Barely Breathing

Chapter 22: Run Willow run!

Xyrus' stare was dangerously like he was waiting for my reaction. His jaw clenched and unclenched, anticipating my outburst.

"How could you..." Were the only words I managed to utter, hurt filled my voice.

He didn't say anything. Silence prevailed as we assess each other's next move.

The snow started to drop hard soaking us with white snowflakes. It was raining snow and I was starting to get cold even me being a werewolf.

"Why..." A tear fell from my left eye and I wiped it fast. Why do I always cry in front of him? It makes me feel weak. Stop it, Willow.

His gaze softens but chose to avoid my accusing ones, staring up at the sky.

"Why do you have to cage me in this pack with you. I don't want this!"

A wave of hurt flashed in his face. His jaw clenched at my words, creating the sound of grinding teeth.

"It should have been Ehren, or Tash, or Susie, or ... why it has to be me?"

"Why not you?" Xyrus snapped. "Tell me, Willow, why not you?"

I flinched at the use of his alpha voice emphasizing each word.

"Why couldn't you love me back."

Xyrus whispered low that if not for my werewolf hearing, I wouldn't have heard it. There was visible hurt in his words but I chose to ignore it.

"Why couldn't you set me free." I countered, meeting his gaze, not wanting to look weak.

Veins pop out his head and neck as he clutched his hands tightly on his side.

"Never," Xyrus said coldly. Goosebumps crept on my skin at his deadly tone.

"Never will I ever let you go as I did in the past, not today, and don't dream of it tomorrow. " His words tumbled on me, reality crashing my remaining hope.

"You know it wouldn't work out for us!" I argued.

"You never tried. " He countered back.

"You can't just force me into everything!"

"I never forced you into anything!"

Lies.

"You- you deceive me, at the Mate Hunt!" How could he still lie to me after everything? Anger coursing through my veins, seeking revenge.

"Little Willow, I did mark you, yes, but it's not just a mark. It's different."

Xyrus traced his knuckles on my cheeks down to my chin. His fingers traced my lower lip at a feathery touch. My lips parted voluntarily at the touch and I scolded myself inwardly.

"Different?" I wanted to gulped badly but I fought against it. I should not fall for his dark ways. I am too, an alpha.

"Yes...different."

Xyrus walked slowly circling me. I glared at the back of his head. Promising myself that he will not affect me like how he wants me to feel.

"In this world, just when you thought you know everything, unexpected things come and prove you wrong." He tucked a strand of hair on my ear and I fought not to shiver.

"Royalty.." I whispered. Tash told me some of his past. Of him supposed to be a prince or a king perhaps. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I couldn't come up with anything reasonable of his so-called 'different claim' but of the perks of having a strong bloodline that gives you privileges ordinary wolves couldn't have. How fairly life is.

"Brilliant." He stopped just in front of me. A dangerous smile appearing on his lips as his gaze focused on my lips.

"The night I brought you home after the Mate Hunt, I made sure you can't escape me anymore."

"Yo--you bite me? But--how" I asked shocked. Why was his mark only showed now? I thought I would get answers but I was more hell of confused now.

'Because it's different.'

I paled as I heard his voice in my mind. Realization dawned on me and I felt like collapsing on the pile of snow around us.

When a mate bites his chosen, he would feel what the other feels and would be able to hear even your private thoughts. But since I didn't mark him yet I can't hear his thoughts or feel what he feels.

As our Alpha, he can mind-linked us but not to the point of hearing our thoughts. It is more of communicating through the mind.

'Right'

"Stop reading my thoughts! Get out of my mind!"

'How could I not notice the mark?! Why Violet didn't feel it too?!'

"It's because when I marked you, I gave you a choice. My mark would only appear when you willingly accept me without a doubt. Which means, you will not bear my mark if you don't want it." He voiced out, pride in his eyes.

"But I didn't!" At the challenge! I felt like being washed off a cold bucket of water as I clearly remembered letting him kiss me on the cheek without any resistance. I didn't push him. I let him show his affection to me willingly and embrace his warmth.

"Undo it." My voice cracked at my words. I looked at him determined. "There must have a way to undo it."

He growled dangerously.

"I said undo it! I don't want to bear your mark!" I shouted angrily.

He growled once again. This time veins pop out of his face, arms, and neck. His eyes flashed from sea- blue to red. Fur started to show, ripping his shirt into the process. I was sure his wolf nails started to show too of how blood drips from his hands.

"S-stt-op!" He said in a painful voice.

Xyrus was breathing hard. He was fighting his wolf for dominance.

"T-talk to your wolf, h-he might know how to undo it."

"I told you to stop!" He growled menacingly. He cried out of pain as his shirt ripped fully apart, fur visible on his chest.

Panic crept in me at the sight of him. I wasn't sure if I was safe anymore with his wolf.

"Runnn." He whispered harshly. He seemed to be in pain. He was now crouched on the ground, struggling for control. Few more minutes before the transformation completes its work.

Unsure of what to do, I stepped back and had blink several times. If I have to fight, I will fight but there's this nagging feeling that I should instead have run.

Xyrus' face started to contort that of his wolf. Teeth elongated into canines, outward paws replaced his hands, he moved his face upward facing the sky just as his screams turn into a howl.

A voice boomed in my head, alarming all my senses at his words which put fear in my heart.

"Run Willow run!"

I need not be told twice as I leaped in the air transforming into my wolf and ran faster than I ever did before.