"Allegra, open your eyes," Donovan pleaded, his voice cracking with desperation. "I will never be rude to you again, just open your eyes!" Tears brimmed in his eyes, reflecting the depth of his anguish. "Please," he whispered, weakly striking the barrier that separated them.
Despite the overwhelming pain that coursed through her body, Allegra summoned every ounce of strength she had left. She couldn't bear to hear Donovan's defeated voice, couldn't bear the thought of leaving him alone in this nightmare. With a trembling hand, she raised her finger, the glow dimming as the barrier dissipated into thin air.
As the spell was broken, Allegra sucked in a ragged breath, her body trembling with relief and exhaustion. Donovan wasted no time, rushing to her side and enveloping her in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down his face as he held her close.
Gently releasing her from his embrace, Donovan scooped her up into his arms and carried her to a nearby inn, his steps fueled by a sense of urgency and determination to keep her safe.
—
The inn was his sanctuary, and he wasted no time in ensuring their privacy. With a sense of urgency, Donovan ushered everyone away and secured the room upstairs, locking the doors behind them. Gently, he placed Allegra on the soft bed, his heart aching at the sight of her vulnerability.
As she cried in his arms, Donovan held her close, his touch tender and reassuring. "I'm scared," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. "I was about to die."
"You won't die," Donovan murmured, his voice a soothing balm against her fears. He cradled her gently, his arms a shield against the darkness that threatened to consume her. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"But I was about to," she murmured softly, her words heavy with the weight of her near-death experience.
Donovan tightened his embrace, his heart breaking at the thought of losing her. "But you're here now," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "And that's all that matters."
"Donovan," Allegra whispered, pulling away slightly and touching her lips as if trying to erase the memory of Rex's kiss. "He kissed me… he touched me," she muttered, tears streaming down her cheeks. Donovan's expression hardened, his jaw clenched with anger. "That bastard," he growled lowly, his hands balling into fists at his sides.
"He will come again," Allegra said, her voice trembling with fear. "He will come and attack me."
"No, he won't," Donovan said firmly, his voice tinged with determination. "Did he say his name?"
"Rex," Allegra replied, her tone filled with both fear and disdain, the mere mention of the name sending shivers down her spine.
He nodded thoughtfully. "Come, you need to take your bath," Donovan said, extending his hand to help Allegra up from the bed. She nodded weakly, attempting to follow him, but her strength failed her, and she stumbled backward onto the bed.
Concern etched on his face, Donovan hurried to her side. "You'll hurt yourself," he cautioned, gently easing her back onto the bed.
"Don't leave me here, alone," Allegra pleaded, her voice filled with vulnerability.
"Okay. Then how will you bathe?" Donovan asked, puzzled by her request.
Allegra's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "You will bathe me," she blurted out without thinking, her words hanging in the air between them.
Donovan blinked, taken aback by her unexpected suggestion.
"Are you wearing underwear?" Donovan's voice was gentle, his concern evident in his tone. Allegra nodded silently, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Okay then. I'll fill up the tub," he said reassuringly, moving to the bathroom to start filling the tub. He left the door open, ensuring Allegra could still see him.
As the tub filled with warm water, Donovan removed his shirt and pants, leaving only his briefs on. Returning to Allegra's side, he helped her out of her coat, shirt, and pants, leaving her in her underwear.
Despite her fear of tub baths, Allegra felt a sense of comfort and safety with Donovan by her side.
As Allegra settled into the warm water, Donovan's presence behind her brought a sense of calm. She couldn't help but notice the intricate tattoos adorning his skin, each telling a story of its own. With Donovan beside her, the tendrils of fear slowly receded, replaced by a feeling of safety and reassurance.
As Donovan tied her curly short locks in a bun, Allegra found herself oddly at ease in their situation. His deep voice reverberated behind her, causing her toes to curl involuntarily.
"Why'd you cut your hair?" he inquired, his voice carrying a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.
"I... I wanted to change my look," she replied, her voice slightly wavering.
He fell silent, leaning back against the tub. Allegra rested her head on his chest, stealing a glance at his face.
"What?" he asked, catching her gaze.
"Why are you so weird?" she blurted out, earning a quizzical look from him.
"You're an enigmatic Lycan," Allegra remarked, hitting the nail on the wall with precision.
Donovan burst out laughing, his throaty chuckle sending shivers down her spine and making her toes curl.
"How did you find me?" Allegra asked, her tone edged with frustration.
