DESIRE

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THEODORE COHEN

The white snow, the shivering cold, the dark night. Those were December's signature signs. I hadn't got used to hunting animals. Let's be honest, human blood tasted so much better. It felt warmer; the taste was deeper and more magnified as it hit my lips. I had to stop, there was no way I could continue my old habits.

It had been two whole months since my last drop of human blood. My hunger suddenly magnified, and I had to hunt more often. That was also why being near Winter made it so hard. It was like I could taste the blood of off her, but I reminded myself I did this for her. She was human, and I wanted to be with her. That was my only wish. My only need.

Dimitri being back still became my main priority, apart from Winter's protection. She got frustrated with me, and to be honest, I was too. If she knew about what I was. Winter wouldn't hesitate to run away. Making her forget the kiss was for the best. I sighed. I had wanted it for so long, but I knew I couldn't have her, be with her. It was impossible at this point. I just couldn't forget the gentle feeling of when her lips were on mine, and I would do everything to turn back time and do it all over again.

As I ran up the hill a familiar scent filled up my nostrils. It couldn't be. My mind must be playing tricks on me... My steps got slower as the scent got stronger. It couldn't be human blood, but it was. The scent of human blood was something so special that you would know the difference immediately. This had to be Dimitri's doing. I knew he tried to get the worse side out of me, and hunger... that stupid hunger was my worst side.

I felt my heart beating faster the closer I got to the door. The scent of human blood was undeniable, my brows furrowed. It wasn't just one scent, but two. My fangs started to appear, and I cursed under my breath. I opened the door to see what caused my sudden behaviour. My eyes enlarged as I saw Nadora lying on the floor. Her eyes were open, but her body looked like a lifeless corpse.

I walked over to Nadora, crouched down to get a closer look. If Dimitri had turned her, she wouldn't look like this. The bite on her neck wasn't healed, she was paler than the snow outside, and her skin was ice cold, which meant that she was dead. I sighed as I stood up straight but raged filled me as I knew Dimitri was behind this.

I clenched my fist and hit the wall beside me, making it break, but I already knew it wasn't Nadora's scent that made me this lustful. I felt fear, uneasiness overpowered me if it wasn't Nadora, then who could it be?

"Shit..." I cursed. Not only did I have to deal with her body, but I also had to make sure that everyone still would think she was alive or maybe just remove her from existence. I knew Winter wouldn't take it well.

My uneasiness, my fear magnified as I thought about her. It wasn't only for her, but also my sudden bloodlust. It couldn't be her scent, she was okay, safe. I made sure of it. Dimitri couldn't be that reckless. It must be something similar. It is something similar...

I followed the scent carefully. From the entrance, I slowly entered the kitchen, only to feel my breath get taken away. My throat became drier than a desert as I ran in the speed of light. Everything I had tried to prevent, happened.

"Winter! Love, look at me." There was no response from the little angel whatsoever. I stood up and gripped my hair tightly.

"f**k!" I screamed in frustration. I didn't even have the courage to look any further, but I knew I had to. I swore to myself that I would protect her, but of course, Dimitri being back had clouded my mind almost completely. Taking deep breaths, I crouched down to have a more detailed inspection.

The beautiful hair covered Winter's face. I removed it slowly from her face. Her expression was peaceful. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on, but I didn't fail to notice the bite on her neck. Rage filled me instantly, but I knew she wasn't dead. Not yet, at least. Her skin wasn't pale like Nadora's. Her bite didn't look like it was about to decay. Plus, her skin had a normal temperature.

The blood still poured ever-so-slowly from the bite, and I wanted so desperately to pick some up on my finger. My fangs hadn't disappeared, it was the opposite actually. My dark eyes couldn't stop looking at the blood on the floor... It's all about self-control, remember what you've been taught.

I picked Winter up from the floor with fire in my eyes. Dimitri was dead, and without any second thoughts, I raced through the house to get a blanket. With one swift movement, I wrapped the blanket around Winter's delicate body, and with that, I stormed out of the house, and through the woods.

The journey was long. Too long. Fortunately, I had been hunting just before I arrived home, so my body could keep Winter warm for a little while. It was hard though. I had tried my best to stop the bleeding, but the scent from her warm blood was still filling my nostrils. Just by trying to stop the bleeding, I almost lost control, but I had vowed myself not to do so.

Still racing through the cold air, I was trying to get to my safe house before it was too late. I had made sure to have a house in case something like this happened. No one knew about it or its remote location, so Winter and I were safe.

Finally arriving, I opened the door. My breathing got heavy. I couldn't help but feel as if, I had lost Winter. I knew she wasn't dead but would be soon enough. Even if she would come back as the monster, I was. I still wanted to be with her more than anything.

I placed her on the king-size bed and started to take off her clothes. Now was the first time I had noticed how lovely she looked in that dress, it fitted her figure perfectly. I quickly got some spare clothes from the closet. Of course, this was way too big for Winter's small figure, but she had to wear them. That dress would be way too uncomfortable later on.

The fact, that I was about to undress the girl I had wanted for so long, was wrong. I knew I was invading her personal space, but she had to get out of that dress. Plus, I needed to make sure, she would come back, and not die on me.

As I zipped down the dress, I was careful about making any sudden shifts. I took her arms out of her sleeves and dragged the dress off of her. I didn't stop to look at her body, not once.

Once I had gotten one of my t-shirts over Winter's head, I took off the bandage which I had placed over the bite. It looked venomous, but not deadly. I sat down on the bed and took Winter's hand in mine. However, I furrowed my brows as my eyes landed on Winter's wrist. I immediately took the other one to see if my mind was playing tricks on me, but it wasn't. It never was.

Those white lines on Winter's small wrist made my heart ache "What have you done to yourself, Winter?" I muttered in shock, sadness. I couldn't take my eyes off her small wrist. Maybe Winter had been through something horrible? Of course, she had. Those scars didn't appear out of the thin air. She suddenly stirred, moved violently. She let out small whimpers, and her skin was suddenly burning hot. I watched as she whimpered and let out small words.

"Please, help me... No! Stop... Rowan, why? - "Winter twisted and turned. I tried my best to help. I knew, waking her up wasn't an opportunity, so I tried to cool down her temperature and tried not to wonder who Rowan was "-Please... Don't hurt me... I didn't... No! L-Let go." Tears streamed down her face. It frustrated me. I knew none of the things, she had been through before she came here, and I hated myself for it.

"Winter, it's okay. You're safe." I stroked her hair as comforting words left my mouth. Winter relaxed a little as her cries got quieter. I planted a loving kiss on her forehead. I sighed in exhaustion and got ready for some long days.