Chapter 12 DALIA
DALIA
I slowly try to open my eyes, but my head hurts, and my whole body aches a bit. I feel weak, but not so weak. My eyes feel so heavy so I close it back. The smell of cinnamon and sandalwood feels my senses and I feel my body being pressed into a hard but soft object. I feel weak, but it's as if being squeezed into that object is giving me strength so l lean closer to it as if I want to disappear into it. The scent hovering in my senses is calming and I want more of it.
As I'm relishing the scent, it starts becoming familiar and some thoughts start invading my mind. Everything that has happened in the few days I come to Ezekiel's packs starts playing in my head. How the fucker lock me up and starve me. Also how some weird creatures tried to kill me.
Yeah he came, I can remember it. Before the creatures succeeded in pulling the gate off, I saw him kill them off. He saved me, and the last thing I remember is falling into his arms. And now, that soothing scent which was the last thing I perceived is now filling my senses.
I gently force my eyes open, and they fall on a hard chest covered in tattoos and scars. I blink trying to adjust to the feeling of opening my eyes again. I wonder how long I've been out. After clearing my view, I try to wriggle out from the strong arms holding me like if it doesn't hold me so tight, I will disappear.
The intoxicating scent of cinnamon and sandalwood tells me it is Ezekiel. My face is pressing into his chest, and it's a miracle that I'm still breathing now. It seems that my mind is still in shambles because why will Ezekiel hold me so close to him. Why is he sleeping on the same bed with me? Isn't he still the man that wants me dead? Or maybe I'm dreaming right now.
I try once again to wriggle out of his hold but it is futile. His grip is so strong. I just pray he won't crush me. I give up trying and just allow myself to savor his intoxicating scent. He smells so nice. He's so addicting. The spark erupting from his touch on my skin is so calming.
I can still remember how weak I was when I fainted. I know I'm still weak now, but it's better than before. It seems his closeness is healing me. Is this the work of the mate bond? I really hate this feeling. I shouldn't feel safe with a man that locked me up in a dirty dungeon and starved me.
But my stupid body is saying otherwise. I bite my lips feeling tingles all over my body, and also down where it shouldn't be. I gulped down feeling something hard pressing down on my pelvic area. I can feel the clench of my core. I try to ignore it. I caution myself from being so damn stupid. How can my body be reacting this way when I should be angry at what this big bad Alpha did to me.
Weather it is the mate bond or not, I fucking shouldn't be feeling this horny right now. I try ignoring his hard on pressing on me, but I can't. I get frustrated and push him away with the little strength I have. How dare he sleep close to me after what he did.
The little strength I have is not enough to push him far away from me, but at least it makes him release me a bit and I wiggle out from him.
He groans slightly as he opens his eyes. He scratches his eyes a bit, and finally his deep green eyes stare at me. There's a little confusion in his eyes as he looks around the room.
I try not to focus on how inhumanly handsome he looks when he's just waking up from sleep. His disheveled hair falls over his head, slightly hiding his deep green eyes. His upper body is bare, and his broad chest which ripples in muscles taunts me. I quickly look away not wanting to stare so hard.
“Why are we sleeping in the same bed?” I ask rudely.
“I don't know when I came here, okay. It's probably my lycan, so don't go ahead of yourself.” He replies sarcastically as he climbs off the bed, and tries adjusting his pants. I glance down at the hard on he's trying to hide.
Of course, his lycan want me and not him. I'm sure the hard on is just a morning wood. Why am I saddened by it? I don't like him either. All I want is for him to accept the mate bond and then we will figure out how to stop this war. After that, I will go my own way.
I don't know how to stop this war, but my mother said that once we accept the mate bond, we will definitely figure it out.
“I'm thirsty and hungry,” I say. I'm so carried away with how close I am to him when I wake up that I forget how empty my stomach is.
I can't believe he starved me for three days. If not for those creatures that attacked. I'm sure that I will still be there now, or probably dead from starvation. He's just so heartless. I'm sure that I'm still alive because of his lycan.
“Someone will bring water and food from you. After drinking, wait for one hour before you eat. Instruction from the doctor,” he says, heading towards the door. He stops and stares back at me. “Once you regain your strength, you should leave. I won't accept you as my mate, no matter how hard you try. Don't force me to kill you.”
“I believe that we both know that you can't kill me.” I say, eyes locked on him as I got off the bed. “War is coming, I'm sure Nikolai must have told you that. Stopping the war is my destiny and you will help me fulfill it.”
“Nikolai?” He says, stepping closer to me. There's something in his eyes that I can't decipher. “You call him so casually.”
“What do you mean so casually? How else should I call him?”
He's quiet for a while as I try to read his expression which is always so hard.
“Stay away from him.” His voice is so cold as he covers the space between us. I hate the closeness. He's better at speaking from a distance.
“You don't tell me who I should and should not be close to.” I tilted my head in defiance. Anger brew in his eyes but I don't give a fuck. Though I'm weak right now. I'm sure I can still take him in a fight. There's a long silence. His stare is so chilling. This bulky man is so fucking intimidating.
“After eating. Leave.” He says flatly.
I ignore him and ask. “Those creatures. Do you know what they are, and why they attack?”
“You shouldn't concern yourself with that.”
“Of course I should.” I cut in. My voice is tight with anger. “I'm certain they came for me. They know who I am and my mission. This is not something we should take lightly, Ezekiel. Those fuckers are out there and what is coming is inevitable.”
“If they are back, I will take care of them like I did one hundred years ago. I don't need you to send them back to hell.”
I scoffed. “This is different. Without my help, you won't win this war. Stop being so difficult and accept the mate bond. Let's work together. Besides, I don't want to be with you either. I just want to fulfil my destiny and go my own way.”
Something flashes in his eyes. It was so quick that I didn't grasp it.
“Then leave,” he says coolly and turns to leave. I groan. He's just so difficult to handle.
“Those creatures. They were controlled by magic.
He abruptly stops and turns to face me. “How did you know? I didn't sense magic on them.”
“I don't know why you couldn't sense magic on them, but I did. I'm certain they were controlled by magic.”
“The witches were extinct years ago?”
“So you thought. The devils, they always work with a medium. The witches are easy to use. Maybe not all witches are extinct. They are strong beings, so I don't believe it's easy to wipe them from the surface of the earth. They are working in the shadows with the devils. If we don't do anything. This war will destroy us all.”
He's silent for a while.
“I still don't need your help,” he says and walks away.
I sigh in frustration. He's just so difficult. Why can't he understand that this is not about him, but about the whole werewolves and lycans kingdom. And to me it is destiny. Something I must be involved with, whether I like it or not.