The Man Vs The Wolf

The Man Vs The Wolf
The world was hazy in her eyes when Myra returned to consciousness. She tried to blink against the spinning of the room.

The fire in the hearth was what filled her vision at first, the orange glow illuminating the room.

Her head throbbed dully and her arms ached. Her lashes fluttered unsteadily as she struggled to regain full consciousness.

But she was faintly aware of her surroundings. The scent of salt and herbs lingered in the air. Her fingers touched a soft fabric that covered her body.

She was lying on a bed she didn't recognise.
Myra tried to sit up but pain shot through her shoulder where Christine had bitten.

"Ow!" She winced, grabbing her shoulder only to realise it was covered in a thick bandage.

“Take it easy,” she heard someone say. “Your wounds haven't healed.”

She turned around with difficulty, and saw the old healer coming to her side.

“Clara,” she called out with a hoarse voice.

“It's Claire,” the healer corrected with a gentle smile, then added, “I see you've not forgotten me.”

“Where am I?” Myra asked, struggling to sit up again, but the pain forced her down.

“I said take it easy,” Claire chided her, moving to her side and pressing her hand on Myra's shoulder.

“You are in the healer's room. My room,” Claire said after a moment.

“Why?”

“You don't remember what happened?” Claire arched a brow, replying to her question with one of hers.

Myra's brows furrowed as she tried hard to remember the last recollection she had before she blacked out.

Apart from the pounding headache that caressed her head, she couldn't remember anything.

Claire hesitated for a moment. “You were attacked by Lady Christine,” she explained, “but the Alpha came and saved you.”

The word hit her like a slap.

Saved?

He saved her?

Suddenly, everything came rushing back like a river in her mind.

Christine's claws... her screams... the Alpha wolf barging in... the council members... Lucien's orders...

Her throat tightened as she remembered how the wolf had protected her, pressing its forehead to hers, calming her down through the mind link.

It shouldn't have meant anything. But it did.

But horror slipped into her body when something clicked in her head.

“Where's the Alpha?”

“He's busy with some urgent matters,” Claire replied, then added immediately, “but he was by your side from the moment you were brought in until he left.”

Was that supposed to mean something?

“He did what?”

Claire gave her a small smile. “Yes. He saved you. In his wolf form,” then added immediately, “but when you passed out, he shifted back and brought you here. He was by your side... until his attention was needed.”

Her body went cold with the news as realization dawned on her.

Everyone had found out the secret.

“Oh no,” she whispered, slumping against the pillows. “He's going to kill me.”

“Easy now,” Claire attempted to soothe her. “You don't need to stress yourself. You only need to relax. Nothing is going to happen to you.”

But Myra wasn't listening to her. She knew that her cover had been blown.

And the Alpha would not be smiling right now.

What the hell went wrong?

She turned to Claire, tears already gathering in her eyes. “He's going to kill my sister. He's going to ruin me.”

Claire's wrinkled hand touched hers, rubbing circles over her thumb.

“Hush now, dear, nothing is going to happen. The Alpha had literally stayed by your side. He didn't move away until pressing matters demanded his attention.”

Myra would've laughed if the situation had been different.

How was that piece of information useful? What was she to do with it?

The Alpha must have stayed by her side to ensure she was alive because his life was literally tethered to hers.

She couldn't understand how Claire could read it as kindness.

Her headache increased as she thought of everything that had occurred.

Seeing the distress on her face, Claire said, “The Alpha cannot kill his mate.”

“I know that,” Myra whispered.

But he can kill my sister, she thought.

Just as Claire parted her lips, the door opened.

And the shadow of the Alpha appeared in the doorway.

Even before Myra lifted her gaze, her heart lurched at the oppressive aura that filled the room.

His cold voice sounded immediately. “Leave,” he ordered Claire.

“My Alpha,” Claire began. “She's not ready—”

“I don't recall asking a question.” His tone was icy enough to make the room even more tense.

Claire stiffened, then offered a bow.

As she rose, Myra frantically clutched her hand, not wanting her to leave.

She couldn't bear the presence of the Alpha alone. He'd murder her.

Claire offered a smile, then gently pried her hand from her tight grip.

“You'll be fine,” she whispered, bowed once more as she left, and closed the door.

Now it was just them. The silence had never felt so deafening as it did now.

Myra swallowed and looked down at the sheets, gripping them as her knuckles turned white.

His footsteps echoed as he strided towards her slowly. One step at a time.

Her heartbeat quickened with fear, but her eyes remained glued to her hands.

“You stupid woman,” he said when he stood by the bedside. “Do you know what you've just done?”

His tone concealed the fury simmering in him.

She remained silent, swallowing her heart back into her throat.

His fingers gripped her chin suddenly, snapping her face to his. “I'm talking to you,” he spat, his golden eyes brimming with rage.

“Do you realize what your stupidity has cost me? Do you, Princess?”

She stilled herself and said calmly, “This isn't my fault, Alpha.”

