Chapter 24 Chapter 24
The forest closed around me, thick with silence. I shouldn’t have been there. I knew that but after hours of training, i needed to breathe and escape the pack walls that felt like they were closing in. The air was cool, I was enjoying the breeze until I heard a rustle then another. I froze, my heart beating faster.
“Who’s there?”
No answer, just the whisper of leaves. Something moved behind me. I turned too late. A shadow slipped between the trees fast. My body reacted before my mind did. I ran. I didn’t dare look back. I could hear the footsteps matching mine, getting closer. My wolf screamed to fight but I had no weapon, I didn’t even know how to fight without a weapon.
I hit my leg hard on something like a rock and the ground vanished, I went down hard, pain ripping through my leg. I gasped, clutching my ankle. The world spun and I heard the sound of heavy footsteps, I became scared as the footsteps drew closer, I tried to stand up and keep running then someone grabbed my hand.
I looked up in fear , I was not expecting to see the Alpha and his Beta here.
"What are you doing here?" Lucian asked angrily
"I ... I was ...." I tried to form words but it only came out as a stutter.
"Speak now before I have your tongue severed" Goosebumps filled my body with his words.
"I was taking a walk "
"Taking a walk? In the forest?” He asked like I had lost my damn mind.
"Yes, Am I forbidden from taking a walk too?”
"And you came alone? Are you that dumb or don't you have any care for your life" he asked angrily.
My chest constricted from the tone in his voice.
"Let me handle this Lucian" Aiden said softly to him, his nails dug into my skin before letting me go.
"You've not answered my question. What the hell were you doing here?" His voice was cold and sharp and for a minute I thought if this was the same man that had his lips on mine last night. He seemed like a different person, my instinct told me I shouldn’t be surprise because he was a jerk.
"Answer me! Damn you!” his voice echoed in the thick forest. I swallowed hard.
"You are scaring her Lucian" Aiden butted in but he shut him up with a glare.
"I..I heard something. Someone was following me....."
"Don't lie to me" he growled. “ I told you never to leave the pack house. You disobeyed my orders. Again".
"I'm not lying" I tried to stand but pain shot through my legs and I stumbled to the ground.
"Someone chased me. I swear it" his jaw tightened.
"You expect me to believe that? Did you follow us?" He took a step forward like he wanted to grab me again, fury radiating from him.
"Do you have a death wish , Ailsa" he called my name in a way I didn’t like. My hands shook from the anger rising in me.
"You think I choose to get hurt?" He leaned closer,eyes flashing.
"I think you crave attention. You've been nothing but trouble since you got here" I scoffed in anger.
"Then send me away" the words left my mouth before I would stop them.
"You should've done it long ago".
For a second, it seemed the forest became still. Lucian stared at me, his chest rising and falling fast, his expression a mixture of fury and something I couldn't name. Then his gaze dropped to my leg. His hands flexed as if he wanted to move towards me but he didn't. Aiden stepped forward , breaking the tension.
"Enough Lucian” his voice was firm but calm. “She's hurt"
"She shouldn't have been here" his tone was still clipped.
"She was not here to spy on us". Aiden crouched beside me inspecting my ankle
"It's twisted, maybe worse".
"Someone was chasing me" I said again softer this time, the anger leaving my voice. Aiden looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine.
"Did you see who?"
"No, just a movement" he nodded slowly. Lucian exhaled harshly and turned away, dragging a hand through his hair. The muscle in his back firm.
"Take her back to the pack and make sure she's treated"
"Lucian" Aiden began but the alpha was already walking away,his shoulders stuff with fury. I stared at his retreating figure letting out my breath. Aiden sighed.
"His wolf has been over the edge ever since the attack" I huffed. I know that was not the only reason he was treating me this way.
"I don't care " I said and Aiden gave me a small sympathetic look.
"Don't be to hard on yourself and him. I understand that both of you don't want to acknowledge whatever it is between you" I looked at him shocked.
"You know?"
'” I knew from the very first day he saw you and both of your reactions to each other. Whenever you both are in a place there is a tension that is hard not to notice. I know I don't have the right to meddle in your affairs but one day you'll understand why he's this way"
I tried to convince myself that I didn't care.
"Come on. Let's get you back".
