Chapter 4

Chapter 4

~ELANA~

Me?

My eyes widened. Then like a whirlwind, he raged towards one of the two remaining Lycans.

He attacked with his sword. Three movements and the first was laying on the ground.

The last living one was already beside me, still risking his life to mark me.

I couldn't struggle, so I shut my eyes tight. The last things my eyes ever saw would probably be a brutal bloodshed, caused a man who called me his mate.

The knife cut into my skin, but also he dropped to his knees.

Blood poured from his mouth and his eyes closed slowly, like Ike he was trying to fight death.

The strange man was behind him, his blade deep inside of him—pierced through his back.

My chest tightened. The Alpha. The elders. The pack.

Everyone stilled. There I was, in the center podium and their bloods had become a pool around me.

I was either doomed or really saved.

The strange man didn't have a single bloodstain on him. Not even a bruise.

He looked like perfection as he bent towards me, and unbuckled the straps on my wrists and ankle.

“Did he cut you?"

My lips were trembling. I was too shocked— too shocked to say a word. Or to even shake my head.

“He did." He cussed under his breath as he noticed the small cut on my skin.

He was a wolf… a special one. I could discern wolf species.

“Our pack is doomed!" Someone cried. The Alpha stood to face this strange man who'd just lifted me in his arms.

That was one truth. We really were doomed because this man had just killed Cassian's men.

He stood still, not even a muscle reacting. "No one touches what is mine.”

Alpha Salvatore didn't say a word. He obviously swallowed hard.

"She's not yours! She can never have a mate!” Melissa cried, malice laced in even the smallest sound she made.

"Want me to prove it?” Not only was he good-looking, but also arrogant and sharp-tongued.

All their words quieted in my world while he held me in his arms, so strong that he didnt flinch at my weight.

Was it a dream?

Did I really have a mate? I didn't even know his name.

Did I ever have a wolf?

Would he eventually reject me?

He held my wrist softly, and like he knew exactly what was going on in my mind, his next action answered all my doubts.

A shiny mark appeared on both our wrists in synchrony.

I squinted at the brightness.

I'd seen this before. The matebond.

Was I really experiencing this?

The pack gasped in shock. Their lips parted, and the brave ones leaned closer to confirm.

Tears fell from my eyes at once. Our eyes met, and fuck, I was shaky.

He looked into my eyes, then he leaned closer and closer that our lips would touch if any of us made another movement.

“I'm Arden." He whispered, lowly and something stirred inside of me. "Arden Atticus.”

Was that my wolf?

There was a quick slap of a million emotions inside my chest— sort of a fast pump from my heart, down to my abdomen.

“I'm Elana Lancelot." I managed to whisper, my throat cracky and stiff.

“Young man! Who are you?" The Alpha questioned, his eyes revealing fury.

My mate didn't respond. Instead, he held my head with care and pressed it lightly against his built chest. He whispered to my ear, “You're safe, I'm here."

That statement was peacefully quiet. I'd never felt that kind of peace in my entire life. It was cold and calm—soothing every part of me.

I couldn't stop the tears from my eyes.

"I am Arden Atticus, Elana Lancelot’s fated mate. I will meet the whole pack when I am ready to, but for now, I'm not, because my mate needs to rest as she was and is still clearly terrified."

He said briefly and no one dared to object.

What kind of man was he?

I clung to his shirt, my nerves calming in his touch before he turned.

How could I tell him my room was in the Alpha's house and I was an orphan?

"I don't have a—”

"We're not staying in this pack tonight, little lady.” He was still holding me up.

He wasn't panting— his strength amazed me.

I want looking, but I could feel the eyes of everyone on us.

Was he by chance a fighter? Or a warrior?

Or a King?

“Who are you, Arden?" I asked, softly.

“We'll talk about it all when we get home.”

"Where's home?” I didn't know why, but a part of me trusted him. That part was definitely an effect of our matebond I was still struggling to believe.

