Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Zaira's POV

"Because you're coming with me."

My heart stopped and I stared at him, shaking my head completely blank. I expected him to start laughing and explaining that it was all a joke, that he meant everything he said and never wanted to see me again.

From what he said next, he seemed to have assumed my head shake meant "no."

"That wasn't a question, Wolfie." He didn't sound angry or cold, more like he seemed bored and I expected him to roll his eyes in annoyance at any moment.

I'm sorry, what?

Thinking I was dreaming, I pinched my arm.

Was he serious? He really wanted to take me?

Couldn't believe it. Dazed, I checked his face for any sign that he was kidding me. With my heart pounding like crazy, I tried to explain why he wanted to take me with him.

What had changed?

Why had he changed his mind?

Even though I immediately cursed my naive thoughts, I couldn't help but ask if he still wanted me as a mate. But as much as I wanted to believe him, his words had been too hurtful for me to just trust him again. I clasped my hands behind my back, hoping he wouldn't notice how badly they were shaking, and took a deep breath.

"You lie." I replied, looking straight into his eyes, whereupon he just raised an eyebrow in contempt. As if all of this spoke for itself, he turned and headed for the door.

"I'm not lying and you're coming with me," he replied, pausing in front of the door, his gaze searching mine. He awaited my reaction while at the same time appearing as if he didn't care at all.

My throat tightened and I looked away, cheeks red, but I still felt his eyes on me as if they were burning me. My hands are sweating and a thousand thoughts are racing around in my head.

Yes he was a monster, yes he had probably killed thousands of werewolves and gi's, he was a lycan, a cursed wolf. It was all clear to me, I didn't ignore it, but I was also aware that it didn't matter to my heart. My chest pounded wildly whenever he was around. I wished so much that he would come back and hold me in his arms and tell me that everything would be fine. And here he was, really coming back to me, wanting me to come with him. My heart, my body, my wolf, everyone went crazy, for her there was only one answer to his question. He was our mate, I belonged to him. The only thing that made me hesitate was my mind reminding me how badly he had hurt me, handing me over to a total stranger on my own. I had been hurt and humiliated all my life and Aramis, my mate, had hurt me so badly that I broke into pieces and only tried to pick them up again through the Silverstorm pack. I could still feel the pain. Too bad the only person who could relieve it was the one who caused it in the first place.

I couldn't take such a risk anymore, not if I didn't know that he meant it and loved me, otherwise I would finally break and die from it.

"How come? Why do you want me to come with you?" the volume of my voice was so low as if even the slightest breath of wind could carry it.

He cursed under his breath, when suddenly an unseen train tensed around me and pulled me away from the kitchen counter. Stumbling, I instinctively tried to hold on to the counter, but I was too weak and my fingers slipped. Confused and slightly panicked, my eyes darted from left to right, my hands grabbing whatever they could get, but nothing stopped my body from being pulled away. I tried to explain what was happening here, but everything happened so fast.

"What...?" I exhaled breathlessly. It was like my body wasn't obeying me anymore and I couldn't do anything about it. Panic was creeping up my veins, I extended my claws and desperately grabbed the dining table as the The tension around me grew stronger and my grip loosened, I looked to my mate for help, but he forestalled me.

"Come on, I don't have all night for this bitching around." came Aramis, who was standing in front of the door with his legs apart and arms crossed and gave me an urgent look. He waved me over, and I was immediately torn away, into his Direction.

That's when I realized he was using his powers, against me, against his own mate! A mate should never use his powers against his mate. Never.

I snorted indignantly and hurt myself, I pressed my feet into the ground and fought back with all my might.

I raged.

I had never decided anything for myself. I was bossed around, humiliated and beaten. I couldn't go on, wouldn't let myself be treated like that, not after this pack. Not after they showed me how it could be, how it was supposed to be. This should stop! It had to stop!

I exploded.

"NO!" My loud voice echoed through the room, accompanied by my heavy breathing while my clenched hands trembled. Time passed slowly, during which he said nothing, showed no reaction to my outburst of anger. Slowly caught My whole body started to tremble as reality trickled through to me and bit by bit my adrenaline left me, my anger subsided and the familiar fear returned.

And then he laughed. He laughed.

I stood there perplexed. His mental bonds around me were gone, yet I couldn't move.

Aramis laughed so hard his body shook and he tilted his head back.

I just don't understand this guy.

I was completely overwhelmed with his constantly changing emotional states, from callous ice block, to annoyed and bored, to amused.

My mouth opened and closed again, I didn't know what to say to that, my brain was swept clean.

His laughter died down, but his eyes still sparkled with amusement as they locked on my face and he lifted one corner of his mouth. For a moment what had just happened was forgotten, the world stopped. His smile burned so deeply into me that I was sure I would never forget this moment.

From one second to the next I was standing in front of him with a tremendous jerk and let out a small squeak of surprise. I immediately took a step back, but he immediately closed the gap.

"We're going." He leaned closer to me and my pulse was racing. I inhaled his scent, which smelled of man and forest, and a woolly shiver ran through me. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his chest. As if he knew what was going through my mind, his eyes glowed and held me spellbound. "Now."

"No," I wouldn't go until I knew he wanted me. At least that's what a part of me said. The part that doesn't want to get hurt anymore, that was afraid of cutting itself on Aramis again. "Say me why first."

"Because you will help me awaken Luna and Gaia."

"What?" I squeaked as countless questions raced through my mind.

Why did you have to raise them up?

What the hell did I have to do with this?

And why did he need me for that?

Because I was his mate?

Or because of our mate band?

"You don't know, do you?" He looked at me questioningly.

I ignored his question, had to ask my own. "Why do you need help? What happened? And why do you need me for this? Is it because of our mate band?” they gushed out of me breathlessly.

What happened? Was the moon goddess in trouble? I felt sick to my stomach. How could something happen to her, she was a goddess, immortal and with immense powers, who could harm her? The questions didn't stop, it was as if two new ones were added to each one.

"Our mate band isn't real."