I shifted, my curiosity taking over my body. Why was he injured and wounded in the first place?
“Where do you live? Do you even have a family?”
“I don’t have a house. And no, I don’t have a family.” That was all he said—that was all his answer to my question.
“Please, just stay…” I begged. “If you don’t have a house, then maybe you could live in one of the rooms in our castle. We have a lot of empty rooms that you could use and occupy. I promise I won’t tell my mamita.”
“No, thanks.” Zarion’s throat bobbed. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?” Before I could say anything, he cut me off. “I’m on a quest.”
“A quest…” my brows met. “Like a mystery to solve?”
He nodded. “I’m looking for the witch that will give me the information about who’s my mate.” Mate? I don’t understand. A witch? I don’t understand either. I’m pretty sure that only exists in fairy tales and fantastical stories.
“Okay, but—” I scratched my head. “You could do that while living in our castle, right?” I hate how my voice sounds so hopeful. “Right?”
His back turned away from me. His stance was aggressive as if he was ready to crush something—someone. Zarion’s shoulder tensed, his chest moved in rhythmic oscillation. He was—is—controlling himself. Zarion’s hand forcefully grabbed onto the edge of my arched window that the wooden frame creaked.
Something moved on the ceiling. I immediately tear my gaze away.
“Z-Zarion?” I asked, and my mouth started watering again. He’s gone the moment I looked back to where he was. In just a blink of an eye, he was nowhere to be seen inside my room. Again.
I fucking hate that he didn’t even bid goodbye to me. He said thank you, yes. He gave his “wholehearted” gratitude in front of my face. But can he also do that the moment he leaves? Goodbye is just two syllables, that’s just so easy to be uttered. Or he can even wave a hand to me.
Anyway, what’s done is done. What happened has already happened, time only runs forward. Never backward.
I could hear the loud banging of my heart against my chest as if it wanted to run away and hide in whatever hole it may find. My mouth fell open slightly. I couldn’t breathe his scent anymore though Zarion’s fragrance still lingers in my system. It seems he’s still here, yet I couldn’t find him anywhere in my room.
“Am I imagining things again?” I suddenly thought of something. “A c-coat… I need a coat,” I whispered to myself while looking around to find the coat that I got for him earlier.
I couldn’t explain what I was feeling. Something tells me that I need to follow him. That I need to see him; I need to be near him. My hands shake as I grab my winter ear muffs on my bedside table and go out of my bedroom door. Looking at the mirror situated beside a feminine statue, I passed by our vast hallway, catching a glimpse of my reflection. My tear-stained face was puffy and swollen with grief.
Grief. Why the hell should I be grieving?!
“Mamita shouldn’t see me looking like this,” I softly whispered to myself as I wiped away the tears cascading from my eyes. Sniffing, I was about to step out of the stairs when I saw a dark reflection following me behind. To my shock, mamita was already there when I turned my back.
“Mamita!” I blurted, appalled by her sudden presence. How did she do that again?! Since when did she come here? I didn’t even notice her footsteps nor her presence. But then again, maybe I was preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn’t notice her approaching.
She was holding her walking stick, hoisting it slightly as she pointed towards me. Her piercing eyes didn’t falter. “Why are you crying?”
“C-Crying?” I chortled anxiously. “I’m n-not crying, mamita!”
“Oh please, my dear. Don’t try to fool me. You’ve been in my care for eighteen years. I know yourself better than you do”
“Oh,” I shook my head. “Nothing. I was just thinking about—about the injured dog! Yes, the dog that died in the cabin.”
“A dog?” She inched nearer, her walking stick meeting the floor once again. “We have a dog in the cabin?”
I nodded, refusing to meet her gaze.
“What about the boy?”
“Huh? The b-boy? What boy?” I asked, answering her with two more questions. Eyebrows furrowing right at this moment, deep inside, I knew she knew what happened all along. And what I’m about to do right now.
