11

ARYA

➳

And then there he was.

He swept me into his strong arms and hugged me tightly. The direct contact with him and his wild scent grounded me. His mouth was very close to my ear as he whispered soothing words to me: “Hey, hey, hey, calm down.” his deep, raspy voice lulled me and my heart slowly settled. I didn't know if he was the cause or the low air supply. My joints slowly went limp and his hands clenched into fists on my body. He gently rocked me back and forth. “Breathe in. Exhale. Very slowly. Concentrate on my voice.” I wanted to comply with his words, but my windpipe was blocked. Nothing came through. I clutched his shirt in a panic, my white bones sticking out. I looked up at him pleadingly. “H-help m-me,ff-ehaany .” Please.

He growled and his wolf came out in his eyes. His whole body tensed, trembling, and he hugged me hard, as if he could save me with sheer willpower. “Come on, breathe.” I wheezed again, but my windpipe tightened and my hands fell weakly from his chest. I felt terribly helpless. Xeno's jaw twitched and he shook me slightly. “ Kitten , breathe. Breathe!”

My whole body was screaming for air. My songs slowly closed and a small tear rolled down my cheeks. Xenos roared loudly, and then there were hot lips on mine. They moved urgently. Demanded entrance to my mouth. When I still couldn't react, he bit my lower lip, sucking on them and licking them, growling.

As if I had been struck by lightning, I hissed for air and breathed a sigh of relief. I gasped for oxygen, sucking it deep into my burning lungs. Finally!

And then there were those lips again. Heat shot through my body and I groaned. Full of desire, I surrendered and returned the kiss with a fierceness that amazed even myself. But it was like a gaping void was finally being filled. Big, hot hands increased the pressure around my waist, jerking me against a hard chest that vibrated with a dark growl. I pressed myself even more against the hot, firm body and suppressed a small inner voice that wanted to remind me of something. She should be cursed. I wanted more of this. Much more.

My mouth opened of its own accord. His tongue immediately entered, rubbing against mine and demanding more. I moaned against his mouth again and deepened the kiss as I felt his claws on my back.

I suddenly widened my eyes and looked straight into Xenos's. His arms were still wrapped around him and I felt his hot body heat all too clearly, penetrating my body through his clothes. His eyes lit up. “Shit, don't ever scare me like that again.” his voice was more like his wolf's and he was looking at me in a way that only confused my feelings more. He couldn't look at me like that. That was not fair.

I would have loved to snuggle up to him even more, wanted to breathe in his masculine scent and feel his hot body on mine. Knowing that I was fully back. That short time in the dark had been frightening. I thought I wouldn't find my way back.

A sob escaped me and deep shame rolled over me. Never in my entire life had I felt so humiliated. I pushed him hard, but that didn't do anything. His arms only tightened the grip on my torso even more.

“Let me go!” I hissed, shaking, trying to wriggle out of his grip, unable to stop the tears from breaking out.

“Shh.” he gently wiped away my tears. “Let me hold you for a moment.”

“No.” I struggled against his grip and sobbed. He should finally let go of me. My brain was not working properly with his gentle, almost protective embrace. I want to throw myself into his arms and cry it all out. i felt so weak “No! You can't touch me like that You can't look at me like there's more between us.”

“There's more between us.” he asserted firmly and his eyes darkened. He was sure.

“You asshole! You miserable asshole!” I yelled, willingly accepting the raging anger. With all my might, I punched his chest while my body shook violently under the gorge tears. “I hate you! I hate you!” Though he didn't move or show any sign of pain, I kept punching him.

'Hey, don't say things like that. You don't mean it like that.” he grabbed my fists and held me still. “Arya.”

I tried to free myself and thrash about, but he was too strong. “Go away, go the fuck away! Piss off!”

“Arya, calm down.” His thumbs gently rub over my fists - such a drastic contrast to his tensed muscles and tight grip. “Look at me, kitten . Look at me.” I shook my head exhaustedly. “There's nothing going on between her and me. Honest.”

My nails dug into his skin and I tried to twist his wrist to loosen his grip. He growled angrily, but didn't break the grip. I roared in frustration. “How can you say such a thing?! She's your mate!'

He laughed dryly. “Cecilia is not my mate.”

Whether or not Cecilia was Xenos Mate, the fact was he had one out there somewhere. “Then you have a girlfriend.”

Xenos grabbed my chin and lifted it up for me to face him. 'She's not my girlfriend. There's nothing going on between her and me.”

“So you had something with her.” Of course he had. I finally managed to slip out of his arms and jumped backwards.

“It's been several orbits of the sun. She means nothing to me.” Xenos got up as well and stepped closer to me.

I wiped away my tears and straightened to my full height. Bitterness surged through me and I clenched my teeth to ignore my burning heart. Then something happened between Xenos and Cecilia, I don't care. He could do whatever he wanted. “Nice for you.”

Xenos eyed me narrowly. “You are jealous.”

I snorted. “Dream on, wolfie.”

He was almost in front of me when he shook his head. “And if that's you.” His eyes glowed in my dark room. “I thought there's nothing between us, kitten ?”

'No, absolutely not. You have a mate.”

Its jaws clicked and its claws sprung out. “I don't have a mate.”

'Yes, somewhere out there it is. And you'll find him someday.” I countered strongly, not lowering my gaze for a second.

Now he stood in front of me. “I've lived more than a thousand years, Arya. I don't have a mate and never will, believe me.”

I didn't back away from him. He couldn't intimidate me. “No. Stop. Nothing will ever happen between us xenos.”

He leaned in and brushed a strand of hair out of my face. “We have an attraction. This is something special. I know you feel it too.”

I got dizzy at his words. It would be so nice, so easy, to just give in. “I will not get involved with someone who could run into his soul mate at any time and leave me.”

His face darkened. “I don't have a mate, Arya.”

“You can't say for sure.”

Through clenched teeth, he said, “I want to find out what's between us.” His hand cupped my chin and he slowly ran his thumb over my bottom lip. There was nothing natural in his gaze anymore. “Give me a damn chance.”

Tears threatened to rise again. who was this man What was he doing to me? In another life, if I were a different woman, I would kiss her now. I would give in to my hot desire and press him to me. I wanted to discover more of this mysterious wolf. Wanted to unveil all its pages and see the deep hidden shadows. But I wasn't someone else and I couldn't deny my real life either. I backed away and said the only words that pushed this dominant wolf away. “I can not do that. I am engaged.” That's the only way he let me go.

He swayed briefly. He furrowed his brows in disbelief. “You are engaged?”

I nodded, forcing myself to look into his masculine, distinctive face. “ Aee , as soon as I complete this mission, I will get married.”

Without any emotion, he stared at me. “Do you love him?”

I was briefly surprised by this question. Did I love Nzuak? I could have laughed, but instead I replied coolly, “It doesn't matter.”

“And if it does. It's the only thing that matters.” He just didn't give up.

My legs were getting weaker by the second and I threatened to collapse again. But I refused to hold on to the window frame and tried to stand upright as long as possible. I had already shown enough weakness for today. “I'm getting married anyway.”

He looked at me with his dark blue eyes, which were almost black in color. The rigid mask didn't move once and he looked at me steadily as he said, “We'll see.” With that he left the room, leaving me alone in my room.

The dominant wolf had made a decision. And that didn't include letting me go.

Teeruk .