Chapter 22: Twenty Two

SOLANA

I'd dozed off in bed when the familiar smell of pine and something metallic flooded my nostrils. Elric. He was here. I gulped, gripping the sheets as I descended into a state of anxiety. Why was he here? To take me back?

I needed to know what was happening. And I couldn't do that if I stayed there in the room.

With my heart slamming hard against my ribs, I slipped out of the room and headed straight to my husband's study.

My footsteps faltered when I heard the familiar husky voice. Elric.

"...only for your own good, Roman. Solana will eventually be hunted by the Guard. I advise that you don't get a—"

He didn't finish his statement. A loud thud followed. Then, an angry growl rumbled in the air.

"I warned you, Elric. Didn't I? Solana is mine now. My wife. And if you do anything stupid, make sure you run as far as possible. Far enough that I won't be able to get to you. Because if I do, I will make sure to strip your bones of your flesh. And not even the vultures will find your carcass appetizing," my husband droned, and my heart swelled with warmth.

"Leave. And do not return here again, Elric. You don't want to push me, trust me."

Quickly, I moved away, rushing into a random empty room. But then I froze when I heard the sound of soft moans coming from...

I turned slowly only to find Hawke and Tara going at it against the wall, his pants halfway down his thighs. It was right in that moment that my best friend opened her eyes, saw me, and screamed.

I turned away instantly, unable to believe what I just saw. Dying of secondhand embarrassment, I hurried out of the room, trying to get rid of the image in my head.

My face was burning as I stumbled into the hallway, mortified beyond words. Goddess, I needed bleach for my eyes.

Still shaken, I pressed a hand to my chest, willing my heartbeat to slow. That was when I felt it. The shift in the air.

That scent again. Pine. Metal. Blood.

Slowly, I lifted my head and froze.

Elric stood at the end of the corridor, his tall frame draped in his favorite black coat. His murky brown eyes gleamed with mockery. Suddenly, breathing became a strenuous exercise.

For a moment, I couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Every nightmare I'd ever had seemed to bleed into reality.

"Well," he drawled, a cruel smile tugging at his lips, "if it isn't the little monster herself. You've grown... but I can still smell the blood on you."

My mouth went dry. "S—stay away from me," I managed, though my voice trembled.

He laughed. "Do you really think you're free now? Because some Alpha decided you were worth saving? You're nothing, Solana. A murderer can never be loved. Not truly."

My hands began to shake. I tried to step back, but my legs wouldn't obey. His words sliced through every fragile wall I'd built.

He tilted his head, his eyes glinting. "Tell me, do you remember it? The way her blood smelled? My mother's blood?"

My vision dimmed, my heart rate skyrocketing.

"She screamed your name before she died. And you—" he moved closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, "you smiled."

My knees buckled. The floor seemed to rush up to meet me. The air thinned until I could barely breathe. No. No. Stop.

My chest constricted, panic poisoning my insides. I pressed my palms to my temples, but the memories were already flooding back...

Red, so much red, and her face, lifeless, her hand outstretched towards me—

I let out a sob.

"Please," I gasped, curling into myself, trembling so hard it hurt. "Stop..."

But he only sneered. "You can hide behind Roman all you want, mutt. You'll never get rid of that stench. The smell of a murderer.”

And then he turned away, his footsteps fading down the hall.

I stayed there on the cold marble floor, my breath coming in ragged bursts, my vision blurring as the panic consumed me.

I didn't mean to. I swear, I didn't...

"Sol?" I looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps and saw Anna.

She hurried over to me, cupping my face.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you hurt?" She asked, and I looked away, curling into myself.

I tried not to think about it. Tried not to let Elric's poisonous voice hold me down, but I was being pathetic again.

Just when I thought I was doing better...just when...

You'll never be loved.

You're a murderer.

You killed her.

Those words haunted me. What if I was only fighting a losing game? What if it was impossible to get my husband to fall in love with me.

I closed my eyes, resting my forehead on my knees as the sobs tore out. And then I started to apologize, deaf to Anna's words.

"Solana."

My body tensed instantly, recognizing that voice.

Slowly, I looked up at him through the blur in my vision. He towered above me, staring down at me with a painfully blank look on his face.

Alpha Roman.

"A-alpha," I croaked.

"Get up," he droned, and I recoiled.

"I-I'm sorry," the word tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it.

I waited for him to finally express his frustration, but he said nothing. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he turned to look at Anna.

"Why is she like this?"

"I don't know. She keeps apologizing and mumbling that she didn't mean to do it," Anna responded.

Roman looked up at the ceiling. Then, he exhaled softly.

"Elric got to you, didn't he?" He asked, and I flinched.

"Get up," he repeated, but I couldn't do it even if I tried. My legs were stiff, my body locked in a state of paralysis.

"I-I can't," I croaked.

"Do you want to know what I think? You're sick of this place," he said, and my blood ran cold in my veins.

I shook my head, tears blinding me.

"If you're so sick of being my Luna, you can quit now. You're free to walk away. Go back to your old pack," he deadpanned.

The dread sank deeper and deeper into me until I had the strong urge to throw up.

"T-that's not true. A-alpha, please..."

He blinked.

"Make your decision now, Solana. I will not have a weak Luna by my side."

My stomach churned, desperation gripping me. In an instant, every memory I'd had with Roman replayed itself in my head, more sobs ripping out of me.

I didn't want to give up now. No. Not like this.

My husband deserves better.

I...I deserve better, don't I?

I was just a child when the murder happened. I couldn't even remember it clearly.

Alpha Roman held out his hand towards me and I stared at it, my heart threatening to explode right out of my chest.

Hesitantly, I reached for it, and he held me firmly, hauling me to my feet. I swayed, sinking into his arms.

"If you must stay by my side, you must prove that you want to grow," he said, and I looked up at him, wide-eyed.

"W-why are you giving me a choice? Why aren't you yelling at me? Why won't you show me that you're frustrated?" I whispered, my voice shaky.

His gaze locked with mine, his eyes empty.

"Because I'm already too invested in you, wife. I can't watch you give up after fighting so hard. You promised you would get stronger. You can't take it back now."

I shook my head weakly.

"I don't want to give up. I still—"

He cut me off.

"Then prove it."

I gulped.

"H-how?"

Without warning, he scooped me into his arms. Then he headed down the hallway and out of the house. My muscles tensed with unease. I wasn't sure where he was taking me, but his aura was scaring me. Finally, we arrived in front of an isolated building. Gently, he placed me down. Then he led me inside only for me to find Zamora sitting on the floor with her wrists bound, her face pale.

"W-what—" I started, and he pointed at Zamora.

"I will release her if you can do exactly what she did to you," he said, and my eyes widened.

"You want me to...slap her?"