What Lurks Beneath

Chapter 7

Kaida POV 

    He stares at me in utter shock, taking an extra second to give me a once over. As if staring me down would somehow give him conformation that what I had said is in fact truth. 

    “No, that can’t be" he shakes his head, not wanting to accept my words as truth. "My wolf recognizes you. He won’t stop barking mate, urging me to mark and claim you this very second. He wouldn’t be able to recognize you if you hadn’t shifted... He never recognized you before today. Something must have happened.” 

    He's more mumble ranting to himself than actually talking to me. Pacing back and forth trying to wrap his brain around the situation. My not shifting seems to be hitting him harder than it had me.  

    Let him ponder on that. Let’s leave while he is distracted 

    I slowly start backing away. Heading deeper into Crimson Shadow territory. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. He’s so wrapped up in his own thoughts that I honestly think he won’t notice, and he doesn’t. His wolf on the other hand, seems to not have stopped watching us. Brone’s head suddenly snaps up, staring straight at me. 

    “Where do you think you’re going?” 

    “We already covered this... Not even 10 minutes ago” I groan, exasperated by his relentlessness on the matter 

    “I’m leaving, nothing’s changed” I make to leave but he grabs me by the wrist and yanks me towards him, causing me to lose my footing and stumble into his chest. His bare chest. My face flushes. Jerk or not he’s still an attractive man, a very naked attractive man. I put my hands to his pecs and push trying to create some distance between us but he only pulls me closer, wrapping me in his arms.  He rests his head on the top of my head and inhales deeply, scenting me.  

    “Mate” He exhales, more to himself than to me. As if reassuring himself that it’s not all in his head. 

    This is making me incredibly uncomfortable. I’m not feeling whatever it is that he is, so to me it just feels like my tormentor has me pinned and trapped with no escape. Panic starts to rise in my chest and I begin struggling, desperate to escape this compromising proximity. I can feel his muscles tense with his frustration. Definitely too close for comfort.  

    “Stop struggling” he all but growls “My wolf needs this. He’s been desperate to have you close. The sparks are both intoxicating and soothing” he rest his head in the nook of my neck settling in like it’s always belonged there.  

    “you really can’t feel this?” he whispers, relaxing and taking yet another deep inhale. This is way to intimate for comfort. The nook of the neck is where wolves mark their mates, it’s an extremely sensitive and intimate spot. Somewhere you only allow your mate access. Not you're tormentor. Maybe If there was a bond, this would offer some sense of comfort but instead all I feel is disgust. It’s more creepy and disturbing than comforting and loving, even bordering on harassment.  

    “No” I make no effort to hide the discomfort from my voice “I don’t. Let me go” I push harder this time, standing my ground. Making it clear that this was very much unwanted. Not that I think he would care. When has he ever?  

    He pulls me in tighter, unhappy with my response. His chest rumbles lowly in annoyance. His arms clench around my waist compressing and crushing me more into him. I let out a small gasp of pain. I want to ask him to stop but don’t. He doesn’t ever stop. Begging only ever makes things worse. He thrives on my misery. Instead, I try and put on a brave face, acting like this has absolutely no effect on me. Pain is but a state of mind. Nothing I haven’t been through before. 

    We need to get away, this can’t end well. 

    You think I don’t know that? Any suggestion would be welcome.  

    Knee him in his nuts, than take off running 

    Yeah, then when he shifts and catches me I'll be dead. Next 

    He won’t follow us deeper into Crimson Shadow territory 

    You said he wouldn’t cross the border. See how that turned out 

    Well you need to do something, We’ve been here too long, I think I felt the presence of someone else earlier. This is getting dangerous. 

    Why the hell didn’t you say anything sooner!? 

    Because it was brief and vanished just as soon as I noticed it. And we had other more pressing issues to deal with. But I definitely sensed it. It was bloodlust. 

    How! in the name of the goddess, pray tell, is that NOT more pressing than this 

    Brone definitely wants us dead. I don’t think the bloodlust was directed at us, and it vanished just as quick as it appeared. Brone was and remains the more pressing danger. 

    I scoff in annoyance.  

    It still would have been important information to be made aware of 

    I’m telling you now aren't’ I? 

    “What’s wrong?” 

    I’m pulled from the conversation with my wolf by Brone’s disturbingly concerned sounding question. This is weird. It feels weird and wrong.  

    “what do you mean” 

    “Your eyes glazed over, and your face contorted in irritation, I’m assuming you and your wolf are having some sort of disagreement so, what’s wrong?” 

    I hesitate, unsure if I should divulge this information to him. On one hand he could be my mate, genuinely concerned and wanting to offer help. On the other hand, this is my abuser. The number one cause of most of my suffering and torture. The man who made it his mission in life to see me miserable and injured. 

    Not to mention killed 

    Yeah, that too 

    If there truly is a threat out there though, abuser or not, his life is in danger too. He should prioritize his own safety and the safety of the pack. Especially considering that threat is more than likely Crimson Shadow related. 

    “Nikita, said she felt a presence earlier. A threatening one. She says it disappeared just as quickly as it appeared though, which is strange.” 

    He seems disturbed by this new information and pulls his head from my neck scanning the area for any sign of danger. I can’t help but feel relieved when his head leaves the nook of my neck, no longer being forced into intimacy.  

    “I don’t see anything, but there is a lingering smell. One I’m not familiar with.” His whole body tenses as if ready to pounce on some invisible enemy.  

    “We should leave, this isn’t safe” 

    “I couldn’t agree more, now if you’d just let me go, we can go our separate ways” 

    He stares down at me, displeasure written all over his face. His arms leave my waist only to wrap themselves around my neck. I struggle fruitlessly as the world around me starts fading. I stare at him. No shock or hurt in my eyes. I had a feeling something like this would happen. This is just the way he is. Instead, I try with all my might to convey my resolve to him. Hoping he sees that this is not over. I will fight him to my dying breath.  

    “You. Are. Not. Leaving. Me. EVER.” 

    Those are the last words I hear as I pass out in his arms.  

    We will see about that.  

    You will come to regret this decision I promise you that 

    My wolf growls back.  

    If only he could hear the menace and threat in her words. Maybe then he wouldn’t be so confident anymore.