"Are you going to keep pretending to be unconscious?" Aleksi murmured, his irritable tone nearly palpable, like a storm about to burst.
Eris hadn't been unconscious for long—just a few minutes—but the silence surrounding her now felt like an eternity, and panic began to creep in. What would she do if he didn't want to save her? That question echoed in her mind like an unbearable refrain. Forget about saving yourself! Even the simplest things, like going to the bathroom, seemed like a luxury out of reach in this house.
"Explain your situation." Aleksi's voice rumbled again, and the pressure on her chest intensified.
Explaining… in theory, it was so simple. But for Eris, every word was a trap. How could she tell the truth without losing everything? Her story had never mattered to anyone, they had always wanted to take something from her, steal a piece of her. And he… at least for now, didn't seem to be any different.
"Last chance, butterfly." Aleksi's deep voice pierced through her, and his proximity made a shiver run down her spine.
Eris, heart racing, slowly opened one eye and immediately closed it again. She confirmed what she feared: he was right in front of her. A torrent of emotions fought to escape, but her only response was a soft, muffled sigh. Slowly, she opened her eyes again, avoiding all eye contact. She couldn't afford to show that vulnerability.
"Would you believe me if I told you I'm a prisoner in my house? My powers are tied to my brother's will, but I could help you if you manage to get me out of here," she murmured in a hoarse voice, tinged with a mix of desperation and hope.
The rest of what she thought "Imprisoned, used by my family, engaged to a bastard," remained trapped in her throat. It was too dangerous to say it now. The air between them thickened, and the tension became an invisible but imposing wall.
He leaned forward, his breath brushing her face.
Again, that delicious and familiar scent assaulted his senses, clouding his judgment. It was almost like a need for him to draw closer.
Was it because of her perfume? Was this some trap to use him? Something like what witches did? Or was it something deeper, something he didn't understand? His mind began to wander, but his body didn't lie. The attraction overwhelmed him, and his instincts seemed as unreliable as his reasoning.
The fragrance enveloped him, pulling him into an invisible net that clouded his thoughts. It was as if his body, without his consent, needed her to survive.
Aleksi swallowed. He wanted to bite her, to taste her soft, pink lips. He couldn't tear his eyes away from his desire.
But he hadn't gotten where he was just by following his animal instincts. He furrowed his brow and released supernatural pressure toward her.
Automatically, she trembled, and a faint smile almost curled at the corners of his lips. The situation was still under his control.
She had spoken with so much confidence earlier, challenged him, toyed with him as much as she wanted, but now she trembled like a frightened little rabbit.
"Why would your dear brother do that?" Aleksi's cynical laugh filled the space between them. "He told me you were his adored one, the family treasure. That's why you're spoiled and wouldn't meet your guests, not even if they threatened to tear the house down." His jocular tone slipped out, but there was something dangerous in his words, like a veiled warning.
Eris, without thinking, bit her lower lip. It was a small gesture, insignificant to anyone watching, but to him… it was like a spark in the dark. The impulse in his chest intensified, and somehow, that innocent action nearly made him lose control. The power he was exerting was on the verge of breaking free.
After her fainting spell, he had placed her there, on the sofa. Initially, he had wanted to gain the upper hand in their conversation, using his imposing figure to pressure her, but now, it was working against him. She was trapped between the back of the couch and his chest, almost surrounded by his arms, and that proximity was driving him wild. He didn't know if he wanted to back off or pull her closer.
On the other hand, Eris was facing a different crisis. She didn't know how much her brother had lied. There were so many versions of the truth that she didn't know which one to tell, or which one to hide. She was afraid of unintentionally leading herself to a bad end. She didn't know everything about the future—only some possibilities—and had no idea how to get there or achieve them.
Given Alpha's reputation and the fact that he had stormed in to meet Kyle without an appointment, she knew she could ruin everything if she said too much.
So, she decided to play it safe.
"I'm the only one who can cure your insomnia," she whispered, lifting her gaze to meet his eyes before continuing. "You can try to destroy everything, even eat my brother and scare me, but you won't get the cure from me."
"I'd rather eat other things," Aleksi replied, the word "beautiful" hanging on the tip of his tongue. "And I have other methods to get what I want, no matter the cost. You know my reputation, right? Traitors would rather die than face my torture."
"It wouldn't be the first time I've gone through it. I'm confident I can endure it."
And as if it were the prelude to a storm, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Aleksi's composure shattered, and Eris's heart skipped a beat. This didn't resemble anything she had seen before, not even when he had choked her earlier, nothing had inspired this much fear and respect. Everything screamed at her that she had to run, now.
She didn't understand why he had such a drastic change. Had he heard something in the house? Had her brother said something that offended him?
Against all her instincts, she stretched out her hand and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. For a moment, she feared he would tear her arm off, but her desperation was stronger.
"Please, get me out of this house. I can give you the cure if you promise me my freedom afterward. Kill us now, and you'll suffer for the rest of your life."
What she said wasn't the whole truth, but it was also the most convincing answer she could give. If she died, there would no longer be a perfume capable of causing insomnia to this fearsome beast, but the side effects would remain and would be reinforced by the half-truth she just told, causing him to not be able to sleep comfortably for a long, long time. And the thing about contagion... that was a lie.
He pulled away from her grasp, and simultaneously, the door opened.
Kyle entered, his voice dripping with the sweetness he only used with Sabrina when he wanted to flatter her.
"Sister, I came because I was worried. How did your conversation go? Did you manage to clear up the misunderstanding?"
He walked toward the couch where Eris sat frozen, but Aleksi stopped him.
"I wouldn't keep walking if I were you," Aleksi's voice echoed in the room, devoid of emotion, creating a sense of dissonance and crisis.
Kyle paled and stammered before finding his voice again. "I'm so sorry if my sister offended you in any way, Alpha Aleksi. I'll take responsibility…"
"Of course you will," Aleksi interrupted, and Kyle began to tremble, like an ant at the mercy of the rain.
Aleksi walked until he stood between Eris and Kyle.