Fire In The Bond

Fire In The Bond
Arthur moved swiftly down a corridor, his expression as blank as his thoughts.
He was trying not to think of her. Of the woman that was nothing more than a ghost in his memory.
She was gone. That much was clear.
Yet his wolf never rested. 'Find her. Mine' it whimpered.
"Damn it" he groaned. It was time he moved on from those clueless visions.
He'd be a fool if he continued brooding over a woman whose face he couldn't remember. And now that he thought about it, maybe he was.
She wasn't the first woman he had slept with and she wouldn't be the last.
“So get over it" he told himself.
Easier said than done.
A sharp pain pierced his chest and paused his steps. He frowned, wondering what was wrong this time.
A faint sob rattled his chest.
His wolf began to pace again, restless and hurt from the invisible cord that tightened his chest.
The pain spread slowly through his veins, weakening him. He placed a hand against a pillar and tried to breathe past the fire pooling in his gut.
Something.... Something was wrong. Someone was hurt. He could sense it.
But who?
His wolf pushed and shoved, urging his body to move. 'Go'
"To where you fool?" He breathed out harshly.
'Go' it insisted, forcing his legs to move. 'Go. Mine'
His feet veered to the right and he found himself walking down a hallway he hadn't planned to go through.
He wanted to stop but his legs moved against his will.
“You're losing it" he muttered with a shake of his head.
What on earth was wrong with him? Why was he losing touch with his body?
But when he saw a crumpled form at the base of the windows, he halted.
The princess was out cold, her messy curls formed a curtain around her pale face.
"Princess?"
No response.
'Touch her' the wolf said.
He bent and touched her shoulder, but her cold skin sent goosebumps down his arm. "Princess? Is this another act of yours?"
He shook her slightly but no movement. She didn't even stir.
Something happened to her.
Arthur straightened and ordered a nearby guard, "Get the healer"
"A-Alpha?" The guard asked, confused.
"Get. The. Healer. Now"
The guard stiffened at his dark tone. "Yes Alpha"
"On a second thought" Arthur changed his mind. "Carry her and let's go"
The young man looked bewildered but hid it, knowing he could never refuse the Alpha's orders.

