Her Heart's Whisper

CHAPTER 9

Lucas' POV

Now the moon casts her in the spotlight. Everything else is covered by her shadow. Faded out. The melodious creatures echoing in the background.

For a second, I am lost. Unsure of what to do. If I help her, I upset my wolf. If I don't, I disappoint my mother.

My feet find the way on it's own accord. Now our Goddess cascades her calming light onto us. And in this moment, I know that I have achieved something priceless. For I have made my mother proud.

A silent prayer for my mother escapes my heart.

She looks even more weak and sick up close. Her bare body is like a two year olds drawing book. Only this time, the lines are deliberate. Meaningful.

To serve a purpose.

Her body no longer shivers in this cold, crispy weather. It just simply shuts down. Her eyes painted a light grey. Staring blankly.

Even when my freezing hands touch her skin, she does not dare to flinch.

I remove the shackles and chains as fast as I possibly can. Setting her free.

I am afraid to hurt this little, fragile girl. But it's an internal struggle. I want to caress her gently. Soothingly. But my wolf wants to hurt her. Bruise her. Punishingly.

It's an internal battle that I fight. Fighting for dominance.

Do I caress her or do I hurt her?

I pull her into my arms. Safe and secure. I can feel her heart beat pick up a little. My mother must have experienced that same fear a thousand times.

The fear of some random, stranger touching you.

She died with that same fear lurking behind a perfect smile. That same fear flowing out of her in anxious waves.

I turn around, tucking this little, pained she wolf close to me. I may not be her mate. But I can still offer her protection.

I hear them.

My wolf threatening me to take over and mark his mates. We inhale. Fast and deep.

A long growl is roared out. My wolf is raging now. I thought that it was directed inwardly. But surprisingly, he takes my side.

My wolf's eyes shining through in warning. We are willing to fight our mates for this scrawny girl in my arms. I exhale. They inhale. Taking in their mate's scent in long, lustful inhales.

We are caught off guard. Taking in their scents. Jealousy outlined in their scents.

They strike the little pained wolf. Within seconds, her old wounds are opened once again. New wounds oozing out blood for the first time.

Her body is a canvas of blue, black and red now. Yet this she wolf still leaks out anger. She's ready to fight. Even if she meets the Moon.

But deep down, I know that it wouldn't be her end, but my mates.

It's time for me to step in. If I don't, one of them will meet the Moon. And we know that it won't be this hurt she-wolf.

Skin to fur. A swift movement has these "mates" of mine under me. There is magical electricity surging through my veins in this moment. But still, my eyes search for hers. Confusion flashes past.

Turning back to these wolves in front of me. I see my mother's murderers in these wolves. How do I accept them? My wolf slowly starting to understand me.

He grabs them in his jaw and flings them out of the way in disgust.

My attention is captured by the little she-wolf once more. Her heart rate picks up once more as I put my arms around her.

I may not be her mate. But I can offer her safety and security. If only, for a little while.

I said that it would be a little while, but I just couldn't help but stay a little longer. She looked so peaceful yet guarded. She looked so calm when I was close by. So how could I pull myself away from that?

Very soon I found myself unable to stay away from her for even a day. I would busy myself in the kitchen, waiting for her to come down. I would try to make life easy for her. Help her with her duties. With her responsibilities.

We didn't need to speak in order to be heard. Things were different with her. I didn't have to pretend to be all cool and collected all the time.

Just being with Ciara, makes you feel more connected with yourself. The real you.

And maybe that was what drove me to find those rogue wolves who took advantage of her. The ones that I could have stopped. But didn't.

That will forever remain something that I will always deeply regret.