Defiance

1.3

Chapter 13

A L D R I C 

My wolf was still raging.

My hands had become fists as I watched her leave. She quickly covered the scars on her arm, but I saw them - the red lines on her arms. It was clear someone had repeatedly hit her. 

Those were my fault. She had said. I was furious at her for thinking it was her fault for being abused.

She was hurt, not just by the arrow, not just by the scars on her arm, but also by an Alpha who would be cruel enough to carve a claw through her body. 

I couldn't see it all, not when she was determined to keep me from seeing it. Seline thought that claw mark meant she wanted revenge but in Elysia's eyes, I saw no need for revenge.

Find the Alpha who hurt her. Hurt him.

Hurt a wolf for a witch? I hissed at myself. That very thought was a betrayal.

He hurt your mate. Your Mate.

Elysia's not my mate.

I didn't accept her.

My wolf groaned in the back of my head. I was getting tired of this. I couldn't reject her but I couldn't be with her. All I wanted was to touch her, to somehow hold her in my arms forever. But I knew if I did that once, I wouldn't be able to stop. It would have been so much easier to just hate her. 

It would be easier if she was easy to hate.

I finally sighed and decided to take that bath. I needed it more than anything right now. Once I changed into fresh clothes, I watched Elysia lie beside a candle and a book. Even when she wore my clothes - clothes far too big for her, she looked absolutely beautiful. 

Her head was leaning against the wall and I only then realized she had fallen asleep reading the magical book. She was so obsessed with learning, I didn't realize how disadvantaged she must have back in the witch world. Is this what happens to witches without covens? I realized it wasn't any different than rogue wolves. 

Rogue wolves were treated the same way witches without covens were. She was, essentially, a rogue witch.

I sighed and decided to do the right thing. 

Just for tonight, I decided. 

I walked towards her and pulled the book out of her fingertips. Then, I slowly picked her body off the ground, careful to not wake her up. Her head fell against my chest. Could she hear how fast she made my heartbeat? 

I laid her across my bed and pulled her covers over her body. My bed was large enough for two wolves to sleep in. Elysia was a mere witch. Yet, I knew she wouldn't be pleased if I slept with her on the same bed. I wasn't going to lie; I noticed the way she tried her best to keep away from my touch. I noticed the way she was determined to keep her distance from me just as I. Was she still terrified of me? Was she still worried I would hurt her?

I didn't know. I didn't understand.

I decided to take her place and sleep on the carpet for tonight. 

When I wake up, Elysia was still asleep. The carpet wasn't comfortable; my whole body seemed to ache; I don't know how she managed to do it for the past few days. Regardless, I decided to change and head out as fast as I could. I made sure to wear the pack uniform for the Alpha's arrival. The uniform was a dark forest green color with golden underlinings.