Priscilla ran her hand over Layan's head to the nape of his neck, like a reassuring caress. It was strange to do it physically. She preferred to use her mind and what her mother had taught her. But physical contact with that wolf was nice. She felt him stir against her and slowly she lifted herself up. The alpha's eyes had already returned to their natural blue color.
-She smiled softly, caressing his cheek.
-Hmm,- he replied with a sound coming from his throat.
-Your wolf is cute but it's time for you to be in all your senses,- she kissed his cheek. Layan was unusually calm.
-What are you doing to me, why am I losing control of myself,- he was aware that he had been kissing and what that entailed. He hadn't wanted to do it at first, but in the end he gave in to his instinct.
She slipped out of his arms and as she passed by his side, she patted his buttock, startling him.
-I'm not doing anything to you, your instincts are more sincere than that hard head of yours,- she gave him a sidelong glance.
Layan wanted to growl but instead a slight smile appeared on his face and he ran his hand over his face. God, he was going crazy, and this time he meant it. He couldn't win against that she-wolf. It was Hades and Nebraska together in one tiny little body. Just his luck. She'd even spanked him, him. An alpha. But the itch in that area was an unfamiliar and alluring sensation.
He walked behind Priscilla until he stood beside her. Despite the heat and excitement in his body he had heard what had happened and it made his head go cold all at once. Priscilla noticed the tension regained in the large body. She kept her lips sealed. She had to hurry, she was sure it was Liam's ruse. As much as she wanted to tell Layan what was going on, she couldn't put him in danger. Though deep inside she already imagined that the wolf might not forgive her for it.
But it was all for the greater good.
They arrived towards the side garden of the castle where at least 10 guards were gathered. Victore was kneeling beside Kei, both were examining the body closely. The people present bowed away when they saw Layan arrive.
-What happened?- he asked in a deep voice as he noticed that the guard on the ground had his throat torn completely open. He hadn't even put up a fight, or there were fight marks anywhere.
-We don't know,- Kei stood up and faced his alpha with a nod, -No one saw anything. The first person to find him was Victore, he was the one who called the others-.
Layan's eyes focused on the Commander.
-You didn't see anything unusual.
The beautiful wolf stood up and shook his head.
-I heard some sounds and when I approached I found nothing but the body. There aren't even any footprints.
Priscilla listened to the scene while she analyzed everyone with dissimulation. The atmosphere was tense and the voices in her head were total chaos but she focused and checked mind by mind. Maybe she could find something. Layan believed in his pack but with Liam circulating anything was possible.
He found nothing as he went over each one, including Kei himself, but he didn't expect that when he tried to get to Victore's mind he was rebuffed. A feeling much like when she had tried to get into Antoin's mind. It wasn't as easy as the others.
Her eyes widened slightly without saying anything so as not to alarm the others. She had made a deal with Kei earlier, to enter Victore's mind to find out how she felt about him in exchange for the beta helping her to make Layan jealous, but she didn't expect that he couldn't hear her thoughts.
Did he...
But she didn't have time to think of anything else. She simply acted with her well-developed reflexes. He raised his hand and blood spurted out. Warm drops of the carmine liquid fell on Layan's face.
A collective groan was heard at the scene. Layan was petrified feeling the hot breath of a wolf against his cheek that was being pinned down by Priscilla's hand holding his lower jaw. Her fingers were being pierced by the wolf's fangs and teeth.
No one had seen it coming, not Kei, not Victore, not Layan, not the other nine guards. Only Priscilla. And her wolf was untouched by anyone. With fury burning inside his chest he gritted his teeth and with a jerk he forcefully threw the huge wolf several meters away from them. He didn't even notice that his hand was bleeding as he brought it down and it ran down his fingertips to the grass.
-If you want to kill my wolf, it will be over my dead body,- he bowed his head, his voice a faint whisper.
Priscilla's eyes became swirls that changed from silver to red. If she hadn't reacted, the one who would have been hurt would be Layan. That she could not allow.
Like everyone else Layan had been petrified. It had all happened in what, 3 seconds, 5? He ran his hand over his face finding besides the fact that it was hot from the breath earlier, something else. Blood. His eyes strayed directly to Priscilla's hand.
She had been wounded only being less than a meter away from him. The alpha looked at the wolf rising in the distance and bared his fangs. A rage rose in his chest. He was going to kill it. No one would touch anything that was his. He took a step forward. He would put Priscilla behind him. The thought of her being in danger again would....