"You called my name," Donovan replied simply, causing her to frown.
"Donovan, I only whispered your name. I couldn't even scream for help," she retorted, growing more agitated by his cryptic responses.
He remained silent, prompting her to press further. "Where are you always disappearing to? Why are you so hard to read?"
Still, he offered no explanation, leaving her seething with anger. She slammed her hands on the water in frustration, then stood up and stormed out of the tub, sloppily gripping the door knob as she angrily left the bathroom.
Donovan watched as Allegra struggled with her coat, her determination evident despite her weakened state. The cold winter air seeped into the room, contrasting sharply with the warmth that enveloped them moments ago.
"Allegra," he called out to her, his voice tinged with concern, but she remained unresponsive. With a sigh, he stepped out of the tub, the water dripping from his body as he leaned against the door frame, observing her.
As she made her way to the door, Donovan couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "Thought you said you were afraid of staying alone. Or was that an excuse to get close to me?" His words hung heavy in the air, a mixture of accusation and curiosity.
Allegra halted in her tracks, her back still turned to him. "I've been alone for over three years. I'll be fine," she retorted, her tone defiant. "And as for staying close to you, I wish I slapped you the day you tried to kiss me." Her words were sharp, cutting through the tension that lingered between them.
"Allegra, stop," Donovan murmured, his voice tinged with urgency.
Ignoring his plea, Allegra reached for the door knob, intent on leaving, but Donovan moved swiftly to block her path.
"Listen, it's your life. I don't care. Just leave me alone," she insisted, her voice edged with frustration.
However, Donovan refused to let her go without a fight. With determination in his eyes, he gently pushed the clothes aside and pulled her into a passionate kiss. At first, she struggled against his hold, but soon found herself melting into his embrace.
"You make me do things that make me question my principles," he confessed breathlessly between kisses, his words laden with desire.
Allegra couldn't help but groan in response, her body responding instinctively to his touch. With a newfound sense of urgency, she pulled him closer, her own desires ignited by the intensity of their connection.
Their kisses grew more fervent, and Allegra trailed her lips down his neck, eliciting a deep groan from Donovan as he surrendered to the overwhelming sensation of desire coursing through him.
Donovan trailed his kisses down her neck, eliciting a soft gasp from Allegra as she arched her back in response. Feeling her surrender to him, he pinned her against the wall, wrapping her legs around his waist. The heat between them was palpable, and Allegra could feel his bulge pressing against her.
"Dono," she pleaded breathlessly, her voice filled with desire.
He groaned at the sound of her moaning his name, his own desire growing with each passing moment. "Mm," he murmured in response, his lips trailing along her earlobe as she cried out in pleasure.
"Ah… Donovan," she moaned again, her mind consumed by the haze of desire.
"Say that again, I like it," he urged, his voice thick with desire.
"Ah… Dono," she moaned once more, her voice a symphony of pleasure.
Their kisses grew more urgent, the only sound in the room the rhythm of their moans and the smacking of their lips.
As Allegra succumbed to the sweet embrace of sleep, Donovan's groan echoed through the room. With gentle care, he lifted her limp form and laid her on the bed, wrapping her in warm clothes and tucking her beneath the blankets.
After ensuring her comfort, Donovan slipped into the bathroom to quickly bathe, washing away the remnants of their passionate encounter. Emerging moments later, clad in his dark blue shirt and black pants, he cast a lingering glance at Allegra's peaceful face before slipping out of the inn and into the night, his destination shrouded in secrecy.
—-
Unknown Location..
In an obscure and shadowy locale, Rex stood trembling, his visage obscured by the dim light that cast menacing shadows across his frightened expression. The voice emanating from the figure before him struck terror into his very core, sending a chill down his spine.
"You told her your name?!" The voice thundered, echoing through the darkness with palpable fury. Rex cowered before the unseen figure, his fear palpable in the trembling of his limbs.
"I-I'm so sorry, sir," Rex stammered, his voice trembling with dread. "I thought the job would be done, I didn't anticipate he would come—"
"Enough excuses!" the voice interrupted, dripping with disdain. "Your time is running short. I wonder why he hasn't found you yet."
Rex's eyes widened in terror as he coughed violently, his body contorting unnaturally. The figure in the darkness observed with cold detachment as Rex choked and twisted, his form disintegrating into nothingness.
"He was merely biding his time, waiting for your inevitable arrival," the figure muttered bitterly, frustration evident in their tone. "He has found you already. Damn it all!" He said and let out a frustrated cry.