ADELINE
"Two more days," he murmurs against my lips. "And nothing will ever keep you from me again."
We are standing in the creek valley behind the enchanted forest, right by the small lake in which I had tumbled off when I was 11.
I did not know how to swim and my breath was cutting off. I thought I was going to die there but when I opened my eyes, I saw him.
The 14-year old boy with hauntingly beautiful features and eyes that looked at me with sheer concern.
I hadn't known at that time that I was saved by Drystan Acheron—the Alpha heir to the Blackbane pack, one who was prophesized to become one of the most powerful Alphas of Frostmere.
And when I came to know about his true identity? Nothing changed between us.
If anything, we grew closer. He taught me how to swim, how to fight and he protected me everytime I met the slightest threat.
He is 21 now and in two days, I will be 18. And his.
It is unreal to me. So unreal that I don't dare to sleep at night, thinking that I might just wake up realizing it was all a dream.
"Addie…" Drystan wraps a broad arm around my waist and pulls me in, "Are you not happy?"
He is so awfully tall that I have to lean back in order to properly look at him.
"I was just thinking..." I say, "What if I am not your fated one? Who knows… maybe the moon goddess has someone else in store for me?"
I don't know if he sees the teasing glint in my eyes but his own eyes darken.
Suddenly, the hint of softness is replaced by something dark and feral as his fingers pinch my chin.
"You are mine, my sweet girl. And all you get is me." Drystan pulls me to him, his fingers sliding down my waist to my bottom.
He spanks it lightly, "Do you understand?"
I bite my bottom lips, feeling the heat in my body growing.
I understand. I really do. I have been feeling this palpating connection between us for years now.
Yet, in the face of his question, I shake my head.
'Smack'
He spanks me harder before yanking me up in his arms. As my legs coil around his waist, a devious smirk tugs at his lips, "Say that again."
"I—"
All my words are swallowed by the ferocious kiss that descends on my lips. Our tongues entangle, our lips collide with a brutal force and fervent need.
Drystan takes huge strides towards the Enchanted forest and pins me against a tall tree, kissing me with the hunger of a starving man.
My hands coil around his neck and heat grows between my legs as I instinctively rub myself against his tight abs, slowly nudging my hips downwards.
"Fuck!" He curses harshly under his breath, and his hands shifts to the sleeve of my gown.
I freeze. All the blood drain from my face as my eyes snap open, "Wait… No…"
He halts, his jaws clenching with sheer restraint after whatever he sees on my face, "Did I scare you?"
I gulp, slowly shaking my head. He takes a long look at me before he kisses my chin, "I should be more patient with my sweet girl." He licks my earlobe, making me shudder by the sensation of it.
My anxiously beating heart calms down as I adjust my sleeves. But in doing so, the long sleeve of my gown slips, revealing the moonstone ring on my index finger.
As the moonlight cascades upon it, the ring suddenly sparkles with a soft glow around it.
Rough and slender fingers curl around mine as Drystan lifts my hand to his face, "Hmm… This…?"
I instinctively pull my hand back out of his grip. The movement is so urgent that we both freeze for a moment.
I break the silence between us, "This was left by my mother, her only remaining belonging."
His eyes narrow at the abruptness in my actions as he looks at me like he knows I am hiding something.
I immediately break the eye contact between us, my heart dropping.
But after a long while, he doesn't say another word. Nor does he ask another question.
His lips descend on my neck where he presses a kiss so gentle that the world won't believe that this man is the ruthless Alpha of the Blackbane pack, the one that they have nightmares about.
"Two days," I remind him, panting against his lips. "Two days and I will be yours."
Drystan nods, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as his eyes fall hungrily on my lips even as he pulls back.
Then, after he walks me to my door, he turns and leaves.
I hurry into my house the moment he is gone. Dad mustn't know that I snuck out.
My mother died young. Growing up, my father was the only parent I had.
However, things started to change when he started talking to me more with his belt than his mouth. To everyone else, he is a revered Beta. At home, he is my nightmare.
"Where did you go, Adeline?"
I instantly freeze where I'm standing. He's not supposed to be home yet.
Dad's voice is calm. Too calm. That's what terrifies me the most.
My body trembles on instinct. Whenever Dad speaks like this, it means the storm is already brewing.
I take one step back. Every nerve in my body is telling me to bolt through the back door and run straight to Drystan. He's the only place my father's fists can't reach.
However, a sharp yank on my hair sends me crashing to the floor.
Pain bursts through my skull. My cheek scrapes the cold stone, and I gasp.
When I lift my trembling hand, strands of my silver hair are tangled in my fingers, streaked in red.
The blood sets him off.
Werewolves not supposed to bleed like this. Our kind heals fast.
But I've always been different—fragile and weak. When I bleed, it makes him furious.
"Pathetic trash."
His boot slams into my ribs. I curl inwards, holding in the scream that claws at my throat.
I've learned by now that screaming only makes it worse. I don't beg. I don't cry. I take it, like always, waiting for it to be over.
"You went out again, didn't you? I told you to stay inside. But you couldn't wait. Had to go whoring around with the Alpha?"
"It's going to be him," I whisper as the poison in his words seeps into my skin, rendering me immobile. My voice is barely a breath, but the words pour out anyway. "He's my mate. I know it."
His laugh is cruel. "You wish he was. You think someone like him would want something like you? The formidable Alpha of Blackbane… and a defect?"