Chapter 18 Impulse and Prejudice

**Valerie**

It was the first time I saw a wolf shifting and what Ava said had been true – it was indeed very horrible. But she perhaps forgot to mention that when werewolves were in rage, it didn’t matter which forms they took.

They were monsters.

I was slammed against the wall before those eyes locking with mine.

A deep color of crimson looked like a stain of dried blood on the rag, resembling with the ones I had seen in the raid. And it’s not my delusion that before I fainted out on the auction, I had seen his eye turned into the same color like this, the same of those orbs I dreaded in nightmares, like smothering lava waiting to burst out of a crater.

“Sorry for what, Valerie? For that Kiss, or for your rejection to me?” He asked.

It was not supposed to be a question as he would obviously not be contented with either of my answers. And he didn’t wait for it at all.

His index finger trailed down my cheek before resting on crook of my neck. Brushing slowly over the skin there, he bit my lower lip with his teeth. With a sharp sting, I tasted the saltiness of my own blood.

It didn’t really hurt but send a weird feeling down to my core as I tried hard not to let out a moan. His arm around my waist tightened, forcing my back arcing into a curve.

His chest heaved against mine. I could hear his stuttered breath and sense the heat of his body. Then he rested his head on my shoulder, kissing my neck before nibbling it slowly.

My body stiffened when his other hand trailed down to my upper thigh, tucking up the hem of my dress, finger circling around my groin.

He raised his head to look at us, his breaths becoming fiery and intense. A look of dominance blazed behind his eyes as I could feel his arousal sticking against my lower belly.

He licked at the wound on my lip, then caressing down to my throat, fiery breath washing my flesh. “I want you.” He groaned in full lust.

My mind was blurred. I wanted to push him away but could gather no strength. My body was heating up under his touch and kiss, my knees weakened and my tongue dismantled.

I wasn’t sure what’s wrong with me but the feel of my body wanting him scared me. I hated him just like I hated all werewolves, but why was I yearning for him so desperately like a slut. I would be losing my mind and begging him to fuck me if he did any further.

It shouldn’t been like this.

“M…Mr. Murphy.” I stuttered.

“Um?”

He didn’t stop the movement. Unlacing the string wrapped around my waist, he sucked on my chin, causing a sharp inhale of mine.

“Please…I…I h…need to go back…work.”

He ignored my plea completely. As he started to unbutton my blouse, I took the chance to resist him from getting further. Pushing my hands against his chest, I squatted down and inclined aside, hoping to flee through the space between his body and the wall.

But I had underrated wolf’s speed.

He caught me before I could even distance myself from him for a modicum of space.

“You have no escape, Valerie.” He scoffed in fury.

Perhaps my attempted escape exasperated him had gone too far beyond his endurance, before I was able to exonerate for myself, those sharp canines had already been placed on my neck. With just a bit more strength, he would bite into my skin.

I was stunned.

“You really want to mark her now?” A playful voice came behind Mr. Murphy, put his movement in to a sudden halt.

He sucked in a sharp breath before turning his head impatiently to look at the speaker.

Following the line of his sight, I recognized the man standing in a distance.

Mr. Drakos.

He stood there with his arms crossed against his chest. There’s an inscrutable expression on his face. His eyes formed suspicious slits as his lip curled into an ambiguous smile.

“You don’t want her to show your mark around on that celebration, do you?” Mr. Drakos reminded in a cavalier attitude.

Mr. Murphy frowned before replying with a testy voice, “She won’t be on—” But then as if something suddenly occurred to him, he stopped abruptly and glared at Mr. Drakos.

“You made her selected?” He growled, eyes blazing with fire.

“Why not? It’s the safest area. You know that.” Mr. Drakos shrugged.

Mr. Murphy seemed to be indignant but he didn’t made any retort.

“Let her go, Xavier.” Mr. Drakos glanced at me and uttered, “It’s not you who will force on a little human girl.”

“It’s not your business, Liam.”

“Very true.” Mr. Drakos snorted, “But I don’t like to clean up your mess. Guess what your father would do if he see your mark on her?”

I had no idea what they were talking about but apparently Mr. Murphy had been convinced. He placed a kiss on my neck and whispered “next time” to me before reluctantly releasing his grip. And he didn’t block me when I tottered aside to separate from him.

I was pondering on an utterance to make before leaving this embarrassing situation, when Mr. Drakos came closer and said to Mr. Murphy, “I have something to tell you. I’ll meet you in your study.”

Mr. Murphy stared at him bemusedly, as if being confused.

“Don’t you think you need to get dressed first?” Mr. Drakos suggested while sparing a glance at me.

I lowered my head and blushed as a shameful feeling suddenly engulfed me. I was reminded of the fact that the Alpha had been in his nakedness since he shifted back into human form.

Mr. Murphy cleared his throat awkwardly before striding away. I thought Mr. Drakos would follow behind him and left me alone.

But to my surprise, when I exhaled in a relief and raise my head, preparing to walk back to the castle, he was still there, standing closer to my position and gazing at me in a contemplative countenance.

He seemed to be inspecting me as if he could see through my heart.

“Mr. Drakos, thank you.” I bowed my head down to him.

“Thank me for what?” He sounded amused by my appreciation.

The masters all seemed to be obsessed with this game of questioning something they had already known the answer.

“For stopping Mr. Murphy.” I replied frankly.

“Oh?” He laughed while leaning forward to behold my face. His eyes twitched and narrowed into a skeptical line. “But I didn’t do it for you.” He said plainly.

I blinked my eyes, not sure about his intentions behind it. Biting my lower lip nervously, I decided to bid farewell.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Drakos. Please excuse me.” I bowed again before turning on my heels.

“Are you going to leave like this?” His smoky voice halted my movement.

I tensed up as he placed his palm on the back of my neck, a touch brought back the familiar memory of that night on the terrace and reminded me how dangerously strong he was.

“You forget something.” He said in a whisper.

I gulped, trying hard to think of what he was referring to. But there’s no way for me to figure out an answer.

I tilted my head, looking back to him timidly. His lips nearly brushed over my earlobe as we stood next to each other at such close quarters. Avoiding bumping against him, I jerked away abruptly. But I didn’t anticipate losing balance by tripping over a stone.

Before my body crashed into ground, Mr. Drakos took my waist and lifted me up, just like what he had done at that night.

My cheek reddened and I hastily wanted to make an apology.

“You’re very good at seduction. Isn’t Xavier and Lucas enough for you?” He commented harshly and stared at me with a contemptuous smile lingering on his face.

I gawped.

Following his obscure gaze, I looked down to myself. The first few buttons on my blouse were unbounded, exposing my upper breasts under his vision. I hadn’t been given any bras or bralettes to wear so my nipples now, being hard and sticking out, were visible under the thin cloth, as if in need of more caress and fondling.

What he meant was self-explanatory.

I snapped out of his seize, wrapping my arms around my chest.

Taking a deep breath, I managed to calm my voice in anger and bid farewell in a polite manner, “Goodbye, Mr. Drakos.”

Then I just turned around and walked away before getting a replied, not fussed about his reaction.