The Last Fae Princess

2_Arrest Both Of Them

Nia POV

Stunned, I watch Declan walk away. Dear Goddess, that man is beautiful, but so damn arrogant. His shoulders are broad enough to carry the world, and his muscular chest and arms could hug a grizzly bear. Oh, and his green eyes … looking into them is like getting lost in a forest. My skin is still tingling where he touched me, and butterflies are going crazy in my gut. I have never experienced such feelings with just a touch.

But … Declan is a womaniser, and I am not interested in being one of his conquests. What a waste, I sigh inwardly. Declan is definitely the best-looking man in the Northern Hemisphere, but he is so full of himself, it is sickening. I detest people who think they are better than others just because they have money or status. I had had enough of those kinds of people and have devoted my life to avoiding them at all costs. And what irks me the most is the warmth which spread through me when he touched me. I do not want to harbour warm and fuzzy feelings towards him.

“Am I dreaming?” Amy sighs behind me, her eyes also fixed on the way Declan’s jeans hug his ass. “Did he just tell you to call him?”

“That he did,” I exhale, tearing my eyes away and continuing to walk to the taco stand. “But he can forget about it.”

“Why?” Amy whines her protest. “Every girl in this pack - no, all the packs worldwide - would give up their virginity and fangs for just one night with him. And he picked you. It’s …”

“I’m not interested,” I say firmly, searching my backpack for my last ten dollars. “Declan is lovely to look at, and even maybe to fantasise about when you’re alone in bed, but he’s the type of guy who should remain in fantasies. Dreaming of him is the same as dreaming about winning the lotto.”

“People do win the lottery, Nia,” Amy replies with a roll of her eyes.

“Yes,” I grin, sourly. “Other people do. Not rejects and orphans like you and me.”

“Luck isn’t exclusive to others,” Amy huffs, and I can tell by the way she pulls her mouth into a thin line that she is irritated with my answer.

I order my taco and put my change away in silence before I turn to her. Amy is an optimist to the point where I find it exhausting. I am realistic – it saves time, energy and avoids disappointment.

“I know,” I say softly, touching her arm. “But we can’t bet our future on luck. Or a man for that matter. We are Omegas, orphans, and disposable. Whatever we accomplish in life would be up to us and hard work.”

“You’re too young to be this cynical,” Amy huffs as we take our tacos and blindly stroll into the crowd. “You must learn to see the beauty in everything.”

“Pfft, I can see it,” I snort. “I just chose not to get swept away by it. I mean, take Declan, for instance. He is a god of a man. I can see it, but I’m not blind or deaf. He doesn’t want a mate. Period. He has been rejecting she-wolves ever since his wolf surfaced two years ago. Why would any woman in her right mind waste time thinking she would be the exception to the rule?”

“Declan aside,” Amy says. “You’ve been asked out on dates so many times, I’ve lost count. They’re not Declan. Why don’t you say yes?”

“Because,” I reply with a heavy sigh. “I’m not interested, and love is a waste. I’ve told you that before.”

“Love is real, Nia,” Amy says so sternly that I look at her. “Just because it hasn’t happened for us doesn’t mean it doesn't exist.”

“Okay, whatever,” I exhale long and hard. “Real or not, I’m not interested, and that includes Declan. So, just drop it.”

“I still think … what the hell?” Amy gasps when a muffled scream interrupts her. “Did you hear that?”

“Yes,” I grunt, taking her hand and dragging her with me towards the sound.

“Wait! What are you doing?” Amy whispers as we move towards the woods.

“Checking it out, what else?” I reply nonchalantly.

“But … shouldn’t we call a warrior?” She asks, her voice laced with insecurity and fear.

“No,” I reply bluntly, not slowing down. “It could be nothing, or someone could be in real danger.”

“All the more reason to call for help,” Amy protests.

“Then go find help,” I snap, letting go of her hand. “I’ll go look by myself.”

“Nia, wait!” Amy calls, but I push through the crowd towards the bushes, which are engulfed in darkness. The further I go, the more I am certain somebody is in trouble. The muffled sounds become more distinct and mix with grunting and panting sounds.

I move forward as quietly as I can, and gasp softly when I see a man pinning a woman to the ground. Her hands are pinned together above her head, and the man is feverishly kissing her while grinding his hips into her.

Nice, Nia, I reprimand myself. You are about to spoil a couple’s fun. I am about to turn around and walk away when I notice tears on the woman’s face. I take one step closer to verify that I am not mistaken – and she sees me. I stare at her, and she manages to move her head to the side and mouth: help.

That is all I needed, and I nod. I look around frantically, but Amy is nowhere – it is just us. Dammit! What am I supposed to do now? I do not have a wolf, and this man is twice my size. But I must do something. I cannot leave her.

I look around for a weapon and pick up a rock. Silently, I move closer, raise the rock above my head, and bring it down on the man’s head with all my strength. The man lets out a umph before he collapses on top of the woman.

She screams and squirms, and I quickly run closer.

“It’s okay,” I say – more to myself than to her – as I try to roll the man off her. “You’re okay.”

The man is a heavy lump of useless dead weight, and I only roll him off her with my second attempt.

“Oh, s**t,” I mutter, jumping backwards when I see the man’s face.

“Is that …” I stutter, looking at the woman with horror as I point to the man. “Is that …”

“Yes,” she sobs, wiping her tears away and frantically trying to pull her torn blouse together. “It’s Leonard.”

“Like the Beta’s son, Leonard?” I gulp, as ghost fingers close around my throat. Please, no, I pray silently. Do not let this be him.

“Yes,” she replies, and my heart drops to my feet.

“Oh, no,” I sigh, kneeling next to Leonard and frantically feeling for a pulse.

“You saved me,” she sniffs, standing up.

“I can’t find a pulse,” I say as panic clusters in my chest. “I didn’t hit him that hard, I swear, I …”

“Let me,” she says, kneeling beside me.

“Please, Goddess,” I quietly pray as the girl looks for a pulse. “Please let him be alive.”

She feels his neck and wrist and leans on his chest, listening for a heartbeat.

“I … I think he’s dead,” she whispers, looking at me.

“No,” I gasp, my heart beating wildly as I jump up. “I didn’t mean to …”

“It will be okay,” she says, standing up and taking me by my shoulders. “I’ll vouch for you, don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry?” I shriek. “I’m an orphan! Do you know what happens to orphans who attack Beta’s sons? Unless you’re the alpha’s daughter, I’m screwed.”

“Run,” she says urgently. “I’ll tell them it was me who attacked him. It was self-defence; nothing will happen to me.”

I am about to turn and run when Amy and the warriors burst through the bushes. A warrior takes one look at the scene before he kneels beside Leonard. I instinctively reach for the girl’s hand, and she holds it tightly as we watch.

“He’s dead,” the warrior’s voice is dark and angry. “Who did this?”

“I did,” the girl replies quickly. “He tried to r**e me; it was self-defence.”

The warrior’s mouth pulls into a thin line, but he says nothing as he examines Leonard’s head.

“If you did it,” the warrior says, standing up. “The wound would’ve been on the side of his head, not the back. Also, there’s no way you could’ve hit him with such a force lying down.”

“No,” the girl shakes her head. “It was me. I …”

“Silence!” The warrior bellows, and I grip her hand tighter.

“Arrest both of them,” the warrior orders his men. “For the murder of the Beta’s son.”