Drawn to you

Chapter 4

Aurora's POV 

Some truths don’t break you, they change you into someone who finally sees.

The voice stayed in my head.

It echoed repeatedly like a constant reminder of an impending doom approaching.

I didn’t know whose voice it was. It didn’t sound like mine. Or my mother’s. Or Marek’s. Or Elena's. Or Eamon.

But then a thought crossed my mind. What if it was my magic speaking? I have heard talks of witches being warned by invisible beings about things. 

And mom said something about inner mind which could mean I have a second being inside me.

I came to the woods in search of Marek but I didn't find him. Instead I stumbled upon an ancient writing. I couldn’t go back home. Not yet.

I have to find him.

I have to see Marek again.

I have to talk to him.

I closed my eyes and let the magic guide me. I didn’t know how I did, but soon enough after relaxing like the way the witches in the book I read does, I felt a pull. It was like a thread, very light, and it tugged at me at first but after a few minutes it became hard.

I followed it, the thread, through the forest, through the trees and grasses.

The cool wind brushed my face. The sky was beginning to get dark but I ignored it knowing fully well it's the density of the forest.

Something crossed my mind and I remembered the inn. What was I going to tell Eamon when I get back to work?

I shrugged the thought away and concentrated on the pull. I followed the thread until the woods and after a while of walking and silence around me, I walked into a paved road.

And then… city lights.

"Ahhh!" My kind mentally screamed.

This was the richest part of town. There are big houses and tall gates, aside from being blessed with clean roads and fancy cars.

“Why did the magic bring me here?” I whispered.

"So Marek lives in a city?" 

Still, I walked because the pull didn’t stop.

It led me to a large black gate. There were cameras and guards everywhere. The security was tight here. The pull stopped here which means Marek was inside but how would I get in without the security stopping me? There were tall trees behind the walls. I hid behind a bush.

The gate opened.

Three black cars drove in.

I crept closer and quietly sneaked in while the guards were busy checking the cars.

I walked into a garden and marveled at the flowers. The compound was so large that half of it was filled with manicured and well laid out flowers. The driveway was filled with expensive cars. Was Marek holding a gathering?

I walked further past the garden, there were no guards around the vicinity, I found myself walking into the house, I had no time to admire the front view of the house, I was conscious of my environment, the last thing I want is getting kicked out by his security now I am close to it.

I found myself walking down a wide hallway and then I heard noises, more of like arguments. I dodged behind a counter. The noise was louder. I looked left and right but no sign of security guards. Raising my head up, I was met with Marek's hard gaze, his signature. He stood tall and calm in front of a large group of men but his face was contradicting the calmness radiating off him.

My eyes scanned the men, they all wore suits. Some held cigars. Some had guns at their belts.

I ducked, shocked, recognizing what they were.

Realization dawned on me...He wasn’t.... just a...wolf.

He was something else. Very dangerous. He was one of them. The second thing I hate after witches 

He was in the Mafia. A mafia boss.

My breath caught in my throat. They were having a meeting. I listened. I decided to stay low and still lest I sell myself out. 

There were twelve men. Big ones. Older ones. Dangerous ones. I recognized them instantly from the rumors I have been hearing 

The twelve mafia leaders.

And Marek stood beside the head.

Damn! He was second in command.

One man with a scar on his neck shouted, “You stole my clients, Marek!”

“I don’t steal,” Marek said, calmly but his voice held a lighter devilish tone. “They came to me.”

“You lied to them!”

“They wanted results. I gave them results.”

The man turned to the leader. “You see? This is betrayal.”

The leader waved him off. “Enough.”

The man didn’t like that. He didn't like the fact the leader waved it off. From his facial expression, I knew decisions like this were always overruled in favor of Marek. And the man definitely had enough of it because right there he snapped and pulled out a gun. 

I gasped.

My heart rolled and threw itself to the brick of my chest wall when he pointed it at Marek.

I felt the pain before it even hit him. A sharp panic ran through my veins.

“No!” I muffled out a cry.

