"What...what are you doing?"
"Can you not see? I am embracing you. To thank you. You are such a good person."
She released him, but held on to his cloak, her smile showing her perfect set of white teeth.
Smile all you want, I will kill you if I have to.
He moved away from her reach, causing her hand to drop to her sides.
"What is wrong?"
"I feel sick all of a sudden. Excuse me."
He walked away, leaving her confused.
"Stay away from my daughter." Nicholas said immediately Alpha Axton walked in. Alpha Axton looked up to him, his left brow raised.
"I do not think you realize something. Because I have a curse running through my veins does not make me any less the beast I always was. I will have your daughter's heart, and I will heal this curse. You and your little tricks do not stand a chance."
"Selina. She was Natalia's mother. Selina, the woman whose life you cruelly ended, she is the mother of that woman. What do you want to do now? Kill the daughter too? Wipe an entire generation away?"
Alpha Axton sighed, scratching his forehead as if he was thinking about it. It didn't matter what Natalia's gesture was, he would do what he had to do to cure his ailment. She thinks he is a good person, but she has a very wrong idea of him, and he is not determined to prove her right.
"If that is what it takes. If I have to wipe an entire generation to heal myself, I will. Besides, you have a long history of being an unrepentant liar."
Nicholas stepped back. "Take her back."
"What?"
"Take her back to your pack. You can't kill her. You can't, because when she is hurt, you are hurt too."
"So why should I take her?"
"Do you not understand? All you know is brutality and bloodshed, you do not even realize that the essence of the curse is not for you to kill or to take yet another life, but to save it."
Alpha Axton sat on the edge of the bed he had been lying on, his ailing side a little more carefully as he raised his head in a superior gesture.
"Keep talking."
"Selina...she would nott have given you an easy curse. You do not even know what your curse entails, but you are here to take my daughter? To kill her? What are you going to do when you have her heart? Eat it? Like the monster you are?"
Alpha Axton blinked, seeing some reason in Nicholas' words. "It is true. That wench Selina was a crackhead. I am sure she would not give me the task of doing something she knows I am good at."
"Exactly." Nicholas said, moving closer. "I am willing to help you. As long as you do not do anything to my daughter."
"Not like I will be able to do anything anyway. How are you going to help me?"
"Every curse has its own conditions. I will find the conditions of yours. By tonight."
"And the girl? I should just watch her till then?"
Nicholas sighed, desperately. "You do not even know what you should be doing with her. You do not know what you are meant to do. Would you risk it?"
Alpha Axton nodded and laid down, his arm supporting his head. "You have until tonight. If you do not turn up with satisfactory results...I will not guarantee her safety. I will find a way for me to be safe."
Nichols nodded and stood, just as Natalia walked in, the flowers still in her hands.
"Father," She whispered, a dark red blush high up in her cheeks. "He gave these to me. He looked extremely handsome."
She then leaned away and smiled at Alpha Axton.
The worry lines were evident on Nicholas's face. He was trying his very best to keep her safe, while she was letting the big bad aloha sway her emotions.
"Natalia. Come with me." Nicholas said as he held her arm, and started to walk away.
Alpha Axton watched them for some time, his face indifferent, before something struck him. He didn't know the layout of the house, so what if Nicholas takes her away through a back door? He would be left with nothing.
"No." He said, causing daughter and father to turn to him, a restrained anger on Nicholas' face, and a controlled excitement on Natalia's.
She found the breathtaking stranger quite interesting, his unique accent and his beautiful dimples. Even the way he seemed oblivious towards small gestures like a hug, but was thoughtful enough to get her flowers. His mystery was intoxicating.
"Leave her here with me. I enjoy her company, and would hate to have to let go."
Nichols caught the double meaning, and immediately let Natalia's arm go. He cast a worried look at Axton's truimphant face, before leaving them alone.
Natalia ran to him, her dress in her hands as she made no effort in hiding her excitement.
"I did not realize that you would find me as interesting as I do you."
"What is there not to find interesting about a beautiful maiden like you?"
She laughed heartily, reaching out her arm to him. Under the subtle pretense of not knowing, he stretched, taking his arms out of her reach. She dropped her hand back to her laps, her disappointment obvious in her small smile.
"Have you told me your name?" He said, sincerely not able to recall.
Instead of answering she said, "My name is Natalia."
He looked at her. Of all the girls he thought he would have to meet, He couldn't believe it was this naive girl. She was beautiful, but it wouldn't heal him or make it easier to live with her. He just hoped he wouldn't have to.
"So, would you, mind telling me your name? I can not help but be curious about you."
He shrugged. "What do I get in exchange for it?"
"Tell me what you would want."
He didn't even think about it. All he wanted was one thing.
"Would you give me your heart in exchange for my name, then?"
She looked up, a little surprised.
"My heart?"
"Yes. That is all I want from you."
He smiled at her, his dimples sinking. He couldn't believe that he had to politely ask, when he could just rip it out.
But with Selina, it always deeper than meets the eye.
"Then, my heart is yours. I would like to hear your name now."
He smiled wider. "Axton. My name is Axton."