He Is Cold And Cruel

Her sticky eyelids peeled apart to reveal a pair of glazed blue orbs. Another day, the same nightmare. With tears trickling down the corner of her eyes, she stared fixedly at the ceiling and waited for her racing heart to calm down. 

Once she felt a little better, she spared a glance at the clock. It read 3:54. She quickly got down from the bed and headed towards the bathroom to start her day. 

The wild and icy wind lashed her face the moment she stepped out of the castle. She shivered and hugged her jacket closer. One of the downsides of not having a wolf was to not have any protection from cold. It was still dark and deadly quiet outside if the howling of the wind is not taken into account. She cursed Azriel under her breath and marched ahead. 

The ground where the Mating ceremony was going to take place was all by itself. Not a single soul could be seen on the premises. She couldn't for the life of her understand what was it that couldn't wait till the sunrise. She yawned and searched the site for the cause of her frustration. And, of course, Mr. latecomer hater was himself late. She wasn't a bit surprised there. Urghh...only Goddess knows how much she hates him. Such a punctual guy, she snorted to herself and found herself a rock to sit on. She perched on it and propped her chin in her palm. Having no choice in hand, she started waiting for his royal highness to show up and grace her with his divine presence.  

Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours but Azriel didn't show up. The Sun had long soared and the whole world was up and about. Many wolves, who passed by for a morning run, threw weird glances at her but she ignored them. She waited for five long hours only to meet with disappointment in the end. He didn't come. 

At last, she pulled to her feet to make her way back to the castle. A frown sat over her brows. Her insides were burning with resentment. She knew he had done it on purpose. How could she not get it, It was one of his trickeries to annoy her. She was a peaceful person but in the moment, she would have given anything to smack his face and break his jaw. 

........

The school, as usual, was abuzz with students. Sienna had managed to make it inside the campus without attracting her bullies' attention. She was heading towards the building when the sound of laughter hit her ear. The sound made her stop short and turn to look. Some boys were practicing in the basketball courtyard. Her eyes were quick to locate the raven-haired boy, thanks to his tall and huge physique that can't be missed even from miles.

He chest-bumped Nel, his best friend, after shooting the ball through the hoop. The boys cheered and applauded for their captain. Meanwhile, Leo whispered something in his ear which led him to laugh heartily. Resentment grew inside her as she watched him having a time of his life while she wasted five hours waiting for him. 

As if he had heard her mental cursing, he suddenly turned to face her. Their eyes locked before he winked at her almost knocking her off her feet. Her heart endured a strange jolt, something she had not experienced before. Smirking, he returned his attention to the game, disregarding her presence just like that. 

The realization was quick to dawn on her. He knew what he had done. He made her wait on purpose and wasn't even a bit sorry for it. In fact, he was rubbing it in her face. 

Fuming, she shifted her gaze forward and marched into the building. 

"Sienna, wait up," she halted and looked over her shoulder to see Dustin hurrying over to her. Feeling a smile growing on her lips, she turned towards him.     

"Dustin," she craned her neck and said as she noticed him limping a bit. 

"I am fine, sweetie. Gosh....how many times I shouted your name. Where were you lost?" he asked between his pants.  

"Umm..I might have been lost somewhere," she said sheepishly. She indeed had this bad habit of getting lost in her thoughts. 

"Let's get in the class," he said while striding towards the room. She followed him in.

Once the class ended, Dustin told Sienna to meet him in the library during lunch break to discuss the project. 

Sienna still thought it was a bad idea for him to be seen with her. Azriel had almost killed him once she didn't want that to happen again. He was a nice guy and he would hate herself if something happened to him because of her. But Dustin didn't have it. He might not be as strong as powerful as Azriel was but still, he wasn't the one who would bend easily to someone's wish.

"He can't kill me, atleast not if he wants to be the King," Dustin told her. A wolf covered in innocent blood could never become the protector of the clan, it was an unsaid rule. Sienna nodded. They parted for their respective classes from there.

 She was walking towards her class when she got a text from Azriel.

Meet me at the Grenger Hall at Lunch break the text read.

Sienna rolled her eyes and slipped the phone into her jeans pocket. She wasn't going to fall for it again.    

When Lunch arrived, she didn't think twice before going to the library.  She did her lunch with Dustin and discussed their project. 

Sienna was busy writing her paper to notice the silence that had filled the room all of a sudden. She also didn't notice her worst bully stepping into the class.  

"Sienna Harrison," she jerked her head up when she heard her name being called. The whole class already had their gaze on her.  

"Yes, miss?" she asked before shifting her gaze to the person standing beside her. 

Sienna's beautiful large eyes turned wider when they alighted on him. The devil was already staring at her with a sour expression. She felt his fierce glare scorching her skin. Her poor heart thumped loudly in nervousness.   

"Prince Azriel wants to talk to you," Mrs. Paterson told her and instructed her to go out.

Sienna spied a glance at her unfinished paper. There was a lot to cover. She had just started out. And also she didn't want to be left alone with him. He definitely was not in good mood and if one goes by his hateful glare, it seemed the reason was her.  

Sienna stood up hesitantly.  

But, miss, my paper...."

