Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Zaira's POV

And even in spite of the cold, I wasn't cold. No, I got warmer. It started deep inside me, warmed up and slowly spread throughout my body. Every limb was gripped by pulsating warmth and my cheeks turned red.

I stumbled but just caught myself. I fanned myself with my hand, but the heat didn't go away.

What happened to me?!

I felt Arami's eyes on me but ignored him, too busy to rip my sweater over my head and finally banish this horrid heat.

However in vain.

Beads of sweat formed on my neck and ran down my back, soaking my t-shirt. Gasping for air, I pushed my long hair onto my chest, away from the back of my neck, not even realizing I'd stopped.

"Zaira? What's up?"

I looked up at him. "I don't know!" I gestured in panic with my hands and I wiped the beads of sweat that were already visible on my arms. My mouth felt like the Sahara itself. "What is happening to me?!"

Aramis was in front of me instantly. "Tell me what's going on," harsh and commanding. My new, increasingly strong side would have balked at the command if I hadn't seen his alarmed look.

"I'm so hot! So unbelievably hot!" I even tried to take off my t-shirt, but luckily I was able to stop myself at the last moment. For heaven's sake, I certainly didn't want to put myself in front of him in a situation like this And the way I saw it, it still wasn't going to be the case.

He furrowed his brows and eyed me. Then he said calmly, "Not far from her is a lake that will cool you down. Until then, drink this." He pressed a drinking bottle into my hands and urged me to drink up. He didn't have to tell me twice, I greedily emptied the bottle. The cold water ran down my neck and cooled me from the inside. I sighed in relief as I felt the heat come on again at the same moment and tossed the bottle to the side in frustration.

"It's no use!" I said desperately while fanning myself. "Oh god, oh god, oh god it's so hot!"

Suddenly I was lifted off the ground. Strong arms threw me over his back, felt way too good, but the fire in me didn't go away, it just got bigger and bigger.

I cried out in agony. "Aramis help me!"

His grip on me tightened as he ran through the dark forest. "Halt by Vinea ," he said, his wolf clearly audible.

If I wasn't so woozy from my pain, I would have reminded him my name in disgust, but I just gasped in agony. My breathing became shallower and shallower.

Aramis glanced at me without slowing down. Concern was reflected in his face. "Breathe Zaira."

Tears welled up in my eyes as my breath rattled in my throat and my windpipe constricted. My hand clutched my neck. "G-Can't."

"Hold on, just a little longer. Do it for me Zaira!", he stepped up his game and dexterously twisted his way through the trees. I tried to hold on to him as best I could, but my grip was getting weaker and weaker. Despair gripped me, I didn't want to die just yet !

Yes, that's right, I didn't want to die. There was a time when I would have done anything to finally be redeemed from this world. I never dreamed that I would choose life. Still, even though Aramis had acted like an idiot towards me, I couldn't forget that he had saved me. Without him I would still be stuck in this horrible place and for that I would always be grateful to him. I wanted to take that chance at a better life, even if it meant not being able to be with him. I could go back to the Silverstorm pack after this trip, I could start over there, be happy.

Yes, I wanted to live.

Despite the indescribably horrible torment that made my body tremble again and again, I gritted my teeth and gasped for air. I would fight to the last breath.

My vision became increasingly blurred and the grip on my neck loosened as my hand dangled limply.

"A-Aramis.." I ground out before my vision went black and my body burst into flames.

With a loud hiss, my body broke the cold surface of the water. The heat on my skin cooled instantly and I regained consciousness. I was pulled up with a jerk and gasped for air. Oxygen finally made it through my lungs. I took a deep breath and coughed a little. I trembled all over, the flames had receded, but they slumbered painfully inside me on a smaller fire.

Big, rough hands pulled me to a hard chest and I was wrapped in arms.

"I just have to hold you for a moment," my heart skipped a beat at the thinness of his voice. I was suddenly acutely aware of his shaking hands and rapid heartbeat. With an overwhelming desire to comfort him, I gave my tense posture and snuggled into his arms.

"I'm fine again, I can breathe fine." As if to prove it, I took a deep breath.

"And the heat?" His arms were tense, pressing me even closer to him.

"Better," I said, but felt them build up again, slowly burning more and more of my insides. "I knew you would save me."

He let out an agonizing laugh. "I thought I'd lose you," his voice cracked. I rolled over in his arms, too shocked to say anything back.

His eyes devoured me as he tenderly placed a hand on my cheek. It felt like he was looking straight into my soul. The flicker of devilish flames diminished as I felt his cool skin against mine and nuzzled his hand.

His eyes darkened and he growled deeply. "I won't let anything happen to you."

His eyes traveled down to my lips and settled there. He slowly lowered his head, approaching me while my breathing quickened. His hand disappeared from my cheek and I was about to protest when it cupped my bare neck. I groaned. The heat dropped even more and I could breathe a sigh of relief. Hoping for more release, I pressed against him, my wet body against his wet. A jolt went through his body and he tensed every muscle to tear.

But the heat didn't go away, I whimpered in frustration.

"It hurts Aramis!"

Arami's nostrils flared and his jaw tightened. "Damn, I should have known from the start! You're in the heat phase."

He lifted my chin.

"I know exactly what you need." His eyes burned. "But we can't go that far, not if you're not in your right mind."

I was only half listening, my body still aching like hell and my wolf was urging me to go to the only source that can stop the agony.

"I won't take advantage of it, I promise."

"Aramis please..." I said, looking at him pleadingly.

Warning: The rest of the chapter contains ADULT CONTENT. If you feel uncomfortable with this, you should go to the next chapter here.

With a quick movement of his hand he took off his shirt. I was already reaching out for him when he shook his head. "Your top has to go too."

His hands grip the edge of my shirt and pulled it over my head, completely in a trance I watched him and let him do it. He carelessly threw my top aside and devoured my upper body with his eyes. And I saw the hunger in him, saw for the first time how much he wanted me.

If I was in my right mind, I would have been utterly ashamed to show him my body, scars and all, while pushing myself against him. Actually, I never wanted to reveal myself so completely defenseless and vulnerable again in my life. But in that moment everything was different, the fire inside me was burning me, searing my insides so that all I could do was sob and beg for help.

His large, calloused hands grabbed my waist and pressed me against him. We groaned together. The heat that had been burning me inside finally went away! But something else awoke in me, a completely different fire. A pleasant, lustful heat spread through me, causing a pull between my legs.

My hands explored his torso, running his arms up to his neck.

"So good," Aramis moaned, my pulse racing as he bent down and I felt his hot breath on my lips. I licked my lips and felt my stomach twitch. Something hard pressed against me, chafing my desire to a multiple.

"What.. what's that..?" I asked, just as he pressed his wet lips to mine. For a second I was so shocked I couldn't move. I don't know what to do, yet no one had ever kissed me. Before I even stood there stunned, my she-wolf took over for me. I kissed back, moving my lips against his.

His grip on my waist tightened and his right hand cupped my neck. Extremely possessive, my wolf and I might have felt oppressed and inferior with so much dominance at any other moment, but the only thing I felt was an incredible longing for more.