CHAPTER 8: You are Human

Alora’s POV

He was here again with me in the room…I felt him when he came in. He looked worried and the energy radiating from his body was sad. I felt a pang of pity and my heart constricted. 

What could have made him so sad? I needed to soothe his sadness away. He came close to where I was lying. I could feel the heat radiating from him…warm and comforting as always. 

I still could not see his face. He felt closer and more familiar than ever. His scent teased my nostrils…that musky woody scent that accompanied him wherever he was near. 

I had begun to feel heady with want. My insides turned to mush as he reached out and touched me, wrapping his large hands around me. I held onto his hands like a lifeline. 

“I need to see your face” I whined but he said nothing except groan…no, that was a moan. His scent was getting stronger and intoxicating but he was letting go of me.

“No, Please stay with me” I whimpered, holding onto his hands that were leaving my grasp. I had no control over it. 

I needed to stand up but I couldn't. It felt like I was underwater. 

All of a sudden, I could not feel his presence anymore. 

He was gone. 

A sob escaped from my lips and I trashed around. For some reason, today his presence was overwhelming. I knew I was dreaming but somehow it was different..like I was in between wakefulness and sleep. 

I tried to stand up but couldn’t. Out of frustration I began to cry. 

“No No No…please come back”. I struggled to go to him but it felt like I was held down. Why can't I stand up? What was wrong with me? I felt tears pooling in my eyes. 

Then all of a sudden, he was there again. This time I flew into his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck sobbing. 

“Please don't leave me…I am scared” I whimpered, tears streaming down my face.

“Little one, wake up” I felt a tap on my shoulder and a warm hand caressing my chin. 

“Wait! What is going on”? 

Where am I? 

I looked around, trying to make sense of my environment and that's when it dawned on me that I had been dreaming and this person that was holding me was not real. Is he? I looked up and met the concerned face of my abductor, Morgan. 

I gasped and disentangled myself from his grasp.

“What are you doing in my room? I mean I was just sitting over there a few minutes ago? How did I get here?” I asked all the questions in one bated breath, my eyes filled with accusations.

He had a smirk on his face. “You just had a bad dream. What was it about? He asked, ignoring my questions.

As he said that, heat flooded my cheeks and I blushed furiously. 

“None of your business” I managed to croak out, wiping the stray tears from my eyes and averting his gaze.

“You have no idea how much that is my business because you're at my mercy at this point” he said, pushing close and caressing my face in his hands.

I felt a shiver go through me at his touch and heat pooled at my insides.

His presence was overwhelming, and his touch was familliar, maybe because of the dream I just had but I was finding it difficult to separate my dream from reality at this point because the same feelings my faceless dream man evoked in me were building up to a crescendo as I stared into the eyes of my captor and I didnt know why.

He looked at me like he could not take his eyes off my face. He inhaled sharply when I licked my lips before tracing them with his thumb. Then he bent close and sniffed my neck. 

My eyes fluttered open at the weird action

“What are you doing”? I asked in a small voice, my eyes widening in surprise. 

“You want me” He whispered in my ears, his lips grazing my flesh lightly.

A moan escaped from my lips at his words. I couldn't find my voice. 

How did he know? 

When I finally found my voice it was small and embarrassing.

“What? No?” I lied.

“I’m not asking. Your scent is driving me crazy” he whispered in my ears, sending delicious shivers down my spine.

“My scent? What are you even saying?” I asked, my voice shaky and confused.

He didn’t respond immediately. His nose brushed my neck again, slower this time, his breathing labored.

Then suddenly, he stilled.

I felt it, the exact moment everything changed. His grip tightened slightly on my chin as he stared at me, his eyes darkening in anger.

I was in shock. 

Gone was the man who was just moments ago whispering into my skin. Now, he looked like I had just betrayed him.

His grip was getting stronger and I tried to push him away but he was like a stone, he didn't even budge. I struggled in his arms until he came to his senses. 

When he realised that he was hurting me, he pulled back and looked at me like he was seeing me for the very first time, only not in a good way.

“You…” he whispered, more to himself than to me. “You’re not…no. That’s not possible.”

“What are you talking about?”

He didn’t respond. He stepped away, pacing like a caged animal, running a hand through his hair. Then, suddenly, he whirled around

I began to tremble. I instinctively began to trace the skin on the back of my hand to calm my nerves.

“Human,” he spat the word with such disgust I flinched. 

“My mate is a bloody human”

He stared at me with disgust, his face, a mask of horror.

“I…what’s wrong with being human?” I snapped, trying to sound braver than I felt.

His face twisted. “You were supposed to be mine! My mate! The one the Moon Goddess promised me! But you…you're nothing but a fragile, clueless human girl!”

“I don't understand what you mean” I pleaded, my fingers moving along my skin faster this time.

He laughed bitterly, a cruel sound that didn’t reach his eyes. “Of course you don’t. You wouldn’t. Because you don’t feel it. Because you're human”

“Was I supposed to be something else other than a human?” I echoed, heart pounding. 

He ignored me and continued with his blabbing “I trusted the bond,” he muttered more to himself now. “I waited all my damn life, and the Moon Goddess gave me this?”

Tears stung my eyes at his words. I didn't understand it but somehow I felt hurt by them. At this point, my emotions were all over the place and I didn't understand it. 

When he saw my tears, he stiffened.

A second passed. Then another.

His breathing turned shallow. His pupils dilated, glowing faintly…no, not glowing. Burning. 

And with that, he walked out.

Leaving me behind, shaking, cold, and completely shattered.