Chapter 19 19
Aaron's Pov
When I woke up, I noticed something was very wrong.
First, this wing of the castle was too quiet. Second, the side next to me was cold and empty, and third … Odette's scent was gone.
I assumed she was in her room and climbed off my bed. Grabbing a coat and wrapping it around me, I limped to her room.
At first, I knocked and there was no response. Was she upset?
I pushed the door and entered and felt… nothing. The air was hollow, the silence was strange and her room was cold. She didn't sleep here.
All the warning bells went off in my head as I took a step back.
She said she would come back. She promised me. She promised she would return and Odette… has never broken her promise.
“Clarisse!” My voice thundered down the hallway but I didn't care. I needed to find my wife!
Clarrise hurried over. “Good morning, Your Majesty. You summoned me.”
I ignored her pleasantries and went right to the main matter at hand.
“Where is she?!”
She understood whom I was referring to and swallowed. “She’s not with you?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What?”
Clarisse continued. “I… I assumed she was with you, sir. Beta Caesar and Viktor brought you back and they told me Odette would return.”
Something inside me snapped.
“Find Caesar!” I growled. “Now!”
As Clarisse hurried off, I pressed my hand to my chest, finding it difficult to breathe.
It wasn't because of the bruises. All of them had been healed. It was because of something else, something that was yanking hard within me.
When I realized it, I froze.
It was the mating bond.
I hadn't felt this way before. Not even for Nina. With Odette, this was different. Like I felt everything she felt and that was excruciating pain and a slight chill. She was… afraid. Someone hurt her! Someone dared hurt what was mine!
“Odette!” I tried calling her through our mind-link and got no response.
Damn it!
Caesar arrived at my side, out of breath as if he'd run a mile. “My lord.”
“Where is she?” I asked.
“She went to the BlueMoon Pack last night after your altercation with Adam and your brothers,” he whispered. “She hasn't come back.”
“She went back there alone?” I asked.
“Yes.” he nodded.
Fuck. She left on her own and I let her. I fucking let her! How careless could I have been?
“Your Majesty-”
“Get the horses!” I snapped. “Now and if Adam or any of my brothers had laid a finger on her —”
The rest of the sentence was a growl I barely recognized.
“Yes, My lord.”
As soon as the horses arrived, I mounted mine and sped ahead. Together with my men, we rode to the BlueMoon Pack.
I clenched the reins so tight they dug into my skin. Every muscle in my body screamed. Odette, please, wait for me. I'm coming.
We arrived at the gates only to be stopped by one of Ralph's guards. I didn't care to hear what he had to say. I pulled back the reins, lifting the horse and driving it forward.
We blasted through the gates and sped through.
I didn't stop till I smelled blood.
Hers.
My hands shook. Someone had dared to hurt my wife!
Something black tore through me and I growled. My claws pushed against my skin and my wolf roared inside of me, demanding to come out, demanding to come out. This time, I didn't hold it back.
I set it free.
People gasped as I jumped off the horse and stormed down the corridor. The ribbons, blue banners and lanterns Odette had thought were beautiful were ripped to shreds by my bare hands. It was then called the BlueMoon Pack but by midnight, I painted it red.
When I was done, I caught my breath, snarling heavily.
“That's the Mad King…”
“He looks furious…”
“He'll kill us if we don't look away.”
I smirked at the whispers. They better look away.
I shoved past them and followed the faintest trace of Lavender and Wildberries. It led down one corridor. I pushed everyone out of my way till I heard a familiar scream.
My body froze. It was hers.
“Help!” The voice was quiet, almost weak. Odette.
Without hesitation, I ripped the door off its hinges and made my appearance.
The scene unfolding before me made my breath hitch.
She was chained around her wrists and ankles, her beautiful red hair now a tangled mess and her dress ripped beyond recognition was my wife.
“Odette,” I whispered through our mind-link and she finally… looked at me.
Her silver eyes glistened with tears and in my mind, she screamed my name. “Aaron!”
That was all it took.
My vision went red again and I crossed the room.
Before anyone could blink, I grabbed the wolf closest to her and hurled him so hard he cracked the stone wall behind him.
The second man's face went ten shades red as he recognized me. I didn't bother to listen to the rest of his words. I clenched my fists and slammed it into his jaw.
While Caesar took care of the rest, the man struggling to escape my grip was choking. Again, I didn't hear him. All I could hear was the voice of my wolf roaring in my ears to kill him for touching Odette.
“You touched her.”
“I only…”
“You touched what's mine.”
He smirked with blood dripping down his chin. “She came here on her own. Maybe she wanted a real man and not…”
He didn't finish the sentence. My hand wrapped around his throat and slammed him into the wall with a thud that shook dust from the ceiling.
“Say another word.”
He choked, clawing at my grip. “You're a weakling, Aaron. You… came all this way for a girl…”
I squeezed harder. “This girl is my wife!”
Behind me, Odette cried out, “Aaron, don't!”
Her scream cut through the air and I froze.
“Aaron…”
I didn't listen. I couldn't. The man didn't deserve to live. With one hand, I snapped his neck before hurling his body away.
Then, I turned to Odette. She was trembling. Her wrists were red and tears stains streaked down her face. My heart broke at the sight.
“Odette…” I went to her, ripping the chains off her wrists easily.
Her body fell forward but I caught her just in time.
“Odette,” I cupped her face while holding her closer. “Please, look at me. Please, look at me.”
Her fingers clutched my shirt and slowly looked at me. Her fingers tightened like she was afraid I'd disappear.
“I thought you'd… I thought I…” she sobbed.
“I know,” I dropped my forehead to hers. “I'm here now. I won't ever leave you.”
“But I'm the one who left,” she shook her head. “I thought I could talk to …”
“Save your strength.” I turned back towards the man's lifeless body on the ground and the urge to kill him again returned.
Caesar passed me a robe and I covered her with it. She didn't flinch like I thought she would. She let me gather her in my arms. She could feel safe in my arms even when I looked like this, like a beast.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and she whispered inaudibly.
I leaned closer to hear her and it was weak : “I knew you'd come for me.”
“I will always come for you, Odette,” I kissed her forehead. “even if it kills me.”
She flashed me a weak smile before slowly falling asleep.
I turned to Caesar and gave the order. “Prepare the carriage.”
Caesar bowed. “I will.”
I barely noticed the crowd staring at me as I carried my wife out of the BlueMoon Pack or Alpha Ralph glaring at me but I could feel the fear. However, none of them mattered. Only Odette.
When we got into the carriage and I placed her gently on my lap, I could finally breathe.