Her lids shook and her trembling hands gave away the amount of anxiety she was housing under her skin. She didn't know what to say and her lips closed each time she seperated them.
Rex wasn't sure. It was impossible. How could someone else take up Eliana's body? He had been observing her since she woke up. When she slapped him and cursed him. Eliana never cursed at him. He was always doing the cursing.
Even if all memories were lost, the fear she had for him and meekness she had, could never be gone. Atleast not completely. It'd be residing in her somewhere, waiting patiently to be triggered at the sight of him.
But the person standing in front of him sounded like a whole new person. He wouldn't have come to the conclusion that she might not be who he thought she was if he didn't catch Simaya, the doctor on her way out of the pack house.
He had told her to tell him everything going on. She hesitated at first but then began to spill the details from the beginning. She talked about when she woke up, talking about souls and how she tried to prove that she wasn't Eliana. Simaya also said she had no basic knowledge of being a werewolf.
It was stupid because having no idea you were werewolf was the same as having no idea that you could actually eat with a spoon after losing your memory.
Also, the things the girl in front of him said that he considered bullshit while searching for job now made sense.....maybe. Eliana had never worked outside the pack, though she had gone severally to visit some of her friends who were lone wolves. But she had never worked.
With the way she ranted in the forest about werewolves cluelessly, the way she used 'she' and 'her' to describe herself before she drowned, whenever she was angry, and the way she was taking time to answer his question, cemented his conclusion.
But how? Where would Eliana be then?
"What are you saying?" She asked, trying to hide her nervousness but Rex could already hear how fast her heart was beating. And how soon it would burst.
"What is your name?" He pressed.
"Are you nuts? I'm E–Eliana".
Ugh, she even choked on the name. "We both know you're not".
"On what ground? If I'm not Eliana, what or who do you think I am?" She tried to be brave but her body was giving way too much information on how it was crumbling within.
"I don't know. But I'm pretty fucking sure you're not".
"Listen to yourself, this world isn't magical. How the fuck do you expect someone to be someone else just after drowning. Does that make sense?"
Rex sighed, getting tired of her pretense. Willing to catch her off guard again, he opened his mouth and quoted, "'what year is this?...did you forget that also?....listen carefully, we're in 2023....So you're telling me I'm thirty-seven years back in time. I didn't only switch souls but I flew thirty-seven years back?'" He paused and took a step forward. "Does that ring any bell?"
Avice couldn't control herself when her hand came up to cover her lips that were tearing apart in shock. Did he just quote her conversation with jordan the day he strangled her? Did he hear those? Damn, they were very close to his cabin when she ranted those words!
Her eyes watered against her will, knowing she had been caught red handed and would be displayed as a living proof that monsters existed. There was nothing she could say that'd convince him. He was too certain the girl standing in front of him wasn't the one who fell in love with him.
When a tear escaped her eye, making her feel pathetic than she already was, she dropped her hand before swallowing every particle in her mouth to bring out words.
"What now? You're going to behead me?"
He stared at her, as if contemplating if to actually behead her. She was thankful atleast, he wasn't holding up the knife to stab her.
"Yes, if necessary. What is your name and how did you get into her body?"
"I have no fucking idea. One night, I'm in a fucking party and the next, I'm in a place surrounded by mythical crea—i mean werewolves". She cleared her throat and whispered. "Sorry".
"What is your name?" He prompted.
"Uh.. Avice. Avice Forthwell. That's my name. I know you're probably going to kill me but I want you to know it's not my fault I'm here and I'll do anything to get back to my world. But you're not going to listen an–nyway because you've always wanted to kill this body regardless of who controls it an–d an–d—" She choked on her tears, unable to go on any longer because the reality of getting of killed in cold blood kicked in, wrapping its cold hand around her neck and forcing all her excuses to stay still in her throat.
Rex just stared and Avice would kill to decode the meaning of the stare and whatever the hell was going through his mind. Did he believe her? Was he going to kill her? Or was he already contemplating on the best punishment for her?
"If you want to kill m—"
"I'm not killing you. And you're not dying". He strode casually to his table and Avice's wet lids followed him.
