wolf form and tried to outrace his guilt. He wanted to be there for Zora. Wasn’t that why he was here? But every time he moved closer to her, he would hurt her, like he was her arbiter of destruction and not her mate.

It started when he had rejected her and only amplified until now. Now she was sick, maybe severely? And it was all his fault. If the others hadn’t already made that clear, he knew deep in his heart that he was the one at fault here.

He was the one who had toyed with her heart. He was the villain.

His continued presence was only making things worse.

So he ran, unsure of where he was going, only knowing that he had to get away from here. From her. Even if it tore him apart. His own heart was aching, his wolf was fighting him with every step.

She isn’t our mate anymore, he reminded his wolf. We rejected her. We should mean nothing to her.

His wolf chuffed, and his own heart whispered, Liar.

Inhaling, Thorne scented another wolf behind him, one he recognized. Maximus. Why was he following? Had something happened with Zora?

Thorne stumbled in his pace, distracted, giving Max enough chance to catch up.

Thorne growled at him, but Max roared and tackled him. At their high-speed pace, they toppled, falling over each other several times through the rocky grasses. They fought as they tumbled, with teeth and claws. Fur flew. Even some blood spilled, though they were superficial wounds that healed quickly.

When they finally stopped, Max shoved his way to the top and shoved Thorne once more into the dirt. Then he stood and shifted.

“You fucking coward.”

Thorne didn’t shift at first. He stayed in the dirt where he felt he belonged.

“Why would you run? What was your plan? Run away and don’t look back? Let Zora suffer?” Max was shouting now, each word a piercing accusation that zipped through Thorne’s chest like an arrow.

“Can’t you see? Can’t you feel it?” Max demanded.

“See what? Feel what?”

Max’s anger remained, twisting the hard lines of his face, but his eyes softened marginally now, as he looked at Thorne with growing pity.

“Your mating bond to Zora has been repairing itself,” he said. “That’s why she’s sick. She needs you and you are pulling away from her.”

“That can’t be…” Thorne said, but the words trailed. “Could it?”

“You would know better than me, if you stopped running from it. But I know her. She’s reaching out to you. She needs you.” He huffed in disgust. “But go if you want to go. A coward would only hold her back. She needs strong mates.”

“Like you and Kairos, and Professor Lunerly?” Thorne had his own moment of flashing disgust. Kairos had once been his friend, but the man was impulsive and often irrational. Maximus was strong, but he was so infatuated with Zora that he was sometimes blind to the world around her. How was he going to be a good protector? Professor Lunerly was experienced sure, but did he have the patience for Zora’s mistakes?