I feel so warm, cosy even; I awoke to having been wrapped up into a thick blanket.
My back ached quite badly and I felt incredibly weak.
I sat up, startled; I was not alone.
Brax was sat at my Living Room table, playing on his mobile phone.
'Two seconds, I have nearly beat this bastard'. He spoke through clench teeth.
'Wow'. I laughed.
'Damn it.. never mind'. He sighed in defeat, but then gave me an awkward smile.
'So, you are terrible at mobile gaming'. I smiled, enjoying the fact that I have learnt something personal about this mysterious handsome Werewolf.
'I am.. pretty terrible at these human games'. He frowned.
I sat up slowly and he gave me a knowing smile.
'It still hurts?'.
'It aches.. yes'. I frowned.
'Do you want a coffee or some weird magical potion? I really do not know much about your kind'. He grumbled awkwardly.
I stood up slowly and began to walk towards the Kitchen; I rolled my eyes at him, as he followed quietly behind me.
'I am not about to fall into a heap onto the floor'. I grumbled.
'Stop being such a drama queen'. He laughed.
I bent down to get a cup, only to notice Brax quickly turn around and hug himself awkwardly.
Did that mean that he felt as weird as I did around him? Was he attracted to me as well? I scoffed, at my strange thought.
I winced, as my back stung a little; I abruptly dropped my mug and it shattered onto the Kitchen floor.
Brax caught my arm and supported my lower back with his other arm. I sucked in a deep breath, he was too close to me.. far too close.
'Brax!?'. I whispered, in an oddly seductive and needing voice.
I have never spoke to a male in such a way, it was different than when I was around Ray.. this felt more.. natural. And yet, Brax and I were completely different species.
Having reacted in such a way seemed to surprise us both.. he bit his lower lip and his pupils dilated to a brighter shade of green and white; we were nose to nose before we even realized it.
His fingertips shakingly touched my bottom lip gently and he licked his lips like a predator eyeing its prey for the first time. Oddly enough, I was not afraid.
I closed my eyes slowly; thinking that he would kiss me.. but he did not.
His phone vibrated, drawing his gaze from mine.
'Yes?'. He spoke, neutrally, as he slowly pulled away from me.
I took a deep breath, as he walked out of the room. Leaving me alone, to catch my breath.
He then scratched the side of his head, as he walked in and eyed me, looking just as embarrassed.. but he also looked very conflicted.
Something was wrong.. I knew that for sure.. because his eyes seemed pretty dead despite his embarrassed face.
'We have to go. While I was babysitting you, one of our young members were murdered'. He spoke sadly, with clenched teeth.
Babysitting? I have to let that slide when one of his fellow Pack members had been killed.
'I do not belong with your kind'. I frowned.
'Alpha's orders, so follow me'. He grumbled.
He unhappily grabbed a hold of my hand, if I did not feel uncomfortable about this I would have been crazy. Everything screamed that I was in danger, even if I felt safe around Brax.
'Wait!? Can I not at least shower and get dressed!?'. I protested.
'No. No distractions, move'. He spat.
Great, so not only had I almost kissed this sexy man.. but now he was pissed off at me.. and I have no idea as to why.
He then, pulled me out of my Apartment and then he crouched down in front of me; I stared at him in confusion.
'Get on my back, you are injured and we need to be quick'. He sent me a look of disapproval, as I shook my head.
'Why are females so awkward'. He snapped.
'I can walk'. I protested.
I squealed in shock and disbelief as he grabbed me by my hips and threw me over his bare back. I blushed deeply, kicking and trying to get him to let me down, to no avail. Humans were laughing and whispering at us, as we passed by them.
Of course, this meant his warm hands were holding the top of my legs just underneath my butt.
I thought I might die of embarrassment.
'Oh quit struggling, already. We are almost there'. He grumbled.
It was then that I heard a door open and then I was placed onto my feet; we then began to walk into the large House.
The interior was rustic browns and reds; the furniture was a dark brown.
I grabbed a hold of Brax's arm, feeling afraid; people were glaring in my direction.. I suddenly felt like I was on trial.
