Crowned And Cursed.

Get In The Water.

Three days had passed, and slowly, my wounds were healing.

Nathan had tried everything in his power to keep me from running away. He was relentless but also kind, a confusing mix that kept me on the edge. Every time I tried to escape, he was there, insisting that I stay.

"If you're scared," he said , his eyes earnest, "I can talk to my alpha, and he can let you stay and you will join our pack.”

Wait... he wasn't the alpha? I had assumed he was an alpha. I mean the guy was a god in the flesh, he was hot like hot hot , if he was like that I could only imagine what thee actual alpha looked like.

"No," I replied quickly, shaking my head. "I don't know how many times you want me to tell you, I don't belong to a specific pack and I don't want to stay here either."

I didn't want to risk getting caught, and I certainly didn't want him finding out I had run away from my own family and pack.

One morning, I was about to jump out of the window when he caught me. He burst into the room just as I had one leg over the sill.

"Going somewhere?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

I froze, my heart racing. "I was just... getting some fresh air," I said lamely.

Seriously Bella, fresh air... not even an i***t would buy my statement.

"Right,” he said, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me back inside. "Next time, use the door."

As he carried me back to my bed, I couldn't help but notice the warmth of his body and his muscles rippling under his shirt.

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, I felt something, something I couldn't quite place. The sensation was electric, like tiny sparks dancing between us and I didn't want it to stop.

I was fighting the urge to purr like a kitten, then I felt some liquid drip from the corner of my lip , did I just freaking drool?

He put me down and I still couldn't get myself to not look at him.

“ b***h get yourself together composure, composureeee.”

“Quite talking to yourself, you'll run mad,” he winked and left. Shoot he noticed , I was already embarrassed by the fact that I drooled all over him.

Later, Lucy, the hotel manager, walked in with a few bags. Over the past days, she and I had become friends. I had told her my name and made her promise not to say anything, and she had kept that promise. She always teased me about Nathan, which I tried to brush off.

"Morning, Bella!" she said cheerfully, her arms full of bags. "Got some gifts for you."

"Gifts?" I echoed, bewildered. "From who?"

"Your secret admirer," she said winking repeatedly like something was stuck in her eye.

"Secret admirer?" I repeated, my mind racing. Who could it be? What if it was a trap because I didn't know anyone here.

"Yes, secret admirer," Lucy teased, opening the bags. "And by secret, I mean Nathan."

I groaned rolling my eyes. "I told you to stop accepting and bringing me gifts from him."

Lucy just laughed. "He's a sweetheart, Bella. And very much caring. I know he would never disappoint you."

I sighed as I took the bags from her. Inside, I found a tank top, a pair of blue high-waisted jeans, boots, and a bikini. I couldn't help but laugh. "A bikini? Really?"

Lucy grinned. "Looks like he's taking you swimming."

"No way I'm wearing that," I muttered throwing it aside.

After a shower, I put on some clothes Nathan had bought me a day ago, a simple grey top and black leggings.

I looked at myself in the mirror, noticing how I had gained a bit of weight. I had always been so skinny like you could literally see where my joints began and ended , and it was all from eating leftovers or made to starve for days. Maybe things were changing. Maybe.

Just as I was about to change my mind and pretend to be sick, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find Nathan standing there, looking me up and down. I thought I heard a slight growl.

"You look... good," he said, his voice a little rough.

"Thanks," I mumbled. "So, what's this about?"

"It's a surprise," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Surprise? I hated surprises nothing good ever came from them.

We drove to a secluded forest like area for about an hour. The view was lovely, but trust me if you were to be left alone there you would never be seen because everything looked the same.

"We are far from town, out of people's reach.

Not a lot of people live here, so no one will see you," he explained. I couldn't understand him. He didn't want me to leave, but he also didn't want me to get caught.

As soon as we got out of the car, I made a run for it. I ran as fast as I could, deep into the woods, trees blurring past me. When I looked back, he wasn't there , and I was certain I was far from him.

Relief washed over me until I collided with what felt like a brick wall. I looked up, stunned to see Nathan.

"Trying to escape again?" he said, amusement in his eyes.

"Let me go," I said, struggling in his grip.

"Not until we reach the water," he replied, dragging me along.

The place he brought me to was beautiful—a serene body of water , swirls of blue from the reflection of the sky.

"Get in," he said, pointing to the water.

"Are you crazy or something?!” I exclaimed.

"No, I'm not. Get in," he repeated, his voice commanding.

I hesitated, memories of nearly dying when my stepmother tried to drown me in a lake flashed through my mind. Before I could refuse, he splashed water on me bringing me back to earth, and I realized he hadn't splashed me, he threw me in , he literally threw me in. What an asshole.

Panic set in as I struggled to swim. What the hell was he doing? Was he trying to kill me? I flailed, gasping for air, my hands flying around in different directions.

And there he was slowly taking his shirt off like he was in a modeling contest .

But yoh, his abs ...his abs were on fire. “Release them boys” I thought to myself halfway drowning. I saw Nathan dive in. Even in my panic, I couldn't get over how attractive he was, but that thought quickly vanished as I fought to stay afloat. He swam my direction and pulled me out.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I shouted at him as soon as I could breathe.

" Oh Nathan thank you for saving me from drowning, you're welcome,” he mimicked me with a smile, and it disappeared as soon as he saw my eyes twitch.

“ I'm sorry, I thought you could swim," he said, this time he looked genuinely sorry.

I gave him a look of disbelief. "Well, I can't!"

He sighed. " Look , I brought you here because this place is special to me. Whenever life f***s me up, I come here to let loose. I noticed each time when you sleep you're always screaming and crying and I thought this would be a good place to ....uh you know what forget it."

That explains a lot, each time when I have nightmares I feel something or someone wrap their arms around and the nightmares would stop but when I woke up no one was there. The sheets would smell like Nathan, but I decided not to ask.

Or maybe it's just the effect of the medicine I was taking.

I looked at him, noticing a tattoo on his —a wolf wrapped in chains and detained. Curiosity got the better of me. "What's that about?" I asked, tracing it with my finger.

He took my hand and led me to the edge of the water and we sat dipping our legs only

"When I came of age, I found out I had a wolf, but .... I was never able to transform. During a college party, I played truth or dare with my best friend, who is now the alpha. He dared me to get a tattoo of his choice. I had no idea it would be this."

"Oh...I'm sorry," I said, feeling a pang of sympathy. That's something we had in common I guess. But at least he had a wolf, but still it was so sad.

He shook his head. "It's okay. My wolf's name is Hunter. He says hi and that he really likes you."

I felt my cheeks turn red and warmth spread through me but pushed it aside. I couldn't get attached. "Since you shared your story, I guess I can tell you my name. It's Bella."

"Bella," he repeated with a huge smile on his face, and I loved the way he said it.

He apologized again for throwing me in the water.

"It's okay," I said. "Thank you."

He smiled. "Let's get back in the water. I'll teach you how to swim."

We stepped back into the water, and he took my hand. He stayed close behind me as we swam, his presence comforting. As I started to get the hang of it, we met in the middle of the water, our eyes locking. His hair was soaked and messy, looking perfect.

He cupped my check and caressed it and I found myself leaning into his touch. Slowly he closed the space between us and leaned in to kiss me.

"No.... please don't."

"I'm sorry," he said, letting me go.

I swam away, leaving him alone, I don't know why I I felt disappointed in myself. But I was determined to protect myself from whatever this was.