The Witch and the Werewolf

Merlin scrambled up and tried to get out of bed but a low warning growl halted her movements and her body froze, stiff with tension. 

"I'm a natural born predator, Merlin, any sudden movements are viewed as a threat", his voice was cold and measured but the warning was clear. Merlin turned to face him as every nerve and muscle in her body screamed in pain, she felt that she might collapse back onto the bed at any minute but she steeled herself against it. She could feel the hatred rolling off him in waves that threatened to suffocate her and before she knew it, the words had left her mouth, "Why do you hate me so much?"

"I hate all of your kind. Don't take it personally", he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. 

"What do you want with me?", she asked, changing the subject. 

"First you need to eat and regain your strength then we'll talk", he said, his tone, clearly not inviting further discussion. As if on cue, the door opened and a young woman stepped in, holding a tray of food, she placed it on the table beside the bed and quickly exited the room. The food smelled delicious and Merlin found her mouth watering as her stomach growled loudly in the quiet room. She blushed crimson but he just ignored her and leaned back in the chair, closing his eyes, his hands laced together in his lap. She glanced at the food and back at him, unsure if she should eat or not but painfully aware of her stomach grumbling in protest. 

"Eat or do you want me to feed you?", he spoke without opening his eyes. She didn't need him to tell her twice, she moved towards the table and started eating, momentarily forgetting the Alpha's presence in the room. When she had finished everything on the tray, she remembered he was still there and surreptitiously glanced at him, noting that he hadn't moved from where he slouched in the chair. Thinking that he might have fallen asleep, she moved to the far side of the bed, attempting to put as much distance between them as possible. She leaned against the headboard, her hands on her stomach and stared at the sleeping Alpha, leisurely studying his features. 

His eyes were closed and his long lashes cast feathery shadows under his eyes while his contoured jaw and cheekbones gave him a regal look befitting an Alpha. Her eyes lingered on his lips that were slightly parted as he breathed deeply in his sleep, they looked soft and inviting and she had to stop her thoughts from wandering any further. His black hair was silky straight and slightly long, falling in jagged shards across his face and neck. He wore a white shirt, unbuttoned at the top and dark blue jeans that did little to conceal his muscular physique but then again, she had already seen enough at their first meeting. The memory gave her a funny feeling in her stomach and she felt a little self-conscious even though he couldn't see her face. 

"I've already given you food but you keep staring at me like you're hungry for something else", his voice jolted her from her thoughts and she wondered how long he'd been awake or if he'd ever been asleep at all. She quickly turned her face away to hide the blush rising to her cheeks, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the covers. From the corner of her eye, she saw him stretch languidly before sitting up and looking straight at her. 

"Look at me, Merlin", his voice wasn't loud but it was still commanding and she found herself turning her head to look at him. "Do you know who I am?", he asked, staring into her eyes. She shook her head, trying not to avert her eyes as she felt like she was drowning in those gray depths. "I'm Zeke, Alpha of the Graystorm pack", he spoke with a quiet authority.

"How do you know my name?", she asked. 

"I need a witch, a powerful one and my search led me to you", he answered. 

"Why?"

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, his eyes focused only on her. When he spoke again, his voice was low and measured, as if he didn't want anyone else to hear what he had to say, "I need you to promise me that whatever I tell you tonight will never leave this room"

Merlin stared at him, bewildered, unsure of what to say and confused as to why he would entrust her with a secret when he hated her kind. "Why would you trust me?", she finally asked. He snorted, "I don't but I have no other choice. Now promise me"

She frowned slightly, thinking it through, her mind was telling her to leave and not listen to another word but her heart was telling her to stay and let her instincts guide her. She felt like he'd somehow cornered her by capturing her and bringing her here, leaving her with no choice but to give him whatever he wanted in order to stay alive. 

"No", she shook her head, "You're mistaken, I'm not a powerful witch, my abilities are only capable of mundane tasks. I'm sorry you've wasted your time on me".

"I never make mistakes......not for something like this"

"You don't understand.....", she began before he abruptly cut her off. 

"No, you don't understand. I am running out of time and right now, you're my last shot at ending this"

"I don't think I can be of any use to you"

"How do you know? You haven't even heard me out!", he snapped, visibly annoyed  

"I don't need to! I'm telling you, you've got the wrong person"

"And I'm telling you that you're not leaving this place until you agree to help me!"

Their voices were raised and they sat facing each other not bothering to hide the obvious distate they felt for one another. 

"You think that keeping me a prisoner here will force me to change my mind?", she retorted.

"No! I think that keeping you here will force you to come to your senses!", he growled before getting up and storming out of the room. 

Merlin sat staring at the door, her body trembling as tears slid silently down her cheeks, she pulled up her legs and hugged her knees, sobbing into the covers. She knew that Zeke could kill her if he wished to do so and now that she had refused to help him, it was probably only a matter of time. She was scared and alone and at the mercy of an Alpha who already had a deep hatred for her kind. Without realizing it, she had cried herself to sleep and lay twisted in the covers, her body half covered and half exposed in the oversized shirt that she was wearing. 

Not long after she had fallen asleep, the door opened and Zeke entered the room, moving across the room, he came to stand beside the bed, his gaze fixed on a sleeping Merlin. His face was creased in a frown, emotions flitting across his face as if each one struggled to gain dominance over the other. Slowly, haltingly he reached his hand to her face, as if to caress her cheek, only to snatch it away at the last minute before he turned and abruptly left the room.