Chapter 4: Fierce.

‎Adrian didn’t stop walking until he reached the hall the physician resided the in.

‎Only then did he left his hand. The one Estelle had grabbed. It was still trembling slightly.

‎Her grip had been starved and weak, but his forearm still burned where her fingers dug in. Not from pain. But from strange heat.

‎“ Did she do something to me?“

‎Because of Adrian's wolf ; Gelid. He never generates heat unless he wants to do so.

‎Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed exasperatedly. He was supposed to be the one doing things to her, not vice versa.

‎If not for the fact he left he wasn't sure he would have kept his wolf in control. 'She's still injured.' Adrian caoxed himself. He couldn't touch her yet.

‎But thinking of what happened a while back made Adrian's lips curve slightly.

‎Estelle Winterbourne, half-dead, weak, and injured had threatened him over a bowl of meat. Watching her bare her canines from a sickbed an attempt to appear fierce was both admirable and laughable.

‎The way her eyes had gone sharp the moment she said Those words... Adrian felt something stir in him. And what's worse was that part of him had wanted to see her try it.

‎To devour him.

He was curious.

‎’ It seems like my life wouldn't be boring anymore.’

‎Adrian's eyes slowly turned dark has something intense swirled in them.

‎He hadn't thought of what he would do with her when she fully recovered, but it was anything but good. He smiled. But that smile didn't reach his eyes.

‎He hoped she would last long. He really did. It would be a disappointment if Estelle ended up like the rest.

‎The way she acted casually like she wasn't in her enemy's territory made him like her more and more.

‎Or maybe she just didn't care.

’ Did that woman ever care about anything.’ Thinking about certain things that happened when they clashed in the past, he wasn't sure.

There was the matter with her ribs.

‎Thinking of how she broke her ribs just to prove him wrong his mouth twitched.

‎“Idiot,” he muttered.

‎Adrian's feet came to a stop. He had gotten to his destination.

‎Standing in front of a certain door, Adrian reached out for the door knob and twisted it.

‎___

‎*Back in the room*

‎As soon as Adrian left Estelle didn't waste time, she immediately dug in. The way she ate made her look unladylike. And if anyone saw her right now, they would think she was some ravenous fiend.

‎The meat was gamey. Tough. Barely seasoned. But Estelle didn't give a f*ck. All she cared about was eating the food in front of her.

‎She tore into it with her hands, ignoring the way her ribs screamed in pain. Every bite was fuel... and every gulp stitched something back together inside her. Her werewolf healing abilities accelerating the more she ate.

‎In less than 2 minutes the bowl was empty.

‎" Ohhh dear God..." Estelle let out a sigh as she licked her fingers. Her expression was one of pure bliss. Just then the door opened, there was no knock.

‎Adrian.

‎

‎And behind him, there was a woman draped in grey fur. silver hair braided with bone charms. She was old and scarred. Her grey eyes were sharp yet tranquil.

‎It was the physician.

‎“Took you long enough,” Estelle said with her eyes half closed. “I thought you got lost, Lykos.” She picked her teeth with her claw.

‎Adrian didn't answer, as for Melissa the physician, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. Where did this woman come from? Adrian had brought a lot of women, but none spoke to him as brazenly as this. Even the bravest ones di—

‎“Melissa”

‎Adrian's cold voice pulled her out of her train of thought. One word was enough for her to get to work. She didn't ask questions.

‎Melissa crouched beside the bed, close enough that Estelle caught the scent of snow-mint and old blood on her hands.

‎Now getting a close look at the woman beside her, Melissa felt like she had seen before, but she dwell on it as she pressed her fingers just below Estelle's sternum, as a result Estelle sucked in a sharp breathe with a pained expression.

“ Them ribs be damned.“

‎Looking at Estelle's face, Melissa spoke “Alpha said you cracked something while trying to be brave.”

‎This caused Estelle to snap her head towards Adrian. At the same time the sound of something popping into place rang out.

‎“It was his fault.” She said through gritted teeth, her eyes shimmered with hatred.

‎Adrian leaned against the wall and clicked his tongue several times before saying. " Yes, indeed it was my fault she didn't have patience to for me to bring the food to her."

‎Melissa snorted. “Children.” Her back straightened as she stood up.

