Chapter 31 - Fierce
I had managed to successfully calm Vulcan down, but that doesn’t mean that I eradicated all of his doubts and fears. That will take me a long time but I’m willing. He had broken down and revealed a hidden part of himself to me, baring his wounded soul that he had kept to himself for years. I plan to cherish his trust and show him just how much he means to me, every single day for the rest of our lives.
Sighing, I look down at him. After I had told him that I love him, it was like a light switch had been flipped and he had pulled away, staring at me in horror. Immediately, I knew that he had never wanted to reveal that part of him, especially to me. The amount of pain Elizabeth has caused him, he wants to keep it to himself.
I had reassured him, just like I promised I would, letting him know that it was alright. He had crumbled right before me and I was there to catch him, holding him close and soothing him.
“We have to work on your trust issues, buddy.” I had joked, earning a sad smile in return.
“It doesn’t seem possible but, I want this pain and suffering inside me to disappear. Just don’t leave me because of my messed up issues, Aurora.” He had murmured, holding me tighter as if I was a dream and he didn’t want to wake up.
“I won’t, I promise.” I had whispered, running my fingers through his hair as he drifted off to sleep.
I had let him be for quite some time, thinking that I should let him rest before waking him up. But eventually, I became sleepy and dozed off on the couch with him.
My body is now stiff and aches, his heavy weight pinning me to the couch. Glancing at the clock to see we have slept well into the afternoon, I call his name and shake him slightly. He growls lowly, nuzzling his face into my stomach with an adorable frown. Caressing his cheek, I call him again and watch his eyelids flutter before hazy, green emeralds stare back at me.
“Hey, sleepy head. It’s one in the afternoon.” I murmur, smiling when he looks around in confusion. “Come on, let’s go freshen up.”
I take his hand and we walk out of the office together, heading towards our bedroom. He’s quiet during the entire time, content in holding my hand. As soon as we enter the room, he pulls me to a stop before I can step foot in the bathroom’s direction.
“I hurt you, yesterday. I was so scared and angry that I let my beasts take over.” He frowns, scanning my body. “I’m sorry Aurora, I should have fought harder.”
“I hurt you too.” I smile sadly before pulling him closer and cupping his cheeks, rubbing the pad of my thumb across his smooth skin before gently murmuring. “I didn’t know Kaden was a rogue, we became friends when he was assigned to show me around school on my first day. He’s been there for me and not once has he given me a reason to doubt him. He has never hurt me and I believe he won’t in the future either.”
Vulcan snarls heatedly in response, trying to pull away, his eyes darkening with frustration when I follow him with every step he takes. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I press a kiss to his jawline, pleading with my eyes for him to understand.
“Please, just trust me on this. He’s my friend, I don’t like him in the way that you are thinking.” I sigh, resting my forehead against his chest.
A long silence ensues between us. I need Vulcan to trust Kaden because he’s one of the few friends I have made here and almost everyone thinks of him differently; a bad influence. They’re all wrong, including my mate. Kaden is a good person, you just have to get to know him better.
I smile when his arms wrap around me, his hand stroking my hair as his lips meet the crown of my head. “Okay...I trust you.”
“Thank you.” I peck his lips before pushing him towards the bathroom. “Now, go shower because you smell like you rolled around in mud before coming home.”
“Way to make a man feel special.” He remarks dryly, catching the towel I fling at his face.
“I try.” I grin innocently, shooing him away with my hands.
He disappears into the bathroom, the shower turning on as I change into a fresh pair of clothes. I quickly pull on a white sundress made of lace and slip my feet into some brown sandals since it’s quite sunny outside, adding my mother’s necklace and another dainty chain to the outfit along with a few simple gold rings. I pull my hair up into a ponytail before swiping some balm on my lips and walking out.
The truth is that when Vulcan’s beasts took over, they had scratched my skin with their elongated nails. But, they healed in mere hours and now my skin looks as good as new, as if they had never been there.
Apparently, even if I’m a human the mate bond affects me in more ways than one. When Vulcan had first healed my wounds I didn’t believe it because I am not one of them. But he explained that since I’m bound to him and there is a connection between us, his beasts can heal me whenever I’m hurt.
Steam filters out from the open doorway as I look up from the bed, finding him in just a white towel wrapped dangerously low around his waist. Gulping harshly, I look away to reign my emotions in but the memory of water droplets racing down his bare chest makes me want to look back and drink him in greedily.
Unfortunately, he disappears into the walk-in closet to change, denying me of his body that is carved to perfection. When he emerges, he’s wearing a dark pair of jeans with a grey sweater and shoes.
He leans against the door frame, regarding me with dark eyes. “I didn’t want to tell you the way I did last night.”
“Tell me what?” I frown, wondering what he’s referring to since he said a lot of things yesterday.
“That, I love you.” He murmurs, making his way over to me and caressing my cheek. “I wanted it to be a moment where we were happy but instead, we were fighting.”
“Eh, it’s not like we’re in a normal relationship.” I shrug, smirking when he chuckles.
“Still...” He bows slightly so I don’t have to strain my neck as much to look up at him. “I love you, Aurora Maxwell. Although I said it to you when I was angry, I want you to know that I meant every word.”
“I did too.” I smile, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I am hopelessly in love with you, Vulcan. I don’t see anyone else when you’re around.”
In an instant, he pulls me onto his lap making me squeal in delight and pat down my dress that has risen to mid-thigh. Before I can say something, Vulcan presses his lips to mine in a bruising kiss, hungry for contact and desperate to feel my touch. I moan and kiss him back with the same fervor, my fingertips resting on his cheek. I’m glad everything is going back to normal, we’re okay, I can go back to school, meet my friends and...
