Dark Wolf Series

Chapter 8

"I don't trust you," I responded wearily. He tightened his arm around my stomach and took a deep breath.

"You have no reason not to trust me." He protested. I laughed, dryly.

"Well, that's definitely debatable," I grumbled. I tried pulling myself away from him, but he wouldn't budge his arm. "Look, I'll stay here. Just get your hands off me." I snarled. He immediately let me go and quivered slightly. I sat up, twisting around and facing him. He jumped at my sudden movement, fear spread across his face.

"You're scared of me?" I choked. As much as I don't like what he's maybe doing, I don't want anyone to be scared of me.

He shook his head, slowly. "No, I'm not scared of you but of what you became." He confessed. I bowed my head down, ashamed and sniffled.

My dad taught me to never be ashamed of my dark wolf, that it was an honour. I don't see it as an honour, it's a burden. I can't control myself. I lash out and I don't remember anything. He used to say... "Amaris, everyone has a dark side. How we expose it, distinguishes us." I don't expose it, I keep it hidden.

Rhydian edged forward and I held my hand up in defence, stopping him. I glanced at him, "I don't trust you so I can't tell you." I said, sighing. He nodded and I let out a breath I was holding in, he wasn't going to push for answers and I was glad.

"When you lose control, why does it happen?" He questioned, cautiously.

"It's tied to my emotions," I replied, softly.

"I need to tell you something." He said, cautiously. I looked at him and nodded.

"I wasn't the only one there when you lost control. There was a few of us." He started, then took a deep breath. I watched him as he struggled to say what he needed to. "Lucas, Tristan, Ria and Drew tried calming you down, they couldn't. Lucas called for me." He sighed heavily.

"He didn't tell me what he needed me for. I was on my way back from the pack morning hunt, I sent Ezra instead until I could get there. Elijah went too." He explained.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Get to the point." I groaned. I just wanted to get out of here and it's like he was stalling me leaving.

"I'm getting there, ok?" He snapped. "No one could calm you. Hell, no one could get close to you." He exasperated. "Tristan went too close to you and you lashed out." He whispered. My hands flew to my mouth as I gasped. "Tristan managed to move out of the way in time..." He hesitated, "Elijah didn't."

I staggered backwards using my hands and feet. Tears filling my eyes, "No, no, no, no. Not again" I whimpered. "He's alive, barely." He muttered, then widened his eyes at me, "What do you mean, not again?" He shrieked. I started shaking and the tears were slipping uncontrollably. "Stay away, I don't want to hurt you." I gasped.

Rhydian shook his head and in one swift movement, he was kneeled in front of me, cradling my face. "Come on, you can control this." He urged. I thrashed my arms at him, trying to push him away. "You... Need... To... Leave... Now..." I stammered. My hands shook, pain coursing up and down my hands as my claws extended.

"Come on, Amaris. You can do this." He shouted, still holding onto my face. I dug my claws into his arms, trying to get him off me. He growled at me, lunging himself forward, toppling us both over. He was hovering over me, pinning my hands above my head so I was unable to attack him.

"I know you're still in there. You can control this." He pleaded with me. I growled and snapped at him but he didn't move. I could see the fear etched in his eyes but he didn't give up. He lowered his body flush against mine slowly, I gaped at him. That was all it took to bring me back.

My breathing returned to as normal as it could, my claws descended back into my hands and I screwed my eyes shut trying to focus on anything to get my mind from the fact that Rhydian was on top of me and I could feel everything.

"Now will you tell me why I can bring you back?" He smirked at me, hovering over me. I pushed him off of me and sat up. "I don't know." I shrugged. "I need to see Lucas," I said, panicking.

He's going to hate me.

Fuck, I hate myself.

I hate my Dark Wolf.

"Not yet. We don't want you losing control in the hospital." He sighed. I stood up and folded my arms across my chest and pouted like a pup. "I'm going whether you agree or not." I scolded. I turned and scanned my surroundings. I was in what looked like a basement or a dungeon, there was nothing in here. There was a door on the right side of the room, I headed towards it with Rhydian following suit.

I stepped into a hallway and glanced around. I was in my house, I looked at Rhydian in confusion. "Why is there a dungeon in my house?" I deadpanned, folding my arms over my chest. "It's a basement?" He replied, questioning. I rolled my arms and headed to the front door.

"Amaris, you may want to get dressed." Rhydian pointed out. I glanced down and sighed before running up the stairs. I went into my bedroom and pulled on the first thing I saw, a pair of shorts, a tank top finished with my trainers. I headed back downstairs, Rhydian was stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me. I headed towards the front door.

