The Barter Novel Sierra and Xavier

His brows furrowed in irritation as his eyes took me in.

And I gulp, dropping my eyes on the floor.

What happened?”

He sounded angry.

I opened my mouth to tell him about the man but I stop myself.

He won’t believe me.

Rather he will blame me for lying to him again.

No.

I can’t tell him.

N- nothing.

I am sorry.

Excuse me Alpha.

”

Turning around I was going to leave when I look at the dark hallway outside and my insides churned.

What if he is still in the shadows? Waiting for me? I can’t sleep in the attic alone.

Not today.

“Actually I-

I turn around to find him settled on the sofa.

He had some scrolls in his hand and he was signing them.

Come on Sierra! You can do this.

What are the odds? If I don’t try how will I know.

Can I sleep here for the night! Please! Just one night! I won’t make a sound I promise!”

His hands affixing the signature stopped and he looked up at me.

Shit! He is going to deny.

Yes, that look in his eyes is telling

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28* Woocherk

me.

“Just for today.

I will sleep on the floor if you want.

I will do anything-”

Take the right side of the bed.

Left side is mine.

”

I blink.

Unable to digest his words and he returns back to his work.

Not spearing me another glance.

Did I hear him right?

I am not hearing things, am I?

This isn’t a joke right?

I continue to stand there for another five minutes.

Waiting for him to laugh and chuck me out.

But nothing except silence.

Okay.

I did got lucky today.

.

Tip toeing towards his bed, I settle down my ass on it.

Pulling up the comforter I get under the covers and I am immediately hit by his musky scent.

It gave me a strange sense of comfort.

And I snuggle in its warmth.

The lights remain off, with only the lamp shade illuminating the place and I couldn’t help stare at his face.

He was flawless.

The bridge of his nose, the contour of his jaw, the shape of his lips.

Heat rushes to my core remembering how they felt pressed against mine.

And I press my thighs together.

His lips were so

confident claiming me, or no.

It wasn’t confidence.

It was power.

Sheer power.

I sense his eyes moving up and I was fast to shut my own in time.

Pretending to be asleep.

I could feel his eyes on me and my skin burned under his stare.

I gulped, holding the position.

Minutes passed and my mind drifted to that man.

Why was he so hell bound to kill me? Who is he even? And most importantly, who has sent him? All that I could understand is that they want it to look like a murder so that Zachary gets blamed.

An enemy of his perhaps?

I need someone ‘s help.

Zachary won’t believe me but Dom will.

He has to.

I will ask him tomorrow.

Yes, this is the correct course of action.

It felt like forever when the lamp light switches off and I feel the bed dip behind me.

My throat felt parched.

He is here.

So close.

My back is to him, inches away from him.

I didn’t dare move.

But sleep wasn’t easily found.

I wasn’t used to these soft mattresses anymore.

The hard floor in the attic has become my usual.

Another half an hour pass and I finally dare to turn around.

My thudding heart calms down when I found him deep sleep.

He was laying on his back.

His arm was resting on his eyes and

15

his chest rhythmically move up and down.

A beautiful peaceful disaster.

That’s what he was.

And I have been in its path.

For too long.

Restrained.

Unable to move back.

His beauty was like that of a pitcher plant.

Exquisite, interesting, piquing your interest.

But it wouldn’t remain same after one sees it swallow a rat whole.

The only difference is, his targets are humans.

Living.

Just like me.

And he feeds on their blood.

Just staring at his peaceful face, I was not scared of the killer anymore.

I was in the Beasts Lair.

Which fool will dare to enter here.

My eyes start dropping.

And I slowly drift into a deep slumber.

I wake up to a gasp and my brows furrowed when I look at its origin.

Zachary was laying in the same position.

But he didn’t look at peace anymore.

His forehead and neck were drenched in sweat, head was moving in a no and lips opening and closing to mumble something incoherently.

III

A nightmare probably

Aty and lifts in the air, desperate to give him assurance.

But ! stop myself.

I am the last person he needs it from right now.

His chest was rising rapidly and see a tear trailing down his

eyes.

Something cracked inside me.

His scars were not visible to the naked eye.

But they were there on his soul.

Deep, countless, twisting in dire need of stitches.

Aghh no no… stop.

It looked like he wanted to move but he was pinned down, paralysed in a parallel reality that doesn’t even exist.

“Alpha!”

I try again, to only have his screams to worsen.

“No… no stop! Don’t do it….

.

Noooooo!”

“Alpha!”

Fuck it!

I get up to hover over him.

Lifting my trembling fingers I cup his face.

And rugged breaths leave his lips.

“I am here.

It’s fine.

Breathe.

”

The creases on his forehead relax and he stops heaving.

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14

Yes.

Just like that.

”

My own heart calms down seeing him return to normal.

But I was no way prepared for what was to happen next.

Two strong arms wrap around my torso and I am pulled up flush against his chest.

He clinged onto me like his life was dependent on me and I stood frozen.

“Don’t leave me… please…”

“Don’t go.

”

I gulp.

Confused perplexed and lost.

He was no way looking like that cold–hearted murderer I have known.

He looked almost…

human.

His hot breath and stubble beard tickles my neck and I feel a warm feeling erupting inside me.

My blood felt like hot lava and blood gushes down.

Lighting up my core.

“Alph-”

“I can’t live like this please… just stay.

Please.

”

My walls break and I find my healing side popping out its head.

He has emotions like everyone else.

He had his own battles.

More than hate, he needs care and love.

Maybe Dom was right.

He needs someone to understand him.

Lowering my walls, I wrap my arms back around him.

Letting him snuggle closer to my chest.

Running my fingers through his thick licks, I sigh.

Assuring him, consoling him and whispering soft words to him.

His lips press against my neck and and the hot lava erupted out.

I couldn’t breathe.

What was happening to me? What are these foreign feelings?

Reb… I love you Reb*

That’s all it took for everything to come crashing down.

My heart seizes in my chest and my grip on him loosens.

He thought I was her.

He was having her dream.

He still loves her.

He forever will.

My arms drop by my side and my body lays limp on his.

He held me like his world will crumble, while mine had already been shattered to a thousand pieces.

I will never be her.

And the worst part?

I know I don’t deserve to.