Chapter 70 A pause
ZORA
Time stopped
My heart skipped a beat.
He might have as well shot two arrows straight into my heart than strip me bare in front of him, with that cold, merciless gaze of his poking deep into me like it already knew the answer.
I forced myself to break the tense eye contact, which was getting us nowhere, by the way, and bolted for the door.
Without a confirmation from me, he wouldn't be able to do anything, yeah?
Just as I pushed the door open to flee, it was slammed shut almost immediately, barely an inch from my nose, causing me to flinch in response.
The standing hairs on my skin must have been visible at this point as the iciness emanating from Ryker's figure behind me engulfed my body's heat.
“Trying to run away now, meiga?”, he whispered against my neck, his fingertips brushing my waistline.
The bond was ecstatic at the closeness between Ryker and I.
I stood still.
There's no way for me to run anyway.
Blood rushed up my neck to my face, feeling his hardened shaft rub against my ass.
“Judging from their appearance, they look six or seven years old…”, his ragged breaths settled on my bare neckline.
“...I see how they look at you, how you look at them. Like a mother wolf to her pup.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, feeling my earlobe heat up as he teased it with his tongue.
"Don't tell me our very first night together led to them." He added.
How did we come to this?
My eyes fluttered close, breathing him in, and also clinged on to him for balance.
Just being close to him set my body on fire, every. fucking. time.
Despite the anger emanating from him, I could still sense his desire, which was strong, by the way.
He knew the effect of what he was doing to me.
And it's even more annoying that the bond was enjoying this and even wanted more.
By the way, was he expecting to get answers from me this way?
The bond churned unhappily.
If I want to be in my right senses later on, it was better to give the bond what it craves while I'm still in control.
It's way better than the bond having full-on control later on.
With a determined resolve, I swiveled sharply in his arms, a bit proud of the shocked expression on his face.
Bet he wasn't expecting that.
Taking advantage of the moment, I pulled him down to meet my height even though I was already standing on my tip toes and claimed his lips with mine.
He was stunned.
Only for a second.
His hands went around my waist firmly, pressing him to his body.
The bond wasn't content.
It wanted more than just a kiss.
I— it wanted to feel him, feel his skin.
And I can't get that now without us doing......
I did the next best thing.
Still pressing my body to his, my hands shakily traveled down to the hard bulge in his pants, gave it a light squeeze.
Finally, some skin to skin.
He groaned deep into my mouth as he buried his fingers into my hair, pressing me with even closer.
His desire clearly overwhelmed mine, and my free hand found their way behind me to the door knob once again. Once my grip was steady, I forcefully broke away from the heated kissing session, pushing him with all my strength.
Leaving no time for him to recover, I flew out of the room into the dimly lit corridors, refusing to stop until my sweaty back rested against my door.
Did he think I was stupid, and I would just confess and agree that they are his kids?
Is he insane?
I'd rather cut down a forest with a knife than confirm his suspicions.
“Zora!"
I yelped in fright.
“Jeez Marissa, what are you still doing here?”
I expected her to be asleep in her room or find something else to do with her time.
“My apologies. I was worried when I didn't find you here after dinner. Do I have to ask where you were?” She gave me a knowing look, tilting her head to the side.
I didn't like the way her eyes roamed my body.
How can she know everything!
“I don't have time for your probing questions right now Marissa”, I answered with a sigh.
She stifled a chuckle and came closer to me.
"Is that so?"
"Not now, Marissa." I told her in a tired voice.
“So what then do you have time for?"
"Nothing!"
That high-pitched and sharp response definitely didn't come from me.
She smiled, "You expect me to believe that?"
I lay on my bed, facing the ceiling, and kept mute.
"I can tell when something's on your mind, Zora”, she gently pressed and scooted closer.
She had no plans on leaving.
I turned my gaze to her, offering a small smile. "I doubt you can help."
"Try me,"
I stared at her, maybe she was right, and she was the only one who could help.
"It's Ryker."
"Okay?"
“I have finally found a way to gain my freedom out of here”, I revealed.
“We are finally leaving? How?” She eagerly asked, leaning forward.
"Ryker proposed a deal to me."
"Tell me you refused."
"I didn't exactly have a choice."
"What was the deal about?"
"My freedom?" I answered, "All I have to do is cure Ryker of his curse,"
"His beast." She muttered quietly.
The worried glint was back to her eyes.
It was impossible, even she knew as much as that.
I can't control my powers fully.
I don't know if there's more to the silver threads and killings. It's the only thing I've ever done successfully with my powers.
To destroy.
Semya mentioned curing him, too. otherwise, he'd unleash fury, and I'd have to kill him.
But how do I get my powers to heal?
And most importantly, what price would I have to pay?
“I know I'm pretty much useless having powers I can't even tap into well or control ”, I told her. “...but this is the only way to save myself and my family. And I don't know how to go about it."
