Lover Of The Last

9. Just Like The Moon

"People are so vulnerable at night. They're willing to spill out their souls to anyone willing to listen.

They have desires to do things that never cross their mind when the sun is in the sky."

Riley's POV

I listened to the crash of the waves on the rocks many feet below us. The whistle of salty winds and hissing of rushing water.

Arabelle's sharp eyes scanned the make-shift bedroom I had created up in the West Tower.

I knew no one came up here anymore and it was peaceful, away from everyone else in the castle.

I thrived in solitude; without it I was like any other without food or water. I didn't take pride in my solitude but was dependent on it. The darkness of the room was like sunlight to me.

But she made me want to be different; made me want to come out of the darkness and let the light warm my skin.

I saw her age with grace in that secret clearing in the woods, and I myself grew up with her; her being eight and I being thirteen when we met.

I watched her as she watched the moon slip across the sky. My eyes followed the curve of her throat down to her collarbones, the blue-white light creating shadows upon her silky skin.

The braid that she once had, had fallen out, her black hair now laying down her back and blending in with her dark gown.

She looked to me with a expression of one trying to solve a puzzle but failing, her eyebrows knit in concentration.

I wish she knew everything about me. But where would I even start?

Deep down, I already knew how I felt about her, but her reluctant mind was cautious and it was killing me.

"It's impolite to stare you know." She spoke with the only voice that could bring me to my knees.

I chuckled lowly, she didn't understand how infatuated with her I was. She had others who were, William including, that would do anything for her. But she was mine.

"Just like how you were staring at me in the garden?" I raised an eyebrow.

A slight tint crawled onto her cheeks and she fidgeted with the ends of her hair. She was nervous and I had already picked up on her body language, it was crazy how much I knew about her.

"It's not everyday you get to see a werewolf, you know." Arabelle spoke with a slight grin. "No one would believe me." Her grin dropped.

I moved closer to her. We were sitting atop the mattress I had brought up here, a dingy thing with worn sheets and flat pillows. Not luxurious in the slightest, but it was all I had.

"That's why we keep it a secret." I whispered.

"But for how long?" She responded, her blue eyes looking to me and melting away every coherent thought.

"Until I say so." I stated. Arabelle narrowed her eyes, and took her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Lustful thoughts swarmed into my mind and I sighed heavily. My head went into my hands and shaky fingers threaded into my hair. This was a lot for one night and I had no clue what to do, she couldn't leave but I don't know how long I could have her stay if my thoughts would trail off like this.

I sucked in a breath when I felt Arabelle's finger trace the low part of my bare back. Where my Mark was. It was a black mark imprinted onto my skin of a wolf.

"What's this?" Her voice questioned through the silence.

Lifting my hands to my forehead, I peered out at her; her blue eyes stuck on the tattoo-like mark on my toned skin.