ERIK
" As I told you yesterday, this is my family's home. My father, Maxim König is the leader of these lands and our Lycan pack Silver Claw. He will wish to question you soon and I want you to be ready " I told Red in a serious tone. I tried very hard to seem stern and resist the urge to hug her. Even if I didn't know much about her, the Moon Goddess chose her for me and my protective instincts were very strong. She looked at me the same, not surprised by my words. When she didn't speak, I continued.
" You might have noticed that we...". I sighed deeply, not knowing how to express myself. " That there is something between us, right?". Damn, I was making presumptions without even knowing if she felt the same way. What if this was one-sided?
But then, she said a simple and clear " Yes ", which made me swallow hard. Red looked at her hands, blushing madly. So, I wasn't crazy. She felt that invisible pull too.
" But I don't understand why" she whispered, fiddling with her fingers shyly. I raised my hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear gently.
" You feel it because… we are meant to be together ". Shit, this sounds so fucking cheesy, like a two copper shitty romance book. But I had no other way of saying it. A shallow breath escaped her lips and she looked me in the eyes, to confirm if I was being truthful. She was so pretty, seeing her now properly in the light of day. Her eyes were big and hazel, a golden sun surrounding her irises. She had a small waist and that shirt was tight on her breasts. I shook my head, trying to stay focused.
" That's why I wanted to speak to you first. My father won't be as patient as I am and will probably seek to get a confession out of you, one way or another. So, I want you to tell me the truth " I got back to the matter at hand in a grave voice. She bit her lower lip and raised to her feet. Red started pacing around with her arms crossed. I could feel her heart hammering in her chest.
" You might not like what I have to say" she finally stopped, looking at me nervously. I could have guessed as much, but I was prepared for the worst if I was being honest.
" You can trust me! I know you have no reason to, but I'm on your side. I promise". She looked weary but decided to trust me, as she sat back down in front of me. Her tension was palpable and it made my wolf stir. But I controlled myself and allowed her to talk at her own pace.
" My mother died when I was a kid and I never knew my father. I lived with my grandma ever since in Eder, a small village near the Blue Forest. There is where I met Theon Cernunnos, the son of.." she began saying. I closed my eyes, trying to contain the anger that suddenly sparked in my chest when she mentioned that bastard's name.
" I know who he is..." I cut her off, speaking between clenched teeth. Fuck, this didn't sound good. " Go on." She frowned and looked away.
" We trained together and became close friends. Or so I thought. I was stupid enough to believe that I could become a warrior like him, someone important so that I could provide for myself and Grams ". She sounded resentful and angry with herself. " Recently he returned to Eder and asked me to accompany him on a quest " she said but stopped like it was too hard to speak of this.
" What kind of quest?" I asked, not taking my eyes off of her. She continued to look at her hands silently. " Tell me Red!" I demanded.
" We were to sneak inside your city and..." but then she broke off again, closing her eyes. I could smell her fear and wanted so bad to comfort her, but I could not. I had to find out what she knew.
" And?" my voice sounded cold as ice, emphasizing the word. I didn't mean to be so severe, but my wolf was getting angrier with every word she spoke.
" And... kill a Lycan " she whispered almost imperceptibly, but I heard it clear enough. I growled furious and rose to my feet. She jumped afraid and I regretted my actions right away. I turned my back and walked, clenching my fists. All my muscles stiffened with anger.
" So... you're a fucking hunter! Shit... " I shook my head painfully. I didn't want it to be true. I hoped she would have another story for me, but my father was right. The evidence stacked up against her from the start. She and Cernunnos Junior meant to come and kill someone from our kind. I ran my fingers through my hair worried, not knowing what to do next. I've never felt so lost before in my life. This was bad.
Then, I felt her small hand on my shoulder. The tingles that erupted on my skin at the contact made me calm down on the spot. I sighed and turned around. Her eyes were wide and glossy like she was holding on to her tears. She looked so innocent.
" I'm not! I am not a part of their Lodge! I swear! " she spoke fast, trying to explain. " I wanted to be, but...".
" But? What changed, Red? " I looked at her grimly and tried my best not to sound too harsh. Though I should have been. My hands were trembling and I felt the need to shift, so I won't feel the pain of this betrayal.
"You know what's changed!" she gritted her teeth at me. " They fucking tricked and used me! They threaten to rape and beat me! And then... then I met you! You, with your... sparks and stupid glowing eyes... telling me that we are meant to be! You make me have all these confusing feelings and shit! I don't know who I am anymore!" she yelled angrily. Red turned away, hiding the tears that started rolling on her cheeks. She sobbed, her shoulders shaking. It killed me to see her cry and without thinking twice I caught her in my arms in a tight embrace. I thought she would push me away, but she didn't. My wolf purred pleased by her acceptance. We stayed like this for a while, feeling comfortable.
At that moment, I knew I would always forgive anything she did or will ever do. I kissed the top of her head, inhaling her sweet scent.
" I'm sorry, flower. I didn't mean to hurt you " I whispered in her hair. When did I become such a romantic? She whipped her nose and turned to face me. It seemed that whatever we did, we ended up in each other's arms.
