Why keep getting in trouble?

“I like what you think of me.” Sandro grinned.

He winked at Blaze as he strode towards Thalia.

With each step he took, she took two backwards.

“I hate you,” She said.

“I don't think so, darling,” Sandro mumbled. “Have you forgotten so soon?”

Thalia scowled. “I do hate you, Alessandro, and I can't believe I was with a man like you.”

Sandro chuckled, ignoring her words. It wasn't the first time he heard such words from her.

Moreover, Arabella had told him the same thing over again, and he didn't think it mattered.

He gazed at Arabella; she was still in the same spot he left her. A satisfied smirk graced his face at the state she was in.

Helpless and fragile. Just like how he wanted her to be.

His eyes flickered back to Thalia.

“A lot of things have happened since you left. But I don't think now is the time for catching up.”

He slipped into the plaid shirt with him.

Thalia was glad he had worn something. She could look at him without having nasty thoughts of him shredding his clothes and putting on a show for her.

“Are you acquainted with her?”

Thalia gazed downwards, then she lifted her eyes to stare Sandro in the eyes.

“I do not know who she is.”

“Are you certain of that, dearest Thalia? You should know I am aware of when people lie, and I can sense fear as well.”

“I do not know her, and I haven't even met her until today.” From the corner of her eyes, Thalia saw Blaze heaving out a breath.

She wondered if he was dreading she would say otherwise.

But she knew the consequences of what would happen if she had.

“Why do I feel like you are lying to me?” Sandro asserted. “Why can't you look into my eyes when you talk?”

“There's nothing to see in your eyes.”

“Touché,” Sandro beamed. “I'd admit you need to look at my face to see whatever you want.”

“Your face is bothersome.” She let out.

“But you've always loved staring at me. Even whilst I am inside of you, you enjoyed…”

“Stop!” Thalia flushed. She turned to Blaze.

His face held no emotion, and he wasn't looking at her. Rather, he was staring at Arabella, who was still unconscious.

“We need to do something about her. She might die.” Blaze blurted out after staring at her bloodied face for a long time.

Sandro shrugged. “She was meant to die, anyway.”

“But she isn't dead. She freaking needs treatment.” Blaze clenched his hands.

“Who are you to tell me what to do to her?” Sandro asked, tilting his brow.

His eyes narrowed at Blaze, and he glared at him.

Blaze seethed, and he let out a low growl. He was mad at Sandro for what he did to her. He was mad at Arabella for leaving the safety of the house and, most of all, he was mad at himself.

He couldn't keep her safe despite the promise he made to her.

He had broken it without even trying. He had freaking failed her.

'You failed her.'

His wolf, Red, jeered at him as it stirred within him. 'She is yours, but you couldn't keep her.'

Blaze shook his head. Arabella wasn't his. It was clear from the beginning that she belonged to someone else.

But his wolf kept reminding him she was his mate, just as Thalia had said.

Nonetheless, he had let her down.

Blaze breathed out and stared at Sandro in the eyes. “I'm sorry. But, she is hurt and could die from her injury. I'm certain you don't want to kill her right away. She can do plenty of things to amuse you. So, you need to save her.”

“That's clever. Of course, she was my plaything before she fled, and this time, I'd even make it hell for her. You can take her to the infirmary.” Sandro said, then he turned to Thalia.

“Stay the night.” He caressed her cheeks and planted a kiss on the corner of her lips before he strode out of the room.

“Geez,” Thalia grimaced, wiping her mouth. “Such an unpleasant being!”

Blaze rushed towards Arabella as soon as Sandro left.

“Arabella. Please, stay with me.” He choked out.

His voice quivered, likewise his body, as he cradled her in his arms.

“I'm sorry, Cole. I should have been…”

“It's my fault,” Blaze said.

He blinked back the tears that threatened to slide down his cheeks, and he felt for her pulse.

It was faint, almost fading.

Hoisting her bridal style, he hurried out of the torture room towards the infirmary.

**********

Arabella winced.

Her head pounded, and her eyes felt as though they placed an extra weight on them.

It wasn't only that. Her chest looked as though they confined it in a container, and she could barely move her hands.

She turned her head slightly and next to her bed; she saw Blaze.

“B-Blaze,”

Blaze jerked awake at the first mention of his name.

His bleary eyes widened, and he blinked as he stared at Arabella, who rose slowly from the bed.

“You are awake!”

“I am.” Arabella nodded and attempted a nod.

Blaze let out a relieved breath, and he stood from his chair, set a pillow at her back to brace it, and he tucked a hair behind her ear.

His face flushed as his finger tingled at the contact he made with her skin.

“What happened?” Arabella asked, breaking his thought.

“Sandro happened,” Blaze mumbled. “But, I don't think going into details of how nasty he is, is important at the moment. I need to make sure you are fine.”

“I'm fine,” Arabella said as he placed his palm on her forehead.

“You are not.” Blaze said. “I need Francis to run some checks on you.”

“I'm okay, Blaze. It's just…”

“You are not!” Blaze exclaimed, slapping her hand that moved to grip him away.

“Why the fúck did you leave the safety of the house? Why the fúck do you like getting in trouble?!”

“Why can't you just listen to me for once? I am freaking trying to help you, but you are making everything so difficult for me!”

Arabella grasped the bed linen, and she bit her lower lip as it trembled.

She sniffled as her eyes filled with tears, and she stared up at him.

“Why are you blaming me for this?”

“Who the fúck do you want to blame if not you? You had only one important job, and that is to stay indoors!”

Blaze gritted his teeth and tugged his hair before scowling at her. “Why did you leave the house, Arabella? Why do you like punishing yourself?”

“I don't like punishing myself.” She said in a small voice. “I didn't just leave the house. I got a call from Thalia to pick up something, and it went downhill from there.”

“Thalia called you out at that hour after telling her not to do anything to risk your life? That's unbelievable!”

Blaze scoffed.

“She did, but I realized everything was a trick. Apparently, she wanted me to stay away from you. I don't know why she hates me so much.”

The tears in her eyes slid down her cheeks slowly, and she gasped as her body trembled.

Thalia loathed her, and she didn't bother to hide it.

She recalled everything that had happened in the torture room and even before that.

Sandro almost killed her both times, and he wasn't remorseful.

She believed if it wasn't for Blaze and Thalia arriving, she would not have survived whatever he had in mind for her in the torture room.

“Hey.”

Arabella's eyes shifted back to Blaze.

“I'm so sorry for being hard on you.” He said, caressing her knuckles.

He squeezed her hand and brought it to his mouth. He placed a kiss on it and sighed.