Rising Moon
1818 Words
NADIA
When he told me to call him Marshall, it was also a confirmation that he was indeed the prince of the Lycans, whom everyone thought was long dead. I can read sadness and bitterness in his majestic eyes. And foolish, maybe, but staring at him made me realize how beautiful he is.
I've talked to and faced Damon thrice, the man fate chose for me, but I can't feel the same attraction for him as I do for a roguelike, Maximus Melrav, whom I just met hours ago. And that's silly, not right. I should be attracted to the one chosen for me and not to this rogue alpha who abdùcting me became his business for revenge.
But whatever attraction that is, it doesn't matter. I need to focus on the future of my kind and the peace of Ezlaxis, which will slowly crumble if the hybrids' power continues to grow.
When we were about to enter the city of Ethereal Shadows, he stopped the car, and I became confused and unsure of what to do or think. He said he would be burned and needed to ensure that only a witch could counter it. He was cursed then.
We argued until he destroyed my traditional wedding gown. How dare he! We exchanged insults until I told him that whatever he was going through was karma for killing his father. That's when he got even angrier, but I don't care. I'm also upset about what he did to my gown and his dismissal of everything I went through in the offering.
And why hasn't anyone come looking for me yet? I've been wondering that for a while now. Why was Alpha Damon letting his mate, me, be adducted, and he wasn't doing anything to save me? Where is he anyway? It seems like the Lycan Alpha isn't interested in me anymore and probably has no plans to rescue me. Maybe Damon thought I was sexùally abused by my abdùctor.
"Now you're starting to get feisty. I like that!" he said with a smirk while holding tightly to my wrists.
I gave him a nasty look, which changed into confusion when I felt something different. Why is there something hard pressing against me? I gulped. Is that his arousal? He suddenly let me go as if burned. My eyes widened as I stared at him. I couldn't understand why I felt all these strange things because of this rogue alpha.
Scared. Confused. Excited.
I can't understand. And why I seem drawn to his eyes like I can feel all the hatred built inside him for being accused and misjudged, as he says. And I want to ease his pain.
Stop it, Nadia! You are getting illogical!
I pushed him and pulled away the wrists of mine he was holding. I stepped back as he released me while looking at me.
"Hey!" he suddenly said and moved closer to me again. I was surprised and looked at him as he grabbed my wrists again and stroked them. "Where are the burns?" he asked, puzzled.
I looked at the spots he was examining, and they were gone. My skin had returned to normal.
"You healed like a shifter..." he whispered.
"You healed me," I said. "You can heal someone!" I excitedly apprised him without thinking I was becoming comfortable talking with him.
"No," he uttered while shaking his head in disbelief, "it's impossible." He smirked bitterly again.
"I have the ability to heal myself and restore my skin, but I need a chant to do it. I didn't do any chant since you used that hexed rope on me," I explained. "It's your hand that healed my skin."
He looked at me as if trying to determine if I was telling the truth. It seemed like he didn't trust anyone. I'm slowly getting curious about what really happened in the past. Was he falsely accused, like what he was implying? And why did he wait eight years to return and reclaim the pack that should have been under his lead?
"Let's go!" He pulled me to follow him. Dismissing the topic that he could heal someone.
Since I had no choice, I followed him. I sighed. It's better to not be relaxed with him, so I don't need to ask any more questions.
We were just a few steps away from the Ethereal Shadows archway, made of gold and brass. Old Ezlaxis letters are used for the written phrase on it.
"Underneath the moon's silver glow, the untamed spirits are always within."
I smiled at the phrase. Poetic their ancestors maybe, but this generation... I glanced at Maximus; they are savages!
"Cast a spell," he ordered me as he stopped stepping forward.
I was caught off guard, not knowing what to do. He might kill me if I tell him I can't cast spells anymore.
"Cast a spell, witch! Don't waste our time here!"
"I can't," I quickly replied in a firm voice. I needed to pretend to be as powerful as he thought. That I mean is I can't help him only.
"Are you trying to provoke me?!" he asked irritatedly.
"I can't cast any nonsense spell!" An alibi. Thank goodness that I find a way to decline!
"Nonsense?" He grabbed me by both arms and shook me. Maximus Melrav is a big Lycan. He stands almost seven feet tall, and I look like a dwarf with my five-foot-eight stature, so he could literally shake me off my brain. "You think my mission is nonsense?!" he growled.