“Yeah, the boy you have a little crush on.” Her smile faded into something…delirious.
“Mamita, I’m…”
Her eyebrows sculptured and I saw that glimpse of sadness flashing before my face when she peered at me. “No, no, no, Cassidy. You won’t tell me you’re—”
“It’s not just a little crush, Mamita,” I corrected, damn my quivering voice. Looking at her straight in the eyes to tell her I wasn’t kidding, I lifted my bare hands in the air, palms wide open. It’s our little gesture to say that one is not lying. Not even a bit.
“These aren't my silly little jokes anymore that I used to do, Mamita. Never in my life has I been so sure of this decision, of my feelings towards someone. I know it may sound wholly ridiculous but—” I inhaled through my nose, reaching for that last tendril of courage within my soul. “I love him. I love the boy, Grandmother.”
Her jaw fell open, silence possessing her very being now. I saw how her breathing quickened the moment I said those words. It’s true—I love Zarion. Deeply. This is not just some puppy love that I used to have when I was fifteen.The moment I laid my eyes on him, I knew he’s the one who will take care of my life the way my father took care of my deceased mother. They may not be here with me, but based on the stories my grandmother shared with me, I know my deceased parents lived their life to the fullest.And I want to live mine with him. “Mamita, please listen to me—” “I am not listening to any of these absurd things again, Cassidy!” “But—”“You are just eighteen years old!” She bellowed, veins bulging in her forehead.“And I’m old enough to indulge in these things!” “Oh yeah? You already knew it? Then, you tell me then—” She heaved a deep sigh and pointed the walking stick at my chest. “What do you know about love, child?” I was taken aback because of the term she had called m
My heart won over my mind, my emotions took over any rational thoughts swarming within my brain. Nothing can stop me from going out into this castle now. Nothing—not until I find Zarion in the woods.Or in this city. Even if I walk barefoot across the world, I will find him.“Wherever you go, I will go, Zarion,” I whispered, letting the wind carry my words to wherever he is.“One step outside the castle, Cassidy, and you’re gone from our family.” I paused, bones stiffening. It’s as if I felt someone pour a pail of icy cold water amid the harsh winter weather. “If you go out tonight, I will abandon you—leave you. I will forget that I had known a family that goes by the name of Cassidy Salem Blythe.” Bile rose in my throat. Fear, not for myself but for the promise that—for eighteen years—I just broke now. You will take care of your grandmother, Cassidy. My mother once wrote in her journal, directly addressing me. I exhaled, willing the air to enter my lungs again. Pain etched in my ches
“Zarion!” I paused for a heartbeat to let my voice echo. “Zarion! Zarion!”But it was no use. I’ve been walking around the woods with an almost frozen body, a coat made of sheep’s skin is the only thing between me and the cold while shouting Zarion’s name. The snow kept falling, the wind whipping my hair as if it was dragging me back to the castle. It seems Mamita also has power over the wintry weather.There was a blizzard already shoving its here from the western horizon. I couldn’t find the right path anymore. There was no trace of him, his footprints might have faded with the wind’s harshness. Earlier, I caught his scent, a scent of cinnamon and vanilla, so I followed it. I know his scent is very feminine but I don’t even know where he got that too sweet fragrance. But to my dismay and misfortune, even before I could completely follow, it vanished. Just vanished, with no idea how.“Zarion, Please…” I prayed, coughing when a snowflake landed on my tongue. I don’t know why I’m utt
It’s warm and cozy here, my eyes smiling when they found the fireplace. A piping hot bowl of venison stew beckoned me to sit beside the blazing fireplace.I ate half of the food for ten minutes. Noticing the lavish royal blue curtain, I scooted away from the fireplace and pushed aside the curtains. I just realized that it served as the door between—“This place is a village,” I breathed, wiping my mouth clean from eating. From just the look of the surroundings, I’m pretty sure this village is in the middle of the forest. And near a lake, the briny scent could never hide the smell of fresh forest rain. I watch the people who are busy doing their own businesses as I tend to my own business—being busy scanning the surroundings on where the fuck I am. The name of the place, who carried me here, and—“Zarion,” I realized, calling his name as if he’s around. “ Zarion must know where I am, and probably the one who carried my ass here.” My eyes darted to a small cottage in the corner—to wher
