The She-wolf and The Prince

By love.

CHAPTER 04

April 28, 1811

Ryan had been stroking Alia's silver hair for several minutes now, sitting on a chair. It was a gesture he couldn't help making, he who didn't like physical contact very much. He had been surprised to hear her climbing the walls at such a late hour. He was even more so when he saw the excess rage in her eyes.

"I hate Grey Griffin." She had merely growled before going to flatten herself on her bed.

- Would you like to talk about it? He rushed.

- My father wants me to marry Kaul, the son of our chief. He ordered me to. I don't understand why he's like this now. He never forced anything on me, so why?

- Maybe he just wants your happiness. Nothing more. However, I am surprised. I thought wolves were freer and didn't indulge in this kind of custom.

- They don't. But I don't understand my father's decision.

- Have you had a quiet discussion?

- No. And I'm not going back there.

- I think you should go talk to your father. You'll know how to explain yourself. And in hindsight, you'll be able to figure out his intentions.

- You're just saying that because you haven't been there," she replied, sitting up straight. I thought you were my friend and that you would understand me but I was mistaken. You prefer to be on my father's side.

She was furious.

- Stop getting so angry. This behavior won't get you anywhere. I don't agree with your father. Believe me, I don't. I just don't want you to make a mistake. You can't buy a family and you don't decide which one to be born into.

- Please forgive me. It's just that I don't like Kaul and my feelings are being put on the back burner.

He came and sat down next to her.

- Do you really think you don't have an ounce of love for this man? How can you be so sure?

- He explained to me what it is to be in love and I knew very quickly that I was not in love with him. In the books I read with you, we both know that people get married because they love each other, right?

- You know? The reality is quite different. Especially among vampires. Marriage is often only based on interests.

- I'm not a vampire and I don't want an arranged marriage.

- Then explain to your father that you want a union based on love and not on interests. He will listen to you. You have always told me that Grey Griffin is a wonderfully understanding man who listens to you. He is different from Henry Harrington who is not the diplomatic type.

She smiles at him.

- Ah, Ryan. My life would be easier if I married you.

- R... Really? He stammered confused.

Alia understood his words and fell silent, her cheeks turning red.

- You're all red," he said, regaining his composure.

He turned away the eyes before throwing to him.

- And I find you beautiful like that.

Alia tilted her head to the side to observe him attentively, her eyebrows frowning.

His deep red eyes were more disconcerting than usual. They were even shifty. A thin smile stretched his lips. His face described an emotion she couldn't quite put her finger on. At that moment, all she wanted to do was to take him in her arms and hold him as if he was attracting her. This disturbed her and instead of doing what her heart dictated, she simply put her hand on his cheek. His cold skin made her shiver.

- Why are you telling me this? It is the second time that you find me beautiful.

He stood up embarrassed and turned his back to her.

- Well... I... Forget it. It was just a compliment. You don't have to interpret it differently.

- What do you mean, interpret it differently? I know you paid me a compliment. It's just surprising coming from you, that's all.

- I see. Next time I won't.

- Um...

Both of them felt uncomfortable. Each avoided looking at the other. Alia felt that something was changing in her, but she didn't know what.

A deep melancholy had reached her heart, but she couldn't tell where it was coming from. And during the white space between them, the she-wolf and the prince asked each other questions.

Thoughts crossed Alia's mind.

"A person we think about often and whose absence hurts us more than anything else. The embarrassment. I know I'm being silly. In all this time, I never noticed it. Yet it was so obvious. Ryan..."

- I love you," the girl said.

- Excuse me?" our friend exclaimed.

- You heard me right. I love you. Do you love me? Do you love me?

The question was direct and straightforward. Alia was true to her frank and direct nature.

Even though Ryan was used to his friend's frankness and sometimes shocking words, surprise could not define enough what he felt. He himself found it difficult to describe his emotions. Faced with this statement coming from her, the amazement was total. He almost lost his voice.

- You.... You must be hungry, he managed to articulate to avoid the question. We have meat in the pantry. I'll get it for you.

He headed for a back door next to his office. A long, dark hallway came into view and he hurried through.

- Hmm... I wonder if I did the right thing.

Several minutes passed without Ryan returning. Curious and worried at the same time, she decided to venture behind the famous door.

This one was made of thick white chain. She thought that a simple human could not have moved it. The hallway was dark and narrow. With her highly developed senses, she was able to find her way by following Ryan's scent and went down the thickly carpeted stairs. Once through the door at the end of the narrow passage, she slipped under red curtains and entered another hallway, this time better lit. Torches ran along the walls, creating a strange, mysterious and even gloomy atmosphere.

Suddenly, noises reached her ears. She thought at first that it was an object that had fallen on the ground, however the noise continued. The closer she got to the source of the noise and Ryan's scent, the more she realized that someone was being beaten.

- Ryan...

Panicked, the she-wolf rushed towards the place where her friend was. She was glad she got there in time.

Ryan was lying flat on the granite slabs of the courtyard, bleeding. A meter away from him, a man was moving inexorably forward. His long brown hair was slicked back. His cruel gaze rivaled his carefully tailored black tuxedo. His right hand was covered in blood. His heart began to beat fiercely.

- Ah, you little bastard. I told you not to show your face in front of me. For not following the rules, I have to punish you.

With lightning speed, Alia positioned herself in front of the unfortunate man.

