Chapter 6: Chapter 6

VALERY

I open my eyes, confused. I must have fallen asleep after the kiss. I try to move, but something’s preventing me. Batting my eyes open a few times to fully wake up, I see Alvarius’s face in front of mine.

“Finally awake, kitten?” He smiles at me and kisses my forehead. His arms are wrapped around me, holding me firmly.

“I, uh, I’m sorry. I fell asleep again. I swear it wasn’t because of the kiss.” I smile, and he chuckles.

“No worries. The herbs I used for the food have great healing properties, but they make you sleepy. So I knew.”

I still, and Alvarius looks at me. “I appreciate what you did for me. Honestly. But could you warn me before giving me something that could affect me like that?”

He gazes into my eyes for a moment and then nods. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have told you.”

I hurry to explain. “It’s just that, growing up, I didn’t have much of a say about anything. My parents were great, but it wasn’t until they died that I fully got to make my own decisions about things that concern me. I want to be aware of what’s going on around me.”

He nods and pulls me tighter against him. “Even when you thought I was just a wolf, you told me what you were going to do before you did it. You knew it wouldn’t be pleasant, but you kept me informed just the same. That’s a sign of a leader. I like that. I should have given you the same respect.”

Lowering his head, he nuzzles his nose against my throat, and I can’t help but shiver as I feel the tickle of his breath on my skin.

“Were you with me the entire time?”

His eyes sparkle light golden. “Yeah. I couldn’t get enough of your sleeping face.” He smiles. “You seemed to be cold, though, so I wanted to warm you up. Soon I fell asleep myself.”

I blush and try to turn away from him.

He holds me close and whispers into my ear, “Hey, don’t run from me, okay? You’re perfect.” A little sigh escapes my lips, and he chuckles and pulls away.

“It’s already afternoon. Want to take a shower to freshen up?”

I nod enthusiastically, knowing I must smell like sick and sweat. I wonder how he could even stand being around me. His nose has to be as good as a normal wolf’s, so I must smell horrible.

A little growl breaks me out of my thoughts, and I look at him.

“Your smell would never bother me. I love it. It’s intoxicating.”

My eyes widen as he trails his nose up my neck, and I push him away.

“Can you read my thoughts?”

Alvarius flinches and sits up. His sudden absence chills me, and I pull the blanket tighter around me.

“What, I was right?” he asks, quickly covering his expression with a grin. “I could imagine what went through that pretty little head of yours.”

I blush at his words, and he chuckles before standing.

“Come. Let’s get your shower.”

I nod and take his hand. He leads me slowly through the house, as if he’s afraid I might break, and stops in front of the bathroom door.

“I’ll be just outside if you need me,” he says as he turns away.

I instinctively grab his arm, and he turns back, surprised.

“Are you going to leave now? I mean, I told you to stay until you’re healed…” Tears form in my eyes, and I avert my gaze.

“Valery, listen…”

I shake my head and force a smile. “No, no. You should go. I’m sorry you felt you had to take care of me when I should have been the one treating you, but I don’t want you to feel forced to be here. Go home to your family. I’ll be fine. I promise. Who knows, maybe we’ll see each other in the forest again.”

I quickly turn away to hide the tears that are now flowing freely down my face and walk into the bathroom. But before I can shut the door, Alvarius growls so loudly that I freeze.

“I said listen.”

I feel his body close to my back and hold my breath so I won’t start sobbing.

He sighs. “Turn around.” His voice is soft, making me want to cry all the more, so I don’t move.

He growls angrily. “Valery. Turn. Around. Now.”

Something in his voice forces me to listen, and I hesitantly turn to him, looking at the ground with my hands balled into fists. He pulls up my chin and looks into my eyes, his shimmering golden.

“I’m not going to leave you.”

He brushes my tears away with his thumb.

“Yes, as alpha, or the leader of my pack, I’m responsible for keeping them safe, but I’m also responsible for you.”

“Why? Because I saved you? I told you, don’t worry ab—”

His loud growl interrupts me, and I bite my lip and look away.

“That has nothing to do with that! Valery, you’re my ma—” He stops and looks down, exhaling loudly.

“Look. I care about you. A lot. You have no idea how important you are to me.” His stare pulls me in once more as his eyes shimmer in that lovely golden hue. “I could never leave you. Please let me stay with you.”

