MATED HEARTS

CHAPTERTWO

Akira’s Pov.

The days blended together as we traversed the vast landscape. Kairos rode ahead, his silence a palpable force between us. I tried to break the ice, asking him about his kingdom, his people, and his interests, but he responded with monosyllabic grunts or complete silence. His aloofness was unnerving, yet I persisted, determined to build a connection with my new husband.

As we rode, the scenery shifted from lush forests to rolling hills and finally to the rugged mountains that marked the border of Kairos' kingdom. The air grew cooler, and the wind carried the scent of pine and earth. I breathed deeply, feeling a sense of wonder at the beauty of this new land.

One evening, as we set up camp, I attempted to bond with Kairos over a meal. I offered him a piece of dried meat, but he snatched it from my hand without a word, his eyes flashing with irritation. I felt a sting from his rejection, but I didn't let it deter me. I continued to chat with him, sharing stories about my family and my kingdom, hoping he'd open up.

"Tell me about your family," I said, trying to sound casual. "Do you have any siblings?"

Kairos grunted, his eyes fixed on the fire. "I'm the only son of my mother."

“Oh your mother”… I remembered clearly my husband's mother wasn't present and wasn't mentioned at the event.

“What about her?” Not sure if I was asking the right question.

“can we not talk about her?” he responded almost angry.

I sensed a depth to his words, a complexity that I couldn't quite grasp. "What's she like?" I asked, trying to coax more information out of him.

Kairos' expression turned cold, and he stood up, walking away from the fire. "She's dead," he said over his shoulder, disappearing into the darkness.

The weight of his silence was crushing at times. I'd try to initiate conversations, but he'd respond with a nod or a shake of his head. I'd ask him about his kingdom, his people, or his interests, but he'd change the subject or walk away. I felt like I was walking on eggshells, never knowing when he'd snap.

There were moments when Kairos' eyes would turn a piercing red, and he'd struggle to control his shape-shifting the first time I saw it during one of our camping while traveling, I was scared to death, he's just a different wolf. I'd catch glimpses of his wolf form, majestic and powerful, but also very much terrifying. During one of these episodes, he almost lost control, his body contorting into a mixture of human and wolf. I felt a jolt of fear as he lunged at me, his claws outstretched.

I backed away, my heart racing. "Kairos, stop!" I shouted, trying to reach the man behind the beast.

He paused, his chest heaving, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of recognition in his eyes. Then, he turned and ran, disappearing into the trees. I stood there, frozen in fear, wondering if I'd ever be able to understand this complex, volatile man.

As the days passed, I grew more cautious around Kairos. I'd try to anticipate his moods, to avoid triggering his anger or his wolf. But it was impossible to predict when he'd snap or when his eyes would turn red. I felt like I was living in a state of constant fear, never knowing what would set him off.

Despite the tension between us, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him. There were fleeting moments when our eyes met, and I sensed a spark of curiosity, a glimmer of interest. Perhaps, I thought, there's more to this enigmatic man than meets the eye. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to connect with him, to understand him, and build a life together.

As we approached Kairos' kingdom, I felt a mix of emotions. I was excited to see the kingdom, to meet his people, and to start our new life together. But I was also very nervous, unsure of what lay ahead. Would Kairos' people accept me? Would I be able to navigate the complexities of his kingdom? And what about Kairos himself? Would he ever be able to love me, to accept me for who I am? Would I stop getting scared? Why was he the way he is?

The questions swirled in my mind as we rode towards the kingdom. I glanced at Kairos, trying to read his expression. He was distant, his eyes fixed on the horizon. I wondered what he was thinking, what he was feeling. Was he excited to return home, or was he dreading it?

Only time would tell. For now, I could only hold on to hope and determination. I would do everything in my power to build a life with Kairos, to understand him, and to love him. But as we rode into the kingdom, I couldn't shake off the feeling that our journey was just beginning, and that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges and uncertainties.

After days of traveling, I couldn't believe what was happening. One moment, I was riding alongside Kairos, and the next, I was being snatched from my horse and tossed into a covered wagon. I struggled and kicked, but my captors were too strong. They bound my wrists and ankles, silencing me with a gag.

Panic set in as I realized I was at the mercy of these strangers. I had no idea who they were or what they wanted with me. The wagon rattled and bounced along the rough terrain, making it difficult to see or hear anything. I was trapped, helpless, and scared.

Meanwhile, Kairos was oblivious to my predicament. He rode ahead, unaware that his wife had just been kidn*pped. But as he realized I was no longer beside him, his expression darkened. He spun his horse around, scanning the surrounding area frantically.

"AKIRA!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the landscape.

The Kidnappers' Intentions

The kidnappers, a rough-looking group of men, seemed to be heading towards a secluded valley. I caught glimpses of their faces, cruel and calculating, and wondered what their intentions were. Were they looking for ransom, or did they have more sinister plans?

Kairos, however, was hot on their trail. His eyes blazed with fury as he chased after the wagon, his horse's hooves pounding the earth. I could sense his anger and worry, and for a moment, I felt a spark of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he'd rescue me before it was too late.

The wagon finally stopped at a dilapidated cabin on the outskirts of the valley. The men dragged me out, tossing me to the ground. I struggled to free myself, but they bound me tighter. Just as they were about to take me inside, Kairos burst onto the scene.

His eyes flashed red, and his body began to shift. The kidnappers, realizing they were no match for the enraged wolf, scattered in fear. Kairos, however, was relentless. He chased after them, his jaws snapping, until they fled in terror.

Returning to me, Kairos transformed back into his human form. My God! He was so huge for a normal wolf, his face almost wasn't a wolf kind of look. His chest heaved with exertion, and his eyes still blazed with fury. He knelt beside me, his fingers moving deftly to untie the ropes.