He shushed me when we arrived at the wide road. He had an exotic car, parked by the road.

“Is this..?" I was speechless when he dropped me on my feet so he could pull the door open.

"Yes. It's my car, one of my little toys” He said, calmly. Too calm that it began to sound like pride.

What was he? A killer? Or a president? How could fucking afford a freaking Aston Martin?

I'd only seen this in videos and movies, but I was literally sitting in one owned by my mate.

****

He drove us to an hotel and at every chance he got, he didn't hesitate to ask if I was okay.

Something didn't feel right and I knew things would get even worse.

First. Cassian Thorne would come for us.

Second. He would probably reject me once he knew who I really was.

Third. It was too rushed—how did I never meet him?

He checked into the hotel. He asked me to shower, and while I did, my mind wouldn't stop returning to how he'd walked in and killed three men. Without sustaining a single injury.

I finished taking my shower and soon stepped out with severe pounding in my chest. It was fear, perfectly mixed with anxiety.

I stood outside the bathroom’s door frame, a satin robe wrapped around me and a towel hugging my wet hair.

“So, are you claiming me or what?" I didn't know if that question made sense, but I had to ask.

He was my mate. And obviously, that was the first thing that happened on the night after a matebond acceptance.

He paused from scrolling on his phone, then looked at me for so long like he was under a confusion spell.

"You haven't even accepted me as your mate, little lady.” He got up, walking towards me.

God. He looked too sexy to ignore in that posture.

I almost forgot I had to either accept or reject the matebond.

There was still something coming… Cassian. And I wasn't free yet.

I needed to be someone else’s so I would at least, save myself.

“I accept you as my mate, Arden." I said to him, hot and slow breaths following each word.

He took few steps closer, very close that I could feel the heat emanating from his body.

I had a million questions. About his identity, background,his blade and how he managed to kill three Lycans.

“You're scared, Elana." He said, like he was so sure of every word.

Shit! I thought I was perfectly masking everything.

On an even honest note, I was. I really was.

How was I going to spend the night with a “mate" who just killed three Lycan men and walked off ike it didn't matter at all?

How?

"I'm not,” My voice cracked and it was even lower.

He moved closer, walking towards me like he knew exactly how intimidating he was.

I dropped my face to his feet slowly, but he lifted my chin with a finger.

"Elana,” My name in his mouth, felt like a hard brush-coated honey.

“What do you even know about me, Arden?" I tilted my head to the side, his finger dropping from my chin as he focused.

“I'm sorry, but I know too much than you think I do." His smirk was bold and daring. Like he was trying to ragebait.

“Fine." I sniffed, holding back the tears in my eyes. “That I'm wolfless? Or an orphan, which one do you know?" I shot back, but he didn't move a single muscle.

He really knew.

He stepped even closer, held me by both shoulders and looked deep into my eyes.

"I know that you're not wolfless, Elana. And I do not care about those other things. All I want…" I didn't know why, but my heart was racing on an entirely different level.

“Is you." The race in my chest died, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like I had gone numb.

I blinked. First. Then second.

Why did everyone want me?

"Who are you, Arden?” I swear, I'd been holding back from asking this question.

Well, maybe this was the moment to seize. From the scent of his wolf. To the color of his eyes when he was fighting earlier.

Aside that, who was he in the human world? W

Why did he have so much luxury?

He turned away from me, and didn't stop walking until there was more than enough distance between us.

“My name is Arden Atticus. I am a special type of wolf, existing among—"

A sudden thud broke the moment from outside the room.

I bent low to the ground, fear crawling up my spine.

Before a second passed, I could perceive something which he did too.

It was blood. Not a human’s, but a wolf's.

“Who is that?"

God damn it.

“Now we have an enemy who won't stop chasing us.” I said to him, my voice so low and consumer in fear.

“Cassian Thorne." His name was fiery in my mouth, with enough mystery and stories even the dumbest man alive would never try to ignore.