" No, I'm to blame for all of this. I was a fool to ever trust Theon" she confessed, looking frustrated. " You must believe me, Erik! I had no idea that werewolves are normal, discerning people. I thought you were just wild, mindless beasts " she pleaded, looking me straight in the eyes. The way my name rolled off her tongue made me desire her even more.
" Ouch! I am quite discerning if you must know" I smirked, whipping a tear off her pink cheek. She chuckled and gave me a bright smile, content that I didn't seem mad at her. My gaze fell on her full lips and suddenly I felt a madly urge to kiss her. She guessed my intention and blushed, but didn't object. Red wanted this too.
Still, our conversation was not done. I was certain that if we kissed now, I would be completely under her spell. I cleared my throat and let her go. She seemed a bit disappointed and I secretly enjoyed her reaction.
" So, if you are not one of them, then how do you know to fight like that?" I broke the awkward silence.
" I practiced for years with that asshole and alone too. I prefer to be a warrior, not a damsel in distress" she said taking a proud stance.
" I've never seen a woman so skilled before" I smirked, feeling a little proud of her myself, even if I wasn't ready to admit it yet. But it was enough for her to sparkle with confidence.
" Well, duh! We women are not allowed to do anything, right? Other than breed, sing and look pretty! But I'm sure I can teach the big, bad wolf a thing or two" she grinned devilishly. My beast howled in the back of my mind, excited about the idea. I laughed at her remark, enjoying her sense of humor. I leaned on the wall with my arms crossed on my chest.
" Look, Red. I want to believe you. Damn, it's really hard for me not to. But I need you to tell me everything you know about Stefan Cernunnos and his plans. If you are hiding something from me ...". She frowned and started walking to the window, thinking what to say next. The sun made her golden locks shine bright.
" I'm honest with you, Erik. I know nothing about his plans. I hardly know the man. Theon only mentioned when he captured me, that I was just a small pawn in his dad's bigger scheme, whatever that means". I weighed her words carefully. So, they really were onto something, like my father said.
" He ...also said that you killed his brother. Is that true?" she turned her gaze at me, looking rather curious. I sighed, remembering that particular memory. It happened many years ago, yet I could still see it clearly in my head.
We fought all night long and my whole body was covered in blood. The screams of our enemy were ringing in my ears like a magical chanting that kept me going. The faith of this war was hanging on the edge of a knife for the hunters, yet what happened next secured our victory. Between a sea of corpses, I saw the elder son of Cernunnos, raising his sword towards me, challenging me for this final fight. My muscles vibrated and an evil grin appeared on my face in acceptance. I would not risk anything, so I shifted, my wolf roaring in anticipation. We attacked each other in the end, time seeming to stop there to witness us. But when a crimson dawn washed the entire battlefield, he laid cold at my feet, his blood spilling from my mouth. The hunters started to retreat at the sight of their dead commander. My victorious howl pierced the sky.
" Erik?" I heard Red's voice, waking me up from my daydreaming. She stood in front of me now, looking confused.
" Yeah, I killed him " I said with an absent voice, taking a seat on the bed. Red laid beside me, listening. " It happened during our second great war with the Lodge. Back then I was young, violent and eager to prove myself to my men. Maybe now I would have done things differently ".
" So that's why they were after you? To seek revenge?"
" Probably. Though, I have a feeling that we are missing something" I spoke more to myself, staring into space. Silence settled around us again, but this time it was comfortable, not awkward. I looked at my mate and was surprised to see that she was analyzing me too. What I said next proved that nothing mattered more to me now than her. Since I saved her from that meadow, the only thing I wanted was for her to be safe and happy.
" We need to revise your story a bit, flower. You can't tell our Alpha about the ... "killing" part. He will never trust you and believe me, that won't even be the worst part " I pinched the bridge of my nose, thinking about an alternative. " Just tell him that you were abducted from your village. Nothing about your... quest" I frowned upset. She nodded, looking rather sad.
" What will happen to me after this? Will I be forced to remain here forever?" she gave it to me straight, with no sugar coating. My eyes widened, caught by surprise.
" Well, I suppose that's up to you. You are my mate, but it's your choice if you wish to stay or... ". I left the sentence unfinished. It was difficult to think that she would choose to reject me, even worse mentioning it out loud. She understood my meaning though.
" What does that mean? Mate" she asked, subtly changing the course of the subject. She was smart and I appreciated that very much.
" Ah, forgive me. It's a very common notion in the supernatural world. I didn't realize the term was unfamiliar to you" I scratched my head, trying to find my words. It was so much simpler to fight and give orders. I've never had to handle someone with kitty gloves before. " It practically means soul mate. Our Goddess, the Moon, blessed us with this knowledge, so we can... procreate easily?" I stated embarrassed. She cleared her throat nervously. I sucked at this!
" But in truth, it's not that easy. Lycans rarely find their other half and are usually forced to choose a random person" I added quickly to disperse the tension.
" Well, it sounds familiar. We humans are cursed that way " she said casually. We both burst into laughter, feeling at ease with each other.