I pull away with a gasp making him groan out loud. He tries to kiss me again but his attempts are futile when I turn my face, letting his lips press themselves to my cheek instead.
“Baby.” He groans, pulling my chin to face him.
“Where’s Kaden?” I ask, my eyes narrowing when he growls in anger, his eyes switching to black again.
“I cannot believe you locked him up in a dungeon, my word wasn’t enough when I said that he was just a friend? No, you just had to go all Alpha on his ass didn’t you!” I grumble, marching my way through the dungeons, grimacing at the foul odor and blood splattering the walls.
Nikolai and Indigo follow behind and I can see them trying to stifle their laughter at their Alpha being scolded by his mate, but they soon turn serious when I glare at them.
“But he -”
“Do not try to justify yourself, Romanov. I know exactly how you can get when you’re angry so just keep quiet.” I order, glaring up at him while he walks beside me.
“Who does she think she is talking to our Alpha like that?” A burly man with slightly aged features voices, his clothing much like the rest of the warrior wolves are wearing. His brown eyes are set into a glare as if to intimidate me but I only scoff in reply, too riled up.
“His mate and I can talk to him any way I want to. Don’t you start testing me too otherwise I’ll kick you out of here.” I fume before marching onward to where three guards stand outside the cell where they have imprisoned Kaden.
I run forward when I spot the him sitting on the floor with his hands clasped on his knees, his head resting against the wall and eyes closed with a smirk on his lips. He opens them to look at me when I near the silver bars, clutching them and gasping at what I see.
“Come to save me, little grasshopper?” He coughs, blood trickling out of his mouth.
“I’m so sorry.” I whisper, tears brimming my eyes as I take in his badly beaten and bruised form.
His clothes are torn, making me aware that they have hit him, his wounds healing before my eyes. They’re everywhere, my eyes take in the sight of the bloody cuts and gashes wherever I can see his exposed skin.
“You told me you didn’t hit him.” I seethe, looking back at a nonchalant Vulcan.
He only shrugs in reply. “I said I didn’t hit him much. I guess I forgot to include the ‘much’ part.”
I cuss him out, ignoring his growl when he hears what I’m saying. “Let him out. He needs to be seen by the doctor.”
Immediately, there is an uproar from the men excluding Kaden who only groans when he straightens out his broken leg that’s currently in the process of mending itself.
I stare as they argue, telling me how I’m too naive and just brought into their world recently to know that rogues are mad wolves who disobey pack laws. The burly man from before is irritating the crap out of me, making me glare at him whilst he talks down to me as if I’m a child.
“Shut up!” I scream over them, making them stop to stare at me in surprise. “I’m pretty sure your law does not allow people to be beaten up unless you have proof that they planned to harm you. Is that right?”
None of them meet my gaze which only confirms my theory. Glaring at them, I cross my arms whilst tapping my foot, waiting for Vulcan to meet my gaze and when he does, he grimaces before nodding at the guard to let Kaden out. I smile, telling Kaden I’ll visit him soon before he’s helped upstairs to the infirmary.
Looking back to the men who glare at his retreating back in anger, I clear my throat to bring their attention to me. I narrow my eyes at the burly man who mumbles under his breath and with the way Vulcan snarls at him before walking over to me, I can safely assume that he’s not complimenting my choice of outfit today. I step up to him, making his back straighten when he looks at me in confusion.
“Did you just cuss me out?” I ask lowly which causes his eyes to widen.
In all honesty, it’s just a guess, I don’t expect him to shake his head before nodding in agreement when I narrow my eyes in suspicion.
“You have a mate?” I question, my arms crossed while I stare up at him in mock interest.
“Yes, Luna.” He replies proudly, standing taller and puffing out his chest.
“She must be a strong one.” I muse to which he just smiles and nods in reply. “I’m surprised she hasn’t fainted or something with how bad your breath stinks. You kiss her with that mouth, warrior?”
I’m on my tip toes, glaring at him. Of course, I’m only joking, wanting to get a dig in the way he had just moments ago.
“Babe.” Vulcan calls from behind, as if warning me to stop.
I can hear the smirk on his lips from his tone. I sigh before his arm wraps around my waist to guide me out of the dungeon, chuckling at his warrior’s shocked face.
“I highly advise just blowing her a kiss...but from a distance!” I say as we climb the steps and enter the hallway once again.
I look up at Vulcan when he chuckles, our hands intertwined as he looks down at me with amusement and pride. I grin cheekily, making him shake his head and plant a gentle kiss to my right temple.
“How did I do? I was trying to be all bad ass, you-better-bow-down-to-me and scary like you! I hope that jerk shits bricks.” I laugh gleefully, swinging our hands.
“Oh, you scared them alright. And don’t curse.” He squeezes my hand slightly, a frown etched onto his lips.
I curse lightly under my breath, testing to see if he can hear me and stupidly forgetting the fact that he’s a hybrid who has stronger abilities than most werewolves. He most definitely did hear me and in an instant, I’m pushed up against the nearest wall.
“Trust me little kitten, you do not want a spanking. I can assure you that it will be torturous for you yet very pleasurable for me.” He states huskily, pinning my arms above my head.
“I think I’ll enjoy it so don’t let me stop you, Alpha.” I tease breathlessly, biting my lip when he growls, his eyes burning bright gold in pure lust.
“Don’t test me, Моя дорогая .” He mutters before pulling me to the kitchen, where food is laid out on the table. (My darling.)
I try to ignore the jolts of heat running through my nether region, the lust not yet forgotten as I pull out a chair and help myself to the food. I had skipped breakfast, having no time for it when I had stormed my way to the prisons to free Kaden.
It’s time to satisfy my tummy.