A Violent Love - Werewolf/Vampire

Chapter 16 - Secrets

Benjamin's POV

Rumours spread fast and far, whispers drowned the halls wherever i roamed. Lone werewolves were not a threat, but in a pack large enough to be regarded an army - they could be deadly. The best of the our own were already dispatched in orderly groups to kill any female werewolf they lay their eyes on, in hope that one of them would be the alpha. I knew it was useless, because she was right here, under our noses all along.

I had known Ara was a werewolf from the first time I saw her. Even though she smelt like one of us, she had unknowingly gave it away. No vampire in their right mind would walk out to the middle of the pond in daylight except for me. Her beauty too, made her stand out from the rest. She was kind and innocent. She carried an aura of an angel, delicate and gentle. Most importanly, she made me feel something no other girl has ever made me feel.

Never would I have guessed she was of alpha blood, it was until I heard the news that everything clicked into place. Now it was no wonder why Nathaniel had cruelly kept her captive in the castle, and anger boiled within me for the secrets my cousin had kept. I had heard rumours of my cousin's interest in a girl, and my heart sank at the realisation that the only girl I truly wanted was the one I could not have. 

I watched as soldiers got ready to set out for their brutal massacres, an unwelcomed guilt was settling in my bones. Countless innocent girls would be slaughtered today. But I knew I could not stop them, because then I would have had to give Ara's true identity away and put her in danger. I would carry this guilt within me, than to see Ara come to any harm. Deep within me, I was more glad than anything Ara would be safer hidden inside the castle walls than out there. And I could only imagine the pain of their mates when they lose their lovers tonight, their howls of grief would fill the otherwise silent night.

I can hear footsteps approaching me, stopping just a few metres behind me.

I turn around, meeting the grey eyes i've known for centuries. 

Nathaniel looks at me dangerously, anger laces his words. "How long have you known?"

"Known what?"

"Don't play with me Benjamin!" He shouts, his voice was deafening when he was angry. And he was getting more heated by the second.

"You love her?" 

The question catches him off guard, but he walks towards me, closing the gap between us.

"You will tell no one." 

"Who is she to you?" I repeated my question.

"Give me your word cousin. No one must know." His eyes were angry, but desperate. His words were starting to sound like a plea.

"I won't tell anyone. It was never my intention." 

His heaves a sigh of relief, his jaw finally unclenches and his eyes fade back to their normal light grey. 

"Yes. I love this girl."

Something in me lurches at his confession, even though I knew how he felt about her before hand. The words coming out of his very own mouth made the situation even more real. I felt sick thinking about how messed up all of this was. We each could have any girl we wanted, yet both of us wanted the same girl.

"Benjamin?" He looked at me worriedly.

I cleared my throat quickly, "I'm fine. Don't worry, my lips are sealed." And with that I pushed past him, walking quickly back to my chambers.

Nathaniel's POV

"Yes. I love this girl." I love her more than anything in this world, even myself. I knew how sellfish I was, to be putting my entire vampire kingdom in danger. But I could not stand the thought of losing her, to the werewolves or the vampires. She was my first priority.

Benjamin turned pale at my words, and he backed away slowly. I must have disgusted him with my selfishness, this is not how a King should behave in front of his Kinsmen. But I had to trust him to keep his word, I could not kill him to silence him. He meant too much to me.

He walked quickly past me, as though he wanted to get as far away from me as possible. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to think about the distance i've wedged between me and my oldest kin and friend.

I needed Ara.

As fast as my legs could take me, I made my way to Ara's room. My body craved hers, I could not bear to be away from her any longer. Even though we had parted ways only hours before when we reached the castle. I needed to see her and hear her voice. I needed to hold her in my arms, make sure she was safe beside me. I needed her to keep me sane.

I had appointed guards to watch over her room when I was away, I dismissed them and pushed past her door. It was quiet and dark, I could hear her soft and steady breaths from her bed. She was sound asleep. I tried to sneak under the covers without waking her up, but she was stirred from the movement. 

Her large eyes opened, and she smiled in realisation that it was me before murmuring something inaudible and shutting them again. I got into bed beside her and pulled her body against mine. She snuggled up tighter, allowing me to put my arms around her. My mind was a mess before, but now it was calm and clear. Being beside her made me realise how everything and everyone else was static, she was the only thing I needed in my life. 

"I love you so much Ara," I whispered, not knowing if she would be awake to hear the words.

"I love you too Nathaniel." She whispered back.

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