Chapter 13 The naked wolf in the Alpacipha field
Amarien’s POV
I can’t move.
I'm terrified
I've never seen anything like this in my life. He was taller than the trees in the forest, his skin silver, his eyes bloodshot, and his muscles giant.
The forest's cool breeze felt like daggers on my skin. I shivered, completely helpless.
When I heard the alarm bells blare through the walls and the guards yelling, "There's a werewolf in the palace," I knew it was Daevir.
I wiped my tears immediately and pulled myself out of bed, lunging out to look for the rose. Thankfully, I found it close to the fountain in the outer courts.
I squeezed my hands in silent prayer, desperate that they wouldn’t hurt him; the ache in my chest tightened as I saw him escape. Instinct pulled me after him.
He was very fast. I never thought I'd catch up with him. And now that I did. Why do I want to scream and run off?
Why am I so terrified? There was no sign of Daevir in this monster. There was no humanity in him.
He roared and clawed and howled. And suddenly he whipped around and caught sight of me.
Our eyes meet.
Daevir. Are you there?!
I didn't even get the chance to process my thoughts. In a swift move, he started racing towards me. Eyes blazing with fury and bloodlust. Claws tearing furrows in the earth.
He was going to kill me.
I couldn't move. I was so paralysed by fear I couldn't move. So I did the only thing I could. I lifted the rose in my hand high.
He got close. Close enough for me to feel his heavy breath on my face. Close enough for him to tower over me and crush me to pieces.
But he stopped.
Silence settled in the air.
And then, His eyes caught the rose.
I shut my eyes, but kept the rose up, my hands trembling.
“I just want you to be alright, Daevir,” I muttered, eyes squeezed shut, limbs trembling.
The next thing I heard was a sniffling sound. His wolf nose sniffles not the rose but me. I felt that chilly, cool nose on my arm. It sniffles up and down, then lowered to my neck.
And then, silence.
Will he snap my neck?!
“Amarien,” I heard his voice. But I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes.
The cool wolf nose withdrew, and suddenly I felt his human palms over my chin, palms just as cool as the nose.
I found the courage to open my eyes at that moment. Daevir was back. He was here!
His eyes glowed with fragile tenderness. Exhaustion sagged his body. And...oh, the gods, He was naked! Heat flushed my face. My pulse stuttered as I forced my gaze higher.
“Amarien.” He said, with a soft smile on his face. That smile brought tears to my eyes. “I could have killed you.”
He collapsed into my arms. His long, dark hair fell limp on his face. His skin looked even paler.
I held him close, though his weight almost crushed me. I held him as close as I could. I held him long. I held him hard. Taking in his scent.
“Daevir. You're not the monster you think you are.” I whispered.
Suddenly, my senses pricked. I heard shuffles in the forest.
“Search there!” an angry voice cried out, and then touched in the distance.
The guards from the palace are tracking down Daevir. We had to get out of here fast.
Quickly, I braced Daevir to myself, throwing his arm around my shoulder and moving as fast as I could away from the field and into a hiding place.
I was more familiar with the forest than people thought. After all, Grandma Chichi will always send me here to gather herbs and spices for her.
I knew a hiding spot where no palace guard in the world would find us. I just had to get myself and Daevir there fast enough before they caught up with us.
“I see fur! Right there!” A guard screeched.
I didn't bother looking back. I braced Daevir closer to myself and raced as fast as I could. We got far enough to lose the guards.
I was exhausted. My limbs ached with the weight of Daevir on me. But I wasn't taking any chances. I pulled as fast as I could through the Alpachipa rose field. There was a little cave in there to keep us safe from the guards and the elements.
When we reached the cage, Daevir was stirring into consciousness. “Where am I?” He murmured.
“Far away from the guards, your highness.” I limped and limped till we got in.
“I'm hurting you.” He murmured again and tried to shift his weight from me.
“No, no. Your highness.” I quickly held him closer, lest he fall. His naked body leaned on mine, his warm breath on my face, his long, weary hair curled up on his pale skin, his eyes closed.
I froze. My body suddenly went warm. I've never seen him in such a vulnerable light. My eyes lowered, taking in all of his body. His broad, muscular shoulder, his taut nipples, the scars on his chest, his ripped muscles.
And his…,
Stop it, Amarien!
I told myself I wouldn't look below his torso.
“Amarien,” his voice sang in a low tremble that filled the cave. He opened his eyes slowly. His eyes trailed around the cave quietly and then resumed on his body, where he lowered to his naked torso, which I held on tight to.
I shivered. “Y…your highness. I…I…” I tried to let him go. “I didn't mean to...”
A smile cracked his lips.
Quickly, I pinched my eyes shut. “I'll lower you to the ground now.”
“How will you know where the ground is when your eyes are squeezed shut?”
I didn't wait for him to finish; I quickly lowered him to the earth floor.
“Ouch!” He screeched.
Quickly, I opened my eyes, even more agitated. “What is it, your highness?! Did I hit your head?!”
A sly smile curved his lips. “Nothing. I just want your eyes open. You shut your eyes like you have pepper in them.”
“Your highness!” I could have burst out crying. I thought I hurt him.
I helped him lie on the floor and quickly grabbed the shroud I had on to cover his torso.
His gaze slept over me as I scurried around to cover him without looking too far.
“Are you alright?” he finally said.
I looked at him and nodded.
“Don't do that ever again, Amarien. Stay away from monsters when you see one.”
My breath caught in my throat. “You're not a monster.”
His lips parted like he wanted to say something. But he shut them almost immediately. His gaze held a sadness I can't explain.
“It's quite chilly in here,” he finally said
“I know.” I crossed my hands around my shoulders, shivering. My teeth were beginning to crack due to the cold.
“Come here.”He said, “I'll keep you warm.” his voice held a sad weariness that melted my aching heart.
Right up to this moment, my heart ached with how harsh he was to me. For a moment, I thought I had lost him. I thought I was wrong to call him a friend. But hearing the sadness in this voice tonight made either all vanish. All I wanted was to comfort hi.m.
Seeing my hesitation, he stretched his hand to mine, pulling me closer to him. Despite his tiredness, his arms were still strong enough to pull the whole of me to him.
How did I carry this man all by myself again?
When I was close enough, he pulled me close, so close I stumbled on his chest and felt his warm breath on my face.
I gasp. “I'm sorry, your highness!”
“Enough with the formalities, Amarien.” He rolled his eyes. “You're embarrassing,” he said as he finally shut his eyes, giving in to sleep. His voice was still soft and sad.
I felt his beating heart reverberate all over my body. It was like lying in the body of a beast.
His eyes were shut. His heart was beating steadily.
Carefully, I lowered my head to his chest and my chest to his body. I felt his warmth course through me. Like I was hugging a big warm blanket.
I felt small. Yet, I felt safe.
I shot my eyes to the thumping of his heartbeat in my ears. It's felt melodic, like a lullaby.
And then, just when I was drifting to sleep, I felt his body move. I felt his eyes on my body, and his strong arms wrapped around me, bringing me so close that the heat between us intensified.
I felt his palm brush my cheeks with unbearable gentleness. And then, I heard his soft whispers. He whispered my name against my skin.
“Amarien…” followed by words I couldn't fathom.
I was drifting off to sleep.
Yet, I could feel his amber eyes trailing every inch of my skin and all of my body all through the night.