- Don't touch him, you monster," she shouted angrily at Hiden.

Hiden was surprised by the presence of this child, whose presence he had not detected.

- Hold on. For a surprise...

Ryan was in bad shape. However, when he discovered the person who had spoken, he tried to get up.

- Ali...Alia. Ne.... Don't get involved in this. Please go away. Run away and...

- No way," she cut him off without taking her eyes off the enemy.

- But...

- There is no but which holds. Earlier, I had said to you that I loved you. I meant it. I do love you. I don't like to see you hurt, so I'm not going to let that man hurt you more. Let me fix him and then fix you.

- Really? You think you can defeat a vampire, young she-wolf?

- Of course I do. You don't scare me. Come on, now. Come on.

Her teeth and fists were clenched. So great was her rage. She didn't hesitate to confront Hiden with her eyes, even though he was much taller than her. Alia's head barely reached his chest.

- Listen, young lady. You'd better go home and forget everything you've seen and the existence of this insignificant being.

- Never. You can always dream.

The vampire's expression changed after this answer. He went from disdain to amazement. There was something wrong with this girl, he felt.

- I'll say it again. Leave and forget it.

- Are you deaf? I said never.

The wounded man was watching the confrontation, helpless. A bad feeling knotted his throat.

- Good. You leave me no choice.

The gestures were very quick.

Hiden's hand was at the level of Alia's cheek, but was held back by her. She then pushed him away violently. The vampire moved back several inches. A smile appeared on his lips.

- Interesting.

It disappeared after his remark.

- Hey! You run away? Dirty coward!

- Alia...

- You see? I told you I would protect you.

A light wind blew. Her silver hair swayed from side to side on her head.

The sky above them darkened in a split second. Then there was the sound of thunder.

- Come on! Come on. It's going to rain and we'll get wet standing here.

She put a hand under his armpit and hooked her arm around his neck to help him back to his room.

He didn't complain the whole way, but there was no denying that he was in severe pain. His breathing was labored, suggesting that he had a punctured lung. Alia knew this and felt sorry for him. His heart was bleeding as much as the other's body. Tears rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't imagine how a brother could treat his own blood badly. Rage, sorrow, incomprehension... Many emotions were mixing inside her. However, the strongest was love; the love she felt for this boy. At that moment, she swore to herself to protect him no matter what, to be the strength that would complement his weakness as well as his shield.

- ‟You have to go," he suggested weakly when they reached their destination. I can manage alone.

He put himself not without difficulty to unbutton his soiled shirt.

- I will not leave you all alone. You're in bad shape. Drink my blood first before you try to chat.

She forced him to sit on her bed, put her wrist in his mouth and forced him to help himself.

Weak, he could not protest and simply obeyed. The wounds closed little by little. She withdrew her hand after a few seconds and then crouched down to help him undress. This gesture immediately made Ryan feel embarrassed. It was the first time they had been this close.

- I can do it myself.

- Don't be stubborn and let me take care of you.

- I feel embarrassed.

- I don't care.

- Fine.

- How did you stand up to Hiden?

- Hiden? That's his name?

- Yes. That's Hiden Harrington. My older brother and heir to the throne. He is everything like his father, cruel, insensitive and calculating.

- Yet when we first met, he didn't seem so evil.

- What? Have you met before? But why didn't you tell me?

He was so panicked that a coughing fit overcame him.

- Don't get yourself into such a state. Take it easy. Yes. We exchanged a look. I didn't tell you because I forgot. Besides, it's been over two years already. I've seen him, elegant in his tuxedo and his hair tied back in a ponytail.

Ryan opened his eyes wide before exclaiming.

- I see. Now I understand why you've stayed alive until now.

- Do you? What do you mean by that?

- The one you saw that night wasn't Hiden, but Aloïs. He must have thought that you were not a danger and let you go. I can tell you that he is the most measured of all. If I were him, Hiden would have killed you in a heartbeat. I wonder why he didn't.

- Aha. He must have been afraid of me. He realized how strong I am and decided to go into detail. That's why I have to stay with you and keep him away.

- You are really stubborn and carefree, my word. What is happening is very serious. You are in danger here. Hiden won't let you off that easy. He must have something in mind. This is a serious situation, Alia. Imagine if your father was looking for you and he came face to face with my brother. What do you think would happen? It would be a disaster.

- But I...

- ‟No, Alia," he said firmly. You are the person I care about most in the world. It would hurt me a lot to see you suffer. I would like to protect you too. It would be better for you to live away from me than to stay and die.

- Will you come with me?

He shook his head.

- If I stay with you, we both die. Hiden likes to see me suffer. My loneliness will be a satisfaction to him.

- I beg your forgiveness. It's all my fault. It was curiosity that brought us here. I am sorry.

She was angry at herself for being so reckless and not thinking of the consequences of her actions. Their friendship was going to end because of her recklessness. With her head down, she bit her lower lip until she hurt herself. It was then that with his fine fingers, he lifted her chin and gently placed his lips on those of the lycanthrope.

- What made me fall in love with you is your impetuosity, your vivacity and your tenacity. I am happy to love you and will be forever. Now you have to go away.

It was her turn to kiss him.

- Let me stay. At least until it stops raining. Please.

- Hmm.

- You know what? I wish we'd gotten married later.

- I wish we had too.

They stayed like that, without speaking, their foreheads stuck together and their hearts bruised...