Slow Motion

Darkness. And the sound of water echoing from a distance. I couldn’t pinpoint where it is exactly however, my body is not listening to me.

My body was doing the exact opposite of what I was telling it to do, and that is to reach for the fire lit in a torch in the middle of the room.

I knew I would be burned yet my body is still determined to reach for it, and before long, I could hear someone saying, “You are destined for it.”

I turned around to check who it was but was pulled away as I heard a familiar voice.

“Kira, wake up, my darling.” The familiar British accent pulled me away, and my body jerked upright, breathing deeply.

I looked to my right and see the expectant look of a vampire.

The same vampire Gusev.

I breathed deeply to calm my heartbeat from beating deeply.

He clicked his tongue, “Had a bad dream uh?”

I nodded, wanting to ask a question but my throat was dry.

“You do get as the sleeping princess every time there is a fight.” He commented and I cleared my throat.

“What happened? Where’re the fowlers? Where’s Arya?”

“Your mate killed them all.” He answered.

“But why are you here?” I asked and he shrugged, “For entertainment. I can’t miss a thing, can I?”

His head turned to the right and instantly covered my mouth with his hand as he flew to the tree branch.

I blinked, why the heck are we in a tree branch now?

I waited for a few minutes, staying still as I could hear Gusev’s breathing, his cold breath hitting my neck as he faced forward.

Just then, I heard Ace’s voice from afar, “Kira! Where are you?”

Oh, they are looking for me! They appeared below us and I prepared myself to shout.

“Ace! Arya! I am here!” I waved at them.

“I found her alone.” Behind me, Gusev answered and explained to them, “And she was sleeping…she was almost attacked by the enemies earlier, you know. Good thing I came.”

I glanced at him as he smiled at me, then back at Ace who seemed to not take this lightly. He growled as he threw daggers with his eyes at Gusev.

Oh oh. Ace is certainly and absolutely not happy at the view in front of him, “Gusev. Get her here. Right f*cking now!”

I gulped and saw Arya’s shocked expression as she looked at Ace judgingly. Damn, I could just read her thoughts through her expression now…

She must be thinking how possessive and protective Ace is of me…

And speaking of mate, I wonder where Arya’s mate is? He’s not standing there beside Arya like he usually does and silently observes us.

I glanced at Ace, trying to read him but he seemed to be blocking his thoughts from me. I sighed, knowing him, he must be thinking of murderous thoughts and how to kill Gusev, yet he couldn’t just do it now because I am here and he knows I would stop him no matter what.

Also, Ace was telling Alpha Kai about how his twin brother betrayed him and told the fowlers our direction.

Even if I was just a spectator and do not know what the real situation is, I don’t have the right to judge and assume who betrayed who and how it is true.

I believe that Alpha Kai is innocent, not because I trust Arya and that he is her mate, but because Alpha Kai and I are not that close, heck we did not even talk even once, but I know how loyal he is.

I know that Ace must have misunderstood some things.

I guess I have missed out a lot, why did I even sleep through their fight?

I hadn’t made any contribution to them! And I want to see Ace kick Fowler's ass!

Gusev carried and brought me down, and Alpha Ace didn’t hesitate as he instantly grabbed my hand.

He gave me a look that says, “Don’t ever let him touch you again.”

I just stroked his hand and smiled, not wanting to let Ace make another fight. He seemed too tense and too untrusting to everyone around us lately. He probably knows something that I do not.

I could see Gusev standing by Arya and raising his eyebrow at her in question, “Why are you still here? If I were you, I would have run away from here.”

“And why are you here too? Protecting Kira and all when Alpha Ace clearly hates you?” Arya fired back, being the feisty usual that she is. Judging from her spirit, I know that everything is still good for her to be her usual self like that. Her retort only made Gusev laugh.

Well, I must say, Arya, is right. This vampire has the guts for keeping on appearing to us and touching me like that in front of my mate who’s overly protective of me.

“I guess we have something in common now. I am sensing Alpha Ace wouldn’t just let us out of

his sight.”

Looks like both of their fate lies in Alpha Ace now. I guess it’s up to me to melt Ace’s heart and make him think things carefully first before doing something to them.

Plus he’s only angry with Alpha Kai, and not Arya, so why is Arya dragged into this?

I know my girl Arya is innocent!

Ace turned to Arya and he seemed to be whispering things to her as he said. I knew I had sharp senses ever since Ace marked me but I couldn’t hear what he said to Arya, which only made me more curious.

Did something happen that big while I was gone?

Something that Ace hides from me?

I know damn well Ace is hiding something from me given that I want to mind-link him but he wouldn’t allow me to enter his mind.

Damn. He’s keeping secrets from me that he would go to such lengths and threaten Arya?…so this is what he wants to play.

I’ll have to know that one way or another. And I’ll wait until Ace leaves so I can ask Arya about it.

Ace seemed to be playing this cool as he came into me and embraced me in a hug, “Are you alright, my sweet?”

I let my whole body melt into his arms and just relax. I didn’t know I was standing still and tensed up.

“I’m fine….but I feel like my head has been cracked into two. What happened? Oh right! There were enemies here? Why are you standing here, we need to fight them!” I answered.

“We already did. Do not worry, I killed them all.” Alpha Ace responded and I could see Arya rolling her eyes. Arya seemed to be not taking his bullshit and I could just laugh at their

relationship. My mate and my friend here seemed to be hating each other, but at the same time, forces themselves to get along as they are both important to me.

I instantly embrace Arya in a hug, “I am glad you are fine.”