Her Human His Lycan

24

Emma POV

“You’re already in love with him, aren’t you?” Inara's voice echoed in my mind. The soft glow of the morning sun seeping through the curtains. I had fallen asleep with Clay, his warmth still lingering beside me.

"He sure has a drive like a wolf, mate does not tire easily," Inara remarked, her voice tinged with amusement. I glanced at Clay, peacefully asleep, his rhythmic breathing filling the room with a gentle sound.

"He is our slave now," I responded to Inara, a pang of hurt washing over me.

"Yes, but it's not like you ordered him to sleep with us. He did so of his own free will," Inara reminded me.

"Yes, but in public, around other wolves, I must treat him as a slave. It pains me to do so," I confessed, the ache in my heart mirroring the heaviness in the room.

"We are protecting him. He is now ours, untouchable by others. It was the only way," Inara reassured me

"I know, but the mark he should have is ours, not a witch's mark. Yet, I can't mark him now. The slave mark won't allow it. He may be my mate, but we can't complete a bond with him right now," I explained, the frustration evident in my voice.

"He is human, without our mark he is much weaker. I still worry for his life. Sending him off to the hunters may get him hurt," I admitted.

"He is our only way in right now, and they are up to something big. The weapons they have are overpowering us. Even with our numbers, the human hunters may have the ability to wipe out our kind," Inara reiterated, her words a reminder of the impending danger we faced.

I sat up in bed, the sheets slipping off my body as I slowly got up. The coolness of the floor met my bare feet. I reached for my clothes, the fabric brushing against my skin, grounding me in the present moment.

"When will I see you again?" Clay's voice startled me.

"I return to the campus today," I admitted to him.

"The hunters want you," he said with a hint of worry in his voice. "Skade asked us to capture you before I knew who you were, Emma. They know your hair and eye color."

"I will be careful," I assured him."Being on campus allows me to observe. The hunters are a looming threat to my home right now, and I must do all I can to aid in protecting it."

"Now, dress," I instructed, the sound of fabric rustling as I handed him his clothing. A gentle knock on the door interrupted us. "Emma, Ryan has returned to escort you and Clay to his pack lands," Jennifer's voice reached my ears, her words carrying a mix of anticipation and concern.

"I will have Clay ready in a moment. I will come out when ready," I replied as Clay dressed.

My gaze met Clay's, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "Clay, kneel," I commanded, my voice steady but tinged with regret. The sound of his knees hitting the floor resonated in the room.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"I will earn your trust." he whispered.

I approached him, the cool metal of the restraints in my hands contrasting against the warmth of his skin. I gently placed the collar around his neck, and then restrained his wrists.

"I had wished to avoid this part to protect you, but I have to keep peace," I explained, the weight of responsibility heavy in the air. "That being said, your life is guaranteed to me, so it will be protected." With a gentle touch, I placed the blindfold over his eyes.

Walking towards the door, I swung it open, the creaking hinges adding an eerie sound to the scene.

"Stand," I commanded. Clay rose to his feet. Two of Ryan's pack warriors joined us, their presence silently asserting their authority. Together, they led Clay outside and into the van.

I got in the car and we drove back to Pack Lands."If we don't do this," Ryan started to speak, his voice filled with uncertainty.

I stopped him, my gaze fixed on the world outside the window, the silence weighing heavily in the air. The van came to a stop, its brakes screeching against the pavement. Clay was led out, his footsteps echoing in the stillness. "The weather is clear, Emma," Ryan said, the words failing to ease the tension. I glanced at him, the scent of anticipation mingling with the crisp air.

"He will remain untouched, your warriors will see to that," I demanded of Ryan.

"He will remain guarded throughout, but he needs to do this,” Ryan explained.

As we were guided to an open area on the pack lands, the scent of earth and grass filled my nostrils. Clay's blindfold was removed, revealing his eyes for a brief moment. "Per tradition, when one is sentenced as a slave, they are to spend 24 hours on their knees to prove the spell worked," I said firmly, my voice carrying across the open space.

"Clay, kneel on the ground," I said. The mark forced him.

"Your body must stay frozen here for 24 hours," I said firmly, knowing it would cause him pain. I had to show the pack and those who wanted him punished that this mark had complete control over him. "I will take away all your freedoms," I added, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes met mine, I hated that this spell could strip everything from him. "You must stay awake until I come back to release you. You are not allowed to speak or make any noise," I commanded. His eyes widened briefly, indicating that his body could sense my orders.

"I order you to remain in darkness," I sternly declared as I watched his eyes fog over. Inara whimpered softly. But I knew there was no other choice - he had to endure this, I could not risk all my parents worked for.

"I will drive you to the campus," Ryan offered. I turned to leave, the weight of the situation heavy on my shoulders, and followed Ryan.

Clay would be outside, under constant surveillance, for twenty-four hours. I knew that if I looked back at him now, I might give up and end it all, but I had to remain steadfast, no matter how much it pained me to force my mate to endure such torture.

We climbed into the car, the engine rumbling to life, the sound filling the air.

"Have you rejected your bond with him?" Ryan questioned, unaware of the profound significance it held for me. I chose to keep that secret hidden, for although he had proven helpful thus far, I couldn't fully trust him. Revealing that Clay was my weakness would only jeopardize everything.

"No, I have not," I replied firmly.

Ryan sighed, the sound heavy with understanding and concern. "You're torturing yourself," he remarked.

