Chapter 74 - Did you just curse?

EMMA

A jolt of pain shoots through my arm when I close the window and hit my elbow against a sharp metal ledge. It slices through my skin and blood seeps down my arm. “Shit.”

I clutch my elbow and turn away from the window. Blood gushes from the wound.

Callum peers his head around the doorway. “Did you just curse?” A raised eyebrow is added to his scowl this time. He eyes the wound on my arm and his mouth turns in a deeper grimace.

Miles peers around the other side of the doorway and his eyes are filled with shock. “Oh Goddess, she’s far gone now.”

The gash on my elbow is small, but blood trickles down my hand. I groan. “Will you two help me already?”

“With what?” Callum grumbles and crosses his arms.

“This.” I swing my elbow in the air. The tolerance we have built for each other has become razor-thin. I can’t handle his never-ending adversity.

“What do you need?” Miles holds his hands like he’s approaching a scared animal.

Tears are already brimming in my eyes again. They have not been absent for long in the past twenty-four hours. “I don’t know.”

I don’t know what to think anymore. If all that I know is just deception, how can I trust my own thoughts then? Is everything I know a lie?

I try to think, but I feel the strength starting to leave my legs. I’m shaking as I sit down on the bed and look around the small bedroom.

Miles brings me a box of tissues from the dresser. He plucks a bunch of the papers and hands them to me. It immediately coats red when I press them against my elbow to catch the bleeding.

“Maybe Gaius has something to bind it with.” Miles offers when he hands me another bunch of tissues.

I nod at Miles with a pout. I’m miserable and I know Miles is walking on eggshells around me. I know he fears that the smallest thing might trigger another breakdown. I’m embarrassed to say that those feelings are not unfounded.

——————

Apparently, a first-aid-kid is not something werewolves keep in their homes at all times. Gaius places a cup of tea in front of me and takes a seat at the table. Miles stands in front of the table with a dumbfounded look. The scowl on Callum’s face is getting deeper with the minute.

“Why is it not healing?” Callum growls. The fact that I have a human healing speed still seems to baffle my group of werewolf friends.

“It’s fine, it will stop bleeding eventually.” My initial breakdown has withered and rationality is starting to come back.

Miles is looking a bit aghast as he looks down at the pile of blood-stained tissues. “Are you sure? It looks pretty horrific.” His face is paler than usual.

I twist my arm and there is still blood emanating from the wound. I look at the gash and the cut is small. Sometimes small wounds can make a large mess.

“I won’t die from a small cut like this,” I say and Miles eyes me skeptically.

The sound of rubber tires screeching hits my ears. They groan as they burn off a trail on the streets. The sound vibrates through my body and turns my nerve endings on high alert.

I get up from my seat and Cecile stumbles through the doorway of the restaurant. She is pale-white with a hint of green coloring her skin and looks like she’s going to throw up at any second.

She places one hand on the doorway and leans over. In her hand, she’s holding a brown paper bag and throws it in my direction. It slides over the wooden table and lands squarely in front of me.

“That’s for you—“ She says as she holds back a hurl. She sinks down to the floor and places her head between her knees.

I get up from the table to check up on her. “Are you okay?”

She shakes her head and I worry about my friend. She waves her hand and points to the bag.

I open the bag and inside are bandages, herbs and ice packs. I frown as I take the bandages from the bag. Many questions race through my mind. Cecile had to work and the palace is miles away. How did she even know I was injured?

“How did you get here so fast? I ask first.

Cecile lifts her head and perspiration coats her temples. “Spice drives like a maniac.” The green tinge disappears and Cecile gets up from the floor. Her hair is a mess and the black strands of her pixie cut stand up in disarray. “I think I need a drink.”

Cecile stumbles to the table and takes a seat across from me. I don’t think alcohol is what she needs, but who am I to tell Cecile that she can’t have something.

“Do you still have that strong stuff that humans drink? The one that burns your soul from your body?”

“Tequila?” Gaius asks.

Cecile snaps her fingers. “That one.”

Gaius shakes his head as he takes a sip of his own drink. “Unfortunately not. Baccus has to get it from outside the border and he won’t make another run for three days.”

I’m surprised to find even yarrow root and witch hazel in the bag. It has everything to stop the bleeding. “How did he know?” I whisper.

“He probably just remembered from when he was injured.” Miles eyes the contents in my hand and shrugs.

