Chapter 10 10
Odette's Pov
I shook my head, wishing he'd be convinced and let me join him. “I can't leave.”
“Why the hell not?” His jaw tightened.
“Because I don't want you to fight it, Aaron,” I said quietly. “Mom … Clarisse told me how you never lose control during the Moon Hunt but I know… you're fighting it. I don't know what it is but you can't keep yourself locked away.”
He took a step back and turned to his horse. “Go back to the castle. This conversation is over.”
“It's not.” I said calmly yet my hands were shaking at my sides. Then I did something I shouldn't do. Something my mother would always say before her passing, ‘Dear Odette… never poke the bear.’
I took a step forward and said it anyway. “I think you're afraid.”
I didn't get a chance to react. I couldn't not when his hand circled around my throat and my back slammed against the wall.
I let out a pained moan but I didn't dare reach for his hands to remove them. I feared it'll only make things worse. That's how I learned to survive whenever Alpha Roman's guards would come night after night to try and kill me.
Aaron was close enough that the scent of leather and cedar filled my lungs.
And then, in a deep voice that sent a shiver running down my spine, he spoke.“You think this is a game, Odette? You have no bloody idea what HAPPENS OUT THERE!”
“Then show me.” I whispered, feeling tears burn behind my eyelids.
He leaned in, unflinching. “If you follow me, Odette, I won't be able to protect you.”
“Then don't.”
For a few seconds, none of us moved. Then he exhaled and turned away, as if looking at me and touching me would cost him too much.
“The hunt begins at moonrise,” he said, not looking at me. “Stay inside and you'll wake up to see me alive. Disobey me…” he looked over his shoulder, his eyes blood-red. “Then you won't be able to recognize me.”
My breaths came heavy as I watched him climb his horse and speed off into the distance.
The moon was full and its silver lights spilled through the canopy. It was time for the hunt.
I felt a pain around my neck and winced from where Aaron had grabbed me. Surely, he didn't mean it. But a part of me told me I would experience worse if I don't go back. However, I couldn't stop my legs from leading me further into the forest.
As I walked into the silence, I could hear the sound of laughter and see torches of fire flickering in the air. I could even hear the thunder of hooves pounding against the ground. The hunt had begun in full force.
I forced my tired body forward, trying to hide in the shadows and make sure no one saw me. Clarisse's warning echoed in my head and so did Aaron's but something stronger than fear pulled me together. It was intuition. Whenever I felt something was wrong, I always knew it was.
I'd barely taken a step to the left when a sudden scream split the night.
“Oh no.”
I ducked to the ground and peered into the distance. There was a young wolf, a boy younger than me, struggling to get to his feet. He slipped and fell next to the horse who had collapsed.
“Oh no.”
I didn't think about my next line of action. I got up and ran.
From my peripheral vision, I could see horses running towards us. The riders wanted to kill him.
I hurled myself forward, shoving the boy out of the way.
My body hit the ground with a loud thud and pain shot through my side.
“Shit!” I cursed.
The boy scrambled to his knees and grabbed my arm. “Are you alright, aunty?”
A wince came as my reply. The boy muttered something unintelligibly as he reached forward and tried to carry me but quickly stepped back as though my body was on fire.
I opened my mouth. Someone was coming our way. He was going to kill us.
“Run!...” I tried to shout but it came out weak. He had to save himself otherwise…
My eyes squinted when it landed on a man dismounting from his horse in one fluid motion. He crossed the distance between us and scooped me in his arms.
“Just what WERE YOU THINKING?!” Aaron said in a rough voice.
“I was… he was going to die,” I gasped when the wound tightened. If that could be possible. “I couldn't just…”
“What if you were trampled!” He lowered his voice.
“So could he!”
For a moment, he glared at me and I glared back.
“I couldn't stay back. I knew something was wrong… Clarisse said the night would choose any creature for the hunt but the other riders tried to kill this human boy… isn't…” I gripped his leather jacket. "Isn't that cheating?”
“I'm well aware.” He hissed then turned to the stable boy. “Follow the light and run back to the castle. Now.”
The boy didn't hesitate. He scrambled to his feet and fled.
Aaron, then rose to his feet, with me in his arms. I winced when he tried to tuck my arms around his neck and the grumpy man returned. “Fuck! Do you have any idea what…” he blew out a breath then sighed. “Do you have any idea what it does to me when I see you in danger?”
My breath hitched. “W - what?”
His gaze drifted down to my lips and it was as if something inside him broke. He pulled me against him and pressed his lips to mine.
I don't know what it is but I liked it.
The feeling I'd felt earlier when he kissed me returned. The heat between my legs, the way our breaths became one, the way his mouth was rough and almost … hungry. I lived for it.
When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine.
“Next time you defy me, wife,” he murmured against my lips. “I will make sure I punish you…” then his thumb brushed my bottom lip. “... gently.”
The words should've scared me but for some reason, I was looking forward to his punishment.
Then he turned towards me and beckoned me to hold on tight to him. When I did, we whooshed through the forest at an incredible speed and suddenly, we were back in the stables with Beta Caesar rushing towards me.
“Habe the castle's healer tend to her wound and never let her out of your sight.” He ordered the other man then turned to me. “Stay out. I'll be back.”
Then he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine before he left.