Elian
Raina transformed back into her human form, stepping in front of me protectively. She held her hands up in a placating gesture, addressing the furious wolf. "Cellaria, wait..." she began, but Cellaria cut her off with a vicious snap of her jaws. Raina fell silent, her eyes wide as she stared down the enraged beast. Cellaria stalked closer, her hackles raised, her tail lashing angrily behind her.
Cellaria towered over me, her hot breath washing over my face as she leaned in, her teeth bared mere inches from my skin. I pressed back against the rough bark of a nearby tree, my heart hammering so loudly I was sure she could hear it. Terror gripped me, rendering me frozen and mute as Cellaria's growls vibrated through the very air around us.
"Please" I whispered, my voice trembling with fear. "I-I'm sorry. I regret not listening to you. I didn't mean to disobey." Cellaria's growls deepened, her hot breath washing over my face as she loomed closer. I squeezed my eyes shut, tears leaking out from beneath my lashes as I braced myself for the inevitable. The wolf's snarls filled my ears, vibrating through my very being.
"Please don't hurt him" Raina begged, placing a tentative hand on Cellaria's shoulder. The massive wolf tensed under her touch but did not retreat. Instead, she turned her head, leveling a cold glare at Raina. The smaller woman held her ground, though I could sense the fear radiating off her in waves. "He didn't know any better" Raina continued, her voice steady despite the tremble of her hands.
Cellaria's growls intensified, her lips curling back to reveal a set of gleaming white fangs. She snapped at Raina's hand, forcing the woman to jerk it away quickly. I watched in horror as Cellaria's eyes flashed with fury, her muscles tensing as if poised to strike. A guttural snarl ripped from her throat, shaking me to my core. Then, abruptly, she turned and stalked away, disappearing into the shadows of the forest.
I let out a shaky breath, my body sagging in relief as the massive wolf disappeared from sight. Raina turned to face me, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice gentle despite the circumstances. I nodded weakly, still struggling to find my voice after the terrifying encounter. "You should go home" Raina said firmly.
"I've never seen her so angry" I murmured, more to myself than anyone else. The memory of Cellaria's enraged form haunted me, her blazing eyes and bared teeth etched into my mind like a brand. "She's going to kill me." Raina sighed, running a hand through her tousled hair. "Look, Elian, I know you're scared. But you need to understand something, you're playing with fire here. Aurelia isn't someone to be trifled with."
"Aurelia has been kind to me" I said, meeting Raina's gaze steadily. "She wouldn't hurt me." "You think so?" Raina scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Elian, she's a wolf. You might not understand it yet, but that animal is always present within her. It can take over at any moment. And when it does..." She trailed off, shuddering slightly. "I trust her" I insisted, my jaw set stubbornly.
"Trust is earned, Elian" Raina countered, her expression softening as she looked at me. "And right now, you're asking for trouble. You need to give her time to calm down." I nodded reluctantly, knowing she was right. I needed to give Aurelia space. "For now" Raina said, clapping her hands together decisively, "let's get you cleaned up and back to the house. We'll figure out what to do next once things settle down."
As Raina led me back to the house, I couldn't shake the image of Cellaria's enraged form from my mind. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig sent a jolt of fear coursing through my veins. I stuck close to Raina, my heart pounding in time with my hurried footsteps. When we finally reached the safety of the house, I let out a shaky breath, leaning against the wall as Raina closed the door behind us.
As I caught my breath, Raina ushered me inside, leading me to the kitchen where she grabbed a damp cloth and began wiping the dirt and blood from my face. Her touch was gentle, but her expression remained stern. "You need to be more careful" she chided softly. "This is dangerous territory you're playing in." "I just want to help" I protested weakly, wincing as she dabbed at a particularly tender spot on my cheekbone.
Raina finished cleaning the scrape on my cheek, her brow furrowed in concern. "Listen, Elian" she began, her voice firm yet gentle. "You need to understand that Aurelia's wolf, Cellaria, is not something to be taken lightly. She is a force unto herself, and when she takes over, there's no telling what might happen." I nodded, feeling the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders.
"Let's get you upstairs and settled in" Raina said, guiding me gently toward the staircase. I followed her obediently, my mind racing with thoughts of Aurelia and the wrathful wolf that lurked within her. Once we reached the bedroom, Raina sat me down on the edge of the bed. She went to the closet and pulled out a change of clothes-a simple shirt and pants-and placed them beside me.
I changed quietly while Raina busied herself in the bathroom, fetching towels and a first aid kit. As I slipped on the fresh clothes, I felt a pang of longing for Aurelia. Her scent still clung to the fabric, a comforting reminder of her presence even in her absence. Raina returned, carrying an armload of supplies. She set them down on the bedside table and began tending to my injuries with efficient gentleness.
Once Raina finished patching me up, she straightened and looked down at me, her expression thoughtful. "Why didn't Aurelia come home today?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Raina sighed, running a hand through her hair as she pondered the question. "Well, for starters, she's probably still out hunting." "Hunting?" I echoed, confusion furrowing my brow. "I thought she was done for the day when we got separated."
"The hunt wasn't successful" Raina explained, her voice laced with a hint of worry. "And then there was... everything that happened with you." She gave me a pointed look, and I shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "She needs time to cool down. Trust me, it's better for everyone if she doesn't return home until she has." "Okay" I murmured, looking down at my hands clasped tightly in my lap.
The silence stretched between us, punctuated only by the distant hum of the city beyond the walls of the villa. Finally, Raina spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Elian, I know you care about Aurelia. And I think she cares about you too, in her own way. But you have to understand that she's different. She's not like other alphas-you can't treat her like one." "I know" I replied, meeting her gaze earnestly.
Raina smiled sadly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Good. Just promise me you'll be patient. Don't push her too hard, too fast." I nodded solemnly, taking her advice to heart. "Now, why don't you try to get some rest? I'm sure you're exhausted after everything that's happened today." Too tired to argue, I allowed Raina to lead me over to the bed.