“No I mean, how did he know that I hurt myself?”

Gaius smiles. “Your bond, Miss Emma.”

I frown as I clutch the paper bag in my hand. “But he fated to Gaia.”

“He didn’t mark her.” Callum and Miles say at the same time. Miles nods at his brother as if this little fact will make all the difference.

I look out the window and find the black SUV lingering in front of the restaurant, but when I take a step closer it drives away. I cannot see through the blinded windows, but I know Hadrian is there.

I feel a pang of pain flow through my chest. “But he should,” I whisper as I watch the car drive away.

“What?” Four voices ask at the same time.

“I think Hadrian should mark Gaia.”

I’ve had time to think and maybe that’s why this hurts so much. The prophecy says that the king will fall when his heir finds their blue-eyed mate. Gaia has no blue eyes, but still. I’ve read in one of the many books that a fated mate makes a werewolf a lot stronger.

I’ve also learned that the heir becomes the new Alpha King when they are stronger. The heir can claim his rightful place. Either voluntarily or through a dual. I need Hadrian to take his place as Alpha king.

Justin said that this arrangement could impact the whole world and that I could help save a lot more girls than just the village. What if I was never meant to kill Hadrian, but make him become stronger to overthrow his father? I need him to believe that he can.

I love Hadrian like I never thought it possible. The pain of letting him go rips my heart to shreds. We had something good, but this isn’t about me. I can make one more sacrifice if it is for the greater good. I know the world will become a better place when Hadrian becomes king.

Even if that means that I will have to push him into the arms of another woman.

——————

HADRIAN

My heart is racing as I walk back to my rooms. The pain in my arm is simmering down, but I can’t help but be worried. Will she be okay? I have to put the trust in four people that I know care for her, but giving over control like that is not something I’m familiar with.

I agreed to give her some space, but I will need to talk to her tomorrow. I’ve given myself the excuse of needing her insight about the nightshade flowers.

The halls on the third floor are quiet and I unbutton the top three buttons of my shirt. The collar is suffocating me. When I step into the parlor, I freeze. I immediately sense the presence of another being. The familiar pull has my teeth grinding and I know that it is my supposed fate.

Her scent of roses, nightshade and orange peel is heavy and overrules the last lingering scent of vanilla, custard and lemongrass.

Fury is competing with the urge to get closer to the woman currently residing in my bedroom. I tense every muscle in my body. I fear my own natural instinct. I slowly walk towards the hazard sitting on my bed dressed in only a red lace set.

“Get the fuck out.”

That bed is mine and Emma’s. Gaia defiles the sheets with her bitterness. The sweet scent of Emma lingering on the pillows is the only thing that would let me get a little sleep without her.

“I’m going crazy without you Hadrian, don’t you want this?” She moans with an overly dramatic touch.

I don’t look her in the eyes and I don’t linger to watch what she is trying to show off. My muscles are vibrating as they try to pull me in different directions.

“I know you used witchcraft, Gaia.”

She crawls off the bed and struts my way. The scent of roses, nightshade and orange peel comes closer and I don’t remember those scents on her. It’s even heavier around her neck.

She closes the distance between us and I lock my muscles in place. “If you want to call a blessing from the Moon goddess witchcraft…”

I growl at her. “You’ll never be my mate.”

“Not even you can deny this Hadrian, just give in.” Her fingers rake along the exposed part of my chest and she starts to unbutton my shirt further.

I ball my fists. “Get out or I’ll reject you here, right now.” The threat booms through the room. Every word is harsh with the truth.

Gaia must hear it too, because her seductive demeanor falters. Her eyes turn frantic. “You cannot do that. I’ll never accept your rejection.”

I lean closer and look her straight in the eyes this time. “Watch me.” The animal inside wants to take over and teach Gaia a lesson.

“Y-you’ll need the approval of the respected alpha of your pack. Y-you really think that Alpha King Magnus is going to let you?” Gaia flinches and starts to tremble when my aura expands and reaches her.

I grip a hand around her neck and pull her closer so that she experiences the full brunt of the darkness. “The Alpha King can’t stop me, now get out!”

I could snap her neck with a twist of my hands. Gaia must see how serious I am and backs off. I let her go and there is pure fear in her eyes now.

This is what I’ve always known. She could never be my mate. She can’t handle the darkness, not like Emma.