"What do you mean you're not killing me. Isn't that what you want?"
"You're not Eliana. And i was never going to kill her. But I'll be glad if someone else does". He stated clearly, sitting down and spreading his legs in a way that distracted Avice's mind for a split second. His thighs were broad and thickly packed with muscles that threatened to tear his trousers into pieces. Heaven, she'd kill to sit on the—the hell.
"S–so..." She tore her eyes away from his tempting offer, clearing her groggy throat. "So you don't want me dead".
"I might," he pointed towards the door hiding behind his shelf. "after I know what you were doing in my personal space. I don't take intruders lightly".
Avice sighed. Should she tell him? He practically knew everything about her and she was still baffled as to why he wasn't startled a bit. How did he even figure it out. Adeline was the closest to her and her thick head couldn't figure out her sister was no where to be found. Rex was never close to the real Eliana and was never close to her as well but he managed to find out something was out of place.
What a frick!
"Well, I don't have a wolf and Simaya said there's a book in here that can help and I didn't want to ask you becau....." She trailed off, her head hung low as she stood in front of him like a child getting reprimanded for stealing. She didn't want to act brave again. Her life was in his hands and he could squeeze it if she acted out. Playing remorseful was the best option if she wanted to crawl out of his cabin alive.
"You fucking tried to steal from me". He jerked up and Avice's head snapped up, trying to form words in her defence.
"I didn't. I was going to return it after—i mean i tried to but I don't mean any harm. I just didn't want you to know because you might kick me out. I swear". She rushed out as he neared, her legs instinctively moving back as he stepped closer while she rambled. By the time she was done, her back was against the shelf again. "Please don't strangle me. I might die if you–"
"I already told you I'm not hurting you". He reminded, his voice deep and raspy.
"It's hard not to think about it when it's the first impression you gave me". She replied.
A little frown masked his gorgeous face. "Are you trying to be a smart mouth here?"
"No". She answered briefly and shut her mouth. Gosh, she didn't like feeling helpless.
Avice swallowed, trying to hold Rex's gaze. He refused to peel his eyes off her. He was staring at her like he was searching for something, something like a lie. She wasn't lying and if he thought she was lying, then holding his gaze and not flinching would prove him wrong.
But she was melting.
He was doing it again. He was making her melt under his gaze and she'd be a big fat liar if she said that didn't give her butterflies. He was.....beautiful, ravishing and perfectly molded. God indeed had favourites and Rex was one of them judging by the way he could sweep every woman off their feet.
Her eyes fell and she swallowed again when they came in contact with his stomach, suddenly wishing his shirt could fly off and the majestic heaven hiding beneath it could come to live. Her heart drummed against her chest as she fisted her hands, forcing herself to concentrate.
What the fuck was he doing to her?
She raised her lids, hardening her gaze on purpose. "Stop". Her voice croaked and she almost hated it for betraying and exposing her. He was doing something to her. She was sure of it.
"What exactly?" He asked, a teasing smile slipping.
Avice opened her mouth to reply him but she stopped when another question danced into her head. "Wait, aren't you...surprised? like bothered or anything? I just told you I exchanged soul with your mate and you're not even reacting or anything".
He shrugged nonchalantly, taking a minute before he replied her. "Shits happen. The world is unpredictable". He turned and walked back to his table.
Finally breathing properly, she flared her arms. "Yeah but isn't this the first time you're hearing this. Aren't you a tiny bit surprised? I'm losing my mind here if you care to know".
"Grown accustomed to surprises," he started untying the knot on the back of his palm. "Where's my book?" He peeled the handkerchief away, revealing a smooth palm that had Avice's mouth on the floor.
There was no single slice on it.
"The hell". She muttered, surprised at how fast he healed.
"Where the fuck is my book?" He asked again, drawing her attention from his hand.
She shook her head. "I didn't tell you I took it. I said I tried to". She lied.
Sighing, he raised his hand and pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "What did you drop outside earlier?"
Avice's eyes widened out of her own will. "You heard that?"
"I hear all your movements, Avice. Even the sound of your heart is as clear as crystal. So don't try to lie to me, I'll find out anyway".