“Courtney and your kids, right?” She held my hands in hers.
A pensive look formed on my face as I hastily withdrew my hands from hers.
“H—how did you know? Who told you?” I inquired,
A sigh escaped her lips like I was just being stupid in the moment. “Who wouldn't? Anyone with eyes could easily see the subtle resemblance between you and those kids. They look nothing like your friend,"
“Is it really that obvious?” I asked.
She grinned, "Not much though, but there are signs. I'm terribly surprised how the palace is flooded with werewolves, and no one has noticed the distinct scent you and those kids share”
My lips trembled, my heart pounding with an increased sense of urgency as I wished for nothing more than my kids to be a thousand miles away from here.
“I'd say the moon goddess is protecting them then”, I said, mustering a light, shaky laugh.
"If they are your kids, and aren't human. Does that mean their father is from this pack?"
My stomach dropped.
Knowing Marissa, I'd give it a day before she finds out herself.
"Ryker," I breathed out, saving both of us the stress.
Her eyes flashed with surprise, but she quickly tried to cover it up.
Seeing through the multitude of questions she fought to not blurt out all at once, I continued, “This is a secret you won't dare breath to anyone, okay?”
She nodded in response, still unable to speak.
“We're all Ryker's prisoners regardless, and I'm not about to bring my kids in between whatever's going on between Ryker and I. None of us are safe with him, so I'm going to do all I can to get us out of here no matter what” I stated with more conviction than before.
"We need help then." Marissa announced.
"Can you help me?"
She shook her head, "Not much, but I think I might have an idea."
A relieved smile broke on my face, "I knew I could always count on you."
“You might also want to have a chat with the former luna, Miss Grace about this”, she suggested, instantly making me scoff.
"She might help." Marissa continued.
Or maybe Semya
"You really should." She added.
“She hasn't come visiting for a while now, but we'll see, I guess” I said casually.
"You can summon her."
That I would do, but with Semya.
Grace has nothing to offer, by the way.
"Tomorrow then," Marissa patted my hands and left.
I don't know how summoning works, but I wished with all my heart to meet Semya before I drifted off to sleep.
Darkness clouded me from all sides as I struggled to see past where I stood. Where the hell was I? I'd never been here in all of my dreams, so what was happening?
A glass was suddenly unveiled in front of me, revealing none other than Grace. My mind instantly at alert, preparing for our usual banter, but on getting a closer look, there was no sign of a smirk or an evil glint in her eyes.
Instead, there was fear, panic, and screams.
Her pupils widened as she made frantic hand movements I didn't seem to understand.
Her lips moved in hurriedly, but still, I was met with nothing but silence on my end.
I could only see her mouth moving, no sound escaped.
“Speak up! I can't hear you!” I screamed back, hitting my fists on the glass.
Then everything changed.
Like it was never there to begin with.
It was still dark but not like the first.
I turned around in fear, feeling the cold breeze prickle on my skin.
This was all strange and happening so fast.
What the heck was going on.
The disturbing image of her frightened expression was hard to put aside despite my eerie surroundings.
“Finally”
I flinched, snapping my head to the sound of the voice, surprised to see the first woman of my kind.
The summoning worked.
“Semya”, I whispered in awe, feeling a sense of belonging and safety.
“Somehow, you've summoned me to your dreams Zora, so I take it you have a pressing issue”, she said curtly.
No playfulness in her voice or tricks up her sleeve. Is something wrong?
My head nodded in agreement as I poured out my frustrations about Ryker and his conditions.
She shrugged, "That works. You have to help him anyway. I guess he has an inkling on what's happening to him."
I gawked, "Something is happening to him?"
Semya rolled her eyes and just stared at me.
I shook the thought of Ryker out of my head. It's not like I'm worried about him anyway, "Do you think he'll uphold his end"
She shrugged, "Time will tell, which, by the way, you're running out of."
“You'd know how to help me, right?” I asked, "With my powers and how I can use them for others things aside from killing."
“You clearly have a lot to learn, Zora. Have you concluded on what price to pay?"
"I get to decide?"
"You get to make offerings which may or may not be accepted."
"Oh."
She flipped her hair “My attempt to do break a curse on a beloved ended with two humans as a sacrifice. That was my price to pay."
I blinked, "T- two humans?"
Semya nodded, "It was hard for me, but anything for my beloved. So what's it going to be with you, Zora?"
"I can't sacrifice two random strangers for my selfish reasons!"
"Mine weren't strangers." Semya added nonchalantly. "Yours might not have anything to do with death. It's usually different."
"What are the chances it'd have something to do with death?"
"Ninety three percent."
I groaned inwardly,
Why does everything have to be complicated with him?
“Remember Zora, a worthy price for an equally worthy reward. When you've thought about it, let me know." She flicked her hand and disappeared.