Rose thorn

What a fucking joke.

Really.

Those three words coming out of his mouth as soon as he woke up from his fainting irritated me more than the fact that I have to hold his body right now.

His hot breath glazed my skin, and his eyes pinned me to the edge of the river, not escape me. His large rough hands tightened on mine, and as much as I wanted to run away from him, every fiber of my being screamed for help.

I needed someone to break this moment so I could wake up and slap myself too. No, I won’t allow myself to be fooled by him!

I expected him to hit me back in return, because that’s what Creed is, that he is the type to be rough and stoic, and not the helpless-looking puppy in front of me with eyes full of heavy expression.

Who is this man in front of me and why is he being too gentle with me?

I can’t even fathom the fact that he was quietly just staring at me, and it bothers me how instead of feeling proud that I finally let out my emotions, hitting him, instead, I just felt guilty for acting that way.

Instead, with inflamed cheeks, his hands reached up to it and continued looking at me, not with anger, but with regret. And full of another emotion I couldn’t comprehend.

I frowned at him, “Won’t you hit me back?”

“Why?”

“Because you were supposed to hate me!” I yelled at him like a child throwing a tantrum, I pushed the water ”Creed, for goodness sake, you’re giving me mixed signals! You’re making me hope for things that shouldn’t be!”

“What shouldn’t be happening, Nyra? Tell me.”

Is he that fucking clueless? Is he that naive to not even notice how hard my heart is thumping so loudly I’m afraid it would break out of my chest?

I released a sharp breath as if releasing one word hurt me. I closed my eyes shut, “Us. We shouldn’t be… but your eyes are looking at me like that, and it is your fault! One minute you’re out there telling me how you dread me and want nothing to do with me, but the next thing I know you’re mumbling about how I’m finally safe.” I could clearly remember what happened back there at the fight with the Wendigo and Alpha Fenris.

He wasn’t even recognizable.

"Then let it happen, damn it." He cursed under his breath, “Nyra, just let it.”

I hissed, not wanting to listen to any more words, “You know what? I hate you. I fucking hate you. When you fought with Alpha Fenris and the Wendigo, I don’t even care if you die back there!”

“I know.” He muttered, pursing his lips, and gently reached out his hand to the corner of my eyes. And it only occurred to me that I was crying, “But if you really hate me, why are you trembling now when I hold you? Why are your eyes drifting to my lips? Why are your cheeks getting red when I simply stare at you?”

I can’t believe he’s making notes of all those small details of me.

“I can feel your suffering, Nyra. And I wanted nothing but to ease that pain away. I wanted to shoulder everything you feel…everything you hate, just so you could live.”

Each word strung me, and it did not only heal me but also messed my head up.

How can he be so fucking calm while saying all of that?

In an instant, he embraced me in a hug, his hands caressing my hair gently as he mumbled deeply, “Cry. Cry it all out until your fucking heart is all empty from the pain. Cry it all out from all those suffering they did to you because I am here now, and hell break loose if someone messes with you again.”

His words speak volumes, and it is the first time I felt so understood. Especially coming from an unexpected someone.

He gently placed his forehead on mine and made our noses softly glide against each other. Our lips were inches away from each other, and his hot breath was tickling me. Gazing at me as if I was his everything, he offered a small smile, his eyes crinkled, and I didn't remember when I had last seen him smile like that. Amidst his dark features, it suits him so much. And it warms my heart knowing I am the reason for that.

It was his way of saying, “It's all okay now, Nyra.”

"Last time I remember, I liked seeing you cry, but now I can't even let anyone cause your suffering. One wrong move and I'll kill anyone who dares to hurt you again."

It feels so surreal hearing him say those sweet words to me as if we didn't just throw hell at each other. But at the same time, it feels so fucking right. As if he were meant to say those things to me. Naturally.

All of the emotions I am feeling are so overwhelming. And I might go insane if I don't release them.

And it didn’t take long for my eyes to water so much it gushed like a waterfall.

It felt so damn freeing.

I bawled my eyes out like a child who finally got to achieve her candy.

“You bastard! I thought you were going to die back there, and I was so scared, so scared for you!” I yelled at him, hitting him while he continued embracing me silently. I admitted it out loud, all the thoughts clouding me as if he didn’t know it enough.

It felt like a thorn was removed from my shoulders, a heavy brick smashed to pieces in my way, a thorny path being straightened. All tension was removed from me. And I felt so light. as if drifting to the light and saying goodbye to the darkness.

"You finally did it, congratulations." He said, teasing me and I rolled my eyes at him.

"There, I see the usual sassy Nyra. As much as I want to see you change for the better and break away from your past, I'd also like to see the real you, please? if you let me?" His eyes looked like they were begging for permission, and he didn't have to do that because he had the only right to that. It's not like I can control my urges now anyway.

I cracked a smile.

"There, you look beautiful smiling. Keep smiling for me, will you?"

How can he say that while looking majestic and smiling at me?

When I calmed down enough, I looked up to him and saw him still having his eyes closed.

“Creed?” I called out amidst his ragged but calm breathing, and I only noticed that he fell asleep in my arms as we were standing by the river.

I knew he threw all his guard down whenever he was with me for him to sleep freely like that. For the first time, I chuckled at his defenselessness. I could kill him any moment if I wanted to, but he knew me damn well that I couldn’t do that.