Chapter Eight – His Threat!

Hera’s POV 

The warm water soothed my aroused body. Yes, I was aroused. Who wouldn’t be at the sight of a swoon-worthy Greek God roaming around naked with a massive erection on display? Even a saint would falter at the sight of him. I was a mere virgin twenty-nine-year-old wolf who hadn’t even experienced her first kiss! 

Hidden behind the curtains, I watched him lie under the sun-soaked grassy lawn, plotting about ways to kiss me! I knew he wanted me! I could feel the sexual tension in the air, the desire in his eyes, but he was fighting a war within himself. He was trying hard to restrain his urges. 

I couldn’t fight the way he could. My body longed for his touch! It was something I had never felt before for anyone else. Living under my twin’s shadow, I hardly got to interact much with other male shifters. Zephyrus, Stavros, and the boys protected me with a vengeance. To them, I was their only sister! 

My life sucked! So here I was trying to calm my senses in a jacuzzi. What else was there to do with Felixe drowned in work all afternoon?

I waded towards the far end of the tub and gazed at the setting sun against the tranquil water of the Back Bay. The surroundings were calm as if waiting for nightfall. I longed to run and explore! If only I could be free! 

‘It will happen, Hera. Have patience,’ comforted Hye. 

‘Maybe in my dreams!’ I didn’t feel so hopeful. Felixe Andreadis was unapproachable, unfriendly and the weirdest wolf on earth. He was almost like a closed book! Despite being my mate, I couldn’t read his mind. I couldn’t connect to him at all. In fact, his wolf, who was supposed to be feral, was much better than him. 

‘He hasn’t imprisoned us in a room, nor has he tied us up. Isn’t that an improvement?’ I nodded, remembering the first time when I met him. I didn’t think I would live this long. 

‘Hmm! You’re right!’ My gaze went back to the shimmering water of the bay. 

‘Uh oh! He’s here!’ Hye’s announcement made the hair at the back of my neck stand. Why was he here? Wasn’t he neck-deep in work? I had wanted a five-minute dip while he was busy. Was that too much to ask for? 

I turned my back towards him, wanting him to go away. His fiery gaze burned my skin and suddenly the red bikini felt like a bad idea. It wasn’t like I wore it on purpose to seduce him! It was the only one in the closet! I wondered who it belonged to since it fitted me perfectly! 

I could feel him approach me and I whirled around in panic. One look at his dark eyes instantly made me realize my mistake. I felt completely exposed, like a worm under a microscope! Unable to look away, I stare at the flash of light within his dark irises followed by a quiet rumbling in his chest. It felt like an understated fury. 

He was angry with me, but why? 

I then considered it from his point of view. Was it because I was an unwanted guest in his home? I should have sought his permission before wandering about in his territory. Maybe that was the reason he was furious with me. 

“I’m sorry for using your jacuzzi without your permission. I was just leaving! No need to get so worked up!” I rambled nervously, making him stop beside me and watch every move of mine. It made me even more nervous. What would he do to me? 

I looked around to get out and ran for the door, far away from the handsome creature. Why couldn’t he be the loving mate I had dreamed of all my life? My heart thumped so loud, I knew he could hear it well! It wasn’t because of the adrenaline rush, but from fear. His expression was far from loving where I was concerned. They were dark and threatening as if he was dying to kill me with his bare hands. 

“What are you doing here?” His low, threatening voice echoed in the still room. I wrung my hands together nervously as I waded to the far end, away from him. However, there was no respite from his fiery gaze. It followed me wherever I went and so did he, slowly, menacingly, taking his time before attacking me. 

“I needed a warm dip to soothe my muscles. I’m tired of being locked up in a room. If you won’t kill me, then set me free!” I emerged from the jacuzzi and grabbed a towel to wrap around myself before I escaped. He froze at my outburst. Taking advantage of his momentary surprise, I rushed towards the door, eager to escape his clutches. I knew he wouldn’t let me go unscathed if he caught me. He would definitely punish me for kneeing him, for not kissing him, for watching him trot around naked on his premises. He would throttle me for using his favorite jacuzzi without his permission. 

Once out of the door, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, down the corridor to my room. I opened the door and released the breath I was holding. What an escape! From now on, I would stay locked up in my room. I didn’t have any wish to fall into such situations again. 

Before I could go inside, two powerful arms grabbed me from the back and whirled me around. “Ow!” I gasped when my face collided with his chest. I rubbed my nose and looked up into his dangerously glittering eyes, a tremor going up my body instantly! His arm caged me in his embrace. 

“I will never set you free. Do you get that? You will stay inside your room, Hermione! If I see you wandering around, I won’t be responsible for the consequences! Take this as a warning!” Fierce anger swirled in his eyes while I cowered at the sight of him. Yet I didn’t want to show him how much he was affecting me. 

“Or else?” I was tired of his warnings. I was a free spirited wolf. How could I stay locked up in a room forever? This was a punishment worse than death. It was like a slow, tortured death!

“Or else I’ll destroy your village, your brother, and your pack! I’ll torch them the same way as they torched my house.” My face paled as I gaped at him. Not a word came out of my choked throat. I wanted to clear his misunderstanding but couldn’t without knowing the facts. Yet I knew my brother would never torch someone’s house unnecessarily. Zephyrus hadn’t done it, but I had nothing to prove to him. 

“You wouldn’t! You’re my mate, Felixe!” 

He clenched his teeth with barely suppressed anger but didn’t reply. I was right. He didn’t consider me his mate! 

Tears pooled in my eyes, and he watched me for a split second before releasing me. Without a word, he strode away as if my words hadn’t affected him at all. 

I watched him go with the helpless tears trickling down my cheeks. Would he really torch my village, my home, my pack? No, I couldn’t afford that. I knew Felixe could do anything. It wasn’t a useless threat! If the only way to stop him was to stay locked up in my room, then so be it. I wouldn’t emerge at all! I could spend my whole life here locked up in a room to save my twin and my pack. If that’s what the goddess had destined for me, then I would sacrifice myself for my pack. 

I went into the room and locked the door as tears rocked my body. I missed everyone at home. They would be so worried about me. I had never stayed away from Zephyrus and the boys this long. I knew they were searching for me everywhere. If only I had access to a phone! I wished Stella was here instead of Felixe! 

I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a top and curled up on the bed. All my enthusiasm and my tinted hopes about my mate crumbled to dust. I realized one thing. Felixe Andreadis would never accept me as his mate! There was more hatred bottled up inside him than he admitted. I wished he would open up to me and let me clear the air. But it was an impossible feat. Felixe had built such high walls around him that even I couldn't get through to him. I was doomed to be his prisoner all my life.

Sobs wracked my body, and I felt feverish. I trembled, covered myself with the duvet, and closed my eyes to sleep. Maybe I would feel better after a good rest. It wasn’t a blissful sleep since I couldn’t stop the shivering. With my body burning with fever, I felt like I was dying. 

Far away a door opened and I could feel myself hoisted. Maybe I was dead and being taken away to another realm!