The Alpha's Cursed Mate

CHAPTER THREE: STITCHES AND SECRETS

ELARA’S POV

The kitchen smelled like blood and antiseptic mixed together like a deadly concoction. The storm showed no signs of letting up, it just continued raging outside. Rain lashed against the windows like it was trying to claw its way in and the thunder roared so deeply that I could feel it in my bones.

I stood at the kitchen counter, hands still trembling as I threaded the needle with thick monofilament suture, the same kind I used to stitch up large dogs when they came in with injuries from fights or barbed wire. It wasn’t meant for humans but with everything that had happened this night I had started questioning reality.

I looked over at the man I had brought into my home, who tried to kill me yet here I was stitching him up. I couldn’t explain it. I just felt the need to help him. My original plan was to call the police when he was still unconscious but for some reason I decided against it. I felt every part of me drawn to him, despite all that had happened. It was that same feeling that made me bring him here in the first place.

He passed out after the episode a few hours ago. After his warnings and ramblings. The memory of claws extending from his finger tips were embedded in my mind, replaying all over again.

Maybe I was going crazy.

There were no claws on his fingertips when I picked him up to put him on the counter. Maybe I imagined the whole thing, the adrenaline probably got to me. But what about his eyes? The fact that his skin pulled itself together and healed itself. It just didn’t make sense. Yet I didn’t run, didn’t call for help.

“You’d be the death of me, you strange man.”. I muttered under my breath as I cleaned the deep gashes along his side for the final time, removing the silver residue I found inside. The wound had stopped bleeding almost completely, the edges had even already started knitting themselves back together. It defied everything I learned at vet school and everything I’d ever known. It was healing but I still had to treat it to avoid an infection. I poured a generous amount of antiseptic and watched it fizzle on his skin.

He let out a low groan and his molten gold eyes fluttered open. They fixed on me almost immediately, sharp and with an unnerving intensity.

“Easy” I said with a calm, low voice. “I’m almost done stitching. Just stay still”. I said and continued stitching the wound. I didn’t expect him to stay still or stay quiet. But he just laid there watching me work, staring at me intensely.

“Wolves”. His voice was low. “They’re everywhere in that forest, you should steer clear of it”.

“Wolves didn’t give you these wounds. And they sure as hell don’t leave silver embedded in your skin. You’re lying”. I said as I finished up the stitches.

“I wasn’t attacked by wolves. I’m just saying you need to be careful. And this house” He paused and looked around. “It’s not safe here-”

“Listen!” I said, stopping him from completing his sentence. “You don’t get to tell me what's safe and what's not after you tried to kill me a few hours ago. You’ve been spouting meaningless nonsense like a mad man ever since you woke up.”. I was beyond frustrated at this point.

“I’m sorry.” He said quietly. He sounded genuine.

I let out a deep sigh.

“I’m done with the stitches. I doubt you need them since your skin magically heals itself. Mind explaining why?”

His body tensed as I brought up the topic.

“There are some things that are better left unknown.” He said as he pushed himself slowly on one elbow, testing the stitches. The movement made the muscles in his abdomen ripple, I forced my gaze away and tried distracting myself.

“You have steady hands for someone who dragged a bleeding stranger home in a raging storm” He said softly

“It comes with the job I guess. Animals don’t exactly sit still while being treated.” I said as my eyes met his.. Then I felt it, that strange pull again, like an invisible thread tugging between us, pulling us closer with every breath we took. My skin still remembered the heat of his fingers around my throat yet a part of me ached for his touch again.

What was wrong with me?

A flash of lightning hit the sky and the entire kitchen illuminated with stark white for a split second.

And then I saw it.

His shadow, thrown against the wall by the overhead light and brief flash of lightning from outside. His shadow wasn’t human. The outline stretched abnormally. His limbs looked elongated, ears pointed, a muzzle protruded from where his head was supposed to be and claws tipping the fingers even though his hand looked normal.

What was this?

Fear enveloped me and I immediately staggered back. I stumbled backward, my hip hitting the counter hard.

He got down from the table top and walked slowly towards me. He could definitely feel the fear emanating from my body.

“Wh-what are you?”. I said in utter horror.

He locked eyes with me. Those gold orbs flickered with something dangerous.

“Ryker”. He said, voice low and steady. I could hear the growl lurking beneath it. “Ryker Kane and you’re Elara. I heard your name in my sleep while I was unconscious”

What? But I never said my name even while he was unconscious.

“Ryker Kane”. I repeated. “That shadow, your eyes, the claws and your body healing itself… It's not normal.”

“No. It’s not”. He caressed my cheek as he leaned in closer to me. I felt his hot breath grazing my neck.

“Y-you’re not human are you?”

He stared at me. His eyes flared brighter than before.

Of course he wasn’t. He had been trying to warn me.

You should’ve let me die.

You don’t know the danger you’ve brought on yourself

His words, everything started flooding back.

Danger. He was the danger.

Everything about him screamed danger.

I should run. I could stab him with a kitchen knife and make a run for it.

Yet, I couldn’t. I just stood there in silence staring deep into his molten gold eyes, it was as if I was trapped in a trance.

Then suddenly, a deafening crash shattered the silence.