Unusually Unnatural Love

Underestimating Carefulness

"Father?" I asked in a shaky voice as I leaned against the door frame.

"Yes Audrey?" My father asked absent-minded.

He was busy looking for something, probably some paperwork he stacked somewhere in the mess and forgot where he had put it. I stepped in and handed him a file and he sighed in relief.

"I went to the vampires-" I started, but my father dropped the file, making the papers slide across the floor.

"You what?" He asked angrily and stooped down to gather the papers.

"Father, just listen before you get mad. I went to see their leader and talked them into forming an allegiance, vampires and wolves alike. We will be much stronger together. We can't win Eros and the Valkeries alone, we need help and they are willing, but on one condition. We lift the ban on trespassing so they can come train with us."

My father had retrieved the papers and was now stacking them in thought as he went over the words I said. He turned to me and I knew I had his full attention.

"Are you sure they agreed?" He asked, going through every aspect.

"Positive. They are just as scared as we are that everything they love will be demolished." I told him as I sat down on the office chair.

"I accept, but what made you do it?" My father asked as he leaned against his desk.

"A great alpha once told me to put your head aside and listen to your heart." I said and pecked him on the cheek before I speedily walked to my room.

I stepped into my room and switched on the main light, but nearly stammered backwards in fright. A man was standing in the darkest corner of my room.

"How do you keep getting into the house without the pack sniffing you out?" I asked. I picked up his scent.

"I guess it's just a personality trait of mine. I am very sneaky and cunning. Well, you would know all about that, won't you, Rey?" Eros answered, his usual sly smirk plastered on his face.

"What do you want?" I asked. I backed up and my back hit the wall.

Eros walked towards me and cornered me against the wall, giving me no space to escape. His breath slammed against my skin and it prickled. He took his arm and choked me. I couldn't morph, because he somehow kept me from doing so.

"One more stunt like that and I will have no other alternative but to set my pack on you. I know where you've been and I know what you've planned, but believe me, you are not going to win this one," he said and tightened his grip around my neck, "You must be careful Audrey, very careful, because I am not who I was a year ago."

Eros morphed and jumped out of my bedroom window. I fell to the ground. I grabbed for my throat, coughing as I tried to regain my breath. Kaila came into the room and saw me on the ground.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She asked as she knelt down next to me and examined me.

"Eros." I said hoarsely, heaving for air.

"Eros was here?" Kaila asked concerned and hoisted me up.

"He's gotten stronger. I couldn't fight him off. I felt all of my powers slipping away." I rubbed my neck, his claw prints left behind in my skin.

Kaila saw the marks on my neck and gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth. I covered my neck with my hand and shot Kaila a reassuring look.

"You need to tell your father." Kaila said worried and she could not take away her gaze from the bruises on my neck.

"No! He has enough stress already. I'm fine." I walked to the window and shut it tightly before I closed the curtains.

"Then what are you going to do about it?" Kaila asked and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I will handle things by myself. It doesn't seem that difficult," I tried to sound convincing but failed miserably, "It is that difficult, isn't it?"

Kaila gave a nod before her eyes fell to the floor and stayed there for a while. I looked at my friend and sensed the secretive aura around her. She had a border built up around her and hardly allowed anyone the privellage of her private affairs.

"Kaila, I want you to be honest. What is wrong?" I asked and placed my hands on my hips.

Kaila gave no answer and still stared blankly at the floor. My friend's silence annoyed me, but worried me more. I stepped forward and rose to my full height, towering over my friend. Kaila's head shot up and she stared straight into my eyes.

"Your father..." She started but stopped halfway. She could not bare to carry on, it was too painful.

"What about my father? Has he said anything to you, anything rude, anything at all?"

Kaila gulped down the last bit of courage she had and the chance to tell me the truth faded like a cloud of smoke.

"He said that you are the bravest young woman he knows." She said and put on a fake smile.

Seeing through my friend's lie and immediately noticing the fake smile, my face hardened and it lined up all my freckles and my blue eyes narrowed until they were tiny slits staring into the soul of my friend, setting it alight. Kaila cut the act, knowing she had my full attention.

"He's ill, Audrey... Very ill..." Kaila said so softly that if the room wasn't dead quiet, I wouldn't have heard a single word, "He did not wish to tell you this until your coronation but I fear he won't make it until then."

My heart stopped beating for a few seconds and I stared at my friend in disbelief. She stared straight back at me and I fell against my desk.

"No..." I said with emotion in my voice.