By the time we reached the pack house, my leg was throbbing and my pride was hurt. Aiden helped me to the healer's room and sat me on a bench. He fetched a basin of water, the scent of herbs filling the air.
" Let me see" I winced as he gently lifted my leg, his touch careful but firm. The cut already swelling. He cleaned the wound in silence. Then, quietly said.
"Tell me what really happened" I looked at him in surprise.
"You believe me?"
"I believe something frightened you. And I've known you long enough to know that you don't get scared easily"
His words softened something in my chest. I exhaled slowly.
" I was walking after training, I needed air. Then I heard something. At first I thought the other warriors were also taking a walk but when I turned, I saw a movement, tall, fast . I ran without looking back and then I fell” He wrapped a clean cloth around my ankle, tying it securely.
"The alpha and I found a scent near the place you were seen" I frowned.
"You think, it’s the same thing that chased me" he didn't answer right away.
"Maybe. I'm just concerned that it might be someone in the pack that did this" Silence stretched between us. Finally I said softly.
"He hates me, doesn't he?" He looked up.
"Lucian?” I nodded.
"I can't really tell how he feels but I know what Lucian feels for you is far from hate" my chest tightened. I didn't know how to feel hearing him say that. I don’t also know why it bothered me what Lucian thought of me. Aiden stood and stepped back.
"Rest. I'll let the healer know you're here"
He left quietly and I was alone with the sound of my heartbeat and the echo of Lucian's voice in my head. You crave attention. You've been nothing but trouble. It stung more than it should have. I've not been hurt by someone's word in a while, not after Lorcan.
‘Don't think about them’ I said to myself.
‘You promised yourself not to let anyone be it a male or female hurt you ever again ' I reminded myself.
All I need to do is shut my heart off, the goddess had to take away this bond or I could just reject him too. Since I’ve not been marked it won’t hurt.
"You remember the pain you passed through before, you'll go through it again".
Lorcan didn’t mark me, I was only hurt because I was betrayed by the two people I loved but in this case it was different. I looked at my bandaged ankle and sighed.
I would take be able to train with my injured leg. The healer came in to check my ankle and just like I had predicted, she asked me to stay away from training. I knew how idle I'd be without training but that was the only solution if I wanted my leg to heal faster. She gave me some herbs and I limped back to my room.
I had just entered and sat down when the door opened again some time later. I looked up and my heart lurched. Lucian stood there. He didn't speak first, he just closed the door behind him. His shirt clung to his chest.
For once, I saw the dark circle under his eyes, how tired he must be. I tired to sit up straighter, wincing at the pain in my leg.
"Came to scold at me again?" He exhaled slowly, his eyes unreadable.
"No"
"Then what?" He took a step forward. Then another. The air seemed to tighten around us.
"I shouldn't have spoken to you like that", he said finally.
"You were hurt and I..." He paused searching for words.
"I let my anger speak for me" I blinked.
"You are apologizing?" His mouth twitched.
"I'm admitting my wrong". He said gruffly. I guess this was difficult for him.
"It's fine, it's in the past"
"Why don't you listen to my orders?"
"Because those are not others, they are commands and they don't go well with me but then I accept I am at fault for wandering about so I deserve your wrath".
"You are making this hard for me" he said quietly.
Something in his tone made my heart twist. He looked at my bandaged leg.
"Does it hurt?" I shook my head,
"Not much"
"Don't ever go into the woods alone, scratch that, don't go into the woods. You could be killed there"
"I know" I whispered.
"Then why go?"
" I just needed the air. I thought..." I swallowed hard.”I thought I"d find some peace" his gaze softened.
"And did you?" I met his eyes.
"No"
For a moment, we just stared at each other. The air between us charged. He finally looked away, exhaling through his nose.
"You make me mad, Ailsa"
"So do you" that earned a humourless laugh from him. I had never gotten this type of reaction from him.
"Why don't we try being friends?" I was surprised that was coming from him.
"You make it hard to be your friend and an alpha and a pack member cannot be friends"
"You know we are more than just an alpha and pack member even if we try to hide it" I swallowed hard.
"Rest until your leg is healed"
"Yes Alpha" I said, but the word tasted strange on my tongue, too formal. He turned to leave his hand was on the door when he stopped and said, almost too softly.
"I'm sorry"