Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Zaira's POV

Still distraught, I stood there, staring at him, when suddenly I was thrown roughly away. I still saw the panicked look that briefly flickered on Arami's face when I hit the ground hard.

I screamed as pain exploded in my skull and groaned.

A loud, angry roar echoed through the forest, and I heard a shrieking, unnatural scream that made my limbs freeze. My head was pounding and I struggled against the agony pulsing in every cell of my body, making it difficult for me to open my eyes. Despite my foggy state, through my hazy vision I saw Aramis fighting several dark figures. I couldn't make out how many there were - maybe five? Or eight? - but they were clearly in the majority. They were all moving so fast I couldn't tell apart from one person. Aramis' body, which has always been large and muscular, clearly stood out from the rest. He moved at lightning speed

The moment he delivered a blow, the creature disintegrated. I blinked in disbelief, but nothing changed. There was no body to be seen. My heart was pounding tensely.

How could that be?

Swiftly, Aramis ducked as another sinister sped out, its mouth already opening in a hideous screech. Thanks to his quick reaction, he turned around in the same second and tore the creature's chest to pieces with his wolf paws. She also disbanded.

A quick movement swept my gaze to the right, behind Aramis. I narrowed my eyes. Two other figures walked towards him and it looked like they were floating above the ground, no feet touching the ground. While Aramis still had his hands full with the rest of the creatures, the distance between the horrific creatures behind his back and himself was closing.

Adrenaline built up in me and shot through my veins.

MATE! Our mate is in danger! my wolf yelled at me.

"Aramis behind you!" I yelled in panic as I scrambled to my feet and ran towards the black creatures. His head swiveled in my direction and his eyes widened in shock.

"No!" he cried, but I didn't listen to him. I felt my wolf take the lead and without hesitation, headed straight for what were perhaps the most dangerous creatures of all. Our mate was in danger, he couldn't be hurt! Here we were She-wolf, as well as woman agree.

They noticed me a little later and turned to me. They were tall and covered by a dark robe, only their face was visible. If you could call it that. White eyes glared at me, glowing against the ashen skin, but what irritated me the most was her nose. Because there was none.

Although I didn't have to walk many meters, it still felt like an eternity. Forever my mate wasn't safe. I only thought about killing this character , she had to die!

They all had to die!

Whoever wants to hurt my mate would pay with death!

The sudden bloodlust didn't frighten me, not at that moment and not after. No werewolf would not undo every danger that threatened their mate and I was no exception in this regard, whatever my background, when it came to my soul mate, I knew no bounds.

Now I could make out very clearly that it was about two of these figures, which were now vibrating in the air and surrounded by a black smoke that was emanating from them. But that didn't stop me, on the contrary, it fueled my seething frenzy even more. They stretched out their arms and spread their black, pointed fingers like they were just waiting for me to attack them. I morphed in rage as I jumped, hearing Aramis growl my name as I smashed my razor-sharp teeth into the cold skin of his neck and clawed at his chest.

But instead of feeling the blood flow from his wounds, I felt such pain that I wanted to push myself away from him, whimpering, but my body wouldn't listen to me. I stared at him in horror as his lips curled into his sadistic grin and his eyes twinkled. It was like all life energy was being sucked out of my body.

A jolt went through me as I was pulled away from him. I felt myself falling to the ground just as I was about to be caught by an air cushion and then gently landed on the surface. Before I could wonder what had just happened, I turned my eyes to Aramis, who was about to sink his hand into this monster's chest. And now I found that it was exactly like that, he pushed her right in and pulled his heart out with a jerk. A black heart. The beast disintegrated and vanished into thin air.

Breathing heavily, Aramis had his back to me, his black t-shirt torn, showing here and there tanned skin. Although you couldn't see the blood spatter on his black shirt, I still knew it was there, I could smell it. With a dull thud he let his heart fall to the ground. It also disappeared.

I was still staring at the spot where it had just existed as the agony slowly subsided and only a small throbbing was felt in my limbs. I got to my white legs and briefly shook my body. Now that I was in my wolf form, I was a fair bit shorter than him, and had to lift my head up so much that my neck almost hurt.

Although he also felt my gaze, he did not turn to me. His shoulders were tense and I could feel his anger raising the temperature.

Concerned for him, I gently nudged him with my nose, like omega wolves would, like a mate would for the other companion. He was a dominant wolf who just hadn't spotted the danger early on and couldn't protect his mate from it. For him, this was the worst that could happen. He had failed, had lost the fight, at least that's how it felt to him, even if it wasn't reality and in truth he had very well won and protected me. However, I suppressed the fact that this only affected the wolf and not the man, at the moment I wasn't thinking so entangled, only saw my mate in front of me. And this one was suffering right now, I wanted nothing more to do than cheer him up.

"Never do that again." His voice was cool, but I caught the trembling undertone, so I blocked out the cold and rubbed my head up and down his leg. I didn't agree with what he had ordered me to do. I just wanted to calm him down, because I would always want to protect him, would always come to his defense, Omega or not, whether he wanted it or not.

His breath hit me as he turned quickly and knelt in front of me. "I. Have. Said. Never. Again.", no dominance, he was just demanding like any senior wolf. My wolf didn't have to submit and I looked him straight into his green eyes with a storm blowing. I was showing him that I was on my position remained and I felt strong, courageous and free.

yes free .

