\[William’s POV\]
I keep my gaze fixed on Elise as she stares at me like I am some sort of foreign being. Was it really that strange for someone to say such a thing to her, or was it a problem because it was me?
“If you keep staring at me like that, I’m going to kiss you.” I warn, leaning closer.
Eyes widening, Elise attempts to step back but stops as she remembers that the only thing keeping her from meeting the ground is a single branch.
“Did you hit your head too hard back there?” She finally asks, eyeing me curiously. “You’re not making any sense.”
Not making sense? How was what I said considered not thinking straight? It was pretty fucking clear that she was an ethereal being. From her sparkling blue eyes to her perfect proportions and lean build, she was perfect by wolf standards and better looking than most of the she-wolves in Crystal Fang.
“Should I dumb it down for you?” I chuckle. “I think you’re beautiful.”
Lifting a hand, I attempt to brush her long, dark hair behind her ear, but she stops me, swatting my hand away as if it were a disgusting thing.
“Don’t.” She warns, her eyes darkening. “I don’t know what kind of game you’re trying to play, but I’m not interested. One minute you’re kind to me and even hitting on me, then you turn cold as ice, making it clear that I’m not worthy of being with someone like you.”
As she speaks, I can see the hurt forming on her features, but when I open my mouth to say something, anything, I realize that I don’t have the right.
She was right. Since coming to Emerald Moon, I was so fucking wishy-washy when it came to her. But could anyone truly blame me? With Rosco riding my ass about my questionable choices and the pressure of becoming alpha of a pack weighing on me, I didn’t have the luxury of just going with what I wanted. Then there was Marigold and my past with her; mix all that together, and I was a fucking mess.
“If all you’re trying to do is fuck me, that’s fine.” Elise continues when I don’t speak. “A relationship that leaves you satisfied is plenty. But when you are kind to me, I get confused and think I’m imagining things.”
Her words are like knives in my heart, and before I can stop myself, I’m reaching out and pulling her against me. Once her body is securely against mine, I press my lips against hers in hopes that my actions can say what my lips can’t. Maybe I was really making a huge mistake, but I knew if I kept fucking around like this, then I would lose what I really wanted.
Pulling away, I wait as Elise stares at me, her gaze filled with unspoken questions that she just won’t tell me.
“Does that make my intentions clear?” I ask slowly, gently kissing her again. “I know that I’ve been a real pain and that I may fuck up again in the future, but could you try to cut me some slack?”
“Cut you slack.” She repeats, her gaze narrowing. "Why? Because you’ve fallen for a criminal, and you know damn well that no one in your family will approve? Sorry, I’m not a sometime type of lady. I’m an all-or-nothing type who won’t take anyone being half-assed about me.”
Ouch. I guess I absolutely deserved that. It seemed that it would be a while before she trusted enough to let me in. And I was willing to wait. There was still a lot about her and her past that I didn’t know, but there was one thing I was certain of and that was maybe she wasn’t as bad as everyone made her out to be.
“How did you land yourself in the dungeons of Emerald Moon?” I ask slowly, deciding that I would take this opportunity to unravel some of her secrets.
“You didn’t hear?" She asks. “I’m a murderer and a criminal.”
“A murderer,” I repeat, raising my brow. “And why would you openly admit to that?”
“Because there’s no reason to hide my misdeeds.”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue with her further, but stop as a loud screech rips through the air. Whirling around, I begin to examine the world around me until my gaze comes to rest on what looks like a large black beast, but when I draw on my alpha abilities to see it better, I find that it’s a cloud with lightning rippling through it. However, it is in the shape of some strange beast.
“That!” Elise hisses, her eyes widening. “Don’t fucking tell me.”
As she speaks, she begins to climb down from the tree while I’m left to follow, and when our feet hit the earth, she surges forward at top speed.
“Hey!” I call, attempting to keep up with her. “What the hell is that thing?”
Instead of responding, she rushes into the packhouse, which is alive with guards and other members of the pack, preparing for the attack that is on the horizon.
Dodging them, Elise continues to move, making her way to the stairs and then heading up, but when she reaches the top, she doesn’t stop. Instead, she continues to move, making her way toward the staircase that leads to the roof, and when she reaches it, she heads straight up.
Only when we burst out onto the roof does she stop so she can take in the beast, which is slowly growing closer to the building.
“Elise!” I growl, reaching out and grabbing her shoulder. “Talk to me! What the hell is that thing?”
“I can’t be sure.” She says slowly, moving to the edge of the roof so she can get a better look. “But if I had to guess, I would say that it is a nue.”
“A nue?” I gasp, my eyes growing wide. “You mean those Japanese creatures that resemble chimeras?”
“That’s right.” She confirms. “But why would one be around here?”
Why would it be here? If I had to guess, I would say that it was in cahoots with those cloaked bastards that were threatening Serenity. And I couldn’t help but wonder whether or not they had even more mythical beings on their side if they had this thing.
“What’s the plan?” I ask as guards and warriors alike begin to surge onto the roof with us.
As Elise continues to stare down the creature, multiple men set themselves up with cannons that they aim directly at the nue, preparing to blow it out of the sky.
“That won’t work.” Elise murmurs. “In its current form, the cannon balls will just go straight through it.”
“Then what should everyone do?” I demand, wondering whether or not Elise ever had a run-in with this beast. “We can’t just wait for it to attack.”
“It needs to be in its actual form for us to damage it." She explains. "Otherwise, we will just be wasting firepower.”
In its true form. Who was to say that that thing would actually take that form, and if it didn’t, did that mean we were sitting ducks?
“Nue’s are formidable opponents indeed.” Elise says slowly. “But in order for it to fight us, it has to be in its physical form. If it stays like that, then we will be fine.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, continuing to watch the nue grow closer. “And what if you’re wrong?”
“Then I’ll let it eat me.” She chuckles. “I’ll end up dead for a wrong call anyway.”
Biting back on my initial response, I look around me, and when I settle on going along with what Elise has deemed to be necessary, I open my mouth in preparation to order those around me. However, I don’t get the chance to do so as Rosco appears and beelines for me. From the way his eyes shine, I know that he is ready to fight, and from the look of determination on his features, I know he plans on winning.
"Glad you could join us." He says once he reaches. "Please don't let me down."