Scarred by Moonlight

Chapter 8: Against a Fragile Wall

Several weeks later and River felt like she’d been thrust into an entirely new world and put through a meat grinder. Grayson had been one hundred percent serious about River undergoing training to protect Estella, and he was not playing around. In the mornings, River was made to run laps and train in hand to hand combat with varying warriors, and in the evening she was busy “guarding” Estella.

But, if River was being completely honest, it was more like being paid to be friends with Estella and Ashley. They shopped, gossiped, and to River’s growing displeasure, watched Estella and Grayson fawn over each other.

Estella was unabashedly devoted to Grayson, so much so, that watching them together made River and Nyx feel like they were interrupting foreplay. River had never seen a pair of wolves so utterly in love with each other. If Estella wanted a spa day, Grayson bought out the entire facility for Estella, River and Ashley. If Estella was having a bad day, Grayson had his assistants tracking down imported chocolates to brighten it.

River would watch Estella cooking meals for Grayson to take to his office and smile lovingly as he ate her food. She hummed as she organized outfits for him, and lit up when he texted her throughout the day. Their love was vibrant, warm, and beautiful. They worshiped each other completely.

It made River’s heart ache.

Olrun hadn’t spoken to her or even looked in her direction since their first meeting, and it was wearing at her nerves. He would pass her in the halls, and stiffen, but never spoke to her. At the dinners she attended with Estella, River would catch him stealing glances at her, but he would go out of his way never to speak.

All the while, Nyx whined and pined for her mate. She could feel Olrun’s wolf just beneath the surface but for some reason, Nyx couldn’t reach him. It was driving Nyx crazy.

One evening during her free time, River walked the packhouse, taking in the artwork that adorned the walls of the corridors. River still believed that the excess and luxury in her new home was excessive, but she did enjoy seeing the paintings of the Alphas and Lunas of the past.

Her eyes were locked on a particular painting of a dark looking alpha with long hair, piercing grey eyes, and a scowl that looked like he wanted to jump out of the painting and strangle her. His was the only portrait painted on a battlefield, but a battered rogue wolf underfoot. There was something sinister about the painting that made River know that this man was not a good man.

River was so drawn to the painting that she didn’t hear or feel the approach of anyone else until a booming voice startled her. “Fenris Blackfyre...”

River jumped and turned to see Olrun. She was struck by how handsome he was, and how close he was. His emerald eyes raked over her like a lover’s embrace as he watched her recover, and the smell of cedar and pine fell over her. She wanted to wrap herself in his scent and curl around it.

Nyx was excitedly pacing back and forth. “Mate is talking to us. Say something, Riv! Dammit! Speak before he runs again!”

River stared at him, “Who?”

Olrun smirked, and River felt her body heat. “The painting. This man.” He gestured to the painting in front of them.

River had forgotten all about the sadistic looking man hanging above them, but turned back to the painting. She was so afraid that she would begin drooling if she continued to look at Olrun. His broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his black tee shirt, and the fit of the jeans that she wanted to rip off with her teeth. That dark hair of his fell just below his ears. Goddess, she wanted run her hands through it while she kissed that smirk right off of his gorgeous face.

River cleared her throat. “Relative, I’m guessing? He looks like he has bodies in his basement.”

Olrun chuckled and the sound vibrated through her and ran straight to her core. Nyx practically purred. “Dear goddess, River. Make him laugh again.”

He stepped closer and leaned in as if whispering a secret in her ear, “He did. Quite a few.”

The urge to bury her face in his neck and take a big whiff of him was killing River, but she forced herself to remain still as Olrun continued talking. “He’s the only alpha in pack history to be forced to abdicate for his cruelty to rogues and pack wolves alike.”

River felt his hand on her bare shoulders and felt the tell-tale spark of the mate bond humming beneath her skin. She flushed. Dammit his hands on her felt right, like they were made to touch her, but it was as if as soon as he'd realized what he was doing, his hands were gone.

Nyx revolted in River’s mind

River turned and looked up at him. “Why?”

Olrun’s smirk faded as he straightened and look down at her. “Why what, little wolf?”

“Why do you do that? I see you staring at me sometimes, and I know that you know what we are to one another. So why do you act like you don’t feel it. Like ... you don’t want me.” River had tried to keep her expression neutral, but she could tell that she failed when she saw the way that Olrun’s shoulders stiffened.

River wanted him to take her into his arms and tell her that she was crazy to think he was avoiding her. She wanted him to soothe the ache that had been festering inside of her since their first meeting when he’d walked away from her. She wanted so badly for him to drop the cold alpha act and kiss her until she could breathe. But instead he gently pushed her away, and it was if the whole world shattered around her.

His eyes bore holes into hers, “You seem like a good girl- great girl. And I’m sure that you grew up with ideas of what it would be like to meet your mate, settle down. Have a few kids. But you and I we’re not going to work. I don’t have time for...” he gestured between them with a dismissive flick of his hand, “this.”

Nyx growled in River’s mind, pacing angrily. “Do something, Riv! Make him stop.”

Something inside river snapped River’s fist clenched at her sides. “You’re wrong. And you know it. We were made for...”

A growl from Olrun cut her off mid-sentence. “Don’t you dare say that we were meant for each other, Little Wolf. You think because of some fairytale bullshit and pheromones, I would choose to devote my entire life to a stranger? You’re far too beautiful to be so naive, River.”

River could feel rage building inside her as she stepped closer to him. “Then get to know me. Stop hiding from me like a coward.”

The next thing she knew, Olrun had her pinned against the wall, his emerald eyes blazing. His voice was a low snarl, sending shivers down her spine. “You want to call me a coward again, little wolf? I don’t tolerate disrespect from anyone in this pack—especially not an ungrateful omega.”

The bond between them sparked like fire, but instead of retreating, River leaned forward, meeting his glare head-on. “Then stop running,” she said through gritted teeth. “Stop fighting the bond. Stop pretending you don’t feel this. Stop stealing glances! Stop leaving the room when I walk in! Stop fighting the b-”

Before she could finish, Olrun’s lips crashed over hers in a powerful, possessive kiss. His hands wound in her hair as his lips and tongue fought for control with her own. At first River was too stunned to react but soon she was responding with all of the passion that she had been holding from the moment she met him. A fire roared to life between them as he pressed her against the wall, a rolling rumble pouring from his lips into hers that made her feel dizzy.

After a moment he pulled away panting, staring down at her with a hunger that made her blood heat. River raised her hand to cup his face, but in an instant something changed. Olrun growled, causing her to flinch. His voice was a rough grumble when he spoke, “Stay out of my way, little wolf. Final warning.”

With that he stormed away, leaving River panting against the wall beside the portrait of Fenris Blackfyre. The scowling painting of the sadist looked like he took pleasure in the scene that just unfolded and looked down on her with disgust.

Nyx, for once had been stunned into silence. “What the hell just happened?”