40

The song ends, and I smile at Malachi. His eyes shine only for me, and I feel as if one touch from him could make my skin ignite with sparks and desire.

I snuggle back into his side, content now to watch others share songs and stories.

Bianca is sitting sullenly with her mate, her lips in a pout as she flicks glances at us, and I actually feel sorry for her. But neither of us can help who we're mated to. It's up to us to make the best of the situation we are given.

So with Malachi beside me here on my home territory, with my family and friends surrounding us, and so far from all the problems of the last few weeks—I feel like my heart is nearly full and bursting. These warm and fuzzy feelings coursing through me are rare, and I'm afraid that tomorrow, real life will take over and this dream of tonight will turn to dust. Can I truly look forward to a future with this man beside me? Can we have what I see in my parents and Alphas?

All the dreams I've had are conflicting. I cannot tell the future like our ancestral prophets. Maybe all I have is now, so I push my fear and doubt aside and focus on my Malachi who has me wrapped in his arms, our thighs closely touching, his chin resting on the top of my head. I can sense his comfort in the steady beat of his heart as it reverberates through my back and along my entire body. My own heartbeat syncs with his, and we smile and chat to those around us with the calm that you experience after a wild storm, and the world is washed clean with sparkling drops of crystal.

Soon however, the crystal drops and shatters, making my fists clench when Max comes up to us. I can feel Malachi tense, and suddenly remember what he did to Max when he made fun of me.

"So Ariella, is this your dark and mysterious mate? The one from the enchanted forest?" Max quirks his eyebrow and stands before me with an air of dominance, his eyes raking up and down my body in a way that I once might have interpreted as chaste interest. Now it disgusts me.

"No, but this is my mate Alpha Malachi of DoubleEdge Pack." I loop my arm through Malachi's and rest my hand on his chest, feeling his heart rate increase as I stake my claim.

Max merely grins at me, shaking his head, "Looks like all your dreams came true." Then to Malachi, "It's nice to meet you, Alpha." Max extends his hand.

Malachi stares at it, then slowly travels his eyes back up to Max's. I can sense the simmering anger in his dark scowl, and clutch his arm tighter, hoping he doesn't do anything rash. "Very displeased to meet you," he says, and then sharply tugs me away.

"What was that all about?" I ask once we are alone, away from the gathering around the fire. "He didn't do anything to me tonight. Why couldn't you just say hello like a normal person would?"

"A normal person? Are you saying an Alpha male protecting his mate isn't normal?" Malachi's voice is incredulous, the twigs snapping in agreement under our boots as we walk deeper into the trees.

"I--uh--" I follow him, staying by his side and matching his long strides.

"And he might not have done anything, but he was thinking it. He wanted to do so many things to you, vile things that would make your skin crawl and my blood boil. He will never lay a hand on you or ridicule you while I'm around," Malachi stops and turns to face me. He's stepped closer with each breath he takes, his body pressing into me as he leans his head to mine, his lips brushing my ear. My body sings to his, appreciating the protective nature of my mate. Yet my brain is trying to process his words.

"How did you know--"

"Just trust me. Stay away from Max." Malachi's eyes are a dark blue now, almost navy, and I read the seriousness without needing anything more said. "I know what guys like him are capable of," he says, suddenly clenching his fists and stalking further into the forest. The dark trees crowd over us, blocking the diffuse glow from the stars.

I know little enough of how disrespectful some wolves can be, so I take Malachi's hand in assurance. "Let's walk. No one can reach us out here. No one can hurt me when I'm with you," I guide his steps down the path that I love most. "The forest at night is one of my favourite places. No one can laugh at me or say I'm silly out here. The pine trees and night creatures don't make fun of my dreams."

Malachi nods, his eyes roaming about in a slow and measured fashion, scanning our surroundings. "No one to criticise you, or tell you how to be a responsible adult."

"No one to hate you or disrespect you."

"No one to pretend to. I can see why you like this place," he brushes the tips of his fingers down the leaf of a fern, a smile in his voice before it turns serious again. "But it could still be dangerous, Ariella."

I roll my eyes. "This isn't the forest of DoubleEdge. We haven't had any attacks out here since....since, well, my parents and sixty three others died at the hands of hired rogues. But that was a long time ago. We've trained the warriors and guards so much more, and Alphas Kaiden and Chesca make sure to stop every threat before it even is a threat."

