479- Predator and Prey
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
I turned my gaze back to her, who was watching me closely, noticing the reason for my inattention.
"Yes, I've finished the reading," I confirmed.
"Great! We can think of more things to distract ourselves—we don't have to stick to the lake."
"Like what?"
She shrugged.
"There's the school, with many pups. Sometimes we go help. They're cute and fun. We can also ask someone to take us to the city to watch a movie or eat something different." She dropped the stick beside her. "We'd go accompanied, as a precaution, for our safety."
"And who usually accompanies you?"
"My uncle Vladren, Anton, or Myrion," Lana replied.
Going to the city with Anton wasn't the smartest alternative, not after what happened.
"I think it's better to stay in Eldoria."
"Why?" she inquired, curious.
I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth.
"With the Merchants after me, it's better for us to stay here."
It wasn't exactly a concern, but it also wasn't not one. I would never put Aurelka and Lana's lives at risk, and I was sure those bastards would do anything to get their hands on me—especially hurt them if necessary.
"Yes, you're right," Aurelka agreed.
Two men approached us. One of them sat between me and Lana, pushing her to the side, while the other took the spot on the other side of Aurelka, on the thick, wide log we were sitting on.
"How rude you are, Rares," Lana hissed. "Don't you know how to say excuse me?"
"I'm not talking to you," he replied, turning his head toward me.
The boy had blond hair, honey-colored eyes, and fair skin. His jaw was thin, with a small layer of stubble covering part of it. His nose was straight and elongated, lips narrow and pinkish. He wasn't ugly, but he also didn't catch my attention at all. Sitting, his head was at the same height as mine, but he had thin, long legs that made him much taller than me.
"Hello, beautiful, finally I have the pleasure of meeting you," he whispered, batting his eyelashes slowly, as if trying to seduce me.
"Hi," I replied, turning my gaze back to the bonfire.
He was very arrogant, and that was quite perceptible, just from the way he treated Lana. He was also an asshole, but I wouldn't hold that against him since I had no interest whatsoever in flirting back.
Rares' friend spat out a laugh, but didn't touch Aurelka, keeping a safe distance from her, as if afraid of what might happen if he didn't.
"So, are you liking Eldoria?" He struck up a conversation, tilting his head slightly to the side. His eyes were fixed on me, as if analyzing every miserable reaction of mine.
I ran a hand through my hair, starting to feel uncomfortable.
"Yes."
He adjusted himself beside me, moving a little closer, making his shoulder brush against mine. The touch made me shiver, but not in a good way. It was as if my wolf rejected the male beside me, despising him.
If he knew how I'd been lately—an out-of-control crazy woman—he wouldn't risk being so close to me.
"A female of few words," he murmured, laughing. "I like that, I think it's pretty sexy."
I didn't respond, keeping my attention fixed ahead, avoiding and ignoring him.
He smiled again, mockingly.
"I can't tell if you're not interested or if you're just playing hard to get."
"Obviously the first one," I replied, bored.
"If you want to stay alive, Rares, I suggest you leave Thalyndra alone," Aurelka argued. "My brothers don't seem happy about this, and everyone knows what happens when they're unhappy with a situation." She arched a suggestive eyebrow.
He huffed.
"Fuck your brothers—they're not the leaders yet, your father is the one in charge, and he hasn't ordered anything about the newcomer."
I lifted my gaze and met Anton's eyes. He wasn't moving, didn't even seem to be breathing. His eyes glowed in different colors. It was the body of a man, but the manner of an animal. He should be dueling for control, but he didn't seem to be winning. Myrion, beside him, was tense, looking between his brother and the idiot beside me as if expecting the worst.
The energy Anton emanated was pure chaos, crackling around him, raising my hairs. My wolf bristled, as if she liked it, as if she approved. She seemed pleased that there was an alpha male willing to fight for the both of us.
Heavens, she was crazy. Actually, I was crazy.
"Let's get out of here, Rares, this isn't worth it," said the other wolf.
"Shut up, Petru," retorted the idiot beside me. "I already said that if you want to stay out of it, stay out, but don't get in my way."
"It would be good if you both stayed out of it—we're at peace, no one wants conflict," Lana whispered.
Rares laughed loudly.
"Who said I don't?" He raised his hand and touched my hair, pulling it back. He leaned in to whisper in my ear. "I want a female for tonight, and there's a very attractive one right here beside me. And I'll get what I want." He planted a kiss on my temple.
I stayed still, in shock, completely rigid. No one had ever acted that way with me. No man, wolf or human.
A deep, threatening growl echoed through the clearing. In the blink of an eye, most of those present knelt, their knees bending without thinking, as if nature itself compelled them to the supreme force before them.
My gaze wandered through the space, not believing what I was seeing.
There was something inescapable about Anton's power, something that demanded submission, even from the most resistant.
"I can't say I didn't warn you..." Aurelka whispered.
Rares, ignoring all warnings, grabbed my neck and turned my head in his direction. I gasped, startled, not expecting the touch. He tried to pull my face toward his. Acting instinctively, I reached for the dagger at my back, ready to strike and kill him for that.
It wasn't necessary, however. Anton was faster.
In one second, he was on the other side of the bonfire, and in the next, right in front of us. He grabbed Rares' neck with elongated claws and lifted him, pulling him away from me.
Rares tried to break free, without success. Anton stared at him up close, his eyes feral, with no trace of humanity in them.
"Anton, don't do this," Aurelka pleaded, getting up.
"Yes, do it! He disrespected you!" Myrion shouted, beside his brother.
"It was just a misunderstanding, we're leaving now," Petru protested.
Myrion laughed.
"A misunderstanding? He seemed very clear on what he was doing."
Lana sighed.