Chapter 5: The Darcy's

Jasper's entire body tenses, his heart twisting as Eliana's words hit him. The slight shift of her expression gives away her thoughts. There is an anguish that takes hold of Jasper's spine.

"Why do I feel this way? Why am I hurt? She is a stranger. She broke into our house. Why does her opinion matter so much?," he constantly runs questions over and over in his mind, confused.

As the thoughts swirl around in his mind, he continues to forget that he is holding the intruder up, his arms wrapping tightly around her torso. The word that shattered his resolve earlier, does so once more.

Mate.

This pull, the delicious scent of honey that draws him closer to her.

Jasper's mind continues to race, confusion causing him to spiral down into denial. "No, this cannot be. She is a human. The soul bond is impossible between the species. It was created at the beginning of the Pivurlion race."

Beatrice bypasses the statement that Eliana has made, "Are you hurt?"

Eliana is shocked by the question, as she recoils ever so slightly.

"Uh," she shifts uncomfortably and slowly breathes in before moving her gaze back to Jasper. Once there, they both freeze. Jasper swallows a gasp as he stares into her deep, bright emerald eyes.

As her gaze focuses and realization at their positions finally shows in her expression, the intruder forces out a small squeak as she twists hard in his grasp and scrambles away, pressing her back up against the wall. Jasper tries to follow after her, but he stops before he makes a fool out of himself.

"Stop it. She obviously does not want to have anything to do with you. So be it," he states within his mind. Tightening his features, Jasper pushes up off the ground and steps back. He pauses next to his mother. He will not care for her if she detests them so much. He has had enough of humans looking down on them. He should have known she would be no different. Although he thought this, his heart is still twisting in pain.

>><<

As the strange werebear's features shift from concern, to that of pain, Eliana's entire body burns with guilt. She hurt him. Her reaction and disgust that she is unable to hide, has caused him to withdraw, a furrow etching into his beautifully thick brow.

"Wait, what," she wonders in her mind. Eliana blinks several times to try and clear her thoughts. "What am I thinking? He is a Xefol." As the memories of her mother resurface in the back of her mind, her anguish only heightens.

Eliana tries to control her breathing as her lungs twist and her throat closes up. "You killed my mother."

Both of the bears before her recoil with the accusation. The male's features distort into a sneer, with his lip lifting to reveal a snarl. "Excuse me?"

Trying to swallow the tears building, Eliana bites her lip.

It did not help that the scent of lavender, that she now knows is wafting over from the man, causes her mind to become hazy. Her words are even falling out without her approval.

"Twelve years ago, a werebear murdered my mother," Eliana sobs, the wall she originally placed to hold back her emotions now cracking as the overwhelming fear and strange fog take her over.

The female Xefol gasps softly, her hand reaching for her chest, over her heart.

The man, on the other hand, tightens up, his expression shifting several times in a fraction of a second. The snarl falls as his eyes widen, a shockwave rippling through his body, before grief washes it all away. A hint of anger rolls through his eyes, twitching his brow, before he shuts his entire expression down, hiding it all. His fists clench and his jaw stiffens.

Eliana is only able to catch it all as her eyes have barely been able to leave him.

"I was only five years of age. How do you expect me to have been the one to have killed your mother," his eyes flare with distrust.

"Jasper, that is enough," the female hisses, smacking the back of the younger werebear's head.

"Why did she do that?" Eliana almost gasps to herself.

The woman turns her attention back on Eliana. "I am so terribly sorry for what you have gone through. I promise you that we will not harm you."

Eliana shakes her head profusely as the woman tries to move forward.

The Xefol's face scrunches with dismay. She sighs heavily, "I know you must be terrified."

The Princess squeals as the front door of the cottage is thrown open, bouncing off the wall and another male, this one older, steps through the threshold.

"Those stray bears have moved on," he grunts dusting off the arms of his shirt. "They were looking for someone but refuse to tell me who," he sighs. He pauses once he looks up and notices the three of them.

Eliana ponders to herself, "The assassins have been thrown off my trail. It should be safe to leave now." She eyes the family of Xefol, "But where will I go? How am I to travel all the way home?"

As a pinch in her neck causes her to wince, Eliana rubs her shoulder. She fell asleep in an awful position and the adrenaline that has been pumping through her body has now caused her limbs to go limp.

"Honey, you should take a nice hot bath." The woman states as she watches Eliana with a gaze full of concern.

She shakes her head roughly, wincing once more. "No, I shall leave. I am sorry for intruding." Eliana slowly, and unsteadily, forces herself to stand. The younger man twitches, his arm moving forward as though he is about to help her, but he holds back.

Eliana's mind runs rampant, "I cannot allow him to come close to me anymore. I need to keep my head clear. They are my enemy and I cannot afford to allow his smell or touch to distract me. They can kill me at any moment."

"Nonsense. You are hurt and exhausted. You will stay and heal before you leave. Conrad?"

She glances back at the man that has entered the house. His brow raises with surprise, "Of course, dear. Young lady, as my wife Beatrice as mentioned, you are welcome here as long as you need. It will be nice to have a helping hand." He shrugs before wandering out of sight.

Eliana bites her lip once more as tears fill up. Why are they being so nice to her? Confusion begins to take over all other emotions as she stares at this family. They could have killed her if they truly wanted to. So, what other motives could they possibly have for helping her? She broke into their house.

Releasing the tension in her body, Eliana tightens her fists, "No, thank you for the offer, but I really will be leaving."

The Xefol woman's expression falls but she sighs. "I cannot force you to stay against your will. Allow me to pack you a bag for your journey."

Eliana opens her mouth in protest, but the woman is gone before she can utter a word. She stands completely still, avoiding eye contact with the younger bear. His arms are still folded, his dark gaze watching her.

"Here you are honey," Beatrice states walking in with a small, tan knapsack. "Now, be very careful out there. It is almost dark, are you sure you want to leave now?"

Eliana nods vigorously, "I am sorry, but I cannot stay here. Not with you." She winces at her own cruel statement.

If Beatrice is affected by the words, she does not show it.

"If you go straight," she begins to explain as she opens the main door, "You will find a trail in a mile. It will bring you to a small town in a day's time. You will be able to find lodging there and transportation back to your home."

Staring out at the swaying trees, Eliana's skin crawls, a distant branch snapping causing her to jump.

"What if they are still out there? What if Krite sent more than just bears after me," Eliana wonders to herself as her heart begins to race. There is a chance that she will die once she passes the treeline.

Swallowing the terror, her eyes dart back and forth with every movement. The sounds of the wind rustling the leaves causes her mind to go blank with dread. Staring at the darkness of the dense forest, she sees, for one moment, a set of blazing eyes.

"No, it cannot be," she says in her mind. "There is no way they are here. Conrad said they left. They would not wait, right? They would have attacked by now."

Eliana stands in the same position, on the porch, fear swirling within her body as she wonders how long she will be able to survive in the forest.