"He is close to Skade," I revealed. "That gives us a tremendous advantage. Once his twenty four hours are over, he will return to his life at campus, and to many, it will seem normal. They won't see the invisible leash we have on him." Ryan pondered my words, the silence stretching between us as we continued our journey.

"When we're done in this realm, what are your intentions?" Ryan finally asked, breaking the silence.

I had to be careful with my answers because I didn't know Ryan well enough to reveal my true intentions. I wanted to strip the mark from Clay and give him back his freedom. "I will bring him to the kingdom and he will continue serving there," I said. Clay was given a life sentence, and I needed to make sure no one believed he would ever earn his freedom.

I was then dropped off at my apartment building. "I have warriors watching in the shadows to keep you safe," Ryan said.

"I appreciate that," I thanked him. However, I wondered if they were really protecting me or just keeping an eye on me. I understood loyalty to the kingdom, but something about Ryan seemed off. I intended to keep an eye on him.

I got out and went to my unit. Then, I connected with my brother. We decided it was best for all communication to go through my link with him, so nothing would be traced. "What news do you have on the pack Ryan is from?" I asked my brother through the link.

"They have always been loyal to the kingdom," my brother replied. "However, they have only attended mandatory Alpha council meetings since they reside in the human realm." He continued, "What do you sense from them?"

"They seem to have a closer relationship with Alpha Leon than they let on. This is uncommon for most supporters of the kingdom. Also, I didn't sense any hybrids on their pack lands, which is unusual these days unless they follow the old ways and rules. They also provided no reports on the increase in hunters or activity until the most recent attack. They also located the hunters quickly," I explained through the link. "From my mate's memories, Skade had wolves with him," I continued.

"Are you suggesting they are working with the hunters?" My brother asked through the link. "Possibly. I believe the hunters are working with a pack, considering their knowledge and their focus on sealed documents within the academy. For now, I plan to continue playing along. I'm good at solving puzzles, so even if they know my plan to stay at this school and have my mate return to the hunters, I will catch onto them and turn the situation around in my favor," I said to Noah through our link.

Noah remained silent for a while.

"What about your mate?" Noah finally asked.

" I can trust him," I replied, my voice filled with unwavering conviction. "Right now, he serves his 24 hours. I am confident that they won't harm him. They need me to believe they are on my side, just as they need to believe that Clay is nothing more than a slave to me."

"You claimed they were poisoned at the bar as well." my brother reminded me.

"Yes, but there was no real harm done," I explained, my voice tinged with skepticism. "It could have been planned to build my trust in them. Not all pack members may know. You know me, Noah, I can read people well. And Ryan...something is not right with him."

"That being said, Noah," I continued, my voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and determination, "one thing many don't know is the slave seal on Clay. Since we are twins, you have the power to order him as well and break my commands. You must also protect Clay, Noah. If something happens to me, you know well that I will survive. Yet, I leave it to you to ensure Clay's survival as well."

"You love him," Noah's voice resonated in my mind, his words echoing through the depths of my soul.

"I do for I know he is good," I said.

"Today can't be easy for you then, Emma," my brother said softly, his voice filled with empathy.

"No, but I also know he is strong," I replied. "Punishing my mate like this is torture on me as well." I paused, closing my eyes briefly to block out the world.

"I just hope he never comes to hate me for this," I whispered through the link.

"We have found a safe exit into the human realm," Noah explained..

"I am traveling tomorrow with Bryn and Flint to be closer to you and aid you, Emma," he continued, his voice unwavering. "I will keep my distance for the plan, but you have us, so does your mate."

"Thank you, Noah," I replied, my voice filled with gratitude. As our connection ended, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. The smooth surface felt cool against my fingertips as I typed out a message to Melody, careful to act normal and conceal the truth.

I made plans to meet with Melody and Kris at the Cafe. As I walked in, I could hear the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of cups and saucers. The warm ambiance enveloped me.

I carefully observed my surroundings, ensuring that no one suspicious was nearby. The dim lighting cast a gentle glow on the wooden tables, creating a sense of intimacy. The soft jazz music playing in the background added a soothing touch to the atmosphere.

As I sat down with Melody and Kris, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anxiety mingled with anticipation. I glanced around, making sure no prying eyes were watching us, silently praying that my identity would remain hidden.

Despite my apprehension, being in their company brought a comforting familiarity. We exchanged smiles and engaged in casual conversation, while I maintained the facade of an ordinary student.

I handed Melody and Kris more of the assignment I had prepared. The papers rustled softly as they passed them between each other, their eyes scanning the words diligently.

As the meeting drew to a close I felt like I had done enough “acting” for one day.

Walking away from the café, I could still taste the bittersweet flavor of uncertainty on my tongue. I knew that the path ahead would be treacherous.

I didn’t want to involve humans because I fear that if my identity is discovered, they may be harmed, but I have no choice. Keeping close with them has helped me maintain my cover as just an average student, nothing more, nothing special.

Back in my apartment, the silence felt deafening without Clay. Thinking of him outside, still on his knees, brought tears to my eyes. This was no easy thing.

"Inara, can you feel mate?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied."He does not have our mark yet, but we are his master now with the slave seal."

"I need you to focus on creating a link with him," I instructed, my voice filled with urgency. "I know it won't be easy, but if he can hear us, it will make this easier on him."

"I will, Emma," she said. "For as of now, I feel his fear. Mate won't admit it, but I think he may fear the dark. The moment we ordered him into darkness, I felt him tense, the same way he has when blindfolded. He does not like it."

"Then work hard on connecting with him," I said.

I was determined to make things easier for both of us, even though I knew it would be a challenging journey before we could truly be together.