Night Flower

13

ADIR

The loud clang was barely audible, I was more concerned about what I would find on the other side of the door. With no idea what her demeanor would be, I mentally prepared myself as much as I could. One thing was having the sense that my body wanted whatever she gave but there was the notion of knowing the result we might have after we lay together.

The scent became stronger as I pulled the heavy door towards me. These were cells to hold the worst of the worst. Small spaces, low ceilings, and barely any light.

Her eyes were the first thigh I saw, with witch eyes. Bright in the darkness drawing me in. She sat naked on the dirty floor, her hair in disarray covering the interesting bits. Her stillness unnerved me, she looked regal even in this filthy place. Here I was offering myself like any other male. The suspense was palpable, it was unheard of that an alpha could be rejected but possible. If her heart was somewhere else then she could easily stay as she was, staring with no emotion, almost like she was seeing right through me.

Say something, I willed her with my mind.

Come to me.

And just when I was about to lose hope a small smile broke on her lips. The shift was almost poem-like, she was beautiful but the longer I stared the more beautiful she became.

"I'm sorry I lied."

My little liar was a very good actress.

Even though her voice was different, what surprised me more was her stillness. Her control.

"Why did you lie?" I cannot help to ask.

A little shrug was the only thing she offered and instead of explaining her reasons she said; "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're in heat."

Again, my words didn't seem to have any effect. Her facial expression stayed the same. Her big eyes did not.

"I know that." A moment to my right called my attention. A small crowd of guards had filled the narrow halls and it could be two things; they were bound to protect me so they forced themselves to come here to protect me or they had come here to offer themselves and for the look in their eyes the second one was more likely. "But I also have the choice of rejecting you."

That surprised me.

Looking back towards the hall the men had inched closer, waiting for her word so the next one with the highest rank would take my place and so on.

"Bring me something to cover her."

Soon enough they were handing a sheet.

"Where are we going?" She stood up fast. She also caught up fast, this one was a smart cookie. Well, obviously she was, fooling not only me but everyone in this house. How she was able to conceal her true identity, having us mistake her for a human.

"You need to get cleaned." That was true but also I wanted her out of her, out of reach of everyone else. It was a selfish move but until she rejected me I was the one taking care of her.

"I am clean."

"Come." I offered my hand. with a single step forward we were standing very close, so close that I could see the small little sun kisses on her skin, a faded scar above her right brow. Her skin was flushed but that was the result of her current state.

"I haven't agreed." She simply said reaching towards the bundle fabric in my hand.

"I know." but I say that to myself.

The walk to my bedroom was awkward, in silence. She followed me completely mute with her chin up. Lydia moved toward us in a hurry, mumbling words filled with worry. The old woman knew about our ways but had not experienced them since she wasn't a wolf. She served us like her family had done for centuries without sparing me a single look both females disappeared inside the ensuite bathroom, the door was closed and locked leaving me out of it. A door wasn't enough to stop the yearning feeling but with a little bit of strength, I was able to peel myself away from the few inches of wood that separated the object of my desire and head down to my office.

"Did she agree?"

Mihir had made himself comfortable in my office, he was currently seated near the window overlooking the vast backyard his back to me.

"I'm not sure."

"Whatever do you mean, big brother?" We move towards my desk. The chair's leather complains as I seat.

Not wanting to even think that she had the option of saying no to me was making me feel, taking me through emotions I rarely felt. "She made it clear that it was her choice."

"And it is." He seemed as surprised as I was. "But is also a foolish move to do, you are the Supreme Alpha. She's a lucky one." He smiles, he really thinks this might be it. That this was the type of situation I needed to finally get myself shackled by someone. But as much as I desire her it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't in our nature to respond like this.

She would have rotten down there if she hadn't been a wolf and for some odd reason that image bothers me so much my body reacts to it without me even noticing, I'm holding onto the armrests so hard that my nails have pierced the leather. Mihir's expression tells me he's glad that I am finally showing some emotion like he likes to point out. Even before knowing what she was she had stirred something in me but a life with a non-wolf was a sin, they don't accept us the way the world sometimes makes it seem. They either romanticize us or make us seem like villains.

"It might not take," I say through clenched teeth.

"But, what if it does."