Thirty one

JADE POV.

The chain was back on my feet and it made me want to commit murder. After acting like a fucking caveman and tearing up my dress, he had the audacity to throw a fit when he saw the fading scar. It would have been a freaking sweet moment, it was but I didn't know how to feel about it.

All my life, no one ever cared about if I lived or died, so for him to get so pissed off, left me with conflicting emotions, but that was all bottled up now because he ruined everything by putting back the chains on me, even tho it was just only to make sure I didn't disobey his orders.

I guess actually thinking everything through made me realize that going to the festival was not the best thing to do. There were going to be tons of unmated wolves there, and if the heat was as intense as the maid let on then I didn't want to take any chances.

Dearil was strong, but could he fight off hundreds of other wolves who might want to have me for themselves, it was all hypothetical, but that pretty much changed my mind about

, there was also the fact that Ariel was a lying little bitch.

Well, not just that. I hated to admit it but I have found out that I could not seem to refuse Dearil in the way I normally would. I found myself wanting to please him, I found out that when he praised me or beamed at me for listening to him, it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, it made me want to jump into his arms and just inhale his hot manly scent. It was fucking insane and absurd. Listening to him made me feel, almost loved and secure.

It was not supposed to be like this. Dragging my nails through my curls, I growled Into the room. Great! I was officially becoming an animal like Dearil "I'm so tired of all these back and forth".

I told the wall, then stared at it for a couple of minutes as if that would somehow make it speak to me. I got to my feet and then whipped around as my ears picked up the soft sound of someone moving toward me.

Ariel slammed me into the wall, her hands coming to cover my lips as her eyes warned me to keep quiet. She looked around the room, then her gaze landed on me before she let go, but she didn't make any move to put more space between us.

Her eyes were hazy and the way she breathe me in had me wondering if she wasn't experiencing the heat and might be one of those Alpha who would claim anyone unmated.

"Smacking me Into the wall was freaking unnecessary" I whispered fiercely, hating the fact that just because they possessed extraordinary strength, they could just do whatever the hell they wanted.

"It wasn't" she growled. "But your scent was so alluring that I couldn't resist," she said, her voice low and husky. "You are one fucking temptation Jade, no wonder Dearil is so smitten".

"Speaking of Dearil, I don't think he will appreciate this sought of...", I glanced at the little space between us and she grinned cockily as she stepped impossibly closer to me, her fist clenching by her side. "Dearil is not here".

"You are right, but he'll know you were here once he gets back, and that's what we both don't want do we".

Her nose connected with my skin as she inhaled deeply, her hands trailing up my arms.

"So fucking tempting" she growled and pulled back sharply, her eyes an intensely darker shade than what I was used to.

"Why aren't you at the festival".

I pushed off the walls, crossing my arms. "My Master told me to stay put and after thinking it through, I decided I'm too introverted for a party anyway, so I won't be going".

Ariel took a step toward me and then stopped, her breathing shallow as she struggled to stay in control. She was definitely a threat, was I really safe anywhere?

"Well that is a mistake little girl, you should have done as you were told".

"Yeah, but I'm not really good at following orders".

"But you eat up every word Dearil's tell you, right".

"Well, it's safe to say we both know he is a hard man to resist. And also, I can't go anywhere, at least not when I have this freaking chain holding me captive".

The loud clang of the chain breaking as Ariel stomped on it made me flinch. I glanced at her in shock as the debris of the chain crumbled around my feet

"Nothing is holding you now Jade. You need to be at the festival tonight".

I watched her, was there something important happening, or was a more sinister plot set in stone that I didn't know about? Was Dearil - I couldn't believe I was worried about him- safe.

"I don't need to go to any festival, Dearil told me to stay put and for once, I'm going to obey that order? Do you know why little doll".

One of her eyebrows arched at the term I'd used for her.

"Because this is the only place that is really safe for me, so why will I risk going out and attracting more trouble to myself. I don't think I have the strength for it".

"Is this place really safe tho? I managed to get into your room. He's practically left you unprotected, and chained too. He'd left you defenseless. I could do whatever I wanted to you and no one would be able to stop me".

"You managed to get in here because you are an Alpha, a part of the pack. Yeah, Astra and I have been talking a lot and I happen to know how the hierarchy works in the pack. You could literally tell the guard to let you in and they'll have no choice but to obey, also you were here just two days ago, in this very same room. Dearil is going to come back and once he senses that you were here, you are going to be in trouble, and if you happen to lay a hand on me, then you're signing your death warrant".

Ariel watched me and I stood unflinchingly under her gaze. Ariel suddenly laughed. "Fine, don't go then, because your attending won't make any difference tonight anyway. Your beautiful master is going to meet his end, and you'll end up being tossed around until you have no use".

I gaped at her. What did she mean by that? Was this why I'd felt off the whole day? Was it because I knew his freaking family and pack members were up to no good.

"What do you mean by that Ariel," I said and was going to jerk her by her collar when she stopped me with a light shove, but it was packed with enough force to knock me on my ass. I groaned, my hands smacking against the floor as I glared up at her.

"Don't come close to me except if you plan on becoming my bitch for the night. Your pheromones are already messing with my head as it is, so keep calm and do as you're told."

"Where's Dearil? What are you planning to do with him".

"I won't go into the details with you, but just know if you're an hour late to the festival, then it will be too late to save him".

"How am I supposed to fucking get there? Are you going to take me".

"Does that mean you are coming with me"?

I stared at her. "Do I have a choice?"

"No. You don't."

"Then cut the crap and let's go," I said, and she hesitated. I raised a brow.

"We'll have to use the car, but you'll have to occupy the boot of the car".

My brows furrowed. "Why the hell do I have to do that?"

Ariel took a step closer to me, her gaze roaming over my body before pinning on my face. "Because I won't be able to keep my hands off you in such a confined space, so let's not take any chances. I'm barely holding back as is".

Going to the festival was definitely a bad idea. If the heat was already affecting Ariel then what about the other unmated wolves at the event? This was going to be a disastrous night and I didn't even need anyone to tell me.

But the danger made me feel alive, so there was no going back or backing out.

"Fine! Let's go then".