Chapter 004
1239 Words
Torn Between Truth and Lies
Why did you rush?
Her voice sliced through the quiet like a razor. Her arms crossed, and her gaze fixed on mine as she stood in front of me. This time there was no worry. Just frustration. And damaged.
My chest became tighter. I opened my mouth and then closed it once again. In what way may I clarify? How can I help her to grasp it?
"You see what I am," I whispered softly at last. Have you seen a monster?
Her gaze softened only for a moment. Her jaw soon hardened, though, and her shoulders squared. " You are not a monster. Still, you misled me. From me, you kept this secret.
I turned aside, my hands tight. I was looking out for you.
She gave out a sour laugh. " Safeguarding me? Via dishonesty? Running away?
My heart thumping, I stepped closer to her. "I didn't want to upset you, Aria."
"You indeed did." Her eyes gleamed and her voice broke. "You hurt me more by running than you ever could by telling me the truth".
Her speech slashed into me, more precisely than any knife. I wanted to reach out to hug her, to take away the damage I had brought about. I stayed still, though. I hardly deserved to touch her.
She moved back, separating us more widely. I thought... I consider myself to know you. I don't, however. Right now, you are a stranger to me.
My chest got tighter, terror coursed through me. Aria, I'm still myself. I remain the same man that—
The same man who pulled me from under? Alternatively, the same dude who turned me down. Her gaze was sharp and aggressive. " Which one are you, Damian?
My defenses started to break, the truth wriggling to escape. " Both. My voice was unvarnished, my feelings pouring out. Aria, I am both. It is me who finds myself unable to quit loving you, and the man you should avoid as too risky to be around.
Her face softened just for a second. She shook her head, nevertheless, with tightening shoulders. I have no need of you shielding me. You are supposed to be honest with me.
I looked down, humiliation blazing over me. You perceive what I am. What can I do? Not under my control, is it? Not exactly. Should I cause injury to you... I never would have forgiven myself.
She came forward, eyes fixed on me. "I'm not terrified of you."
My heart stopped, hope flashing inside me. "You should be," he said.
She shook her head, her eyes flashing. I have faith in you, Damian. I always had. Still, you keep driving me away and into the shadows. I can't... If you do not let me in, I cannot keep battling for you.
She shattered me with the agony in her voice. Before I could stop myself, I extended my fingers to caress her cheek. Her skin warmed and was velvety. Realized.
"I don't want to lose you". My voice was only a whisper; the terror was snarling at my breast. But I have no idea how to keep you safe.
Her fingers closed mine, and her eyes softened. You're letting me in and keeping me secure. By acting sincerely. Damian, there is no more secrecy. There is no lying anymore.
I meant to tell her that. I wanted to satisfy her every need. The reality was too deadly and too dark, though.
"I will try." That was the finest I could provide.
She fixed me, her eyes darting across mine. I briefly believed she might turn away. She exhaled then, her shoulders releasing tension. All I need is that. For now.
My body slumped with the weight of it, relief pouring over me. Fearful to let go, I gripped her hand tightly.
Her gaze soon turned serious, though, and her body tightened. "The renegade; it was after me, wasn't it?"
I faltered, the truth weighty on my lips. I could not lie to her, though. Not anymore. "Yes." You have been under observation by them. Fishing you.
Her face became white, her fingers tightened around mine. "For what reason?" With me what do they want?
My jaw tightened, resentment rising inside me. I'm unsure. But I forbid them from touching you.
Her eyes wide, she peered at me. You knew? They were trailing for weeks.
Guilt slammed over me, my shoulders slumped. I observed you. Shielding you from the dark side. But I couldn't. I could not approach you more closely. I do not want you to hurt you.
Her eyes softened and the wrath vanished. "You are a person with cognitive disabilities." Her speech stopped, a tear falling across her cheek. "You were protecting me all along; I thought you didn't care."
I stretched up, blotting the tears away. Aria, I have always been sensitive. More than I should be doing.
Her eyes closed as she leaned into my touch. Everything else vanished for a short period. The risk; the suffering; the falsehoods. Just us, it was. Just her kindness, her perfume, her pulse.
I slanted in, my lips touching hers. Her fingers grasping my shirt, she gasped. But as soon as her lips opened, the woods echoed a deep snarl.
I whirled about, my body stiff. It smelled clearly. Another rebel.
Aria tightened her grip on my arm. "Damian... what is that?"?
I snared, my wolf exploding to the front. "Stay behind me…"
Rising from the darkness, the renegade had flaming eyes and a bent low torso. Its teeth gleamed in the moonlight, more than those of the prior one.
It snared, staring at Aria. My body blocked her vision as I moved in front of her.
"Damian...." Her fingers dug into my arm, and her voice faltered.
"Run," I said, my voice low and deliberate. Go back home. Today.
She paused, dread and terror whirling in her gaze. "I'm not departing you."
My eyes sparkling, I turned to face her. I will follow after you closely. You must go, however. Right now.
She choked, tears flashing in her eyes. She nodded, though, then turned and sprinted toward the house.
The renegade moved, its body stiffening to pursue her. I moved forward and started to snarl. "Your struggle is mine."
It shot forward, teeth bared and claws extended. Midair I turned, my body fracturing and reconstructing, my wolf seizing control.
We bumped, our bodies falling to the ground. Its claws tore into my side, agony raging over me. Still, I kept on. I kept from letting it reach her.
Teeth and claws ripping at one another, we battled. The earth blackened with blood, the woodland echoing with snarls and growls.
Then it broke loose, its body whirling as it shot for the house. Considering Aria.
I screamed, terror and resentment slamming together. With legs pounding and a heart beating, I chased after it.
But it was quick. Too quick.
Its claws dragged the door, I stared in terror as it arrived at the porch. It spun, its brilliant eyes locked with me. Then it grinned, its lips drawing back to expose sharp, bloodied fangs.
Howled, the sound resonating throughout the evening. Then it disappeared into the darkness, its laughing haunting me as I approached the door, blood splashing from my fur.
Heart thumping, I ran into the house. Aria!.
The home, though, was vacant.
She left.
- Writer
