The Blood Witch

15

Scarlett's heart pounded in her ears as she dashed through the darkened hallways, her boots echoing against the stone floor. She cursed herself for running, but instincts had taken over. The heavy footfalls behind her let her know Nolan was gaining. She could hear the low, predatory growl reverberating through the corridors, sending a shiver down her spine.

As she passed cleared passages she wondered if every in the dining hall had left the castle. Not a soul was in sight. 

"Stop running!" His voice was a dangerous rumble, laced with both amusement and warning. He was having fun, while she was running for her life. What would happen when he caught her, because at this rate he would, nobody was trying to help her. 

She rounded a corner, skidding slightly as she tried to catch her breath. There was no way out. The walls seemed to close in on her, and the flickering torches cast long shadows that danced with her every move. She couldn't help but wonder how stupid she had to be to think she could outrun a wolf, let alone him—the Alpha who moved like the night itself. 

Scarlett hugged the wall as she thought maybe she had lost him, she couldn't hear him anymore. She huffed out a sigh of relief but it was short-lived.

In a blink, she felt his arms around her. The world became a blur as he spun her swiftly, her back slamming against the cold stone wall. She gasped, more from the shock of his touch than the impact. He was hot like fire. Nolan pinned her there, his massive body pressing into hers, trapping her effortlessly.

"I told you," he said, his breath hot against her ear, "not to run."

Scarlett squirmed, fighting the shiver that took over her body at his deep baritone in her ear. She tried to push him away, but his strength was undeniable. She froze as he moved to her neck, her eyes fluttered closed as she got lost in his touch.

"I can feel your fear." His hands settled on her hips, where he gave a slight squeeze. They groaned together. "What's your name?"

Surrounded by his warmth, she didn't want him to leave. His lips were against her ear and Scarlett feared she would faint. The emotions coursing through her body were intense. When he pulled back a little to look in her face some of her senses returned. She glared up at him, her chin defiantly tilted, even as her pulse raced with something that wasn't entirely fear. 

Yeah, he was scary but he was also the sexiest man she had ever seen. Up close she could see his light brown eyes, they were searching her face as if to commit it to memory. He looked like he was fighting his instincts and even with the flashing eyes, she knew deep down that he wouldn't hurt her. 

"Why do you care?" she shot back, her voice breathy but still filled with fight. "You could have asked that back there, without the whole catch me if you can routine."

He stared at her, his gold eyes burning into hers, and she felt her resistance waver. His gaze softened just a touch, but it was enough for Scarlett to catch a glimpse of something deeper. Something more than just hunger. 

"I told you not to run, Mate." He grinned showing off his fangs. "I will always chase you because you're mine," Nolan growled, his voice low and possessive.

Scarlett looked away, because yeah he had warned her. 

His fingers gently caught her chin and tilted it up to look at him. "Eyes on me, princess."

So Scarlett didn't look away as he stepped back just a little to look at her as if she were a work of art. She wasn't trying to escape, even though he no longer caged her in. There was a low rumble in his chest, and it melted her insides. It felt like approval and for some reason, she wanted that. 

"My name is Scarlett, not Princess. Why do you keep calling me Mate?"

"Scarlett." He whispered as he trailed a finger from her neck to her wrist. "It suits you."

"Why do you keep calling me Mate?" She asked again.

"It means you're mine. My one and only, to you it would be like a soul mate, but much deeper. You are the sun to my moon. My other half. My destiny and my fate. Mine only and I don't share."

Before she could retort, his fingers were sinking into her hair and he was pulling her close at the same time. It felt like heaven. 

The moment their lips met, everything around them disappeared. He held her tight against him, as she kissed him back. He slid his tongue along the corner of her mouth and she opened for him. He tasted like caramel sin. 

Scarlet sighed as a feeling of tranquility surrounded her. It just felt right. Soon she was clinging to him, her fingers in his hair holding him close. A surge of power flooded through Scarlett, overwhelming her senses. Her mind exploded with images—visions of Nolan's life flashed before her eyes in rapid succession.

She saw him as a boy, fierce and lonely, cast into a world of violence and survival. She felt the weight of his leadership, the pain of every betrayal and loss he had ever endured. She felt his relentless need, not just for her body, but for something far deeper. His wolf was howling for her, but beneath that primal desire, there was an undeniable connection. A bond that was unbreakable. Flashes of a life they could share, moments of passion, battles fought side by side, and—gods—there was even a glimpse of children, a family.

Scarlett gasped into his mouth, overwhelmed. Her fingers dug into his arms as she struggled to process it all. His hands were everywhere, and she felt his dick against her stomach. It was all so intoxicating and she loved it. 

"Enough."

The sharp voice sliced through the moment, and Scarlett jerked back, breaking the kiss. Her heart was still racing as she blinked, disoriented. Nolan turned, snarling, as Thiago entered the hallway. His dark feathers ruffled as he stepped closer, his expression unreadable but his presence undeniable.

"You always had terrible timing, Thiago," Nolan snapped, his voice thick with anger. His hand still gripped Scarlett's ass possessively, holding her behind him.

Thiago raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "And you always let your emotions get the best of you." His gaze flickered to Scarlett, who was still trying to recover from the rush of emotions. "I came to check on our guest. Clearly, things have escalated."

Scarlett's head was spinning, her thoughts a tangled mess. She felt as if her entire world had just shifted in ways she couldn't comprehend. Mate. That word echoed in her mind. The connection. The visions. She understood some of it now, but it was too much too fast.

"What the hell just happened?" she muttered, her voice shaky as she stepped out from behind Nolan. "What did you do to me?"

Nolan's gaze softened, but his voice was firm. "I didn't do anything, Scarlett. The bond did."

"Bond? What bond?" she demanded, but deep down, she already knew.

Nolan's eyes locked with hers, filled with certainty and something darker. "You're my mate. My other half. That's why you saw what you saw. That's why you can't—"

"Can't what?" she snapped, her emotions a whirlpool of anger, confusion, and something else.

"Can't be with anyone else." His voice was laced with possessiveness again, his jaw clenched tight. "No other male. Not your current guardian, not anyone."

Scarlett's eyes widened, the implication of his words sinking in. He wasn't just staking a claim—he was warning her. "Are you... are you serious right now?"

Nolan's expression darkened, and he stepped closer to her, his massive frame towering over hers. "Dead serious, Scarlett. You're mine."

Thiago cleared his throat, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched the two of them. "Perhaps you should give her some time to adjust, Nolan. She is new to our world, after all."

Nolan didn't take his eyes off Scarlett. "Time won't change anything."

"Even is we are mates, I need you to understand that I don't belong to anyone."

Nolan's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "We'll see about that."