A Vampire in Love

Chapter 38: Back Home

"We are under attack."

Ajish's words echoed in Adya's ears. Her face was so close to Ajish's perfectly sculptured face that she could make out the beautiful fine lines at the corners of his eyes.

His eyes..

His eyes were blazing with golden rage. Adya could see a speck of fear, too. His body was as stiff as a granite statue. He straightened his shoulders and tightened his jaws. A spike of anxiety crept into her chest as her breath hastened.

"Aj-" She wanted to know who would dare to attack The King. A cold, hard hand clapped on her mouth shushing her. Her eyes widened as she realized the gravity of the situation. She looked into her mate's eyes. Ajish just shook his head slowly, asking her to keep quiet. His eyes swept around the wall as if he could see right through them. Adya turned around, following his gaze to fix her eyes on the bare wall.

"Do not go out under any circumstances.", Ajish whispered between his teeth. The whisper was so low that Adya almost didn't hear him, even with her sensitive hearing abilities. Adya was about to ask why when a blood-curdling howl ripped through the air, startling her. She jumped back, but Ajish held her tightly to his chest.

"Wolves?" A look of horror crossed her face. Ajish gave a cult nod in return. Adya could not believe her ears. Wolves, although a dangling population, were one of the most fierce creatures. After the great war, a few hundred werewolves retired to a small island far south, isolating themselves from the rest of the civilization. Although a few sightings of wolves worldwide were reported, they never interacted with the outside world. Very little is known about their present social structure. Adya could recall a few details about these beasts from age-old books. But the real question is, why are they here?

Ajish's hold on Adya loosed a bit as he let her stand on her own. He stood in front of her like a shield while still scanning the walls. He swiftly turned towards his mate.

"Wait for me." It was more like a warning from Ajish. "Whatever happens, do not step out of this cottage." His expression was as rigid as a stone sculpture. He planted a hard kiss on her forehead before dashing out of the door. Adya was rooted to the very ground, where Ajish left her standing, for a very long time. Her eyes were fixed on the door. Her brain was struggling to process everything around her. After what felt like an eternity, Adya realised she was alone in her "home". She looked out the door to find the sun setting behind the mountains. She moved forward to step out but halted midway. Ajish's warning rang in her ears. She walked back inside and slowly sat on one of the winged chairs. Her mind was still working slowly.

"Why are the wolves here, this far north?"

"Why are they attacking the Vampires?"

"Why are they on this suicide mission?"

A hundred more questions stuck in her mind. She rubbed her fingers together as she thought over the tangled mystery. The loud howls and screeches made her uncomfortable. A couple of hours had already passed, but Ajish was not back yet. She had no idea what was happening outside; the bond was calm, too calm for Adya's liking. She decided to just step out for a bit, just to check around. She got up from her chair and walked slowly towards the door.

It was a moonless night. She could barely see past the bushes lit fairly by the fairies. She walked a few more steps towards the bushes. The faraway howls were getting louder. As she passed the dimly lit bushes, a sudden gust of cold wind hit her face. Her whole frame shivered like a dry leaf. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked forward cautiously. The howls were all of a sudden louder and closer. As she walked into the dark woods, her heart pounded wildly. She was anxious about what she would find in the next step, but staying back in the cottage was worse.