Chapter 36: The Scent

God, why did it have to reach a point such as this?!

“Bring me to that place,” I whispered and looked at Zarion. “Please.” My head is still spinning thanks to that dangerously erotic dream. My palm yearned for Zarion’s touch, eventually wrapping it around his. I squeezed his hand, and somehow, that made me exhale for a moment.

Yet his face remained aggressive and agitated towards Elliot.

I know Zarion couldn’t control his anger due to some reason. Emotions are his demons, the healer once said. But he’s been trying to take control of it. When he saw me, his Adam's apple protruded and gently brushed my hand against the tips of his fingers.

“Please, Zarion…” I finally unravelled that exasperated look. “I want to go there. I want to see it myself.”

He nodded and kissed my forehead, his arms wrapped around my shoulder while glaring at Elliot.

Poor, poor Elliot.

I shot Elliot an apologetic smile. He returned my courtesy.

He’s been patient with us lately, and words can’t describe how grateful I am that I have him in my life. A healer, and a comforter in times of need such as this.

Alpha Zarion knows where to take me. We immediately went outside, the crisp cold wind kissing my cheeks. He shifted into his wolf form and climbed to the highest tree while I’m on his back. When I breathed in the fresh air, I smiled. This is the remedy that I need.

“Are you okay?” Zarion asked, his voice full of worry as he touched my cheek using the back of his hand. I nodded and smiled to assure him that I am alright, even though the searing pain is still lingering in my chest. “Yes, I’m okay now.”

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“Okay, I forgive you. But please…” I shifted, inhaling his scent as my eyes darted to the horizon. “Don’t take your anger at Elliot. He’s been doing his best to help us.” His jaw clenched as he looked away. “Alright.”

“Thank you, Zarion.”

“No need to. As long as you’re okay—Fuck! You make me worry so much.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying sorry,” he hissed.

“Sor—” He cut me off by kissing me on the lips. Softly. I blushed because of that gentle gesture.

Zarion never fails to surprise me.

He grins ear to ear and caresses my chin. “You’re going to be okay. I promise you that.” He still looks worried. How I wish I could end his agony of worrying me. Zarion’s eyes sparkled with a different set of emotions that only him could fathom.

“I promise you… Cassidy…” his voice trailed and I was left in awe with the sudden change of his tone. My heart melted as his thumb traced the shape of my jaw, his touch echoed with warmth and comfort. And promise. We look at the spectacle in front of us; the sun is raging behind the blanket of snow on the icy ground.

It’s so ironic.

Zarion wrapped me with his strong arms around my shoulder. Even if his arms felt so tense. The two of us let the silence enveloped the atmosphere, both of us enjoying every second of it.

“You know what? I’m gonna rip off my mate’s balls,” I said out of nowhere. Zarion glanced at me with a chuckle. “What a random thought, Cassidy.” His voice rose with mine, amusement etched on his face.

I rolled my eyes at him.  “If I have the chance, I will literally do it! Why couldn’t they wait? I will reject that asshole. It’s better for them not to do that before I reject him. It feels… it feels so weird…” Alpha Zarion’s baritone laughter echoed that I’ve seen birds flying out from their nest. I glared at him. “Why are you laughing?”

“You’re just so cute…especially when you’re like this.”

“You find it cute when a girl wants to rip someone’s balls?” He answered me with a grin and my cheeks flushed with soft redness. He didn’t speak after that.

“Oh, come on!” I demanded.

Yet he just swept me in a passionate kiss.

***

Days passed by and I don’t think I could wait for the day of the full moon.

I become weaker each day. Every night, Zarion and Elliot always find me shouting names until I run out of voice.

Someone is choking me. I figured it was the fucking bastard, Brandon, who keeps on mating with his wife, Hestia.

“No! I said, no!” I shouted at Alpha Zarion when he tried to soothe me, but my agony disrupted my thoughts. I grabbed the glass of water and threw it across the room, just so he wouldn’t come near me. “Leave, Zarion! I don’t need you!”

“Cass, please…” he looks tired and wholly worried while looking at me. My face is dampened with tears. I hiccuped and bit my lower lip, wiped the remaining tears, and left the room even when I didn't want to.

I don’t want to see him like this. In this fucking state. When I saw my reflection in the mirror, I was no longer the beautiful and youthful Cassidy. My physical appearance drastically changed. I look like a skeleton, full of bones and you couldn’t see any fats in my body and face.

Sometimes, I hate watching myself in the mirror so I summoned Zarion to remove all the mirrors in the house.

When Zarion and Elliot were hunting, I insisted on going with them. They couldn’t do anything because I’ve been hard-headed and easily irritated nowadays. They have been patient with me. And so, we went to hunt in the folklore forest.

“That scent…” I whispered and followed the musky scent. My mouth waters just by the mere scent of it. I inhaled and closed my eyes… and blindly followed the scent.

But a hand wrapped around my waist and I found myself at Zarion’s shoulder. “Zarion! Let me go! I need to follow that scent!”

“No,” he said in a dark voice like he was just trying to control himself.

“But Zarion—”

“Fuck. I said no, Cass. We’re going home now!”

“Just a moment, Zarion! I want to know where it’s coming—”

“No.”

I was straining myself against his shoulder to escape, but who am I kidding? He’s very much stronger than me. I lost so much weight that I am one step closer to my snowy grave.

We went back home to Elliot's house. Elliot, on the other hand, has been so busy the past few days that I rarely see him in the house.

“You’re not allowed to go hunting with us anymore.”

Finally, Zarion put me back when we were inside Elliot’s cabin. I got dizzy, and Zarion mumbled curses under his breath when I almost got unbalanced. “Fuck. Cassidy!”

I was on the verge of crying. No, not again. Elliot tried to get in between us and look at me straight in the eyes. “I have to tell you something, Cass.”

“W-What is it? Another bad news, huh?” My voice sounds sarcastic. Erratic.

“Right now, you’re beginning to notice his scent.”

“Who?” I asked, my gaze unyielding.

“Your mate’s,” Zarion breathed.