"Are you hurt?" he asked gruffly, his voice low, husky and rough.

I shook my head, still trying to process the ordeal. "N-no," I stammered.

Kairos helped me to my feet, his grip firm but gentle. As we walked back to our horses, I couldn't help but notice the change in him. His anger had given way to concern, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of something more.

"Why did you come for me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kairos' expression turned guarded, but I sensed a hint of emotion beneath the surface. "You're my wife," he said finally. "I'd never let anyone harm you."

In that moment, something shifted between us. The dynamics of our relationship changed, and I felt a newfound sense of connection to Kairos. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to this enigmatic man than I thought. Maybe he wasn't as indifferent as he seemed.

As we rode away from the cabin, I glanced at Kairos, trying to read his expression. He was distant, his eyes fixed on the horizon. But I knew that beneath the surface, a spark had been lit. And I wondered what the future held for us now.

Kairos' POV

I rode ahead, my silence a shield against the world. Akira chatted beside me, her voice a gentle hum in the background. But I couldn't respond, couldn't let my guard down. I'd seen the way she looked at me, with curiosity and interest. But she didn't know the truth.

If she discovered what I truly was, she'd leave me. I was certain of it. My kind was feared and reviled, and I couldn't blame her for feeling the same way. My eyes would turn a piercing red, and my body would shift into a monstrous form, 12 times bigger than a normal wolf. I'd seen the terror in the eyes of those who'd encountered me before. That's why I avoided her, why I gave her attitude and silence. I was protecting myself, protecting my heart from the inevitable rejection. But it was hard to resist her charms, hard to ignore the way she looked at me with hope and determination.

As we rode, the weight of my secrets bore down on me. I knew I'd have to reveal the truth to Akira eventually, but the thought filled me with dread. What would she think of me when she saw my true form? Would she still want to be with me?

I remembered the first time I'd shifted in front of someone. They'd screamed, run away in terror. I'd been a child, barely understanding what I was. My parents had tried to teach me control, but it was a struggle. And as I grew older, I realized that I was a monster.

There were moments when my control slipped, and my body began to shift. My eyes would turn red, and I'd feel the power coursing through my veins. Akira would catch glimpses of my wolf form, and I'd see the fear in her eyes. I'd try to push her away, to protect her from the monster that I was. But despite my best efforts, Akira seemed to be drawn to me. She'd look at me with curiosity, with interest. And I'd feel a pang of hope, a hope that she might accept me for what I was. But the fear of loss was always there, lurking in the shadows. She's the first woman to ever give me a spark of hope.

As we approached my kingdom, I felt a mix of emotions. I was excited to return home, but I was also nervous about Akira's reaction. Would she be able to accept me, to love me for who I truly was? Or would she leave me, like everyone else?

Only time would tell. For now, I could only hold on to hope and try to prepare myself for the worst. Akira might leave me, or she might stay. But one thing was certain: I'd do everything in my power to protect her, to keep her safe from the monster that I was.

As I looked at Akira, I saw something in her eyes that gave me hope. She didn't seem to be afraid of me, not yet. She looked at me with curiosity, with interest. And I wondered, maybe, just maybe, she might be the one person who could accept me for what I was.

But the unknown was a scary thing. I'd never let anyone get close to me before. I'd always kept people at arm's length, afraid of being rejected. But Akira was different. She was my wife, and I was bound to her. And as I looked at her, I felt a sense of uncertainty, a sense of wonder.

What would the future hold for us? Would Akira be able to accept me, to love me for who I was? Or would she leave me, like everyone else? I didn't know, but I was determined to find out. I'd take things one step at a time, and see where our journey would take us.

I rode ahead, my senses on high alert as we traversed the rugged terrain. Akira chatted beside me, her voice a gentle hum in the background. But suddenly, she was gone. I spun my horse around, scanning the area frantically.

"AKIRA!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the landscape. Where was she? Had she fallen off her horse? I rode back, my heart racing with worry. That's when I saw the wagon, disappearing into the distance.

The Chase

My instincts kicked in, and I gave chase. My horse pounded the earth, and I could feel my anger and worry building. Who had taken her? What did they want? I wouldn't rest until I found her.

The Transformation

As I closed in on the wagon, my body began to shift. My senses heightened, and my vision sharpened. I could smell the fear emanating from the kidnappers. They wouldn't know what hit them.

I burst into the clearing, my wolf form terrifying the kidnappers. They scattered, but I was relentless. I'd protect Akira at all costs. I chased after them, ensuring they'd never bother us again.

Returning to Akira, I transformed back into my human form. She was bound and gagged, her eyes wide with fear. I knelt beside her, my fingers moving deftly to untie the ropes.

"Are you hurt?" I asked gruffly, my voice low and rough.

She shook her head, still trying to process the ordeal. I helped her to her feet, my grip firm but gentle. As we walked back to our horses, I couldn't help but notice the change in her. She looked at me differently, her eyes searching for something.

"Why did you come for me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Why had I come for her? Because she's my wife? Because I'd sworn to protect her? Or was it something more? I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"You're my wife," I said finally. "I'd never let anyone harm you."

As we rode away from the cabin, I sensed a shift in our dynamic. Akira looked at me differently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Maybe, just maybe, this k********g had changed something between us. Maybe she'd finally understand the depths of my commitment to her.

But as I glanced at her, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I'd discovered something new about myself too. A feeling I'd never experienced before had stirred within me, a feeling that went beyond duty and obligation. And I wondered what the future held for us now. Well it's just too early to give myself hope, I have to be on guard so I won't get hurt in the end.