He wished to see what was happening. August stood there, right next to him as Astor tried to free himself from his restraints. He felt the skin on his wrists rip and blood soak into the rope. Again and again, as he slowly got back his senses he tried without thinking of the pain. No matter what was happening right now in his mansion this was his only chance to escape, while he stood there frozen and confused.
After a few minutes he managed to make one knot go loose, freeing his first hand, then the other followed, bringing hope back into his mind as he tried to crawl away. The chair fell to the side the noise alerting the tall man.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" August screamed and grabbed him by his snow-white hair, on the back of his head and pulled him towards him as a shack of potatoes. Astor's claws appeared, and he scratched him, allowing him to be free again for a few seconds. He couldn't stand on his feet, not for now so all he could do was pitifully try to crawl away but it was to no avail. He was grabbed once again and brought to his feet, barely keeping himself standing. August had him in a headlock, his body tense as he was thinking what to do, trapped in this small room the maid had run away already. "This is all your fault." he groaned between gritted teeth. "So be useful."
His fault? Astor wondered and his eyes widened, heart beating fast he looked at the wide open door, finally hearing footsteps approaching. Someone was coming here, leisurely as if he had been on a walk. Had they come for him? Did Nash really come to save him? He wondered and even though he didn't want to be disappointed he stared at the entrance his eyes glued to it as the shadow of a man appeared first and a deep voice echoed in the small room.
"Let him go." the man said. It was not Nash, this rough tone could belong to only one person. The coldness came from his words as he appeared before them looking like a vengeful god.
Ren stood at the doorframe, his figure that of a mad warrior, his eyes glowing with hate as he stared at August. With one hand he held a dead body, one of the workers that had probably tried to stop him. He threw his body inside the room, his chest ripped to shreds, his heart missing.
"You sent him to me! How dare you, you foolish child to come into my house and…"
"I changed my mind." Ren said, taking one step in and Asrot felt the man that held him start to tremble. He was terrified of his Alpha before him, even though he pretended to be above him.
"What?"
"Give him to me." Ren said, taking another step inside.
"Don't come closer or I will rip his head off right here!" August screamed, putting pressure on his grip and Astor coughed, feeling as if his head was truly going to fall off. He tried to free himself but no matter what he did he found himself locked in this death hold. Ren froze, his eyes landing on his suffocating face, worry changing his rage-filled image and August laughed. "I see now, you care for this dog. What will you do if I kill him right here?" he threatened him.
"If you touch him…"
"Ren." Astor cried out, tears on his face as he struggled to breathe.
"What will you do little Alpha? You can't even save your little toy. You know I could kill him if I wanted to. I am a lot stronger than him at least."
Ren's eyes were stuck on Astor. Observing his every move, his every struggling breath, fiery fists forming on his sides as he thought of what he should do.
"August, I swear to you right here on the moon god that if you dare to touch him I will find everyone you love. Your daughter, your sister, your dead father and mother in another life, and I will rip them to shreds!" he shouted at him and the whole room began to shake. Ren was an earthquake, a deadly storm that was being detained all for Astor's shake. Invincible shackles holding the beast down as he waited, struggled to keep himself in place. "But not only that…" he continued, claws getting longer, canines coming out and eyes glowing with overflowing madness as he stared at the older werewolf before him. Astor could see it clearly how much he wanted to kill him. "I will make sure that every time they are reborn they live in misery and pain. I will gather them all in one room and have them watch as I torture you and feed you to my dogs. I will give your daughter to my men and they will.."
"You wouldn't! The Elders control you. You are nothing more than a guard dog just like your father, dying one day like trash." he screamed at the Alpha and Ren smiled, showing all of his dangerous teeth.
"Oh you are so wrong, I am nothing like my father. He was kind and I am insane." he told him, a devilish grin on his face as he stormed forward, August throwing Astor to the side to defend himself. Ren grabbed him by his face, slowly crushing his skull since he hadn't been fast enough to run from him. Blood oozed from his nose and ears, his eyes rolling back as he lost so easily consciousness.
To Astor this man had looked like a scary monster, doing with him whatever he pleases but Ren simply devoured him as if he was a mere nobody. Just a few words, just his presence had been enough to intimidate someone who would be starring in his nightmares from now on. Ren was truly strong and powerful.
He let go of August, his body landing on the ground almost lifeless.
"Don't kill him." Astor whispered and Ren's head snapped.
"Why would you want me to keep him alive?"
"I…I don't want you to get in trouble." the white-haired werewolf said and Ren froze. He stared at him, how he was seated on the floor, exposed, his eyes red from crying, tear stains on his cheeks and he sighed, slowly walking towards him. The Alpha took off his leather jacket and placed it on his shoulders. The cold leather smelled like him, like a subtle mix of the forest after the rain and faint tones of comforting spices. Astor grabbed the edges, wrapping himself with it. "Thank you."
Ren came closer, kneeling to get to his eye level. With his hands he cupped his face, bringing him closer. Their foreheads touched and the Alpha closed his eyes looking as if he was in pain.
"I am sorry." he told him, surprising Astor. "I am sorry that I was so selfish, that I let you go to him, that I let him touch you, that I wasn't here faster. I am sorry Astor. Please forgive me." he said, not daring to look at him in the eyes.
"I am sorry too." Astor answered him, his eyelids fluttering open, revealing shocked golden irises. "I could have just talked to you, tried to understand but…"
"No." Ren interrupted him. "I did to you what you hated the most. I didn't consider what you wanted. I knew better, I knew what kind of monster he was but I sent you here hoping that you will back away at the last moment and when you didn't I couldn't stop worrying. I almost went mad thinking of him touching you…he…"
"He didn't touch me. He only hurt me a bit but see, I am perfectly fine." Astor told him, trying to smile.
"I am sorry Astor." Ren repeated.
Astor raised his hand, boldly caressing Ren's cheek, wanting to comfort him. He did not blame him for what happened. Quite the opposite, this man before him looked like a god to him, magically saving him every time he fell to harm and this god was now apologizing to him. The man who gave him life again.
"I am fine. I do not blame you. I need to thank you. You saved me Ren. Again."
"I will always save you. Every single time, until everyone knows my name until they fear to even look at you in the eyes. Until you feel like there is no one in this world who can harm you because I will be there."
Astor felt his heart race, faster and faster until it almost seemed like it would stop. His warm hand on his cheek, his caring eyes softly gazing at him, the way he spoke, the words that left his lips. How could he not fall for this man? The one that looked like a demon but felt like an angel? Hiding his feelings, Astor now realized it, would be only torture but he would stand it, if it meant being near him for just a bit longer, even if that was a mere measly second.
"Don't send me away please." Astor begged.
"Never."