Chapter 12 CHAPTER 012
Ari POV:
Was this man crazy? No. The question should be directed at me. What was I thinking stabbing the Alpha of a powerful pack with a metal comb? He could slit my throat there and then and no one would bat an eye.
But then he'd walked closer and my heart had skipped multiple beats as I expected something to happen. To be thrown out the door, to be torn apart or executed publicly.
None of those sounded as scary as seeing those grey eyes swirl with no emotions. It was almost as if I was staring at a statue. Soulless but still watching nonetheless.
My feet moved instinctively backwards as he approached. At this point, my hand was soaked in red.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?"
I swallowed and mustered all the courage I could get. "Getting away from you."
He cocked his head and that was when my ass hit the furniture. I was at the end of the room and there was no chance for escape.
"Oh, darling. You amuse me." He planted my chin between his thumb and index finger, his grip gentle but firm. "What makes you think you can ever get away from me?"
Tears rolled down my eyes at the tone of his voice. "You won't let me die but you won't let me be free either. What do you want from me?"
A ghost of a smile played on his lips and I hated that I thought it made it him look so fucking handsome. How could I look at this devil's syndicate and think he is even remotely attractive? Except it was the truth and if there was anything I considered myself as, it was honest.
"I want you," my heart skipped another beat and my eyes widened before he continued. "I want you to know that I'm in charge of your life." A sigh left my lips but I couldn't decide if it was disappointment or relief.
"What are you going to do with me?"
"What mates do? What do you think?" A raised brow.
I hesitated. "I...I don't know."
He frowned and then stepped back before removing the comb. Within seconds, the deep wound had closed up. No shit. With a tut, he twirled the comb in his hand.
"When next you think of killing me, at least be smart enough to add silver to the tip."
He dropped the weapon and walked away, leaving me to my thoughts.
I shut my eyes tightly to stop myself from crying. I already did a lot of that since I was dragged out of the court. Now, I had to stay in this goddamned pack where no one wanted me and they were pretty open about it.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts and I quickly wiped my tears. The door clicked open and Perri filled the doorway. Right. Can the day be any more worse?
"Hi," she greeted in her usual practised smile but I wasn't having any of it. "How are we doing today?"
No answer. She could drone on all she wanted and I'd just be staring daggers at her. I hated everyone who was acquainted to Stone no matter how nice they were. I didn't ask to be in their pack and so I shouldn't be burdened with the responsibility of acting proper to them in return.
"Looks like someone is trying to kill today. Who is it, Ari? Yourself or someone else?"
"Will you feel offended if I said you?"
Perri paused, shooting me a glare that drained all the colour and warmth from my face. There was no smile, humour or familiarity on her face and she didn't even pretend to have one. She approached my bed until she was so close, then she lowered herself to look me in the eye.
The woman had such an aura around her that made me want to look away. But I was one for a challenge and I didn't feel like backing down.
"You know what I think, Ari? I think you're right." I raised a brow. "I don't like you at all. In fact, none of the Ricko pack members like you or want you. We either want you dead or gone."
I shuddered inwardly at those words and I lost the staring competition as my eyes landed on the door next.
"And no matter how much you think you're shielded by the Alpha, it's only a matter of time before he got bored of having you as his plaything. When he kicks you out," she grabbed my chin and made me face her.
"Don't forget we will be the ones you'll have to face. If I were you, I'd make friends with me. I'd make more friends than I make enemies."
She was right but I'd rather die than admit that. She packed her things and straightened, the creepy smile back on her face.
"But trust that it isn't personal at all, dear Ari. It's just that you're simply not one of us and you'll never be."
Those words still rang in my head as I took a walk in the garden by evening. I had replayed the encounter in my head so many times that by the time I'd be back to reality, I realized I was no longer anywhere near the garden.
I'd somehow found myself in a wood. But there was nothing wrong about it. I still needed some air, I needed to think and I needed...an escape plan. So I'd need to study my environment.
I couldn't tell for how long I'd be walking for but soon, there was no orange sun in sight and a golden moon was starting to take its position. It was time for me to return through the same route before Alpha Stone would throw a fit and think I'd escape.
Well, that was my plan until a huge solid figure leaped out of nowhere and landed before me. It's landing dug up stones and dust and when it finally settled, my heart fell to my stomach at what I saw.
The rarest beast of all that everyone loved to avoid hunting due to its cunningness and ruthlessness. It's orange and black stripes reminding me of a cat I used to have. Except this one was a bigger cat. Ten times bigger than me, in fact.
As it bared it's long curved fangs and let saliva drool down it's mouth, I couldn't help but scream before finally turning to run.
A fucking Tigreen.