" My father found his Luna rather quickly, too. Now, I found you. It seems we are quite fortunate in that regard". The way Red looked at me then, turned me on. Her big eyes were gleaming, her cheeks were flushed and she was biting her lower lip. I could sense her increasing arousal, which made my blood boil.
" I'd love to know more about you, Erik" she whispered, sounding sexy and out of breath.
" Would you?" I turned towards her, my voice a deep rumble. Her citrus scent surrounded me and clouded my mind like a drug. Suddenly, the room felt smaller and the air hotter. I tugged on the collar of my shirt anxious. Our hands slowly itched closer on the bed, until our fingers touched and clasped. I heard her gasp and I clenched my jaw, anticipation cracking like a firework.
"Fuck it" I thought, unable to stop myself. I caught her arm and gently pulled her on my chest, our bodies pressing together. Without thinking straight anymore, my lips crashed onto hers, into a deep kiss. Her hands quickly reached for my hair, fingers intertwining, as she responded eagerly to my kiss. She tasted heavenly and I felt consumed by this blazing fire that erupted between us.
My hands traveled down her waist, bringing her even closer. Red moaned in my mouth, tugging on my hair slowly. My muscles flexed in excitement when I heard her soft voice. I smirked, loving the fact that she was as hungry for me as I was for her. My lips moved lower, leaving a trail of wet kisses on her neck and she shivered in my arms.
I felt my wolf battling for control in my head. He wanted to emerge and finally mark Red as ours. My fangs elongated at the lewd thought of claiming her.
Still, our heated moment ended abruptly, when a knock on the door made us jump in surprise. We heard the servant's voice behind the door.
" My Lady, I came to clean and change your bed sheets". I growled frustrated, cursing the damn bed sheets. Red looked sheepishly at me, tucking her long hair behind her back. Her lips were pink and swollen. How I yearned to feel them again! We stared at each other for an intense moment without uttering a word, our first kiss sinking in. Goddess, I never wanted to let her go.
Then, at a second knock, I sighed and raised from the bed light-headed. I opened the door reluctant. The servant's eyes widened at the sight of me and bowed low quickly.
" My Lord! Pardon my intrusion! " she apologized, although it was indecent of me to be alone with a lady in her private room.
" That's alright" I heard myself say, though I felt out of body. Red gazed at me, a bit dazed as well. I smiled embarrassed by the current situation.
" I'm going for a run, flower. I have to clear my head. I'll be back before nightfall ".
"Holy shit! Did that just happen?" I thought exhilarated, laughing to myself, as I ran towards the forest. I was both happy and doubtful about it. Her taste still lingered on my lips and I touched them with closed eyes, remembering the way she pulled my hair needy.
Was I really this whipped already? She just confessed that she planned to kill one of my brothers. As if it were that easy! It was clear that she had never seen a real Lycan before or had any idea how powerful we were. But I knew it was too late. I believed she was tricked and I forgave her already. My wolf trusted and wanted her as well. Now, we even agreed to lie to my father, which I never would have done in the past. Well... not exactly lying, just omitting certain details. Was I reckless? Definitely! I just hoped that I would not regret it.
I shifted at the edge of the woods, allowing the beast to roam free. All he could see was Red, being overwhelmed by all sorts of sensations. We kissed other women before, of course. But it was nothing, compared to my girl. What intrigued me was the fact that such a small female possessed so much power. She was agile, strong, beautiful, and smart. I also witnessed her fast healing process, which was odd for a human being. We had to visit Nyx soon enough. I sensed there was something more about her. Made me wonder if she was hiding it or simply had no idea.
I sprinted for hours almost without any break, patrolling the lands and thinking about the moment I shared with my mate. When the sun started to set, I realized that I lost track of time. As I approached the spot where I left my clothes, Luke's scent reached my nose.
" Luke! " I smiled wide, sounding happier than ever. Luke narrowed his eyes and gave me a weird look.
" Wow! Who are you and what have you done with my brother? " he laughed at my joyful mood. Normally, I would have told him to piss off, but instead, I laughed too, while I dressed.
" I feel great! " I admitted content. It was true. I've never felt so light and energized before. Was this how love felt?
" It has nothing to do with you finding your mate, right? " he raised his eyebrow smirking. A big grin spread on my face, but I didn't say anything more.
" Finally! Someone removed that stick up your ass! I'll have to thank her personally! " he patted my shoulder with affection. " By the way, I think I've seen her taken away by the guards a while ago. I believe they were escorting her to father's study".
" What?". My face suddenly fell and worry filled my chest." Why the hell didn't you say so from the start?" I growled furious, clenching my fists.
" Oh there you are, brother! Why do you think I came looking for you, asshole? When I saw she was alone, I only imagined that father didn't warn you".
" Fuck! I have to..".
Suddenly, the most excruciating pain pierced my head and I screamed, falling to my knees. It felt like knives were being pushed into my brain. Luke tried to help me, but I could not hear a thing, white lights blinding my sight. Then, I realized. This wasn't my pain! It was Red! Someone was hurting my precious flower.
I let out a shattering rawr, which made the trees tremble and birds fly scared. The anger I felt was enough to lift me on my feet and run like crazy, straight to the manor.