"I don't have all day, Sienna," he snapped. His tone held a hint of warning. If she was nervous before, she was scared now.   

"Go, Miss Harrison," Mrs. Paterson stated. 

She sighed in defeat and followed an angry Azriel out.

He continued to walk ahead without bothering to look back and check if she was following or not. He knew she was following him. She clenched unclenched her fists in nervousness.  

When they reached a secluded corner, he spun around and pushed her against the wall behind her. 

She first gasped but it changed to a soft whimper when the pain hit her. 

"You think you can make me wait, you lowlife. You think you have it in you?" he sneered, dangerously closing in on her. 

 Her pain was momentarily forgotten as she looked at him in confusion. 

"You did get my text, didn't you?" his voice lowered to a deep growl as he pinched her chin and made her look into his eyes. Rage, like fire was leaping from his eyes. 

He also had never been this touchy with her in the last 8 years nor this demanding. Something had changed in him since Dustin's arrival. 

"I..I thought.."

"Where were you?" his brows snapped together as he demanded suspiciously.

Her words stuck in her throat. She couldn't help but feel unnerved by his question. She didn't want to tell him that she was with Dustin. He already had bad blood with him. 

"I..I was.."

"Don't you dare lie to me, princess. I can smell a lie. You know that right?" he warned her in a low but threatening tone. His luscious lips were moving just a breath short of hers.  

She couldn't hold herself from peeking at his dangerously close lips. And when she did, a tingling sensation shot up her spine. He was too close. She pressed her back more against the wall to create some distance between them.

Her expression must have given her away as the realisation lit in his eyes. His lips drew into a depraved smirk.   

"You were with that mutt, weren't you?" it wasn't a question but a statement. 

Her heart started to hammer loudly against her rib cage. Sweet Goddess have mercy! He figured it out. 

"Of course, you were," he added, studying her horror-filled expression.  

"Do..don't hurt him," she stuttered, feeling cold fear nipping at her insides. 

His angered eyes now were venom-filled. Malicious eyes and cold smirk, the combination was spine-chilling. 

He leaned closer, to her horror and started whispering in her ear.  

"What did I tell you earlier, Princess? The more you will try to protect him, the more I'll hurt him. Keep doing it if you want me to kill him," his tone was impassive but she detected the resentment it carried covertly. Her mouth snapped shut. 

"Is that what you want, hmm?" he drew away and looked into her eyes.

"You..you can't kill him," she argued. He raised an eyebrow.

"No one will have a man who has his hand covered in an innocent's blood as their ruler," she explained. His smirk broadened at her point. She did have a point. 

"Who said I will kill him with my own hand?" he shot back in a composed tone. The color drained down her face. 

"No, you won't.."

"I will kill him if he tried to take what is mine," he answered cryptically as his intense gaze roved all over her face. He put his thumb on her lower lip. She felt uncomfortable. She could feel his hot breath searing her lips. Their proximity and his deep voice were causing a funny feeling in her stomach. 

"I will make an example out of him so others would know what happens when they lay their filthy eyes on what belongs only to me," he added huskily as he pressed his thumb against her plumpy lip. She swallowed hard. 

"Move away," she croaked out from her dried throat.

He didn't respond just continued staring at her, dazedly. She had no idea what had gotten into him. To her horror, he pressed his body into her. 

"I don't like being second to anyone, Princess. Get it through your thick skull. Your first priority is me. When I call you, you will pick up at the first ring, when I text you, you will reply instantly. When I want you, you will come to me, leaving everything at once, including that scumdog, Understand?" the sternness in his tone had turned to something else. There was strange hoarseness in his voice that sent her nerves shattered. 

He looked at her expectantly. 

She took a moment to process what he had just said. A flicker of irritation flared inside her. 

"You didn't come this morning. I...I waited for you but you didn't," she complained to which he responded with a smirk. He stepped away, allowing her to breathe. 

"I never said I would come," he replied, still smirking. Rage flowed through her veins like lava. 

She could have used that time collecting more information about magic and witches. She was obsessed with collecting knowledge about magical creatures. How could she not? When she knew the killer of her parents had a connection with magic.  

"And I also didn't say I would come," she replied heatedly. His smirk fell instantly and he bounded over to her in one quick stride.

He cupped the back of her head with his large hand and tilted her face up. 

"I would think twice before taking that tone with me if I were you," he seethed, glaring into her eyes. 

Her eyes watered. 

"Let go of me,' she said weakly. 

"No can do, moonshine," he whispered mysteriously before as his gaze slipped to her lips. His eyes narroed a slit as he stared hard at her lips only to push her away the next moment.  

He backed away while raking his fingers through his raven locks. She observed how they tousled and made him look even sexier.

His breathing had deepened as he regarded her with a strange look in his eyes. 

" Tonight, after dinner you will come to my wing," he snapped his finger to command her attention and ordered in finality. without giving her a chance to respond, he turned around and stormed away, leaving her behind with her jumbled thoughts. 

It took her a minute to make sense of his words. And when it did, her mouth fell open. 

What in hell?

Did he really tell her what she think he did? 

No..no..no..it wasn't a good idea. She can't go there. A ball of apprehension settled in the pit of her stomach.