Pure Heat

Liliana’s POV

I have never experienced arousal before in my life. Even when Alpha Kol would force himself on me severally, I never felt pleasure. I had only heard about it, read books that had sexual details, but I had never knew what it was like to be turned on.

I’ve heard other slaves moaned under Alpha Kol in his room. Some even offered themselves to him because they enjoyed it.

My case was different. I had only known pain. Even on nights that I tried to pleasure myself with my fingers. I had only known numbness.

I thought of myself as cursed. And that was part of my secrets that I wanted to share with Aunt Maerra before I left Scarlet pack.

If I had known this is what it feels like to be aroused, maybe I would have been having sex every day of my life.

Xaden grasping my waist like he could snap it into two isn’t enough, I need him. I need to be naked.

“What are you doing to me?” Xaden’s voice falls into a disturbed-strained-whisper between us- aggravating my arousal.

“Please…” I am saying, when Darian’s voice pierces between us again. “Damn it, Xaden, you can’t be doing this out here.”

Xaden’s grip only tightens as he flushes my body against his. Bliss. Absolutely-fucking-bliss.

But the bliss doesn’t last for more than a second. Hands pull us apart. “Nooo!” I cry and I hear Xaden’s possessive growl.

Darian has pulled me into him, holding me in place while I struggle to free myself. The sensations ripping my body apart don’t care about embarrassment. I only need to be satiated till I can’t recognize my breaths any more.

I see people around, but I no longer comprehend beyond how I’m feeling and what I need.

“Let’s get you inside. Trust me, you don’t want this, Hannah.” Darian murmurs beside my ear, still holding me together to him. He’s delusional if he thinks he knows what I want better. He’s not the one feeling hot moist dripping from her center down her jeans.

A voice suddenly joins us, “The initiate has crossed a boundary that has never been crossed before. Seducing a third year who you don’t share a mate-bond with, especially in public is an unforgivable offense. Therefore, you will be severely punished.” That’s Zolya.

I don’t realize it happening, but her threat triggers something in me. Heat transforms into pure anger. How dare her? I tear myself away from Darian and when he tries to grasp me again, I scream.

Heat bursts outward violently, erupting from my body in a surge I cannot control. Flames explode into the air, slamming into everything around us. Students are thrown back, their bodies hitting the ground as the force of it ripples through the field.

The air warps with intensity, and for a brief moment, everything descends into chaos. Hot fear ravaged my body. I finally see Xaden through the smoke. I’m coughing relentlessly, now fallen on the floor. I feel… exhausted and drained. This power didn’t surge for me- I’m very sure. It was all Xaden’s. He’s cursed. I’m just human.

His eyes narrow at me with shock and something that looks like anger. His expression hardens just before he faces others and command, “Everybody, inside!”

I see bodies moving, clearing the field with urgency. I wish this is just one of my many bad dreams. My body shakes uncontrollably but I can barely stand. Where is Darian? I shouldn’t have pushed him away.

Suddenly, Zolya appears again, gaze fixed on me with pure hostility. “What are you?” she demands.

I can’t answer. I don’t answer. She bares her fangs and stalks closer. I am going to die. They all want me dead now. Xaden caused this. I should have found a way to kill him yesterday before he slipped from my sight.

She crouches and grabs my throat in a death-grip, her long fangs digging into my skin painfully. I whimper. “You’re new but already a threat, Hannah Wales. You wanted to kill us all. Now you will die first,” Her other hand raises high above her, her scary sharp fangs elongating, ready to tear at me brutally.

“Please, no.” I say, but it comes out weak.

“No, Zolya!” Darian says as he jerks my weak body from her into his arms. Zolya growls with displeasure as she stands. “She has to die,”

“She won’t. She came through Luna Gwen.” Darian argues, pulling me further into him. Why does he keep saving me?

“So I’ve learnt. But just because she came through your mother doesn’t mean we will do nothing and watch her seduce the future Alpha then attempt to murder others.” Zolya retorts.

“She can’t control her wolf. That’s why she’s here. To learn how to.” Darian defends me.

Zolya turns to face me, “This one is cursed. She needs to be taken out of the…”

Xaden appears in front of us and my breath hitches. He snatches me from Darian with one sharp move, wraps his large hand around my throat and lifts me up. I choke, clawing at his tightening grip that’s cutting air from slipping into my lungs. “Who the fuck are you?”

Darian pushes him hard, “Xaden, don’t.” I slip out of his hold and drop to the floor. I feel miserable. Still partially aroused, in pain, and scared. We are surrounded by more people now and the smoke is miraculously dying.

“Stay out of my fucking sight, Darian. This girl…” He points at me, breathing hard. “…did something to me over there. She’s up to something.”

He’s not wrong about me being up to something but I definitely did nothing to him. He did. Looking at them standing this close together, I can hardly tell them apart. But the different hair color helps.

Darian pushes Xaden in his chest again. “She’s in fucking heat and you triggered her wolf. Calm your fucking raging nerves and go away.”

Xaden growls scarily at him and Darian growls back. Their sounds are terrifying, resounding around the entire field and making my nerves jump. I see people cower around us like they are bowing to their energies- even Zolya.

“No one touches the girl. She’s under my watch.” Luna Gwen surfaces and they all part. Hope rises within me.

A long hair middle-aged man with neatly-trimmed bears steps out from the gathered crowd, charisma following him like a shadow.

“Alpha Tali wouldn't give such judgment if he was here and witnessed the initiate try to kill others with fire. He would either kill her himself or have her chained in the carnage.” He challenges the Luna and my body grows cold.

Luna Gwen slowly walks up to him, her boots clicking on the field floor as she stares him down. “Alpha Tali hasn’t returned from war in six months. We haven’t heard of him, nor do we know if he’s alive or dead. I am the supreme voice of this pack now until either of my sons become Alpha. I am Luna for a reason, and the fire killed nobody judging from what I can see. So the next time you think of challenging my voice without thinking, Beta Aegon, dead it.”

Her voice is deadly, powerful, and unbeatable. Beta Aegon’s pride cracks in his expression, but he eventually retreats.

The crowds keep multiplying and more elderly eyes and unfamiliar students’ faces have emerged.“Do I have anyone here who wants to defy my orders?” Luna Gwen asks, keeping her fierce gaze where the wolves are gathered.

No one objects. Maybe for now. My head…I feel very light-headed.

“I thought so.” Her lips curves, turning to us fully. “Dominion Darian, please help Initiate Hannah to her room.”

Another chance to live. Thank the gods.

The last thing I feel is Darian picking up my body from the floor, and the last thing I see is Xaden’s eyes, trailing daggers after me from a corner, before everything goes dark.