Chapter 9: Chapter 9

“Perhaps, it’s better to be like this rather than losing you over useless things. I am sorry for what I did earlier, Natasha. It wasn’t my intention to get mad at you. It’s just that, Everything feels so heavy, and at the same time, I don’t like the way you were hiding something from me. You look so scared, and I want to erase that expression on your face.”

He held my cheek using his right hand and then caressed it softly. His eyes were never leaving my face as if I was the most beautiful thing that had happened to him. As if I was a gem, he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to grab and take care. I felt a shiver running down my system, causing me to hyperventilate. Ethan and I had only known each other for months, but it felt like we had been living together for years. The chance with this man gave me the reason for who am I as a woman and what will be my purpose.

“You deserve to smile. It suits you, my dear.” Ethan closed his eyes, leaning closer until our lips were attached. The way he moved his lips was full of passion and gentleness that will sore you to the sky. My whole system diminished the way Ethan sucked out my tongue while gobbling my entire delicate lips. He bit the lower part before letting go.

“From now on, I will stop looking for answers about my curse if this will repay me.” he suddenly exclaimed, causing my eyes to widen in a daze. I shook my head since he could not do that! He shouldn’t sacrifice himself again just for my sake.

“Ethan, look, I am fine. I can handle it-” I suddenly winced when I tried to hold him, but the sting coming from the wound didn’t help. I looked at my damaged flesh and saw how deep it was. This will take about weeks to mend.

“See…” Ethan stroked my hands gently then he let out a sigh.

“You can not force yourself, Natasha. If you didn’t let go of me earlier, I would have caused a fatal blow to you that will lead to your killing. If ever that would happen.”

He looked away, unable to finish his sentence. His hands were trembling, and I could feel the rage in his aura. I couldn’t say anything as I did not know how will I react to his assumptions which were true exactly. Ethan couldn’t control his anger, so he burst it out to me. To avoid that, he wanted to stop the inquisitory from focusing more on my state, sacrificing himself.

But he can’t just stop there after being miserable for years. I couldn’t accept that. His love for me was profound. He can not see his own worth. This is too much for me to bear. I shook my head, pushing him away. Ethan was stunned and then looked up to me when I pointed my finger at him while tears were pouring down my cheeks.

“You can’t do that, Ethan! You simply can’t abandon who you are just for this! You endure enough because of your curse! I can’t take that away from you! I will not allow you, Ethan! You fucking hear me?”

I kneeled down on both of my legs and then shook his body. I don’t care if it will affect my wounds. I need to snap these thoughts out of Ethan’s mind!

“You need that freedom, Ethan. You need that more than I do. If God would even give me the chance to become a werewolf so that I could give you my human ability, then so be it!”

I break down on his chest while shaking my head repeatedly. This man just can not understand my love for him. How could he be so blind? Did he think I would just let him stop the search? This is the only lead we got for now to find a cure?

“Please, Ethan. Don’t stop. We will continue it together. No more hiding secrets between us, I promise!”

A gentle stroke of a hand coming from him made me loose down a little. We just sat there for a minute. That turned into hours before Ethan decided to clean my wounds. I just sat there watching him the whole time treated me. He was gentle with every tap of clean cloth on my injury. He was fuming mad, wanting to slap himself, but he couldn’t do anything for now. The damage has already been there. He slowly guided me in my elbow and went to our room for a comfortable position when it was done.

“I’m glad you’re ready to talk about what you saw earlier, Natasha.”

I gulped, playing with my fingers. I know I told Ethan we shouldn’t be hiding something from each other, so it’s my word against mine. Ethan sat beside me, and Bobby was at our feet, wagging his tail, waiting for us to play with him.

“You promised, and I will also not hide anything from you, Natasha. You already saw my soul, faith for you, and Everything you need to know about me.”

My throat suddenly went dry all of a sudden. I couldn’t find the words to tell Ethan what I saw, if it was true or a hallucination. I glanced down, looking at my clenched hands. Honestly, even though it’s better not to lie, it frightens me about how Ethan will react. I breathed in and out, waiting for the right time when Ethan grabbed my hands and brought them up to his lips. He kissed the back of it gently.

“It’s okay. I am not going to be mad, whatever it is.”

I doubt that.

I suck up some air for courage before finally finding the courage to speak.

“Ethan, I might be seeing things earlier since it is too impossible to happen what I saw. I don’t want to cause panic, but….” I trailed off, eyeing his expression. Ethan was waiting, and he nodded, telling me to go on. I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes before letting it out.

“I saw Nathan.”

I lowered my vision to my lap, scared to catch his eyes. I am not yet ready to see the pain or panic in it but to not ruin this relationship, I will tell him everything my eyes caught.

“I know it’s impracticable since you already killed him, but I saw him, Ethan.” I caught my forehead, massaging it a bit. I didn’t explain any further since I didn’t want to recall what I saw in the market. If it’s Nathan’s ghost that’s haunting us, why now? His spirit took time, though.

I anticipated his reaction. If he’s going to throw hands, yell or even curse at me, I receive non of those things. Instead, I gradually looked up to see him staring out of nowhere, thinking profoundly. I squinted my eyes, trying to read what he was thinking but no bail.

“Ethan?” I called him, and that’s when he snapped back to reality. Ethan blinked, then looked at me in the eyes. He seems so confused then. Suddenly, he stood up and then kneeled on the ground in front of me. I was shocked by his sudden moves.

He grabbed my hand and then kissed it.

“You shouldn’t think about it, Natasha. You’ve been so stressed up. Lately, you see things,” he mumbled, then he carefully lay me down on the bed. He tucks me into the sheets. I thought he would also lay down beside me when he turned his back. Before he could leave, I grabbed his hand, making him stop, then glanced down at me on the bed.

I sat up before I spoke.

“Ethan, where are you going?” I feel he will go out there and probably take a deep breath since I know how this information affects him. However, he must have noticed I was starting to get worried since he smiled a little before leaning down to kiss my forehead.

“I am not going anywhere, my love. I will stay downstairs to fix some of the cracks here in the mansion. Stay here with Bobby and sleep. You need it.” he said before going out, leaving Bobby and me alone in the room. I glanced down at Bobby to see him sleeping soundly on my side. I sighed before stroking his head. It’s been a long day and Ethan’s right. I should probably sleep since everything feels so unearthly and soggy inside.

I closed my eyes, letting my body drift to snooze, when I suddenly heard noises coming from downstairs. Bobby jumped from his spot, barking, and alert.

“Bobby! No!” I slapped my hand on my mouth to cover it since I yelled when Bobby rushed downstairs. Great, I have no other choice but to follow him to see what’s going on!

“Ethan! Bobby!” I looked around, almost running in circles since I forgot the way leading downstairs. I cursed under my breath. Ethan is the only one who knows the ins and outs of this place. I stopped for a second, catching my breath while resting my hands on my knees.

“Ethan! Where are you? What happened!” I screamed before getting up to continue my search when something caught my attention upfront.

“Ethan? What are you doing?”

Ethan was standing in the middle of the hallway, and he was holding Bobby in his hands. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion because he kept Bobby like some sort of fish. Bobby was. His eyes were fixated on the ground, not making any eye contact.

“Ethan? What are you- “

The colors of my face drained when Ethan took the knife he was holding and then stabbed it at Bobby.