I swung the door open and stepped outside. I took a deep breath, held my head back and let the sun warm my face. I took off in the direction of the pack hospital, Rhydian still following me. "Are you going to follow me all the way there?" I asked, still walking. Rhydian jogged up to me and fell in step with me, "Yes." He replied.

Secretly, I was glad he was coming, not that I would tell him that. He is the only one that can stop me from losing control.

Either he's a really good liar, or he is my true mate. I guess time will tell.

Chapter 14

I paused in front of the hospital and took a deep breath. I really need to go in there and find out how Elijah is and apologise for hurting him. I hung my head down and let a stray tear fall. I don't know how I'm going to do this without losing it.

Keeping calm helps keep everything at bay, but I'm not going to be able to stay calm with this guilt eating at me.

'Use Rhydian as an anchor.' Aurora whispered.

'An anchor?' I puzzled.

'Use the mate bond to your advantage. Fake or not.' She stated.

I sighed, knowing she was right. I glanced up and Rhydian, who was stood beside me, eyeing me intensely. His lips turned up into a small smile. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Come on, Amaris. This is the only way you're going to be able to go in there.

I opened my eyes, slowly. He was watching me, staring. "I need you to do me a favour." I groaned. He raised one brow at me, waiting for me to continue. "Look, I'm not sure why you calm me but I need you to do it now for me." I pleaded.

He looked at me confused before asking, "How?"

I trailed my eyes down his body, stopping at his hands. I slowly interlinked our fingers, I sucked a breath in as bond worked in effect. He knitted his brows in confusion at me, he definitely caught that. "No matter what happens, please don't let go," I begged. He squeezed my hand once and we headed into the hospital.

We stopped at some lifts, I glanced up at him. "Do you know where they are?" I questioned, quietly. His eyes fogged over and I knew he was mind linking someone. He nodded and pressed the button for the lift. We waited for a couple of minutes, I started chewing on the inside of my cheek. I was nervous, I didn't know how everyone was going to react.

The doors dinged open and we waited for everyone to leave before we entered. Rhydian pressed the floor we needed and stepped back, next to me. I was breathing heavily, my heart was thumping in my chest and I was nervous. He began brushing his fingers over my knuckles, I peered down and took a deep breath.

"Sorry." He awkwardly said. I shook my head and smiled up at him, "No, it works. It calms me." I replied.

The lift doors dinged open. Tristan and Georgie were leaning against a wall, waiting for us. They both had red puffy faces like they'd been crying. I gripped Rhydian's hand, hard and started shaking. He started brushing his fingers against my knuckles and led us out of the lift.

They both looked at us and sighed heavily before coming over to us. We stopped in front of them, I hung my head down and fought against the tears that were threatening to spill. No one uttered a word, I didn't dare look at them. I didn't want to see the disappointment on their faces.

Tristan grabbed my arms, breaking me from Rhydian and brought me against his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around my back. It was like the flood gates opened, the tears were falling and I sobbing uncontrollably. "Hush, it wasn't your fault." He soothed.

I tried speaking but no words came out. I couldn't breathe, the anger I felt for myself and the guilt of hurting someone was too much. I focused all my energy on Rhydian, I needed to mindlink him.

"I need you." I heard Rhydian gasp and if I weren't in this situation, I'd have probably laughed. Rhydian pulled me away from Tristan and into his arms. I fisted my hands into his shirt and nuzzled my face against his chest. My breathing calmed and I was beginning to feel relief.

Aurora was right, using him for this is pretty good. I just wish he was my true mate.

'He could be.' Aurora chimed. 'You haven't taken anything from anyone since we arrived.'

I can't think about this now. I need to see Lucas. Tristan cleared his throat, I took a deep breath before turning and facing them. Rhydian hooked his arms around my stomach and held me against his chest. Tristan and Georgie eyed each other suspiously, then looked at us.

"Is there something you want to tell us?" He quizzed, looking puzzled. I shook my head, "No. Rhydian keeps the darkness at bay. I don't know why but right now it's what I need." I whispered.

Tristan nodded then glanced at Georgie. "How is Elijah?" I asked nervously, fiddling with my fingers. Tristan took a deep breath and shook his head, "I don't think it's a good idea you being here right now." He whispered. My breath caught in my throat and I choked.

Rhydian removed his arms from around my stomach, linking our fingers together. The contact soothed me and I inhaled taking as much air as I could. "Lucas doesn't want me here, does he?" I guessed, it was obvious. I hurt his mate, that's unforgivable.

Georgie shook her head and stepped towards me, she placed one hand on my cheek. I leaned into her and sniffled. She caught a tear that had fallen and smiled sadly at me. "It's not that... You can't control..." She hesitated, "You can't control your emotions, Amaris."