Fourteen
1313 Words
"Cole!"
Arabella heard a feminine voice shout as she stepped inside what seemed to be the living room.
Her nose wrinkled as the aroma of incense wafted into her nostril.
Standing by the double glass door, she let her eyes wander whilst she stared in awe.
The living room was airy and had a large L-shaped purple leather sofa in the middle, and a white center table with a glass top was situated in front of it.
Ten centimeters away from the center table was a 42 inches TV that was currently on.
Arabella shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Despite the fireplace in the room, it did little to add warmth to it.
It was eerily cold but at the same time welcoming.
It was strange, but she felt drawn to the room.
"Cole!"
Arabella jolted. She swirled and her eyes collided with a curvy brunette who was a foot shorter than her.
The brunette's dark-brown eyes narrowed to slits as they assessed her.
"Thalia?"
Arabella heard Blaze's voice. She creased her brows as he appeared in front of her and he walked toward the girl that looked almost similar to him. Except for the skin tone. Blaze had a bronze skin tone whereas hers was caramel.
"What is she doing here?" Thalia hissed. "Did she know who you are?!"
"It's fine, Thalia," Blaze mumbled.
"Nothing is fine, Cole!" Thalia shouted. "She is fúcking human!"
What was wrong with being human? Arabella mused as she listened intently.
She didn't understand despite hearing them clearly and what confused her the most was Thalia calling Blaze, Cole.
She recalled asking him his given name the first time they met and he told her to figure it out herself.
She wondered if it was the right time to ask him about it again.
As she opened her mouth, she shut it back as Thalia shot her a glare.
"I don't know whatever hold you have on my brother. Just so you know, you are not welcome here!"
"Thalia!" Blaze yelled as she stalked off.
He groaned, shaking his head before turning to her.
"It's fine," Arabella said with a small smile.
She didn't expect to be liked as well and perhaps, if she had been the one, she'd flip as well.
"She shouldn't talk to you in that manner!"
"I'm technically in her territory. So, she has every right to speak to me as she wants." Arabella shrugged.
"Again, I shouldn't have wandered around, I was only looking for you." She mumbled, playing with the top button of the blouse she donned.
Then she grimaced as it occurred to her that the dress must have been for Thalia. She had accepted the change of clothing Blaze had given her without asking where he got it from.
"Do you need me for anything?" Blaze asked, heaving a breath.
He stepped towards her as she pointed to her neck.
"Yes," Arabella said, parting her hair. "I need a disinfectant for this ugly hickey."
She grimaced. Despite how hard she tried to remember the reason she was in Blaze's house and what transpired the day before, she couldn't.
She believed the reminder of it was the hickey and it seemed even horrifying as she imagined what he might have done to get the mark there.
"That's no hickey!" Blaze grunted.
He gripped her hand and gazed at her neck before letting out a growl.
"Goodness, that bástárd!" Blaze gritted his teeth.
He had marked her and claimed her as his! The mark on her neck was the mate bond that was common in werewolves, only that hers hadn't formed properly.
Also, she was clueless and assumed it was a hickey. Perhaps, it was best she didn't know what it was and he wasn't ready to explain it to her as well.
Again, he didn't know Sandro would do something as awful as that. How would he mark someone that felt nothing for him?
It was insane but Blaze was certain he was trying to claim his territory.
No one would mate with her after seeing the mark.
Heck, they'd be frightened to do anything with her as she fúcking had the imprint of an Alpha!
"What's wrong?" Arabella asked for the umpteenth time.
Blaze turned to her and grunted.
Arabella sighed. He was doing the same thing and hadn't given her what she requested.
A few seconds ago, they had been in the living room, before he yanked her into the room, shutting the door as though someone was watching.
Arabella walked to the vanity and glared at her neck once more. The hickey had formed a lovely crescent-shaped moon on her neck, just before her collarbone.
She furrowed her brows as it glowed and she turned to Blaze who appeared at her back.
"Is this supposed to glow? I don't understand."
"It's because it's no ordinary hickey." Blaze rasped.
He glared at the glowing mate mark which was mostly the symbol of Alphas. Moreover, the mark on Arabella's neck didn't only glow, it was a double crescent.
The mark could only be given by the leader of all Alphas.
"See, there are two!" She exclaimed and furrowed her brows, "Is there a supernatural hickey since you said it's not normal?"
Arabella giggled but stopped as she sensed he didn't find it amusing.
"Okay, spill. What are you hiding from me?" She asked. "And your name is Cole? Goodness, I wouldn't have thought that."
"My given name is Cole and I assumed the name Blaze in the mafia."
"And?"
"Nothing," Blaze mumbled.
"Okay." Arabella nodded, then stared at him intently. "Are you certain there's nothing I need to know again? Your eyes say otherwise."
"I'm certain and there's nothing in my eyes." He faced the widow and walked to it.
He let the curtains down, shutting the views to the windows completely. "I don't want anyone being nosy."
"You need to rest," Blaze added, nudging her to the bed.
"I don't think I can." She said.
"Why not?"
Arabella shivered. The thought of Sandro barging into the room surged through her and she wrapped her arms around herself.
She bit her lower lip and shook her head.
"Is it because of him?"
Arabella nodded.
"He can't come here. Sandro doesn't know I have a sister. He doesn't know I have a family. So, there's no way he can reach you except he caught me whilst I was sneaking out."
"Won't he be suspicious now that you are not there?"
"He'll be." Blaze shrugged. "But, I'd deny it. It's not as if he saw us together."
"This is dangerous, Blaze. You'll get in trouble for this. Just let me go back and accept my fa…"
"Stop!" Blaze bellowed.
He slipped his hand out of his pocket and glared at her. "What if your fate was something else? Do you believe it is to die by Sandro's hand?"
"I…"
"Tell me, Arabella!" Blaze snapped, calling her by her full name.
It was the second time she was hearing him say it. Although he was furious with her, she found it oddly sexy and warmth seeped through her.
Arabella sighed and her shoulder sagged as she didn't have a reasonable answer to his question.
Blaze strode towards her and he crouched in front of her. Staring at her in the eyes, he clutched her hands.
"You can be someone else's destiny. Don't let your dreams be cut short due to Sandro's cruelty."
Arabella's eyes searched his eyes as she gripped his hands tighter. "I'm just worried about what will happen to you."
"I'll be fine." Blaze rasped. "I can take care of myself."
He removed his hand from hers after glimpsing the watch he donned.
"I need to go, otherwise Sandro will get suspicious."
"Please be safe." She said and waved at him before he slipped out of the room.
- Writer