"And I don't, is that what you're implying? I can't protect my own pack members," his voice drops and I cringe that I've reminded him of his failings.

"You can't blame yourself, Malachi. It's not possible to properly run a pack when your own members don't respect you, and are working against you." I squeeze his hand and hope that he understands.

He sighs and stops walking. I can hear his jaw clenching, working back and forth, and know it is a sign of his frustration. He tries so hard to do the right thing by everybody, but so many things remain out of his control. He stands to his full height and drops his head back, trying to see the stars. Then with another heavy sigh, he looks at me sharply. Pressing my hand tightly between his fingers, he speaks in a low voice, "Just be careful, okay? You can't trust anyone these days. One moment they'll be your friend, and the next, they'll take from you anything they want."

He steps back, and with a snarl, Malachi slams his fist into a tree trunk. I hear the splintering of wood as it deforms beneath his strength, and my body flinches. He is agitated, the tension etching his shoulders into a taut posture. "Like the flip of a switch, they can snap and become the nightmare you've been running from."

His breathing is heavy, his footsteps ominous as he comes closer to me once more, and I back up when I see his silhouette rise before me. "They see beauty, and want it for themselves. They see light, and want to ruin it with their darkness." He reaches out a hand and brushes it tenderly against my face as his words wash over me, sending shivers down my spine.

My back touches the tree behind me, and I lean against the sturdy trunk. The support is welcome as my legs go weak, as my heart begins racing with uncertainty when I try to read his mood. Malachi stoops until his lips are in line with mine. "They see purity, and are drawn by their depravity."

The whisper of his mouth against mine is alluring, drugging me into a daze. My eyes adjust in the near blackness and I see the smooth planes of his face, the sharp jawline and soft lips, the dusty freckles that graze his cheeks. When his large hand snakes around the back of my neck and pulls me closer still, I don't resist. His tongue sweeps along my lower lip, and I open my mouth in anticipation. His kiss begins slow and heavy, becoming more urgent and desirous. My fingers glide up his neck and through his hair, relishing the feel of his silky locks. Shivers scatter over my skin when Malachi's hands find their way to my waist, and a new sense of hunger grows between us. Urging, compelling, desiring us to become one in body and heart.

Cold fingers of air swirl around our ankles as the forest temperature drops, while the heat sparks between our bodies like lightning in a winter storm. I don't know where we're going with this, but this kiss is like nothing we've done before. I'm suddenly glad for the dark forest that shields us from everyone else. Malachi's mouth completely covers mine, possessing me, swallowing the moan that is torn from deep within me. I want more, but do I know enough of Malachi to trust him with everything I am? Can I lose myself in abandon to this desire for my mate? Or will the darkness within completely consume me, leaving me with nothing but heartbreak and burnt ashes?

His kisses down my neck and collarbone become insistent, nipping at my skin with his teeth, tearing into my flesh lightly and perhaps drawing blood. His hands are all over me, sliding into my jacket and caressing me more closely.

And suddenly, I don't want this. "Malachi, what are we doing? This is not a good place..." I try and gasp between kisses, between stolen breaths.

"I need you, Ariella," he whispers in a deep husky voice that makes my throat run dry. These undercurrents of lust are new, the throaty growl that accompanies his words spiking fear into my heart.

"But—"

"No buts. Not this time." He hushes me with a firm kiss to my mouth while his hands slip under my shirt and feel their way up. Amidst the torrent of sparks from this contact, I am aware of the way his fingers grip my underwear and tug sharply.

"What on earth!" I shove him back with all my strength.

Malachi stumbles back, and I look up in time to see crimson sparks in his black irises before they fade and return to blue. He shakes his head as if shaking off whatever strange delirium came over him, and looks away. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Ariella, I didn't mean..." he slowly turns to face me again, and runs a shaky hand through his hair. I see torment on his face, deep lines twisting his brows into a frown. "Oh God, what was I doing? I'm so sorry."

"What happened? This isn't you. You've told me you want to take it slow..." I gather my thoughts as I gather my jacket around me tightly against the sudden iciness of air.

"I ... I can't explain. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here. I... I have to go." He backs away, his entire posture wilting into the dark shadows. So different from the dominant aura that nearly overpowered me before.

"Malachi! You can't just leave me here."

But he does. With a rustle of footsteps amongst the fallen leaves, he disappears into the darkness of the forest, leaving behind wisps of even darker shadows.

