"I won't kill you. I've told you, death is too kind for you. You don't deserve it." — Arion
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The idea was at odds with the persona she had come to associate with him – a figure of danger and unpredictability.
As Lily contemplated the possibilities, her eyes shifted back to where Arion stood. She glanced at Arion as he finally started moving closer, an air of nonchalance about him.
His steps were leisurely, his hands shoved into the pockets of his pants. The muscles in his abdomen glistened subtly under the candlelight as he moved.
Arion's gaze met hers, his eyes contemplative for a brief moment before his expression hardened. He let out a long breath and came to a stop in front of Lily, who stood at the edge of the bed.
His tall frame loomed over her, requiring her to tilt her head back to meet his gaze, which was sharp and intense.
"Why bring me here? Why tend to my wounds? You should have just killed me," Lily uttered, her own voice startlingly calm despite the storm of emotions inside her.
The mass of despair and frustration that had weighed heavily on her heart seemed to have dissipated, leaving behind a strangely serene demeanor.
Perhaps it was the tranquil atmosphere in the room that enveloped her. Her mind was no longer spiraling with the torment of what Xander had done and what he might do again tonight.
Xander's relentless attempts to imprint himself upon Lily would persist, she knew that much.
"I won't kill you. I've told you, death is too kind for you. You don't deserve it," Arion replied, his voice gravelly. He lowered his gaze, looking into Lily's blue eyes.
His warm breath brushed against her face, carrying an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Lily's lips. "Is that so?" she questioned, her voice soft.
The tension between them seemed to shift, taking on a new layer of understanding. Arion's words, though cryptic, held a sense of reluctant responsibility.
Lily found herself caught in his gaze, her heart pounding as she tried to decipher the emotions that flickered in his eyes.
"I have another plan that might make you grateful to me," Arion's voice rumbled softly, its tone teasing – a distinctive Alpha quality.
"Oh really? And what might that be?" Lily retorted, her voice flat and tinged with sarcasm, as she turned her face away.
She knew that Arion had harbored animosity toward her since the first time they locked eyes.
His "other plan" was likely to be even more dreadful than death itself.
Arion's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile, his gaze fixed on Lily's profile.
Arion lifted Lily's chin with his index finger, tilting her head up until her gaze met his. "Look into my eyes when you speak to me. You're just a pet within our pack. You're speaking to a future Alpha," he stated firmly.
Lily's heart raced as she met Arion's intense gaze. The weight of his words settled heavily upon her, each syllable a stark reminder of her status in this unfamiliar world.
The coldness in his eyes contrasted with the turmoil of emotions within her, a mix of resentment, defiance, and a strange vulnerability she couldn't fully comprehend.
His declaration bore a strange duality—on one hand, it highlighted her insignificance and subservience in the pack's hierarchy, a reminder that she was a pawn in a game she hadn't asked to play.
On the other hand, his proclamation as a future Alpha cast a shadow of uncertainty over her future interactions with him, as if the dynamics of their relationship were destined to be more complex than they initially appeared.
Lily couldn't help but emit a bitter laugh. "Quit with the empty words and just reveal your intentions behind the 'help' you offered earlier."
"An imprint mating contract for 6 months, to be my partner," Arion whispered.
Lily's eyes widened, and she immediately shook her head, but Arion grasped her chin and forced her to keep her gaze on him.
"I've been generous enough to offer this. You have no option to leave here, so I hope you make a decision you won't regret."
Lily's heart raced at the revelation, her mind spinning with the implications of his words. The concept of an "imprint mating contract" sounded like a foreign concept, yet the gravity of the situation was undeniable.
The realization that her fate was being decided for her, without her consent, fueled a surge of frustration within her.
Arion's words were both a veiled threat and a testament to the power he held over her.
The pressure of his grip on her chin matched the weight of his ultimatum, leaving Lily torn between defiance and the harsh reality of her circumstances.
As she met Arion's unyielding gaze, Lily felt a mixture of anger and vulnerability rise within her. The choice he presented was a precarious one, a crossroads that could dictate the course of her life in this realm.
Lily was taken aback, then she laughed. "You speak as if you're doing me a favor, when what you're offering is actually advantageous for you," Lily murmured with a bold gaze.
In truth, Lily was reluctant to have Arion do the same thing to her—the bonding ritual akin to what Xander did. She'd rather die than be touched by her parents' killer again.
"Like father like son," Lily shook her head while laughing sardonically, attempting to break free from Arion's grasp on her chin. However, her strength paled in comparison. "You might as well just kill me."
Her voice held a mixture of defiance and desperation, a stark reflection of her unwillingness to submit to a fate she hadn't chosen.
The offer Arion presented was a twisted irony—a chance for survival that felt more like imprisonment, a choice between two grim alternatives.
As her eyes bore into Arion's, Lily's resolve flickered like a fragile flame in the wind, caught between her aversion to her captor and her instinct to cling to life, no matter how precarious it might be.
Arion growled, gripping Lily's neck and forcefully pulling her closer, their faces meeting roughly.
"This is the best choice you can make. I don't want bloodshed here, so accept it or I'll bring you back to my father. Imagine serving and bedding the killer of your parents for the rest of your life!" A sinister grin adorned his handsome face.