When it appeared in the little light of the moon, and stood a little further from where I stood, I decided to use the opportunity and look up his face. I might be able to highlight its features and see the person's face.
So I peeked a look at the person with the menacing aura and once I did my jaws dropped.
Was this a god, or a god-like man. His hair was a rasp of pure white that descended right down to his back, even as it was fixed in a ponytail.
I couldn't see him clearly but his face was clean, and sparkly. The long blue robe he wore told of a man of high nobility. I had never seen a man such as him in our local community and wondered where he came from.
My legs tried to drag me to where he stood but my knees pinned them to the ground.
Somehow, I also wanted to run, run away from him. A part of me kept telling me that this is a mistake but what is the mistake in staring at a man like him.
I might sound stupid, but I felt connected to him. It was like I knew him from somewhere but that is not true. I have never seen this man, not in my dreams and not in my reality. But then, I feel so strongly attached to him...
He suddenly turned my way and all the thoughts went on hiatus as I bent in fright. I slowly raised up my head to meet his eyes and I don't know if he could see me or not but there was a chemistry going on between us.
He turned back his head, as if he didn't notice my presence and I felt relieved although I could feel his hard stare on me. He looked at another direction and put on a smile. And lo, my Alpha and my mate, came closer to him. I widened my eyes in shock, that they came to him but my eyeballs nearly left the sockets of my eyes when they bowed to him.
Who was this man that they dared to bow in front of him? Even our Alpha bowed in front of him. Is he some kind of King?
They took him towards the pack and once I saw that no one was around, I made my way out and decided on returning back to my pack.
But a hand yanked me by the hair and dragged me up that my feet were no longer touching the ground.
"Just as the master told us." His hoax voice came in and he shoved me into a cage that was inside a wagon. I tried to open it but nothing, I pushed and pushed, hitting against the metal bats but nothing. Even my wolf was unresponsive.
"Calm down. Once we are done, we are killing you in front of all the others. No one dares to look at Alpha Colten in the eye and you defied the order." I suddenly shrieked and fell to the cold floor.
Could the man I was looking at be Alpha Colten, the Alpha Colten?
I heard of stories about him and his kills. I heard of how he took the lives of any that dared to look at his face. He is the Alpha of Morcliff and from the rumours, he is human. Yes, he is an extraordinary human because he has never shifted during any of his battles, but he has won all of the battles with barely a scratch on his body.
He took as slaves women and children and the men he took as hard laborers. But whoever looked at him in the face, will be killed. Man, woman or child, he had them all executed once they looked at him in the eye. Was this my own fate?
The wagon started moving towards our village, precisely the fireplace and I was shocked, ashamed and filled with sorrow. On the very day that I found my mate, I was taken away from him by the cold hands of death...
Not yet, Elliana. You still have a whole lot of time ahead of you before your death.
Once we got there, everyone was on their knees and a few were lying death on the floor. My heart skipped in fright, knowing fully well that this, they suffered because they looked at his face.
Does he have to be so cruel?
My heart was nearly shattered seeing my mate who looked at me with horror. He was as if they just sucked out life from his body and what was there was not a wolf but a mere body.
His eyes were on me all along but I averted from gazing into his pain filled eyes.
My Alpha had been standing there all along with his head bowed.
Was this what we all suffered in the hands of a man? Is this the humiliation we have to suffer in the hands of a man as him?
"I came here as per your request, Boyle." I heard his voice and what's funny is that he called my Alpha by his name.
His disgusting gaze fell on me and I quickly bowed. I had already created such a woeful fate for me and now, looking into his eyes will just make matters worst.
But, it was pleasing, the sound of his voice and the feel of his gaze. Weird, but pleasing as well.
"Now that is settled. Since you want a reduction in tax, how about an annulment of tax from your pack." His back was turned against me and my Alpha knelt to the ground.
"I will be honored, sire." He said and Alpha Colten hissed.
"Who said I was doing it for free? I want something from here and I want it, this very minute." His words came out harsh but daring. I looked up and caught him starting at me, like some prey he just found.
Was he talking about me?
"I caught someone daring. Daring enough to look at me in the face. However, she was far from the pack but I assume is a member of this pack. I want her, for myself."
As he said it, my skin became pale, and my blood dried all.
Darasmus was in shock as well and fell immediately with his face on the ground. Every muscle of me wanted to object and reject. I wanted to tell him to stop. That he was a powerful man and shouldn't be intimidated by this wicked man.
"Please, Sire. I just found out that she is my mate. Taking her away from me, will be like making me a widower. Please do not–
" But I am making you a widower." My body froze and he continued, "You should be thankful that I am not killing her.... Yet. Besides, you know very well what is my take on mates and bonds. I give not care whatever to what you feel but I give care to my commands. You do not want to disobey my orders, now, do you?" Darasmus kept quiet and I watched in shock. I couldn't say a word so I kept my head bowed, hoping and praying that Darasmus won't do such a thing.
"If the Lord pleases." And there my heart nearly exploded. Didn't he make a promise to me just today, that he will protect me from any evil. So what was the promise all about, then?
And my parents?
They just knelt there, without saying a word. I noticed the victorious look on his face and then he raised his hand and soon, our carriage started going. Darasmus looked at me but I turned my eyes from looking at him. The sharp pain of betrayal was shooting through me and I didn't want to talk to him. I expected him not to give me up so easily.
So he chose his life, over our bond.