My hand shot forward without thinking. Like it was being controlled by an invisible being. Like I was acting strange...in reaction to an invisible thread.

The bullet which was moving towards Marek, changed course and moved toward the guard behind him.

The man fell. Gunshots exploded instantly. There was screaming. Running. Shouting.

Both sides fired at each other.

I froze at the scene.

I didn't know how it happened but I felt something hit me, it burned like not fire inside me and then pains exploded inside of me. Unbearable and uncontrollable pain. 

A stray bullet hit me.

I screamed and fell.

“Aurora!” I heard Marek shout.

He ran toward me.

He grabbed me, lifted me into his arms, and ran through the chaos. His grip was tight. His heart beat fast against mine.

He kicked open a door and rushed into a room—his office maybe.

He locked it and placed me on a couch.

“You stupid girl!” he growled. "Very stupid girl!" 

“I...”

“What were you thinking coming here?! How did you manage to get past the guards at the gates?! You could’ve died!”

“I was trying..”

“Shut the fuck up and save your breath you’re bleeding,” he said. “Dammit!”

He pulled my shirt up and looked at the wound. He brought out a small box and tore it open. He cleaned the blood, gritting his teeth.

“It burns,” I whispered.

“Good. Maybe next time you’ll think before doing something reckless.”

"I'm...." I started 

His jaw clenched. “You could’ve been killed.”

“I know.”

He sighed. “You’re not allowed near this place again.”

I leaned back. “Sorry.”

He gave me something to drink. “This will make you sleep. You need to rest. The bullet didn’t go deep, but it still hurt you.”

I took the cup and drank it slowly.

“Stay still,” he whispered.

His voice had changed.

Soft.

Worried.

Warm.

My eyes closed before I could say anything else.

When I woke up, the pain was dull. I was in a dark room with a fire in the corner. And Marek sat beside me. Watching me. His eyes didn’t blink. His hand held mine.

“You’re awake,” he said happily.

I nodded. “I’m alive.”

“Barely.”

I smiled weakly. “You didn’t leave?”

“No.”

I sat up slowly. “You watched me sleep?”

“Yeah.”

I looked at him. “Why?”

“You got shot because of me.”

“I came here by choice.”

“You still almost died.”

Silence.

Then he asked, “Why did you come?”

“I followed the thread.”

“The what?”

“The bond. My mom called it the mate bond. You know it right? My magic… it awoke yesterday after you left...it pulled me to you.”

He didn’t answer.

I stared at him. “Do your men know?”

“Know what?”

“That you’re not fully human?" I didn't want to say the words I have not brought myself to believe and accept.

His face changed.

Dark.

He stood and growled low. “That’s none of your business.”

“It is now.”

“No, it isn’t,” he snapped. And then he sighed. "Fine, I will just tell you. I am Marek in the human world and to everyone. But I am a werewolf. And my name, real name is Alpha Stefan Carnuta. That's all you get to know." 

I stared horrified. He stepped closer. His hands gripped my arms..He looked like he wanted to shake me.

“You shouldn’t be here, Aurora. You don’t belong in this world.”

“I saved your life today.”

His grip loosened..“What?”

“You’d be dead if I didn’t move that bullet.”

He blinked.

I kept talking. “I didn’t know I could do that. But I did it. My body acted on seeing you almost getting killed. I’m not human, Marek.”

He sat back down. Quiet.

“I thought I was. But I’m not. I’m… something else.”

“I know.”

“You knew?”

He nodded. “From the moment I smelt you that night. And it was stronger back then when I carried you..”

I swallowed. “What am I supposed to do now?”

“You go back to your cottage. You listen to your mother. And you stay far away from me.”

I looked at him. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re a fool.”

“Maybe.”

Silence.

He stared at me. I stared back.

Fuck it! I moved. I didn’t think. I leaned forward and kissed him. Soft at first. Then deep. He kissed me back, like he needed it.

When we pulled apart, I whispered, “You’re poison to me…”

He said nothing.

I looked into his eyes and finished,

“…But I still want you.”