The wind whipped through my hair as I rode deep inside the forest. A smile was on my face and it was the first genuine smile I've had in months.
I've missed this! I truly have! The wind in my hair and on my face as I rode through the forests without any restrictions or conditions. It was truly the most exhilarating feeling ever. I let out a laugh and a cheer when Spirit jumped over a log that was lying in the forest.
Holding on tighter to Spirit's mane, I urged him to run faster while chancing a look behind me. I couldn't see anything except for the blur of trees. Nice, I was leading! I thought as I snapped the reins harder, urging Spirit to run faster.
I glanced back, my breath steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. This time, I caught it—a fleeting blur of black and white weaving through the dense trees. Corion. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips. He fancied himself the ultimate predator, but he had no idea who he was dealing with. I wasn't just prey—I was a survivor, shaped by these woods, my every step a calculated dance against hunters far more fearsome than him.
My lips curved into a smile as I could see the stream ahead where the race was going to end. I was almost there, almost there, almost_
Suddenly there was a loud growl behind me and I was suddenly grabbed and thrown off my horse. My body collided with that of a warm body and we rolled and turned in the soft lush grass. Corion ended up maneuvering us so I was laying on top of him while he was laying down on the ground.
In this position, I was startled with how really green his eyes was up all close. I could see their vivid color through the mask but I wasn't satisfied, I wanted to see all of him. My hands reached up to grab the mask and I felt Corion tense up beneath me.
"It's okay, it's just me." I whispered, my hands hovering over his mask.
A minute passed before Corion gave me a slight nod and that was all the permission I needed. I worked the lace behind Corion's head and gently removed the mask. The sunlight draped around Corion's hair, making him look ethereal, his green eyes stared up at me, captivating me and almost as if I was in a trance, my hands reached up to trace the jagged scar across his face.
I felt Corion shudder beneath me as my finger lightly traced the deep scar on his face. For some reason, Corion was uncomfortable with it but I think it looked…
"Beautiful." I whispered, fascinated with it.
"Aneesa…" Corion breathed out.
Aneesa, never Neesa! He was always calling my name out in full and strangely enough, I liked it. I looked back up into Corion's eyes only to find him watching with a look that I made butterflies swim in my stomach.
Suddenly, I was all too aware of the compromising position that we were in. Strangely enough I did like it and was it just me or was our faces starting to get closer. My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I gripped fisted my hands on his shirt.
"Co…Corion?" I breathed just as his nose brushed mine.
Corion released a groan that I could feel through my body and I also felt it in my core. "What are you doing to me Aneesa?"
The correct question should be what are we doing but whatever it is, it seems we are helpless to stop it. My tongue darted to lick my now dry lips and Corion's green eyes tracked the movement before he suddenly leaned forward and just when I was certain our mouth was going to touch, Spirit suddenly whinnied stomping the ground lightly and just like that the moment was ruined.
Clearing my throat, I eased away from him with an awkward laugh. I didn't know whether or not to be happy Spirit saved me from what was going to be the biggest mistake of my life or sad because he ruined what was supposed to be the best moment for me.
Either way, I suppose we will never know! I thought to myself as I turned to look at Spirit, "Anyway, we should be heading back now."
Corion nodded his head at me, but chose to look around the woods. "You should head back first, I'm going to run some more."
"You sure?"
Nodding his head at me, Corion was already heading deeper into the woods. "I will see you later." He said and before I could question if he was okay, he already transformed and headed ran deep into the woods in his wolf form.
For some strange reason, I felt like I just got rejected but I shook it off and decided to climb Spirit. I headed back to the house just as the sun was already high up in the sky which meant it was noon. By the time I got back to the house, I met Giselle and Grace waiting for me in front of the house.
I got down and tapped Spirit, watching as he ran off to the barn while I turned to face my sister who were already approaching me.
"And where have you been?" Giselle asked.
"Took spirit out for a run, I've missed him." Came my reply as I headed inside the house, "Hmm something smells amazing."
Grace came towards me, "Seems you weren't alone."
At the mention of that a smile graced my lips, "Yeah, I had a race with Corion."
Giselle's blue gaze narrowed as she stare at me, "So you are on first name basis with the prince now?"
Shit, "We just had a bit of a race that's all." I said in my best nonchalant attitude while pouring myself a spoonful of porridge in a bowl.
Giselle looked like she doesn't believe me but I didn't care. I swallowed spoonfuls of my porridge while my sisters watched me with curiosity. It was a bit unsettling so I decided to move away from their curious gazes and head to the dining instead.
"Are you fucking him?"
"Giselle!"
I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at her, a look of bewilderment because I refused to believe she will ask something like that. "What did you just say?"
"You heard me." Giselle threw at me not in the bit apologetic, "We all saw the way you were with him last night?"
Feeling my frustration bubble up, I slammed the bowl hard on the table and turned to look at my sister. "By the hells Giselle, what the fuck is your problem?" I requested, "Ever since I've gotten back, it's like you've had one bone to pick with me or another?"
"You brought a monster into our home!"
Grace stepped between us, "Um, can you guys not fight?"
"He is not a monster and I do not appreciate you calling him that!" I said through gritted teeth.
Giselle scoffed in disbelief as she crossed her arms. "Oh goddess above, you are screwing him." She said and I had to clench my hands together into a fist, "Tell me sister, how good does a monster like him fuck?"
"Giselle, you need to stop this!" Grace cautioned.
Ignoring the warning of her twin sister, Giselle advanced towards me. "It must be so good if you are willing to defend a monster like him."
"Call him a monster one more time, I dare you!" I snarled at her.
"Or what Neesa? You will hit your sister to defend the monster who terrorizes villagers and feasts on human flesh?"
Before anyone could say anything else, I was in front of Giselle and I don't know what I would have done or what would have happened if Grace hadn't stepped in. She had a worried look on her face but she wasn't staring at me, she was staring at the door.
I whirled at the direction only to find Corion standing right outside, staring at me with a look I couldn't quite decipher.
Collecting myself, I stepped in front of Grace, "Corion, I'm…"
"I'll be leaving tonight." Corion suddenly announced, "And you are free off all charges. You can now stay with your family!"
"What?" I gasped but Corion was already walking past me and heading towards the bedroom, leaving me stunned.