‎“ Am done. She isn't in any sort of danger. She will live... Unless she tries not to.“

‎“ That won't happen.” Adrian said. Still leaning against the wall.

‎Estelle only snorted.

As if remembering something, Melissa's eyes shone “ Ahh, yes... here's the final thing."

‎Melissa pulled a vial from her furs. As soon as she uncapped it, a pungent smell enveloped the room prompting Estelle to cover her nose as she shift deeper into the bed. That wasn't for her right?

‎Even Adrian exhaled sharply as if trying to expell the pungent air he breathed in. Their enhanced sense of smell was a blessing, but it was also a curse. A human wouldn't be able to smell this unless they brought the rim of the vial to their nose. But for a Werewolf it was a different matter.

‎“Drink. It’ll set the bones. Tastes like shit.” Melissa said with a grin. Meanwhile Adrian's eyes suddenly lit up with glee and schadenfreude.

‎“I’m not drinking—”

‎“You are,” Adrian cut in. He appeared beside Melissa and took the vial from her hands.

‎" That's enough Melissa. you did well, you can leave now."

‎Without another word, Melissa bowed and left. She seemed rather disappointed she couldn't see Estelle's face contort because of her drugs.

‎With the sound of a door closing, the room went silent.

‎" Come on Estelle, don't be shy... Surely you wouldn't refuse something as marvelous as this." And for the first time since she came here, Estelle saw Adrian smile. Although it was a small smile, but a smile was still a smile.

‎" Sadist." Estelle spat as she slowly shifted further and further into the bed. She didn't want that thing near her.

‎Still holding the vial a whole arms length away from him, Adrian tilted his head as the fire from the hearth reflected through his eyes.

‎" Am I?" He said as he finally got to the bed.

‎This time, real panic flashed through Estelle's eyes as the pungent and foul smell got more intense.

‎" A-Adrian..." She stuttered. She was too weak to move, and she didn't want to accidentally break another weak bone again.

‎" Where did all that bravado go?" His large hand grabbed her shin before pulling her to edge of the bed.

‎" A-am going to bite you! am going to tear you apart!" Estelle suddenly lashed out. She wasn't taking some random shit drugs.

‎" Oh..." Adrian's brows raised.

‎It seemed like the cornered rat had finally decided to fight back. This time his hand clasped her shoulder and pinned her down. Estelle attempted to trash about when frost suddenly appeared and trapped her hands.

‎" Y-you!!!" Her eyes widened. Then slowly, the vial that smelled like shit approached her mouth.

‎

‎" No!... Adrian! wait, wait!!!... I... Adrian!!!" No matter how much she screamed or begged, Adrian didn't stop, instead, the vial only approached her faster. His fingers held her jaw in place in an iron grip.

‎' Anything but a drug that smells like shit!!! I don't want this!!!' Since she had sealed her mouth shut, she could only scream in her head. She would rather get stabbed than taste that!

‎But she made one last attempt. Tears welled at the corner of her eyes as she spoke.

‎" Adrian... Please..."

‎Adrian's entire body froze.

‎'Did that trigger something?' She thought inwardly as she frowned.

‎As their eyes met, Estelle's frown intensified.

‎Adrian's eyes were normally emotionless and frosty, like a mannequin's. But now... now they burned.

‎___

‎' This is how it's supposed to be...'

‎Adrian's wolf thought as he stared at the sight in the sight in front of him.

‎' Those darn Winterbournes... this is how it's supposed to be!'

‎' Begging... pleading, this was how it was supposed to be...'

‎He wanted more.

‎He free hand slowly slid to her slender neck and wrapped around it.

‎' I want more... I want to ruin–'

‎Before he could finish his thoughts a knee smashed against his balls. He groaned and let go of the vial but a tanned hand caught it midair.

‎" YOU SICK F*CKER WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!?"

‎He heard an angry voice assault his ears that instant.

‎" What's wrong with you!? Are you trying to strangle me now?!" Estelle had broken free from his frost and was staring at him with caution. Her golden eyes were staring at him with great intensity.

‎" Look, I know you saved me, but if you try to kill me then am not going down without a fight." Saying that, she brought the vial to her mouth and drank it.

‎