Bleeding just to have you

Cleopatra POV

 

As I sat at the judge's table, watching the intense competition unfold before me, a sense of unease gnawed at my gut. Despite the excitement in the air, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. And then, as if in response to my silent dread, Alexander's voice echoed in my mind, urgent and filled with pain.

"Tell the pack... I'm in danger," his voice pleaded, but I remained frozen, my heart pounding in my chest. It wasn't that I didn't care for him; the bond between us was undeniable. But something within me, something primal and self-preserving, kept me rooted to my seat, detached from the turmoil unfolding around and in me.

As Alexander's plea faded into the recesses of my mind, I forced myself to focus on the competition. But beneath the facade of normalcy, fear pulsed through me like a second heartbeat.

Suddenly, from the corner of my eyes, I caught sight of Mother Luna talking to the leader of the gatherer, they were responsible for piling the kill inside according to each competitor's name and counting how much they had killed.

"What are you plotting now," I  whispered to myself under my breath, my brow creased with worry. 

When they parted and he started walking back to the hall where they kept the kills, I immediately stood, gaining stares from the alphas at the table, their aura terrifying, but I sucked in my fear and announced, "I need to ease myself. Is that okay?"

I could see the immediate discomfort rippling through the alphas as they exchanged glances, but none dared to challenge my request.

"Sure," Alpha Daniel responded hesitantly, his gray eyes full of concern, as his gaze followed me. "But please be quick."

Nodding, I hurried along, dodging people and trying to hide by blending myself in the crowd as I slipped away from the training ground and sneaked my way toward the kill hall.

 As I got closer to the hall, I linked with my wolf and she opened my third eye, the vision of a seer, something I had never told anyone. With my enhanced senses, I scanned the area, searching for any signs of danger or deception. My instincts screamed at me, urging me to proceed with caution.

As I approached the hall where the kills were stored, the scent of blood and sweat assaulted my senses. The air was thick with tension, and my heart raced with apprehension. I moved stealthily, keeping to the shadows and masking my scent as I listened for any sounds that might betray the presence of danger.

Suddenly, I heard voices drifting from inside the hall. Instinctively, I used my third eye to spy into the hall, seeing beyond the wooden door to catch snippets of the conversation and the sight of them.

"This...must be done quickly before Cole gets back with his last kill," a deep voice growled, sending shivers down my spine. "We can't afford any mistakes."

My blood ran cold as I recognized the voice of the gatherer leader. What were they planning? And why did it involve Cole?

Gathering my courage, I inched closer to the entrance, careful to remain undetected. Peering inside, I saw the gatherer leader huddled with several other wolves, their heads bowed in conversation. They seemed tense, their expressions grim and determined.

Suddenly the sound of people's cries echoed in my ear along with the smell of Alexander's blood, and I sighed, connecting with my mind link, and then said, "Are you dead?"

"Bitch!" His reply came instantly as I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, his scent filling my nose once again. "You would have let me die in that damn forest."

"Now you know how I felt that night. Alone, scared, in pain, and without help, no one there to protect me as I watched you stand at the top of that stairs with a look of disgust on your face," I replied, forcing myself not to sound hurt or angry. 

"Cleo," 

"Mmmh, how entitled for you to think that to me that your life is not just as worthless as mine is to you."

Silence reigned over our mental connection until Alexander finally responded with a low murmur, sounding contrite even as anger boiled inside him. "Can we call it even now?"

"Why? Because now I am worth something to you. The perfect pawn in your political game." 

There was a long pause, and finally, Alexander said, "Yes. You're right. But you can be more than that if you stop the bullcrap and start to see what you stand to gain by my side. I have everything to offer you, Cleo, something that Cole could never in this life ever provide for you."

"Mmh, that doesn't matter. All that I want, his body can give me. He can satisfy my hunger and devour me the way I want... But, I am sure you already know that." I  tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice.

"Cleo! I am bleeding just to have you. You can't take pity on me and dare  to dirty talk about another male  in that manner?!" Alexander sounded livid, his tone laced with an underlying hint of desperation.

His words hit a nerve and I kept silent for a moment before asking, "Bleeding to have me? What are you talking about?"

"What do you think my one wish is going to be if I win this competition?" Alexander asked calmly.

The knot in my stomach grew even tighter as I realized what his goal must be, and rage and nervousness surged through me as my thoughts drifted back to that night.

"You won't dare," I  whispered hoarsely, trying to maintain control.

He chuckled darkly. "Oh, believe me, sweetheart, I intend to."