Bound by Blood & Moonlight

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Scarlet

I retreated for the night into my new chamber, the one Kian had arranged. It was a far cry from the comfort of my room back home, but it was decent enough. Still, I felt suffocated in my gown, and without a chambermaid to help, undoing the tight corset was an impossible task. Frustration bubbled up inside me as I struggled with the laces, grunting with every failed attempt.

There was no way I could ask Kian for help—not after the embarrassment of nearly begging for blood earlier. I refused to appear any weaker than I already had. But after several attempts, I gave up, breathing heavily as I stared at my reflection in the small mirror.

Swallowing my pride, I stepped out of my room to find him. I opened my door just a crack and peeked into the living area. It was empty. Quiet. I ventured further down the hallway, toward his quarters, and knocked. No answer. A sigh of defeat escaped my lips. The thought of sleeping in this constricting gown crossed my mind, but my body screamed for relief.

I gnawed on my lower lip, glancing down the hall. Perhaps I could find someone else to help me. Not the best plan, especially since I already felt so unwelcome here, but I had little choice.

The halls were dimly lit, shadows casting eerie shapes on the walls. It was well past midnight, and I imagined most of the pack had already retreated to their dens or homes. I made my way toward the great hall, hoping to find someone still awake, anyone who might assist me.

As I reached for the heavy wooden doors, preparing to push them open, I suddenly pulled away roughly. I didn't have time to react and by the time I wanted to turn and fight, my body was cornered into the great hall.

"Well, well, look what we have here," one of them sneered, his sharp, lupine features highlighted in the flickering light of the torches. "The little vamp princess, wandering the halls alone. Not so high and mighty now, are you?"

They closed in around me, their scent overpowering. I could feel their hostility like a tangible thing in the air. I tried to step back, but there was nowhere to go.

"She's nothing but a parasite. Sucks blood, sucks life... probably sucks a lot more too." He laughed, and the others joined in, their laughter dark and malicious.

My throat tightened, my fangs aching. I bit down on my lower lip to keep myself calm, to stop my instincts from taking over. The hunger gnawed at me, and the insults, the vile words, only made it worse.

One of the Weres—a bulky man with a scar running down his cheek—stepped closer, too close. "You don't belong here, bloodsucker. You're only here because the Alpha wants to avoid war, but we all know you're just a ticking time bomb. What happens when you lose control, huh? When you decide to drain one of us dry?"

"You wouldn't want to know" I started, but he cut me off, his breath hot against my face.

"Oh I would." He said still close to my damn face.

"Get your doggy breath away from my face" I sneered, barring my fangs.

I clenched my fists, trying to control the rising anger inside me. I was about to snap, about to show them exactly what a vamp could do, when—

"Kian!" One of the pack members yelped suddenly, their taunts dying in their throats.

I looked up to see Kian standing at the entrance to the hall, his eyes blazing with fury. His jaw was clenched tight, his posture rigid with barely restrained rage. The pack members quickly stepped back, clearing a path for him, their confident sneers evaporating as his commanding presence filled the room.

"What the hell is going on here?" Kian growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The man with the scar stepped forward, attempting to explain. "She bared her fangs at us wanting to hurt us!"

"She what?" Kian interrupted, his voice a razor-sharp edge. "But as of right now, you're the one cornering her."

The scarred man faltered under Kian's glare. "We didn't mean anything by it, Alpha. We were just—"

"Silence." Kian's voice cut through the air, the weight of his authority undeniable. "You think this is how you show loyalty to your pack? By ganging up on someone who's under my protection? She is my wife. If any of you touch her again, you'll answer to me. Is that understood?"

The pack members lowered their heads, their bravado crumbling.

"Yes, Alpha," they muttered in unison.

Kian stepped forward, placing himself between me and the others. "Now, get out of my sight before I lose my patience."

I stood there, still breathing heavily, the aftermath of the encounter coursing through me. I shouldn't have lost control like that, I knew it. But the rage had taken over, and my fangs had bared themselves before I could stop them. My anger still churned beneath the surface, wild and unchecked. I could feel my fangs, still extended, and the sharpness of my gaze, likely swirling with that unmistakable vampiric frenzy.

I had to get away. This was too much for one night.

With shaky hands, I slowly backed away from the corner, my chest tight as I tried to compose myself. But then I saw Kian, standing there, looking at me with pure concern etched across his face. I hated that. Hated that he saw me like this, exposed, vulnerable, and unable to keep my composure in front of his pack.

I felt weak but I have learnt not to show any weakness.

"You should learn how to control your pack," I snapped, the words bitter on my tongue. I didn't even look back at him, just kept walking, my pride stinging as much as my frustration and the damn gown still on my body.

The silence that followed was heavy, and I could feel his gaze on me as I disappeared down the hall.

As I reached the door, Kian caught up with me, his eyes dark and his voice sharp.

"Why the hell were you baring your fangs at them?" he demanded.

I spun around, fury blazing through me. "Wow, no 'are you okay?' or 'what happened?' Just straight to blame?"

His silence only fuelled my rage. "They attacked me first, Kian! What did you expect me to do? Stand there and let them rip me apart?" My voice dripped with sarcasm, and my fangs were still extended, fully on display. I didn't care to hide them, not anymore.

He stared at me, his expression unreadable, but I wasn't done.

"Surprised your pack would ambush your new wife? I'm not. I knew what I signed up for. I never expected anyone here to like me," I spat, my anger surging as his silence stretched on.

Kian's gaze held mine, but instead of addressing the attack, he said quietly, "You're still in your gown."

That was all? I scoffed in disbelief, the sheer absurdity of it hitting me like a slap.

"Yeah, obviously. All I wanted was some help getting out of it. I didn't ask to get ambushed." My voice was bitter, thick with frustration.

Kian then went up to me, still without saying anything, turned me around and started undoing my corset. The sense of relief floods through me. He was almost all the way to the top but I stopped him. Our fingers brushed against each other. My cold skin with his warm one. I almost hitched a breath when we came in contact but I suppressed it down.

"I can manage." I whispered out, partly embarrassed and also partly feeling weird. It was just to intimate. I didn't look back at him and went straight into my chambers and closed the door.