The scent of medicinal herbs and fragrant oils slid into her nose before Myra woke up.
She blinked, disoriented. Where was she?
She wanted to move but her body was drained. She couldn't even lift a finger.
"I see you've waken up" someone said, startling her.
She turned her head and found an old woman sitting by her side. Her face was worn with wrinkles but she beamed kindly.
"I'm Claire, the healer"
Myra tensed, trying to sit up. "Where am I? What is going on? Why am I here?"
Claire placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, easing her down. "So many questions" she chuckled. "You need to take it easy"
"Where am I?" Myra repeated, not the least bit relaxed.
"You are in the healer's room. My room" Claire said.
"Why?"
"You drifted into unconsciousness some hours ago. You're lucky the Alpha found you else you wouldn't have made it"
Myra stiffened at that piece of information. The Alpha found her?
She stirred. "He found me?"
Claire arched an eyebrow. "Are you surprised?"
Myra shook her head in denial. "No I'm just.... never mind"
"Did you have a strange dream before passing out? Or experienced some strange sensations?" Claire asked all of a sudden.
She didn't know why but her instincts told her to lie. "No"
The older woman's gaze was calm but searching, as if waiting for her to confirm something.
"Are you sure? No strange heat in your body? No foreign sounds?"
She looked away, fixing her eyes on the small plant beside her bed.
Claire's questions were too accurate that it switched her to suspicion.
"I didn't feel anything. I was just exhausted"
Claire gave a knowing smile. "Okay then. You need some rest" she hummed, rising from her seat.
She exited the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
For a brief moment, Myra was stuck with the silence and the rare sense of peace. She couldn't even remember passing out.
But she could faintly recall the burning heat that seared her neck.
She touched it, feeling the edges of the bruise that refused to leave. Its surface was rough but something about the way it felt tugged at her heartstrings.
Myra sighed. There was so much she didn't understand.
She looked around the small room, observing how Claire had cluttered it with plants and flowers. It was serene here.
The sense of peace shattered when the door opened. And Arthur walked in.
Her eyes widened and she pulled the sheets closer involuntarily.
He stood there, his eyes washing over with cruelty and something else. Something she couldn't read.
"Tired already?" He asked, his voice was laced with sarcasm. "Didn't know that cleaning windows were so exhausting"
Myra sat up sharply, ignoring the pain in her body. "Sorry to disappoint. Not all of us have the privilege of sitting on thrones and barking orders like dogs"
"Does it hurt that you're no longer a princess? That your pretty village is now mine? Is that why your heart's so bitter?"
Myra gritted her teeth. She particularly hated the way he reduced her kingdom to a 'village'.
"It would only hurt if I want it to. You're a coward, your words are of no value"
A muscle in his jaw ticked. "I'll have to deal with your insolent mouth" he warned, drawing closer.
His scent of smoke and spice engulfed her immediately, reminding her images she was trying to forget.
"Is your precious ego hurting?" She cooed, oozing sarcasm in her words.
His golden eyes were narrowed with cold annoyance but a smirk played on his lips. "Why would it? You are irrelevant princess. You're nothing"
Ouch. That hurt.
Her cheeks flared bright. "Oh I'm far from nothing Alpha. At least, I don't sit around, meddling in others lives or soaking my hands in blood"
He leaned closer, dropping to her eye level. "You should be grateful you're here. Healer rooms are for people who matter. So watch your filthy mouth"
Myra's laughter was short and scathing. "Oh, I mattered once didn't I? Just not enough to remember right?"
Something flickered in his gaze but passed. "I don't have time for your riddles"
"No you don't" she hissed. "Except when you need a warm body to sin. A body to house your disgusting pleasures"
Arthur froze, his body tight with a foreign emotion.
Why were her words hitting him hard?
He grabbed her arm and pulled her close. "I can kill you if you don't watch it" he muttered harshly.
She blinked back tears and smirked. "Why? Because I remind you of something you conveniently erased?"
The tension was brewing between them, filled with hot glares and boiling emotions.
Tears pricked her eyes but she held them back. She'd be damned if she cried right here.
"Let me go Alpha" she snapped.
"And if I don't?" His voice grated scorn as he dragged her even closer. "What are you going to do about it princess?"
His heat was getting to her, making her acutely aware of how close they were. Sharp and filled with spice, it was infiltrating her senses.
The spot on her neck began to throb again, and her head began to spin.
"Just leave. I'm not in the mood to entertain your insults" she whispered, refusing to show the weakness in her.
He smirked, noting the crack in her stubbornness. "I'm not going anywhere princess."
Just then the door burst open and in walked Claire. "I think I've heard enough Alpha. This is a healing room, not your personal battleground"
Arthur turned to her. "I wasn't finished" he said coldly.
Claire didn't even flinch. She moved with surprising strength for a woman her age, and grabbed his sleeve, pulling him away.
"You are now. Out"
"You don't tell me what to do."
"You're right about that" Claire gave him a slight nudge towards the door. "That's why I'm asking you to leave. She isn't well. She needs a rest"
Just before he stormed out, he said over his shoulder, "Keep her alive healer. So I can kill her myself"
Right after he slammed the door, Claire sighed and turned around with a gentle smile. "He has some storms to deal with. Don't read too much into his words"
Myra couldn't say anything. Her body was shaking with anger.... and the tears she had suppressed.
Tears flowed from her eyes uncontrollably and she turned away quickly.
Claire came over and consoled her. "Just let it all out."
"I-I'm fine" she croaked out.
"I know" Claire nodded. "But you need to let them out. You'll feel better"
She hiccuped then buried her face in Claire's arms, crying hard.
He was hurting her deep. He didn't know what he did to her, and that hurt whenever he looked at her and didn't remember.
Now she was confused. She didn't know if she wanted him to remember or not. But each time he came close or his scent tickled her nose, it only brought back pain.
The woman simply rubbed her back as she sobbed out all she had kept hidden. She had no idea why she was crying but she had no desire to stop.
Exhaustion washed over her and soon, she fell asleep in the healer's arms.
Claire glanced at her weak features, then gently brushed the strands of hair on her neck.
She glanced at a certain spot worriedly. "I just hope he realizes it before it's too late" she murmured.

Arthur was mad. Really mad.
He stormed into his study and slammed the door.
Why did her words bother him? Why did her furious glares trouble him?
He placed the length of his room like a caged tiger.
Something was not adding up here. He was missing something—the piece to the bigger picture.
He paused, remembering her words.
'... when you need a warm body to sin'
What did she mean? And why did it strike him hard?
He gripped the back of his chair, his eyes darkening.
The princess had some guts to talk to him like that. And it was time he reminded her who called the shots here.
He was the Alpha. She was the slave.
He stepped out and called for a guard, "I'm going to the dungeons. Now"
That night, while the world was asleep, Myra found herself in a troubled dream.
She was drowning in a pool of blood. She struggled and thrashed, but she only sank further.
Sweat glistened on her skin, her brows furrowed as she stirred.
The room was dimly lit and silent except for her harsh breaths.
In the distance, she could see a shadow. A dark, ominous shadow. 'Help' she wanted to say but her lips couldn't move.
She flailed her arms, trying to come out but the blood was dragging her under.
Then she felt a flicker of warmth along her collarbone. The heat bloomed, spreading to her toes.
She thrashed beneath the covers, half-dreaming, half-sinking.
A howl echoed in her ears. 'Mine. Mine'
Her eyes fluttered beneath closed lids as she struggled to regain consciousness.
The shadow stood still and motionless, its hollow eyes boring into her. The blood was drowning her and soon, she was under the red pool, seeing nothing but darkness below.
'Help. Anyone help' she shouted but she wasn't sure anyone heard it. She didn't even hear it.
A familiar scent of spice came over her like a blanket. His scent.
She reached for him desperately but he wasn't there.
A single word escaped her lips in a broken whisper,
"Mate"