Chapter 6: You Belong Under My Protection
1346 Words
I should have pushed him away.
The moment his arms wrapped around me.
The moment his warmth surrounded me again.
The moment my body… didn’t resist.
I should have.
But I didn’t.
Because for one terrifying second—
I felt safe.
And that scared me more than anything else.
“Let go,” I whispered, though there was no strength behind it.
He didn’t.
Instead, his hold tightened slightly, like he was making a point.
“No.”
My chest tightened.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself.
“You can’t just—hold me like this whenever you want.”
His voice dropped, low and certain.
“I can.”
I pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him.
“You’re impossible.”
“And you’re reckless.”
That hit.
I frowned. “Excuse me?”
“You ran into the forest. Alone,” he said, his gaze sharpening. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?”
“I didn’t exactly have a choice!”
“You always have a choice.”
I scoffed. “Really? Because from where I’m standing, it feels like every choice I make gets overridden by you.”
Silence.
For a moment—
He didn’t respond.
Then slowly—
His grip loosened.
Not completely.
But enough for me to step back.
The space between us returned.
And just like that—
The warmth disappeared.
“You’re right,” he said quietly.
I blinked, surprised.
“What?”
“You didn’t have a choice.”
That wasn’t what I expected.
At all.
Before I could respond, he turned away, his attention shifting back to the unconscious rogue on the ground.
“Stay here,” he ordered.
“I’m not a dog.”
“Then stop acting like one.”
My mouth opened—
Then closed.
God, he was infuriating.
Still—
I didn’t move.
Because despite everything…
I didn’t want to wander off again.
Not after what just happened.
Arsen crouched beside the rogue, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him upright like he weighed nothing.
The man groaned weakly.
“W-wait…” he mumbled.
Arsen didn’t respond.
His expression was cold.
Unreadable.
Dangerous.
“Please…” the rogue tried again. “We didn’t come to fight—”
“You asked for her,” Arsen cut in sharply.
The rogue winced.
“That wasn’t—”
“It was enough.”
The air shifted again.
That heavy, suffocating pressure returned.
Even I could feel it.
And I wasn’t even the target.
“Arsen…” I said hesitantly.
He didn’t look at me.
“Don’t.”
The warning was clear.
Still—
I stepped forward anyway.
“I don’t think killing him is going to help anything.”
That got his attention.
Slowly—
He turned his head toward me.
His eyes dark.
“Help?” he repeated.
“Yes,” I said, forcing myself to stay calm. “If they came to talk, then maybe there’s something going on we don’t understand.”
The rogue nodded quickly. “Exactly! That’s what I’ve been trying to say—”
Arsen slammed him back against the tree.
Hard.
“Speak clearly,” he growled.
The rogue coughed.
“O-okay… okay…”
My heart pounded, but I held my ground.
“Let him talk,” I said.
For a second—
Arsen didn’t move.
Then slowly—
His grip loosened just enough.
The rogue slid down slightly but stayed upright.
“There’s… something out there,” he said, breathing heavily.
Arsen’s eyes narrowed.
“Define something.”
The rogue swallowed.
“We don’t know what it is. But it’s killing everyone.”
Silence.
Cold.
Sharp.
“What do you mean everyone?” I asked before I could stop myself.
The rogue’s eyes flicked to me.
“Other rogues. Small packs. Even loners. Anyone outside territory lines.”
A chill ran down my spine.
“That doesn’t make sense,” I said. “Why would something target only—”
“It’s not random,” the rogue cut in. “It’s hunting.”
Arsen’s posture shifted slightly.
More alert now.
More focused.
“Since when?” he asked.
“A week,” the rogue replied. “Maybe less.”
“And you’re just telling me now?”
“We thought we could handle it!” the rogue snapped. “But we were wrong.”
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
“What does this have to do with me?” I asked quietly.
Both of them looked at me.
At the same time.
And suddenly—
I didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
The rogue hesitated.
Then said carefully—
“Because whatever it is…”
My chest tightened.
“…it’s drawn to power.”
I froze.
Power?
“I don’t have any power,” I said immediately.
The rogue let out a dry laugh.
“You’re marked by an Alpha.”
My stomach dropped.
“That’s not—”
“That’s exactly what it is,” he said. “To something like that, you’re not just human.”
I didn’t like where this was going.
Not at all.
“You’re bait.”
The word hit like a punch.
“No,” I whispered.
Arsen moved instantly.
Grabbing the rogue again.
Harder this time.
“Watch your words,” he warned.
“I’m telling the truth!” the rogue insisted. “If that thing senses her—”
“It won’t.”
The certainty in Arsen’s voice cut through everything.
The rogue laughed weakly.
“You really believe that?”
“I know it.”
Their gazes locked.
Tension crackled between them.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
And I was standing right in the middle of it.
“Then why did it attack near your border?” the rogue pressed. “Why now?”
Arsen didn’t answer.
Because he didn’t have one.
I could see it.
And that scared me more than anything.
Because if even he didn’t understand what was happening—
Then what chance did I have?
None.
“Let him go,” I said quietly.
Arsen didn’t move.
“Arsen.”
This time—
He looked at me.
Something unreadable in his eyes.
“Let. Him. Go.”
A pause.
Then slowly—
He released the rogue.
The man dropped to the ground, coughing.
“You’re lucky,” Arsen said coldly.
The rogue laughed weakly.
“Yeah… I’m starting to realize that.”
Arsen stepped back.
But his attention—
Stayed on me.
“You’re coming back with me,” he said.
I crossed my arms instinctively.
“Do I have a choice?”
“No.”
“Figures.”
But this time—
I didn’t argue.
Because something had changed.
Something bigger than him.
Bigger than me.
Something out there…
Hunting.
And somehow—
I was part of it.
As we turned to leave, the rogue spoke again.
“Hey.”
Arsen stopped.
Didn’t turn.
“If you care about her,” the rogue said quietly,
My heart skipped.
“…you should keep her close.”
Silence.
Then—
Arsen finally spoke.
“I don’t need advice.”
But his hand—
Moved.
Grabbing mine.
Firm.
Unyielding.
Possessive.
And as we walked back into the forest—
I realized something.
This wasn’t just about survival anymore.
This was about control.
About power.
About something ancient and dangerous that I didn’t understand.
And somehow—
I was right at the center of it.
“You’re not leaving my side again,” Arsen said without looking at me.
I swallowed.
“Why?”
His grip tightened slightly.
“Because out there…”
His voice dropped.
Colder.
Darker.
“…you’re a target.”
My heart pounded.
“And here?” I asked quietly.
He didn’t hesitate.
“You’re under my protection.”
I should have felt relieved.
Safe.
But instead—
A different kind of fear settled in my chest.
Because protection from him…
Might come at a price.
And I was starting to realize—
I might already be paying it.
- Writer