I sink to my knees on the cold forest floor, my entire body shaking with the effects of what just happened. My mind is a tangle of confusion, tendrils of doubt entwining with vines of fear to a point where I can't breathe. I feel strangled. Clutching my chest, I try and force my heart to stop racing. I try and take deep breaths, the cool air filling my lungs until they sting. My skin still tingles from his touch, my lips swollen from our passionate kiss, my back aching from being pressed against the tree.

I try and forget the hungry desire I saw in eyes that didn't belong to my mate. What had come over him? I know he was angry about Max, and how he wanted to hurt me. But everything Malachi said, everything he warned me about, was he talking about Max...or himself?

A distant howl cuts the silence in two, followed by a few others. The air is once more quiet besides my stifled sobs, then footsteps approach. They nearly run into me before pulling up quickly.

"Ariella? Is that you? What are you doing out here?"

It is Joshua, and he lays a hand on my shoulder carefully. He must be patrolling the border that I know we are near.

Pushing myself to my feet, I steady my voice before speaking. "I'm okay, I just...Malachi...we were talking..." I can't seem to form a coherent sentence. My mind is still on my mate and the power he has over my heart and body.

"Shh, it's okay," Joshua rubs my back. "Goodness, you're freezing. Come on, let's get you home." His voice is calming as he wraps his arm around my shoulders, stilling my shivers.

We walk slowly towards my parents' place, towards everything loving and familiar.

So why, with every step I take, does it feel like I'm going in the complete opposite direction of home?

Something might finally be making sense.

After weeks of contradictions and questioning Malachi, I might finally be understanding his strange behaviour. It's always changing.

One moment he'll hold me tenderly and say how much he wants to be with me, and another he'll be so cold and shut me out. At another time, he'll rescue me with wings like an angel, then yet again, in rare moments like last night, a deep passionate lust will come over him and he'll hold me so tight that I can taste his dark desires for me.

I don't know what to make of it, besides that there is much more going on here than I first thought.

With the books about demons and angels in my bag, and my violin encased in my backpack, I make my way towards DoubleEdge territory. I don't mind the walk. I spent most of the night tossing restlessly in bed, wondering just what had happened between us. I thought about everything I've learnt so far, about Seneca and what I've seen, what I've dreamt about, and come to some conclusions.

Demons could be messing with us, trying to control the Alpha and his family, trying to destroy the goodness so they can carry out their evil plans. Whatever they are, I don't know.

Maybe I just have wild fantasies that aren't real.

Maybe I am just losing my mind.

Maybe ever since watching my parents get torn to shreds in front of me, I've seen darkness in the light and hideous creatures in the shadows. I could be trying to make sense of a cruel world that deserves to burn in the fires of Hell. Who even believes in that anyway? Sure, some ancient prophets predicted things, saw things, drew pictures of creatures that don't exist and claimed they live in some realm between worlds.

Crazy.

I'm crazy.

That's all I can conclude.

"Ariella? We didn't expect you back for a couple more days."

I flinch at the interruption to my thoughts, and look up to see Harlow on the path ahead. The Alpha's estate is a few hundred meters away, and I didn't realise how close I was.

"Oh, I was always planning to come back right after Fire Night. Is Malachi around?"

I've just been walking all afternoon and must look a mess. I tuck my hair behind my ears and try not to let my bothered appearance make me feel inferior to the classy shewolf in front of me. She is dressed in gym clothes and I know she's just been training, yet still she looks so effortlessly beautiful.

"Sure. He just finished showing me some new combat moves he's been working on. He might still be down by the guard house with the other girls."

I try to ignore the flash of heat I feel from her words. Malachi ran from me last night...and straight to his old female friends.

"Thanks." I head down the hill, and see him surrounded by a group of young warriors. His eyes catch mine, making my heart thud heavily as he smiles. But it is brief. Gone in a moment, and his attention is back on training his pack members. So after giving a small wave, I adjust my backpack, hiking it further up my shoulder, and head back to his place.

To my home.

I shouldn't feel upset, like I've been brushed aside. I can hear that his heart rate picked up when I came close, but I know he is busy and couldn't speak to me just now. I know there are so many things on his mind, and what is going on between us is just a complication.

As Alpha, he doesn't have time for that.

Or does he?

We're mates. We should make time to discuss just what on earth is going on with us.