Rough Riding Orc Cowboy by Ava Ross

A runaway bride shouldn’t trust anyone, least of all her orc cowboy savior. But every time he looks at me, I lose the urge to run.

Beth: I’ve been controlled my whole life. First by my father. Then by the man he was forcing me to marry. Instead of saying I do, I ran, landing into the arms of a brawny orc cowboy with quiet strength and dark eyes that see too much. Ruugar swears he’ll protect me, but I see the way he looks at me, like he’s holding himself back. Like I belong to him. And maybe I do. I thought running meant freedom, but what if being with Ruugar is the only place I was meant to be?
Ruugar: Beth is my mate. I knew it the second she touched me, and fate burned her mark into my skin. But she was promised to another, and an honorable male never steals what isn’t his. Now, she’s fled her wedding. She’s desperate and terrified, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if it means ignoring how much I want her. Even if it means hiding her in plain sight, disguised as a boy on the tourist trail ride we’re leading across the plain. But out here, away from the world, it’s hard to resist what was always meant to be.