He chuckled, but even the sound had anger in it. “You have some nerve to try and twist this.”

“What else am I supposed to say? This wasn't my fault. This was—”

“And whose fault was it, Princess? Hm?” he asked.

She steadied her breathing and tried to gather her thoughts.

“Your mistress had started it. She had attacked me and she—”

“Lies.” He cut in flatly. “All lies. But I'm not surprised. Any woman in your place would be lying right now.”

Her brows furrowed. “I'm not lying. She really did attack me and I—”

“Was this another of your plans?” He threw the question suddenly, catching her off guard.

She blinked.

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

“I don't know what you're trying to insinuate, Alpha, but I never—”

“Never what?” He said coldly. “Never meant for it to happen? Never meant to act stupidly for one time? Never meant to allow the secret to be out because you weren't smart enough? Which one, Princess? Take your pick.”

Myra drew in a deep breath, the headache in her head intensifying.

“It wasn't my fault,” she repeated. “It was never my fault. I—”

“Enough.” He growled. “You should be grateful you're still breathing after your stupid mistake, you foolish woman.”

“What?”

“Sometimes I wonder how a kingdom like yours lasted that long with such a foolish princess.” He paused, then his lips curved into a smirk filled with hate. “Oh, I remember. It didn't. It crashed.”

His words landed like a sharp blow, stealing the air from her lungs. Her heart felt the sharp sting in each word.

“Don't,” she whispered, tears already gathering in her eyes.

She blinked them away forcefully. She wouldn't cry. Not in front of him.

His eyes narrowed.

“Don't what? Tell you the truth?”

“Don't talk to me like that. Ever.”

“Why? Because it's the truth? Because you're just a woman who happened to be a princess and played with her power?”

“Because it wasn't my fault!” she blurted, her chest rising with suppressed tears and rage.

She blinked rapidly. “It wasn't my fault this happened! It wasn't my fault I'm even cursed with your mark!”

His eyes blazed like twin volcanoes. His fingers tightened on her chin.

“I should have left them take you away. Rot in the dungeon. I should have thrown you back to the ashes you came from. Because of you, my throne stands at risk. Because of you, my whole pack will despise me. It's all because of you.”

She twisted the sheets between her fingers, working to get her anger under control.

“None of this is my fault, Alpha. I am the victim here. Not you. Not your pack. I was the one your mistress attacked and nearly killed.”

“I would kill you myself, if it wasn't for my mark resting on your neck.”

“What's stopping you? Kill me. The life I'm living now isn't better than the silence the grave offers.”

He let out a humorless laugh. “Every time you open your mouth, you prove how unworthy you are of the mercy I've shown you and your people.”

She couldn't help the broken laugh that escaped her lips. “Mercy? You call this bondage mercy? This is hell. And being your mate? That's the worst fate anyone could ever have.”

“Be careful with your words,” he said harshly, his grip on her chin painfully tight.

“Why?” She spat with venom lacing her voice. “Scared your pack will see that their almighty Alpha can't control his mate?”

His eyes shot daggers at her.

“If you keep on with this whole attitude, I won't hesitate to offer your sister to the rogue werewolves as a meal. Consider it charity for every chaos you're putting me through right now.”

Her heart trembled at his words. But she forced her expression to show no fear.

He wouldn't do that. Would he?

“You wouldn't do that. We had an agreement.”

“Oh, we did? I forgot,” he said sarcastically. “Because the last time I remembered, you'd broken your own end of the deal.”

“I did nothing, Alpha. Nothing!” The tears were fighting against her will, brimming in her eyes.

He studied her for a second, his eyes revealing nothing but rage and loathing. He released her chin and stepped away.

“I'm not done with you,” he said calmly. And somehow, the calm in his voice terrified her more than any of his growls.

“But when I'm done, you'll wish I had killed you the first time we met.”

He didn't wait for her response. Maybe because he knew she didn't have one anymore.

He turned around and left, banging the door behind him and rattling the bowls on the table.

Myra stared at the door, a tear dangerously slipping down her cheek.

Her strength crumbled. She sagged back against the pillows, buried her face in her hands, and finally let the tears fall.

His words tore open her heart and left it bleeding.

For a split second, she remembered his wolf.

How it pressed its forehead to hers. How it stepped between her and her danger.

And for one dangerous heartbeat, she missed its warmth. But she immediately squashed that thought.

She hated the man. And she hated the wolf.

She could still see the hatred in his eyes. She could still feel the fury emanating from him.

Yet she hated herself for wishing, even for a stupid moment, that his wolf would return instead of the cruel Alpha who had just torn her down.

AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hey, loves.
First of all, I'm so sorry for disappearing for so long and leaving you all hanging. Life happened, and I had to step away for a while to recover.
I'm still healing, but I'm finally back, and it feels so good to be writing again. Thank you for your patience, your support, and for not giving up on this story.

Now, enough talking. Let's get back to the adventure. I hope you enjoy this chapter.