The hurt in his eyes catches me off guard. “But what about your pack?”

He shakes his head and takes my hand in his. “Don’t worry about it. I will do my work as alpha while you’re in school and will be back before you’re home. Please, Valery…”

I bite my lower lip, and against my better judgment, I nod. Until yesterday, I thought werewolves were creatures of myth. What was I doing getting involved with one?

Alvarius smiles and pulls me into a kiss, but I push him away. “We can’t…”

“Shut up.”

With a firm grip, he pulls me back into his embrace, his lips meeting mine in a passionate kiss that leaves me weak and unable to contain a satisfied whimper, to which he responds with a low growl of his own.

“Let me hear you more, kitten.”

He kisses down my neck, stopping at a spot and sucking on it. “May I leave a mark?” he asks, his voice ragged.

I have no idea what he means, but the way he’s making me feel has me nodding yes. As he tilts my head sideways, his hand gently cradles it, while his kisses and gentle suction on my neck send waves of pleasure coursing through my body. My voice betrays me with a loud moan, and I dig my nails into his back, making him groan.

Once he pulls away, he smiles seductively at me while tracing his mark with his finger. “That will do for now. Now everybody knows you’re mine.”

His words make my heart beat faster, and I feel my cheeks burn. He chuckles and brushes the side of my face before taking a step back and allowing me to enter the bathroom.

After shutting the door, I immediately look in the mirror at my neck. A reddish-purple oval of skin greets my eyes and I blush. I’ve never had a hickey before. I trace the mark with my finger and sigh. What am I getting myself into?

Once I’m feeling clean and warmed up, I turn off the shower and wrap a towel around myself before going to my room to put some clothes on. The sound of Alvarius moving through the house creates a comforting symphony of familiar noises, and I realize just how much I enjoy him being here.

I shake my head and head for the living room, where Alvarius stands and stares into the distance, his golden shimmering eyes.

“Alvarius?”

He blinks a few times before smiling. His footsteps are silent as he comes over to me and wraps his arms around me. “You’re mine,” he whispers, making me shiver, and I whimper a little. He chuckles against my neck.

“Can I ask you something?”

He traces his lips down my neck and hums lightly. “What, love?”

I blush at his words but forge ahead. “Your eyes, they change color. Why?”

He’s silent for a while before pulling away from me. “Blue is my eye color. Gold is my wolf’s color.”

I look up into his eyes. “Your wolf?”

He scratches his head and seems to think. “Yeah. I know it sounds weird to a human, but werewolves have something like a second self. We have a wolf inside us, like the ones you know. Wild. Following instincts. They’re our closest friend.”

I giggle at the thought, and he raises his eyebrow. “What? Too ridiculous?”

I shake my head. “No. Cute. And nice.” I lower my head and hold my arms, smiling sadly to the ground. “You have someone to trust. A friend who is always there. It must be nice.”

He smiles slightly and nods. “It is. Valery, is something—”

I look up and force a smile. “I think you’re both amazing.”

His blue eyes sparkle golden, and I’m held for a moment, mesmerized by the interplay between the two colors. I wonder if that’s how Alvarius and his wolf interact too, seamlessly in sync.

Suddenly, his grip on me loosens, and he pulls away from me. “Valery, I have to go.”

My eyes widen at his words, and I open my mouth to question him, but his eyes turn completely golden, and he frowns.

“Alvarius?” I step back. “Did I do something?”

His gaze focuses on me. “No.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I have to take care of something. Do not leave the house, no matter what.”

I look into his golden eyes, fear building inside me. “What’s the matter? You’re scaring me.”

He turns toward the door, but I dash after him and manage to block his path.

“No! You don’t get to leave like that. Tell me what’s going on.”

He blinks and looks down into my eyes with his now blue ones again and smiles.

“There are intruders in my territory. I have to go back to my pack to take care of it. I promise I’ll be back soon, but please, no matter what, stay inside and don’t open windows or the door. Make sure they’re all locked. Can you do that for me?”

He holds my chin up, and although I frown, I dip my head. “Yeah, okay.”

He nods back and smiles before kissing my forehead. “Valery, no matter what happens, I will always protect you,” he says before leaving me behind.