Defiance

2.2

Chapter 22

E L Y S I A

It almost felt unreal. The only place I felt safe, I felt at home, was in his arms. In the back of my head, a part of me knew - all of this was wrong but Aldric wrapped me in his arms so gently, so perfectly, I didn't care about the rest of the world. Instead, my arms fit perfectly around his chest. He leaned down, his head in my shoulder and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist.

I didn't even know when we were lying on the bed again. Aldric had fallen asleep, his head against my shoulder. His arms wrapped around me. I remembered the first time he asked me to sleep beside him - I was so shocked - so confused but I realized maybe all this time when I had wanted Aldric, he had wanted me too. 

I don't what magnetic pull there was between us but I knew we were opposites; we were meant to be stuck together. Kissing him was another type of magic. It was the type of magic I dreamt about when Yara read us fairytales about princes and princesses, about love and the magic.

I never really believed in love. My main priority in life was trying to survive, I didn't imagine a future where I would meet someone and accept every part of someone. Yet, I was willing to accept every part of Aldric - I was willing to accept he was a werewolf, that he easily got angry, that he had trouble expressing the most basic emotions into words. 

But I understand him, I understand where he stands. Even though there were hundreds of other layers to what made Aldric, I wanted to unravel him. And for once, he let me in. He let me in. Gods.

However, I couldn't forget the parts of him that confused me the most. He wanted to destroy witches, he wanted to win this war. Then where do I come in? I am a witch. In the uttermost sense, I am a witch. 

He wanted to kill my people - my heart was thumping inside my chest. There had to be a way for me to convince him not to or - something - but I knew none. Was the possibility of this war ending even possible?

I couldn't damn the consequences - I wanted him but I also had to accept he was a monster. To the witches, he was a monster, a killer. 

Yet, like he said, to me, he was just Aldric. But that didn't change what he was to the world and the world - reality - was going to come. I would be stupid to think it wouldn't.

This is wrong, Elysia. He wants to destroy your kind. You have to stop before you truly fall off the edge. Before you completely fall in love with him. Before you fall in love with a monster.

I knew his pack was his priority and how could it not be? These were his people; they looked at him as his leader; he was their Alpha even if he said he wasn't. Aldric was the one that will avenge them.

Stop. Just stop thinking. 

Stop. 

I listened to the sound of his breathing; he was so gentle; in his sleep, he looked pure, almost too innocent. I wanted to shut the whole world out - More than anything, I wanted to pretend it didn't exist.

I finally shut my eyes, let myself fall asleep.

My whole body jerked off the bed. I cried out, my eyes blinking.

What the - ?

When I look up, I could feel my heart dropping down my chest. It wasn't Aldric that was in the room. Instead, it was three wolves. My instinct told me to run - then I thought of shielding myself with a spell. My heart was beating in my chest uncontrollably.