He simply gave me a sad look and pushed me into a dark room. Now I was in a room with the Alpha from before, looking at me angrily.
The Alpha from before has short, spikey, black hair; he was large and muscular; his eyes flashed a bright red. This showed that he was losing control of his wolf-nature.
'Yes?'. I mumbled, uncomfortably.
'We have not been attacked by magic in four years. And then you turn up.. one of our own is murdered, would you care to explain that?!'. He snarled, leaping up from his desk and digging his nails into my shoulder.
'I- C-A-N-T'. I screeched, as I struggled for breath.
He then grabbed a handful of my hair and showed me his fangs.
'I could kill you so easily'.
'DAMIEN PLEASE STOP!'. Annabelle came running into the Office, screaming at her husband.
'My sister is a weak Witch, she could never do what was done. And she certainly does not use fire magic'. She added, with tears in her eyes.
I took a step back and felt my heart race; fire magic.. why would Ray attack them? Then again, I was only here to watch.
'Aria? Do you know who is attacking us?'. Annabelle gasped in shock.
I took another step back and felt my chest feel tighter.. it hurt so badly.. it was like I had a knife stabbing me repeatedly and I could not breath..
I was completely up against the wall holding my chest and struggling for breath; I then sank to my knees, crying and panting for breath.
'She is having a fucking panic attack, what the hell you guys!?Damien, you said you would go easy on her!'. Brax snapped angrily, at both Damien and Annabelle.
He then pulled me into his arms and walked away with me still struggling for breath.
'BRAX!?'. Damien shouted after us, angrily.
To my surprise.. Brax just walked away faster.
Everything was such a blur.. Brax's hand was on my back reassuring me and attempting to calm me, with gentle stroking motions.
The Bedroom he had brought me to smelt completely like him; I was in his Bedroom. He had protected me again, but this time from his Alpha, Damien.
He pulled open the white bed covers and then pulled me into his chest, lying next to me on his bed. I felt safe.. and finally my chest was beginning to fall normally.
'Do you think that I did it too?'. I spoke sadly.
'No way.. you were with me all night, I would have noticed you leave'. He sighed.
'I am sensing a but'. I whispered.
'I believe you know who is targeting us. And Werewolves are not known for their patience'. He spoke quietly.
'So Damien is playing bad cop and you are good cop?'. I questioned, unhappily.
He cocked his head to the side and frowned.
'What does that even mean?'.
'You are the one playing nice.. wait is that why you nearly kissed me?'. I gasped, feeling a painful feeling in the pit of my stomach.
'Aria..'. He frowned, as I pushed him away from me.
I stood up and eyed the door.
'I should have known.. I mean I am plain and boring and you are well.. you'. I scoffed.
'You are not even letting me talk!'. He growled, as he sat up on the bed.
I then ran over to the door that was obviously his Bathroom and locked the door behind me.
Why was I crying? I could feel the tears falling down my face.
I then heard the door slam and after a few seconds the door outside slammed too.
Where did he get off acting upset? It just was not right.. but then I had more to worry about.. Ray.
I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and took a deep breath.
"R, you have just put me in danger killing one of them. Why? A x".
I felt awkward putting a kiss knowing what he did to me, the last time we spoke.. But I needed to stop being naive.. of course he put me in danger.. he did not care for me.
My phone pinged within seconds.
"You were not answering the Apartment door, we assumed the worst. We simply acted as is right. Good to know you are okay. You are okay?".
"I am fine, no thanks to you. But they are now suspicious of me". I texted frantically back.
And again, it pinged in seconds.
"Are you with that freaky-eyed one?".
I stared at the phone and found my chest feeling tight.. I gulped in realization.
I did not just like Ray.. I also liked Brax.
The heat I felt for Brax was a lot more intense though.. but I needed to remind myself that I was not here in Crimson Falls to make friends. I was here to watch them and report back to my Coven.
The thought that I had already acted disloyal by not reporting my sister's revelation felt wrong.. and yet I was so conflicted in what I should do next..
I threw my hands into the soapy water, in the sink and threw the hot water into my face.
Tomorrow, I would decide what to do. Right now I needed sleep.