All That Is You

Chapter 4

He stilled in the arms of the shadows. I knew he was waiting for my response, but I would give him none. I did not know what to say. I broke away from his mesmerizing gaze, focusing my eyes on the chains around my ankles, mentally tracing the scars on my raw skin. The curtain of my dark, matted hair shielded me from his questioning stare.

I was trembling. I did not know what to do other than sit still and await for the violence that was sure to come, the hatred that I was accustomed to.

The screams and grunts of the battle had long ceased leaving behind nothing but howls of mourning and then silence. We sat there for what seemed like hours before he tentatively reached his hand out. I flinched and his eyes darkened. I knew what that look meant for I had seen it on my father's face many times before. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact of his knuckles. But there was none.

My eyelids fluttered open, confusion had crawled its way onto my face. His eyes were still dark, two pits of obsidian, a tell tale sign of my invitation with Death. His aura had lost all its warmth and I took in a shaky breath, my ribs rattling from the pain.

The hand that was floating mid-air, reminiscent of my rejection, slowly grabbed mine. The moment his skin touched mine my eyes widened. I had never felt so much comfort in another's touch. It seemed as though his hands were made to hold mine. He gently pulled me towards him, my chains rattling as they dragged across the floor, and I was in too much shock to pull away. His golden skin burned and I shivered from its stark contrast to the bitter temperatures I was used to. Even with my skeleton-like figure, I knew he was huge. He was a beast, a man just like my father, an Alpha.

It hit me. I had left the arms of the monster who wore my father's skin and called it his own only to find myself in another cage only now it was a demon who called himself my mate. And with that, I shattered.