Chapter 108 PAIN AND RESCUE
Edeline
Then I heard rustling from the trees. Deep growls pierced the silence, sending a shiver down my spine. I turned quickly to see Darius lurking in the shadows behind a tree, his eyes glowing menacingly. As he moved closer, my thoughts became a jumbled mess. I retreated, trying to summon my inner wolf to help, but she remained silent, leaving me feeling helpless.
"No need to worry. Your wolf is unharmed. I just needed to distract her so she wouldn’t interfere," he said with a sinister chuckle. He stepped into the moonlight, his eyes still glowing with a cruel light. I felt a wave of fear wash over me, my inner strength seemingly drained. It was like experiencing an unending terror, a constant fear of the unknown.
I stood frozen as he lunged toward me, his sharp claws digging into my hips. Shocked, I felt the pain as his claws drew blood, pulling me closer to him. Tears welled up in my eyes, and my breathing quickened. I tried desperately to push against his chest, hoping to break free, but my strength failed me. I was overwhelmed, powerless against his force.
This was Darius. The same Darius who physically harms women, engages in inappropriate behavior with his best friend, and expresses unwanted affection towards me.
But this wasn’t him. Not at all.
“Mmm. You have a pleasant scent. Relax. I have no intention of causing harm,” he whispered softly in my ear. His voice made me feel queasy.
“Release me!” I screamed, struggling desperately against his grasp as his claws dug painfully into my hips.
“Quiet!” he snapped, swiftly positioning me with my back against his chest. He bound my wrists together in front of me, and when I tried to resist, he covered my mouth with his other hand. Tears streamed down my face as I felt his lips brush against my neck in a tender kiss.
“I expressed my love for you, and you will be with me, Edeline. I grew tired of seeing you exchange letters with my brother, watching you leave the treehouse with him, and smelling his scent on you. It upset me deeply,” he said angrily, his tongue sliding up the side of my neck. I sobbed quietly, unable to respond.
I was shocked by his words.
He knew about the letters. He knew about our meetings.
Summoning every bit of resolve I had, I pushed aside my fear and focused on my frustration. Darius represented another side of my self-destructive tendencies. I sighed and rested my head on his shoulder, preparing to deceive him as I had done before.
He chuckled softly. “You can’t resist me, can you, baby?” he murmured, kissing up my neck. I tried not to cringe, waiting for the right moment. When he finally released his grip, I seized the chance. I kicked backward, my heel connecting with a sensitive area of his body. He groaned in pain and crumpled to the ground, curling up defensively.
Without hesitation, I dashed through the woods, my heels thudding against the trees. “Help! Please, someone help!” I shouted desperately, sprinting towards what I hoped was the direction of Doc’s place. I wasn’t sure, since my wolf wasn’t here to help me track scents.
I came to an abrupt halt when the foliage rustled in front of me. My heart raced at the thought that Darius might have caught up. I quickly hid behind a large oak tree, taking a seat and waiting anxiously.
“There you are, you mischievous wolf,” Darius growled, suddenly appearing behind me. He grabbed me by my hair, yanking me up. I screamed loudly as he pressed his mouth against my neck, his hands gripping my body tightly, leaving me feeling exposed and tense.
His sharp claws ripped through my clothing, shredding my shirt and shorts. I cried out in pain, my underwear the only thing left as his hands roamed down the front of my body.
I could feel his teeth digging into my skin, and my screams quickly turned into high-pitched wails of pain. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, a shadowy figure appeared out of nowhere, slamming Darius into a tree with a resounding crack.
Another figure swooped in beside me. Through my blurred vision, I saw two individuals, their forms barely visible against the darkness, mercilessly pummeling Darius with their fists. As I stumbled backward, my heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst. I felt blood trickling down my legs, and I staggered, disoriented and panicked.
I collapsed onto the forest floor, lying there as if my body had given up. I stared up at the sky, at the moon, wondering if it could sense my fear and pain. The quiet night seemed indifferent to my suffering.
Gradually, the sounds of the fight faded away. I lay there, still under the moonlight, feeling every bruise and gash on my body. My face was swollen, my torso and hips were slashed and bleeding onto the forest floor.
Before I could close my eyes, I saw two figures crouching near me.
“Oh no!” one of them exclaimed. “Is she alright?” I looked up through my blurry vision and saw my brother's worried face peering down at me. His concern was evident as he approached, his features etched with anxiety.
Powerful arms wrapped around me, and I felt a mix of relief and shock. The terror of what I had just endured was overwhelming. As soon as I caught the strong, familiar scent of the person holding me, I knew who it was even before he spoke.
“Nixx, go get Darius. Bring him to the cellar and then come back to Doc’s. She needs help right away.” Percival’s voice was firm, and even though I wanted to smile at his authority, I couldn't.
“You’re safe now, Edeline. I’m here for you. Everything will be alright,” Percival said, his voice soothing as I let my thoughts drift. It all seemed so distant from the harsh reality I had just faced.
…
Percival
I gazed at my stunning partner, feeling a whirlwind of emotions all at once.
There was affection, mingled with guilt and anger. Strong negative emotions churned within me, bringing a sharp pang of pain and a profound sense of being down.