Saving the Alpha of a Thousand Wolves

8. Blood and Honeysuckles Part 1

~Mature scenes ahead~

Greta Lovelace

A sudden movement from the bed roused me from my sleep. I straightened up to see my soulmate opening his eyes. He looked bewildered at first, but he smiled when he saw me.

My heart skipped a beat as I whispered, "Thank the Balance you're awake."

I reached out and touched him. I could feel the warmth of his hand wrapped around mine. His gaze shifted around the room and his eyes widened at the sight of my familiar. "Well, your pet doesn't seem to share your joy," he said with a smirk. I suppressed a laugh as I saw my rabbit's beady eyes glaring at him. I knew he was harmless, yet he emitted an intimidating hiss as if challenging him to a fight. "I think it wants to kill me."

I quickly grabbed his hand with both of mine and whispered back, "Mel? Don't pay her any attention. She hates everyone."

A faint chuckle escaped his lips as he sat up. A coughing fit quickly followed, and

I rose to my feet, rubbing his back until it subsided. He met my gaze, confusion

clouding his eyes. "What am I doing here?" he asked weakly. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath before telling him what had happened. The muscles on the corners of my lips twitched as the image of him being carried in his Beta's arms replayed in my mind.

I felt my heart squeeze as I noticed the pain in Vlad's eyes. He was trying not to think too much, but I knew he was suffering inside. He ensconced himself in his arms, so much like mine. I sat on the bed and cupped his face in my hands.

"What happened, Vlad?" I whispered, not wanting to break the tranquility of the moment. "I almost thought I was going to you."

He grabbed my hands as if he had been waiting for me to say something first. "You're never going to lose me, my love," he replied, pulling me closer so that my head nestled against his chest. "A pack of wolves trespassed our border. They had killed one of mine. Morgan."

Tears stung my eyes. I slowly touched his arm and looked him directly in the eyes. "I am so sorry," I said, letting the compassion of my words flow through to him. "Whatever had done it, did you...?"

"Yes. Justice has been served. About thirty wolves."

My heart pounded in my chest as I gasped, "You... killed them all?"

The sadness in his eyes was unbearable as he answered, "All but one." He hesitated before he went on, as he gazed off into the distance. "It was so much bigger and faster than the others, I couldn't tell if it was a wolf at all."

I felt my stomach drop as I realized what this meant. "The one that bit you?" I asked hesitantly, gazing at the bandage on his neck. "It wasn't a wolf. There was a strange-looking poison in your blood when Juan brought you here. I don't know what it was, but I'm sure it wasn't wolf venom." It was true, in all my life being a witch, I have never encountered such a potent poison. It was so strong it had prevented the Lycanthrope Affliction from healing his body. The First Curse was the strongest there was. Up until now, I have never created a more powerful one. What kind of poison restrains the Old Magic? I felt my throat tighten, making me push my unwanted thoughts away. "Does it still hurt?"

Vlad didn't say a word.

I stayed silent, watching as the gravity of the situation seemed to settle on him. His skin was pale, and his fingers trembled as he gingerly touched the bandages. I wanted to take away his fear, so I stepped closer and enveloped him in a hug. I could feel his body tremble as he leaned into me, soaking in the comfort and warmth of my embrace. I wished that I could take all his pain away. "You're going to be alright. Melina's potion worked." I wished to the Balance what I believed was true. I wouldn't know what to do if it weren't.

Slowly, his breathing began to return to normal and he pulled away from me with a gentle smile on his face. His eyes were full of gratitude, and it made me feel warm inside knowing that I was able to help him in some way. "Thank you, Greta, for saving my life."

I felt his lips leave mine, a sweet kiss full of so much gratitude. His voice grew soft and earnest as he thanked me for saving his life. "I'd do anything for you, my love." And that included defying our own laws.

But as I looked at him, a sudden wave of emotion rose up inside me, something that I couldn't place or recognize. I had to fight against the urge to cry. So, I pulled away and forced a small smile, hoping he hadn't noticed what stirred within me.

"I should go," he said, tucking a lock of my hair away from my face. "This is your room in the Grand Lair, isn't it? I shouldn't be here. My wolves must be so worried."

My heart ached to keep him here with me, but I knew he was right — this was my room in the Grand Lair and he shouldn't be here. So, I offered one last night of safety until we could be certain the poison hadn't left any lasting damage on his body.

Vlad looked at me as I pleaded. "How could I say no to that face?" He kissed me.

I was lost in the warmth of his embrace, his body so familiar yet still so foreign. His lips were soft and tasted of something sweet, yet I craved more than a mere kiss. We consumed each other with our hungry mouths, a seemingly endless cycle of give and take.

My hands moved to explore his body as I felt my heart racing faster and faster. His touch sent wild currents of electricity through me, awakening dormant parts of my spirit that I had kept tucked away for far too long. His body responded to me instinctively and I felt my heart soaring as I tasted his desire for me.

I felt him tremble under my touch, an intoxicating sensation that made me feel powerful and alive. His hands moved to clasp my hips, drawing me in even closer as the kiss deepened further. His grip on me made it feel like we were becoming one entity, his passion and mine merging in a way I had never experienced before.

I never want to lose this. The fear of losing him crawled inside me like a venomous snake, constricting my guts and making it hard to breathe. I had never felt so vulnerable before in my life, not even when I'd been surrounded by a mob of angry townsfolk wanting to burn me at the stake. At this moment with Vladimir, I was terrified that our fleeting romance would be taken away from us.

I wanted to savor every second we had together, but that meant facing the inevitable truth that our time together was limited. I was the First Witch, and he was a wolf. Eternity was waiting for me, while death bid its time for him.

There were too many uncertainties ahead of us and I couldn't bear to imagine how painful it would be if we were eventually forced apart. Fearfulness flooded my heart as I held him close, wanting nothing more than to stay like this forever.

But no matter how much we craved each other, the reality was knocking at our door and it wouldn't be denied for long. Sooner or later we'd have to go back out into the world and face whatever awaited us there. The attack on him was just one of the many things that could happen. We'd have to either accept the fate set out for us — something neither of us wanted to do — just so we could stay together.

It was an impossible decision that made me ache with sadness as I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat race in time with mine. He brushed a hand through my hair soothingly as he whispered sweet words of love into my ear, but all I could think about was what would happen if we ever had to part ways. How would I survive without him by my side?

There is no other way. No other way but this.