“Really? I don’t think so. You seem to be…” her voice sounds suspicious now. She keeps on stepping forward while I step backward. My breathing started to narrow, bile rising up on my throat. This girl in front of me, she may be human in form. But once she finds out I’m not like them, I will be as good as dead. “I really do need to go.” I cleared my throat, and when I get out of the borders, I will look for a safer place from this weird village. I should probably look for Zarion first.But where the hell am I going to look?! Delilah’s suspicions deepen when we hear the crowd fall silent. Looking around, I could feel all eyes on me. The crowd suddenly stopped. On the horizon, I saw a strange man whose body looked exactly like Zarion's. However, looking at his evil smirk, I could sense that they are the complete opposite. Zarion’s was always mocking.The man has a cunning personality, a sarcastic beast, for sure. Zarion’s cold, brutal, and dangerous aura is nothing like this man. He
Brandon wasn’t the one who shifted, that’s a relief at least.But once again, I found myself bellowing and thrashing when Brandon reached for my neck, strangling and knocking the breath out of me. I couldn’t move. I could not even think of a way to escape, to live and leave.I wished there was a hole just beneath my feet that would swallow me in this instant.No… no—help me!” I forced my voice to be louder. “HELP!” “Why are you looking for Zarion? What do you want from him?” Brandon growled. He removed his other hand from my neck and instead unsheathed his huge and sharp claws just a few inches from my face. He had all the chance to crush my neck into pieces, but he didn’t. He just kept choking and strangling me. Maybe he wants something from me, or maybe he wants to relish killing me as slow and unbearable as possible. “I...I... I don't know. There's something about him that I need to do. I feel like I'm obligated to him. I was having these dreams, weird dreams, and I want to stop
If there is anything that I understand in the situation I am in, these are the two things so far that I manage to grasp: 1) I happened to be in Madfur Claws Pack (the name of the pack where I’m fucking in), and 2) I am going to die.Delilah may not tell me all the details, but from what I’ve seen and heard as soon as I tried to put the pieces, I knew what was coming. Zarion is the former Alpha of Madfur Claws Pack but he doesn’t want to take the responsibility, so he ran away. Of course, all the wolves in his pack loathe him so why would he be here, right? Secondly, I am caged in a wooden box. Delilah was nowhere to be seen or heard, so I didn’t know who to cry to for help. Zarion is not here either. And my grandmother—“God, I am going insane!” I cursed myself, loathing myself why I put myself in this freaking shitty situation in the first place. Yet despite the wooden box incapacitating me, I could hear Brandon’s men that we will be going to a place on what they call as the Moon G
And there he was, shirtless and sweating, Zarion lunged from the back of the crowd to where I was.But it was Brandon’s face he grabbed, wrapping his hands tightly around his neck as he choked him to death. The two Alphas were so strong that the energy radiating from them pulsed out and began hitting trees and ground. Powerful, both of them are too powerful to defeat each other. The sediment rocks crumbled to the ground as their fight continued to brew. Zarion pawed Brandon’s wrist and blood started gushing out from, staining the waters of the Moon Goddess’ fountain.Everyone saw it turning from crystal clear white to dark green. Dark, eerie green.“Alpha Brandon and this strange human…they are mates,” Delilah's voice echoed in every corner of the Moon Goddess’ temple. Everyone was completely aghast about that. Faces of disapproval and shock met my gaze.“Me?” I whispered, more to myself than to the wolves. They were completely horrified by the thought. Disgusted, it was what was wr