7: Confronting Aria

Selly took one calculated step, then another. All the while her eyes never left Aria who stood behind Dominik, hiding like a coward that she was. 

And yes, there was fear in those blue eyes. She could smell it from where she stood and it gave her some type of satisfaction.

The scent on the intruder smelled familiar yet slightly different. Dominik wasn't sure whether he had crossed paths with the shifter before but what confused him more was how she was able to shift when it wasn't the full moon yet. 

The guards standing on Dominik’s sides were vigilant, not blinking once.

The blonde behind him could tell that the wolf's aim was directed at her and she couldn't help but feel her knees turn weaker as seconds went by. Trickles of sweat glided from her upper body and her face glistened with small albeit noticeable droplets.

Why was this rogue staring at her with so much HATE?

Selly snarled and took a third step before she charged forward.

Dominik managed to block his mate, who was now an obvious target but too bad because the werewolf crashed into him with force, sending him several feet away.

To this point, it was clear that she was after Aria.

Seeing this, Aria turned in her heel and ascended the stairs, hoping to find a place to hide or at least buy some time as she looked for subtle ways to deal with her.

Selly followed her, ignoring the guards who now held guns, trying to aim at her with no hope as the wolf movement was unpredictable. One mistake and they could end up shooting their boss’ mate instead.

Climbing a few steps, Selly’s hind leg was pulled by Dominik. He couldn't allow that large, unknown and wild rogue reach his mate.

The she-wolf fell unceremoniously on him who in turn held her in a tight grip.

She struggled to set herself free but the man's large muscles kept her writhing.

One of the guards aimed at Selly again but the odds were against them. With one swipe of her laser sharp claw, she tore open Dominik’s thigh, exposing his femur.

Dominik grunted, swallowing his pain but it was too heart-wrenching and he whimpered but didn't let go.

In an attempt to help his boss, the guard pulled the trigger.

The living room went dead silent for a moment only to realise the man had missed terribly because Selly had shifted just in time and he ended up shooting Dominik. 

Selly got up and charged at the one who held a gun, now shooting aimlessly at her nonetheless missing until he emptied the small gun.

Facing the beast alone as the other guard had gone out to make a call, he trembled and knew for a fact that he would never see tomorrow.

Selly went for the hand that held the gun as soon as she pounced on him and the man screamed for his life. 

Even though she was seething with anger, she clearly heard this one say she was a bitch in heat and for that reason alone, she clawed him on his face, sending the man on the floor as he held his bleeding face.

Now that there was no obstacle on her way to revenge, she started to ascend the stairs to finish what she started when Jordan arrived at the scene, his shirt clinging on him like a second skin. 

The white smooth tiles were now painted red. 

His eyes landed on Selly’s fleeting tail, the guard who was still holding his face then his unmoving brother and his heart threatened to stop.

Crouching down, he yelled at him.

“I forbid you. Don't you fucking dare die on me Dominik.”

Jordan's body shook with rage and grief. Despite the anger he had harbored secretly for his brother, he didn't wish for him to die. He loved Dominik. 

Pulling him on a sitting position, he noticed the blood patch on his chest, the hole on the fabric slightly away from his heart and then he saw the bare bone on his thigh and it broke him to see his strong brother being so weak.

His jaw clenched, this was all because of her. He hated Selly for it.

Who shot his brother?

As he lingered on the possibility that Selly had shifted and shot him, a commotion on the second floor pulled his mind from his unconscious brother.

The sound of things shattering and a high pitched scream reached him and he slowly lay his brother back on the floor. 

Unwilling to leave, he faced the direction from which Selly must be but there was a weak tug on his trouser, making him turn to see his brother who was now awake but slightly pale from all the blood he had lost. 

Dominik tried to speak but couldn't form a word and only ended up pointing his finger weakly on the upper floor, silently urging his brother to help his mate.

Jordan understood his plea and quickly left his side even though he wished to be there for him.

Upon finishing the flight of stairs, he noticed several broken doors. Flower vases lay in a million pieces on the floor but one room particularly pulled his attention and he immediately headed there. 

The scene that welcomed him was that of Selly snarling and moving dangerously slow at Aria as she took in her fear, clearly amused by it. 

Poor Aria was cornered with no way to escape. Her chest rose and fell with difficulty, her form visibly shook.

She neither knew why the she-wolf was after her nor who she was.

“Please, don't hurt her. I beg you.” Jordan pleaded.

Selly stopped.

Did he just beg?

He was quick to threaten me, who has known him for years but he dared beg me for HER?

“Do as you please with me as long as you let her be.”

Ever so slowly, Selly turned and faced him.

She had loved this man with everything she had. Stuck to his side and carried all his burdens, he never once begged her for anything but for a woman he met a few months ago he was willing to go beyond the depths of hell for.

A dangerous thought crossed her foggy mind. Huh! Perhaps he is right. It should be him that I deal with. Aria is, after all, a mere stranger to me. 

To think that she left her world behind. Left her clan at the time that they needed her the most, it was laughable that she even made it so far.

Maybe the rejection was her punishment for abandoning her own people that the Goddess has chosen for her. 

She had been naive, impulsive even but that was fine because she might as well put an end to it today, she thought.

She refused to be a wailing rejected mate.

It was painful, yes but she was no weakling. If he chose to willingly hurt her then she might as well hurt him.

Calculating her move, she took in his form, he looked worn and torn. Breathless.

She could tell from a glance that he just had a marathon trying to catch up with her.

And when she moved, he did not try to evade her attack, hoping her anger had simmered down and hopefully he could talk it down.

But as she closed in, he could tell the  emotions that displayed in those eyes, hate and disappointment . She was hurt. 

When he decided to defend himself at the last second, it was already too late because when she lunged at him, it was his neck she was after and he gasped.