Taming the Wolf Prince (Re-uploading Edited Chapters)

Chapter 25 The Soul Debt

Every single pore on Winter, every single fibre of her being, was screaming out in terror. Something deep and primal stirred within her. Something she had never felt before, but was deeply engraved into her DNA - the feeling of being prey. Since the moment she'd met Red, she knew he was a danger to her. He'd even hinted as much with his vague little threat of calling her "Snowflake" after crushing one in his palm. He wanted her dead, and had even convinced himself that it was the morally right thing to do. There was no fighting him. It was over for her.

And yet, she wasn't moving. Initially, she was petrified, but the more she looked at him, the more lost in thought she became. For a man that had stolen so many souls, Red's eyes were devoid of one of his own. And yet, the light that beamed from his skin, the stark, bedazzling radiance that was his literal soul, was bewitching. He was like a predator luring it's prey with such a warm, enticing light. No, that was exactly what he was - male Lupine used their aura to attract mates and Red was no exception. The only difference was that man-eaters used soul bonds to lure humans as prey. And it was working. She wanted to go nearer. She wanted to feel that blazing incandescence warmly engulf her flesh like a hug from a dearly beloved friend. Something was culminating in her head. Something rising like an incoming tide. She wanted to walk towards him. She wanted to wade towards her own doom. His soul was a beautiful siren song luring her in; deeper and deeper she wanted to plunge into the depths of it.

An instrumental of wind howled. A quiet choir of whispers rippled upon it. Red's soul... it was calling, no...singing to her. A hushed choir of angels began to serenade the deepest corners of her mind. Or, perhaps they were devils disguised as angels, as those fleshy wings signalled nothing but Hell - a tortured inferno of flames and boiling blood, literally pulsating as they longed for their upcoming meal. Which, if she didn't snap out of her trance, would soon be her.

"Join us, Winter," every soul who'd ever willingly been preyed upon by Red sang to her. "As long as you don't resist, it feels good being killed by him."

Her head suddenly ached. She felt her knees waver as if a lot of strength was being sucked out of her. She reached her hand out, still too afraid to move her legs, but still so magnetically drawn to her own doom. Why was this literal angel of death so enticing?

Tamer snatched her wrist. "Winter?" he demanded. "What are you doing?"

She stared through him. She shut her eyes, knowing something was wrong, but unsure of how to stop it. All this action did was enhance the sound of Red's soul. It became so intense she could feel the shape of his soul softly brushing against hers like a tender caress. Something rugged like the texture of torn paper prickled against her. Stuffed inside the wound like a makeshift bandaid, an unknown amount of stolen souls tingled and shivered upon her skin.

Winter's face darkened between the throbbing pain in her temple. Yes, he definitely had a dead mate. Tamer was right about that. His soul had a gaping hole in it in which he'd tried to perform botched surgery in by cramming the devoured souls in like a makeshift band aid. The result was entirely sinister, and yet, those souls seemed... content.

"You're too loud," Red whispered. Red narrowed his eyes, but his voice contained an incredibly faint aura of tenderness. "Be quiet."

Suddenly, all was silent. She felt like a tinnitus patient who had had their ears cleared for the first time ever. Peace.

Winter swallowed. Those souls had no hesitation in doing what he said. If she got any closer, that would be her. But it seemed as though they... enjoyed belonging Red. How could that be? And more importantly, why could she even see Red's soul so clearly in the first place?

"Who is he talking to?" Tamer asked. He glanced at Xavier who seemed just as confused as he was. "Winter, why was he looking at you when he said that?"