I saw anger in his eyes, which made me gulp. But I couldn't reveal my secrets, as I hadn't regained my powers yet.
"Are you fond of insulting others? Are you so vain that you speak that way?"
I couldn't explain anymore. I don't know. But the way he spoke his words, I felt like I was experiencing all the pain he went through in those eight years of hiding under a different name, pretending to be dead.
"What happened eight years ago?" I asked in a low voice. I saw that the anger had left his eyes, replaced by bitterness.
"You don't need to know. Just cooperate, and when the palace's ownership is transferred to me, I'll set you free."
"But how long will you hide me?" That's the only question that came to my mind to ask next. Since he didn't want to discuss the past, I decided to find out his plans.
"Two weeks. Until the blood moon."
"Blood moon?" I looked at the rising moon. I gulped. "Why do we need to wait for the blood moon?"
"To make sure I have all the edge before I confront Damon."
"Are you really going to kill him?" I asked fearfully.
"Cast a spell, witch."
"I will cast a spell, but you need to promise you won't kill Damon."
He chuckled, and it sounded haughty. "Do you think promises matter to me? I could promise you I won't bed you, but it could change if I want to get even with Damon."
It was a threat, but why did I feel excited about it? Then I felt something horrifying—I gulped. Why does my body seem to be heating up, like I want him to do something lewd to me?
"Stop looking at me like that," he snapped.
"What?" I asked in surprise. "What are you saying?"
He breathed harshly. "I already told you that you're the most beautiful creature I've seen in Ezlaxis, right? Don't use it on me!"
"Wha—"
Figure it out, witch!"
"Oh! You find me desirable now?" I boldly asked.
"Cast a spell now," he ordered, ignoring my question. "We can sneak in, especially when it's dark."
I took a deep breath. I really can't do spells. How can I tell him?
"Cast a spell!" he spat.
"What kind of spell?" I suddenly thought of a way. I just needed to find out what specific spell he needed or what exact curse was on him.
"Any spell to protect me and Marshall from burning once we enter the city."
"Marshall? Your new name?"
"Marshall is my wolf! Stop asking too much! You can ask later when we reach our destination."
I smiled secretly. So Marshall is his wolf. Interesting.
"Let's go," I told him afterward.
"Did you cast a spell?"
"We don't need one." I took off the necklace I was wearing. That should be enough to protect him and Marshall from any harm. It was powerful because I created that necklace's warding spell before losing all my powers.
"What are you doing?" he asked in surprise as I suddenly stood on my tiptoes to put the necklace around his neck. I wanted to grin as he was surprised by my actions.
"Making you wear this."
"And why would I wear that? I am not into lady trinkets," he protested.
"This could help you not be harmed by fire anywhere you go. You said you might be burned. This will make you safe."
"If that's for safety, then why are you with me now?"
I also thought about that. Yes, indeed. I cast a spell on that necklace eight years ago to ward off anyone who wears it from evil doings. I stared at Maximus. It only meant one thing: he wouldn't do any wicked things to me. He is a good guy.
"How would I know it would help me if it didn't help you first?" he asked with his scathing and unconvinced tone again.
I gave him a side-eye glance after putting the necklace around his neck. He accused me earlier of being fond of insulting others, but he didn't realize he was just as bad.
I stared at the precious stones I had arranged into a flower on the necklace for its design. I smiled. He was so big wearing that 'lady trinket,' as he called it, but it suited him. He looked cute now.
"Are you tripping on me, witch?" he asked acidly when he saw me beaming.
"I am saving you," I said seriously.
He went still. I don't know why, but he just gazed at me. He shook his head afterward and looked away from me.
"I said cast a spell, not this stupid necklace that didn't even save you from me."
"The necklace is meant to counteract any black magic or curse used on its wearer by enemies or evildoers. It wasn't created to fight on my behalf."
"Are you trying to make me laugh?"
"No, just enlightening you about what 'my' necklace can and can't do. I hope you take care of it."
"You're dead if this one is fake!"
"Really? But how will you kill me if it won't work? You said you will be burned, right?" I countered.
He stared at me again and grabbed my arm. "Then burn with me, my queen!"
- Writer
