Chapter 51

Sarabella POV

Days were going by slowly, smoothly. I was now at ease to go around the domain by myself without getting lost. I never was alone though. I could feel eyes on me at all times, even from a distance. The domain was vast, and it helped me feel safe whenever I had time to roam around to be watched.

Sometimes, though, when I would take a short stroll outside closer to the woods, on the east border, I could feel something different. It was hard to describe, it felt like a string someone would pull, trying to get me to enter the forteresse offered by the trees, hidden, out of the sight of my guardians. Every single time, I would have to fight with my body to stay on my path. Though it would always be an exhausting battle, fear would always win over, and keep me going, away from the temptation of curiosity.

Not the fear of the unknown, but the incomfort created by the energy coming from the person or the thing dissimulated in the bushes was powerful. It literally felt like I was about to be eaten.

The walk back to the manor was always tainted by nervousness, and empty promises to never go that path again. But I would. And I would never talk about it to my guardians either.

I tried. I tried many times to bring up the topic of the magnet from the woods. But I couldn’t utter a single word about it. It was as if my brain would shut down, and I would just open and close my mouth like a goldfish trying to survive out of the water.

When an event like this would happen, my principal guardian, Master Kodard, would always send me to my room and would send someone with his special tea set. I always loved it. I would get the greatest sleep after that. Without it, that huge mountain of a man would come and visit my dreams.

He scared me, the time he came to our domain and tried to touch me. He would stare at me so hard, it felt heavy. His piercing grey eyes looked like a storm that would ravage a quiet sky. It was powerful, threatening, but at the same time ravishing. I knew Master would be mad if I yielded to the temptation of touching him, of reaching to him, just to see. I swear. Only to see what would happen. I wasn’t interested in talking, I knew the world was full of lies. ‘You can trust no one. Especially men.’ That’s what Master always said. But I knew I could at least trust him. He was my first guardian, my protector.

He was the one who saved me from bad people. When I was in a bad position, he came to my rescue, extracted me from the claws of the bad wolves who tried to kidnap me to run some tests or even worse, rappe me.

A shiver ran along my spine as the thought made its nest in my mind, triggering my imagination to the point of clear images of what could’ve happened. I started walking faster, eager to step foot in the safety of the tall and protective walls of the mansion. I was walking too fast for the attention I was paying to where I was heading, and as soon as I turned a corner, I hit a wall.

“Slow down there, you are going to hurt yourself.” The wall whispered in my ears, so low that I wouldn’t have heard it if I didn’t crash into it.

A soft voice that felt like a caress. I raised my hands, to push against the wall to see who it could be. Sparks were tingling at my fingertips as I pressed to distance myself. My heart skipped a beat, I failed to breathe, air shying away from me. Him. It was him, the huge and stormy man, who was holding me slightly in the air, my feet floating above the gravel ground.

I couldn’t tell if it was the panicked silence or my flickering eyes that told him I wanted to be far away from him, but he put me down, not refraining to sigh while doing so. I took a few quick steps back, rubbing my arms. It felt as if I was deprived of warmth now that his touch was interrupted.

“You are cold.” He simply said, staring at me with a strange sparkle in his eyes.

“I beg your pardon?” I blurted out, surprising myself of my offended tone. Why would anything he say affected me? But who was he to say something so rude.

“Your body’s temperature. Weather is rather hot and sunny. Please stay healthy.”

And he stayed there, watching me with his intense and unbudgning stare. He made me look at my toes as if they were the most interesting thing ever. Why was he so sweet? And caring? I didn’t know him. I felt bad being so harsh. When I looked up again, he had move himself in a way of opening up the way to the entrance of the mansion, gesturing me to go ahead. That’s when I noticed the two companions that were also there the last time he visited.

I muttered a low “Thank you”, and passed by them, walking silently and somewhat quickly in front of them. It was weird to go the same way, and they were acting very strange. Both of his companions, a male and a female both wolves and mates, I could tell from their scents, were walking by his side, but whenever I made eye contact with any of them, they would bow their head.

The little woman was intriguing and honestly, stunning. Her pale complexion was glowing, her ruby eyes were shining brighter than a real jewel whenever she looked at her mate. Her fit body was tiny but the aura that was coming from her was fearless, determined. I could still observe some micro movements of hesitation the more we approached the door. But every time, her tall and handsome mate would rub her lower back and she would relax.

I wished he would do it for me. Wait. No. That was an insane thought. Why would I want his hands all over me? How could he make me feel safe when he was the bad big wolf?

I needed tea.

We entered the front door, and I welcomed them in, and brought them to a little salon so they could wait while I would go and get Master for them, and ask for tea for me.

When I was about to excuse myself, he swiftly grabbed my wrist before I could avoid him. I stumbled back from the surprise and the surge of fear that washed over me, but I met his eyes. There was no storm, just a quiet grey sky, painted by some sad clouds. I loved going out when it was raining. A warm spring rain as a soundtrack to a book was a perfect afternoon activity. I got lost, wandering the trails of open soul, under its rainy sky, and it was his voice, as soft and refreshing as the water drops, that rang into my ears that brought me back.

“Are you going to come back while we meet with Elder Kodard?”

What was I supposed to say? My brain was screaming ‘No!’, my heart was too shaken to say anything.

“Yes.” But my body won over.