Intoxicated by this feeling, I licked his cheek, kissed him in the wolfish way. I wanted to let him know that I was fine, that I wasn't hurt and that what just happened was definitely not his fault. is.

He froze. His eyelids slowly drooped and he exhaled audibly, opening and closing his hands into clenched fists.

"You were hurt." He growled, his upper body shaking with anger.

"Nobody hurts you or I will hurt everyone. damn. Bone. break. he snarled through clenched teeth, anger written all over his face. A grudge against these creatures, but against himself. Aramis was angry that he hadn't stopped them, that he couldn't protect me.

I snuggled my head back on his neck and licked his throat just above his racing pulse. Wanted to stop him. He moaned and his trembling, rough hand settled on my head.

"Zaira..." he breathed.

My heart was pounding in my chest with excitement, I was so close to him and it felt amazing! I slowly pulled away, though, not wanting to push him too hard, not when he was that vulnerable. Every dominant wolf had its pride and you didn't want to hurt it.

Hissing flames continued to flicker in his wolf eyes, but his hand stroked my head with such gentleness that I was sure he would never take such anger out on me.

I sighed happily.

"So pretty," my heart leapt and did somersaults as I stretched at his compliment. Warmth filled me from head to toe, and I beamed at him and barked.

He blinked and then pulled his hand from my fur. I was about to snort in dissatisfaction when I suddenly realized he was closing up. His face disappeared under the well-known mask of ice and he abruptly turned away from me.

"DAMN IT!" His fist hit the floor and I felt the tremor in my bones.

"SHOOT THE FUCK!" His hands dropped to the floor and he exhaled audibly.

I let out a whimper and was already moving towards him when he twisted his upper body towards me and burned me with his burning eyes, I stopped. He pressed his lips together grimly.

"Stay the hell away from me!" I flinched at his hissing words. How much longer was I going to put up with this? When did it finally stop? His words drove a knife into my chest.

"Are you really so stupid that you still don't get it?" His disparaging gaze wandered over my wolf body. "We're not mates! I don't want you!" he reversed the knife, ramming it deeper into my heart.

How could he?! To make me look stupid when he was just as involved as I was! He had caressed me, he had touched me as only companions would.

I finally had enough!

I growled low in my chest and cocked my cock while my eyes locked on his. His eyes flashed and he bared his teeth, but still without showing an ounce of dominance, without forcing me into submission.

With a speed that only a Lycan could have, he was in front of me. He stood up challengingly in front of me, presenting his full strength. Although he was still on his knees, he visibly towered over me, I only came up to his upper arms. Nonetheless, I held his gaze with my head held high, trying not to let my nervousness show because if he was concentrating on my heartbeat, I would have lost. And I didn't want to lose this time!

"You're playing a dangerous game Zaira, I hope you realize that." He growled dangerously.

Oh god, what was I even doing here! Challenged a dominant wolf!

My nerves were stretched to the breaking point and I could no longer think clearly. Aramis reached behind him with his right arm and pulled out his backpack. He rummaged in it for a moment as he threw my spare clothes in front of my paws. Then he leaned down to me, so close that I only had to lean forward a tiny bit to touch him. It wasn't romantic, though, the mood was so tense it was about to tip over in an instant, and the look on his face didn't bode well. Still, my heart was beating like crazy, and this time not with fear. Believe me, I don't need to remind myself that was stupid, I already knew that.

"Here, get dressed.", cold.

Even if one would interpret it as if he wanted to end the argument, this was not the case. He just wanted me to change and be in the same form, so it really got started.

He openly challenged me.

The only question was, would I go into it?

I grabbed the clothes with my teeth and disappeared behind the tree. I wanted to show my mate that I wasn't weak, I would challenge him too, play his way. Because I stopped being pushed around and insulted, I was done with that.

After changing back to my human form, I pressed myself against the tree and exhaled deeply. My pulse was still racing.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" I whispered in shock, shaking my head in disbelief and cupping my cheeks in my hands, unaware that he still heard me.

"Today?" he complained, annoyed.

I quickly changed, slipped into a fresh pair of pants and a shirt, as well as a warm sweater.

Most werewolves felt comfortable in their nudity, didn't give a damn about prudery. It was the most natural thing in the world for them, they change daily, tearing their clothes, and if everyone were so ashamed to show themselves naked in front of one another, they would have thousands and thousands of clothes. But I wasn't like other werewolves. I had a hard time not covering up since I was a kid, and it only got worse after the Darkmoon pack. I was laughed at and insulted.

Back then, I had vowed to never make myself so vulnerable again.

I was about to step forward when I stopped again. I couldn't appear weak, I needed a secure and steadfast attitude. I let out a shaky breath.

"Okay..." I calmed down quietly. It was hard for me, part of me begging me not to engage in this confrontation for heaven's sake. But I pulled myself together and suppressed my broken, battered side, clenching my hands fists and tried to stand up straight, straightening my back and raising my head, thinking of Samantha, how beautiful and brave she always was.

That's exactly how I wanted to be!

I wouldn't just submit like that anymore. I would fight back from now on, no matter how much a part of me resists it.