131 A Ride
131 A Ride
*
CHAPTER 131
Zade patted its neck gently, murmuring something inaudible to the black horse. I was speechless as his attention drifted to me, the glint in his eyes betraying
his amusement.
amus
He knows, doesn’t he?
The corner of his mouth twitched.
“Do you trust me?” He extended his hand.
My gaze flickered between his eyes and the offered hand. It was a simple question, but the answer carried a weight far beyond its words.
“I trust you.”
The white horse walked over to me and I had to admit, my heart sped faster than it ever did in my entire life.
Taking his hand, he helped me onto the horse and I was taken aback. I hadn’t ridden a horse before in my
life but this… felt natural. @
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1/8.
131 A Ride
But Zade seemed unfazed, his calm demeanour putting me at ease. “Just follow my lead,” he said as he
mounted his own horse.
The horses walked side–by–side, and the gentle sway of their movements lulled me into a comfortable
rhythm.
“So, you haven’t ridden before?”
I looked at my side and smiled. “How did you know I hadn’t ridden a horse?” I asked curiously.
“Because,” he replied, a playful smile on his lips, “if you had, we wouldn’t be walking.”
“You have a point there but who says one couldn’t walk while atop a horse?”
Zade smirked, shaking his head. “Call it instincts but you do not look like one who would play it safe if you could ride.”
My smile spilled into my eyes as I looked away. He was right. I felt a certain kind of energy in me just holding onto the reins. Almost like a second skin my body
remembered.
In all the lives I had lived, this wasn’t a part of anything
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131 A Ride
I knew so how?
We continued on the trail, the sounds of nature
enveloping us. The trail narrowed, forcing us to ride a single file. Zade took the lead, his posture confident
and relaxed.
I tried to imitate his stance, gripping the reins lightly.
As we reached a fork in the path, he slowed, allowing
me to catch up.
“Left or right?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
“You’re the one in charge,” I replied with a smile.
“Not here, Zara,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “We’re equals.”
I paused, touched by his sincerity. “Right, then,” I answered.
He nodded, steering his horse down the right path. The air changed, growing cooler as the trees closed in around us.
“Where are we going?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.
“You’ll see,” he replied with a mischievous grin.
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131 A Ride
We continued on, and the scenery became more and more familiar.
“Is this a shortcut to the waterfall?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “No, this is something
else.”
We reached the clearing, and I gasped, unable to believe my eyes.
A large treehouse was built amongst the branches of an ancient tree, the wood aged and weathered but
strong.
“Did you build this?”
Zade nodded. “I built it a long time ago, but I haven’t been here in years.”
He dismounted and approached my horse, helping me
down.
“Come on,” he said, leading the horses over to a nearby
trough.
We climbed the steps and I was struck by the
craftsmanship and attention to detail. Everything was exactly how I imagined a treehouse would be, only
better.
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131 A Ride
“This is incredible,” I murmured, running my fingers over the smooth wooden planks.
“I’m glad you like it,” he replied, watching me carefully.
“So, this is your secret hideout?”
His lips curved into a crooked smile. “Something like that. I used to come here when I wanted to escape.”
“Escape from what?”
He turned, looking out at the view. “The pressures of being an Alpha male, the expectations of others. This was a place where I could just be myself with…” He halted before the next words left his lips.
(2)
I wanted to pry but knew better than to do so.
His honesty took me by surprise, and a sense of understanding dawned.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “For sharing this with me.”
He met my gaze with an open and vulnerable
expression. “I haven’t brought anyone here since I was a child.”
I looked away, my chest tight. His words resonated with me in a way that surprised me.
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111 APRI
We stood together in silence and then, without warning, a flashback struck.
I saw a child–a young girl–with shining blond hair and light blue eyes, her expression determined and hopeful as she climbed the stairs.
She entered the treehouse and sat down, her small hands smoothing over the floor.
“Zara?”
I blinked, the memory fading.
What was that?
My heart hammered in my chest, and I turned to Zade, my eyes wide and filled with confusion.
He stared back at me but I couldn’t read him. He was just like Snow or should I say worse.
“You’re the only person I’ve trusted with this place,
Zara.”
His words were quiet, but the meaning behind them was clear.
He trusted me.
“Why?” I whispered.
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131 A Ride
His eyes softened. “Because you are different and you remind me of someone.”
I couldn’t find the words to express what I was feeling. A deep connection. My mind raced as the emotions threatened to overwhelm me.
Just then we heard the horses whine, breaking our attention. Without looking back, I hurried away and down the tree house.
“What’s wrong, Diamond?” I asked, petting the white horse.
Zade appeared from behind, walking closer to us. “Diamond?”
I nodded. “Well, whenever I look into her eyes they hold a spark and I am remembered of Diamonds. Hence the name.”
Zade smiled, giving a nod. “Great then. Diamond is what we’ll call her. Want a ride back?”
I nodded and before he could help me, I climbed atop Diamond with ease, shocking me and Zade.
“You’re a natural,” I smirked at his compliment. “Well, let’s see if being natural can make you keep up with
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this.”
131 A Ride
I barely understood what he meant but the next
second, Zade got into his and to my shock, he charged
forward on his horse.
“Come on, Zara. Show me what you’ve got,” he cooed
as he rode.
Rather than being scared, I felt my blood pump, my veins eager for a ride.
“Hey girl, ready?”