But he could do nothing. Just a blinding heat that made everyone back away.
Priscilla had raised that same bleeding hand. Her eyes completely red. Her pupils were barely a few dots that were lost in that sea of lava. A circle of fire enveloped the attacking wolf and it stood in place howling at the heat of the flames surrounding it.
Everyone was stunned. Some of them had witnessed her ability to control the ice and the shattering of the room, but as always, the terror of fire was not taken away by anyone. And less so as the flames lightly created a halo that moved around Priscilla as if protecting her.
In spite of everything, there was no movement from either side. Priscilla had no intention of killing that wolf, but what was in her head. As she guessed, it was being controlled. That no one knew and she didn't have time to explain it to him. She took a deep breath maintaining such concentration that it was painful, she had to expel Liam from that body. It was him, there was no doubt. He had to do it before he lost what little control he had over his power.
-You're having fun precious- a voice in her head and before everything went black Priscilla closed her mind trapping inside her Liam.
***
She had done it... or so she thought.
The she-wolf's body was projected into a completely dark and black space, though her naked body was completely visible. So that was her interior. She had never delved into that area of herself before. It was so empty and desolate. Was that why she craved above all else to be with Layan? Why did it make this place fill with something else? She didn't know. But of Layan she was aware. She wanted to get out of that place. He didn't like it.
She took a step back.
-Liam's voice boomed from all angles and Priscilla became alert. Her back straightened waiting for the attack- Don't be like that beautiful, it's just you and me, no one's going to interrupt us, so relax a little-
-Liam,- the name made her sick to her stomach just saying it.
-Beautiful, at last we meet again- out of the darkness a male body, with long hair and sharp eyes was materializing until it was completely visible- this was easier than I thought. I just had to wait for them to open your mind enough to enter it. For a really strong wolf, you're pretty vulnerable.
The wolf advanced until he was ten feet away from her. Priscilla narrowed her eyes and smiled.
-I always intended for you to enter my mind Liam. You taught me yourself that it's better to act dirty. I have a good teacher,- she said wryly.
Liam let out a loud laugh.
-Your mother was great, but I have to admit that from that moment when I saw you, inside her, protecting her, I kind of realized that she wasn't what I was looking for, she was so little-- The floor suddenly began to shake.
The floor suddenly began to shake.
-Don't speak ill of my mother- Priscilla growled as everything around her went into shock.
Liam in turn guffawed again.
-It's amazing how you defend the woman the wolf you claim as your own is in love with. Poor thing, I pity you. Your mother will be little, at least less pitiful than you,- he guffawed again.
Priscilla clenched her hands until her nails dug into her palms. She wasn't supposed to listen to Liam. He was just toying with her sanity. That much was common knowledge. She wouldn't be stupid. It wasn't like he was telling her anything she didn't already know, but that wasn't why she was going to hate her mother. She never would. She didn't rule over anyone's feelings.
Everything around him stopped moving and became calm again. When Priscilla looked at him there was tranquility in her face.
-You won't control me like you control the others Liam.
The dark walls began to close in around them.
-Priscilla, princess, what are you up to,- Liam smiled sideways, -Are you trying to ruin our wonderful moment? What are you up to?
-Do you think that once I have you I'm going to let you go so easily- -His face turned completely cold- -I won't let you touch my family and my wolf. Even if I have to risk my life.
The mental walls loomed so close to them like huge dark clouds. They were going to be consumed by Priscilla's consciousness and that meant they would lose all their abilities and be lost in an abyss occurred.
Liam grunted and then started laughing like crazy.
-Linda, that was really impressive- he was laughing his head off, Priscilla didn't understand what was going on when suddenly her power was forcefully stopped from the outside. Something was suppressing her power- Oh, looks like someone doesn't want to let you go, precious-.
Liam scoffed and turned his back on her.
-That was a good shot, useless though impressive, you're stronger than I thought. Just let me tell you that if you think I would have stood idly by you're wrong- he looked over his shoulder at her- I'm stronger than you think my dear. I'll play with you some more before I take over your body completely. Maybe I'll even take over your wolf and finally mark you. Can you imagine- she laughed, her body fading- See you, my future she-wolf, guess who I'm inside, I know inside you already know it-.
Priscilla stood there static as Liam disappeared completely. Liam's words still echoing inside her. She had been trained to be strong, alpha blood coursed through her veins and yet, still, still....