THE ALPHA’S VENGEFUL LUNA

CHAPTER 7: PREDATOR

FREYA

The boldness that fuelled me slowly fizzled out as I stared into Icarus’ fierce eyes, which zeroed on me.

“Where did you learn those words from, Freya?” Icarus questioned me further, his voice was cold and demanding.

He looked more menacing than before as I tried to avoid his questioning eyes. I knew I had messed up, but I couldn't afford to give up now. I won't let him burn this body to a stake the way he did the last time.

“I...I don't know, okay? Like I said, It's a chant for good luck.” I tried to keep my voice firm but fear had a firm grip on me, robbing my voice off its usual confidence.

Unfortunately, Icarus didn't look convinced and I knew I had to tell a more convincing story.

“I know you might find it hard to...to believe, but It's...the ancient language of my people.” I replied, biting down on my stuttering tongue.

It was going to put me in trouble if I wasn't careful.

I looked up again, hoping Icarus' critical gaze had shifted away from me but there they were, gray and cold, fixed on me with increased determination.

He seemed to be in deep thought as his narrowed eyes regarded me further. I could feel his suspicion grow with every question he asked.

Icarus shook his head. “No. Freya. I've heard those words before and they sound nothing like any wolf tongue I have ever heard.”

His jaw twitched as he prowled towards me like a predator, gritting out his words. “But do you know who I've heard speak those words?”

“N-no, I don't.” I quivered, taking steps backwards for every step he took towards me.

I had never felt so weak and vulnerable like I did at that moment. If my spells still couldn't work on him, it meant I was defenseless!

Physically speaking, Icarus could crush me without feeling a thing and the thought of that made me shiver on my feet.

“Witches, Freya.” Icarus answered with a low rumble. “They speak these tongues of evil to cast wicked spells on people.”

I swallowed hard as my legs hit a hard surface, signifying a dead end. Before I blinked twice, Icarus was upon me and I could feel his wolf stir.

His eyes had shifted from a dark shade of brown to red, the colour of Alphas. His chest had broadened and more hairs slowly filled his hands and face. Even his voice was more like a ferocious growl which sent shivers down my spine.

“Now tell me, Freya. Why do your people speak the f*******n language of witches?”

My breath hitched in panic with his face so close to mine, exhaling hot breath on me. It was hard to think of any reasonable reply with questioning eyes locked on mine.

The terror that consumed me successfully seized my tongue and I kept opening and closing my mouth like a gaping fish. I looked away, unable to behold his fiery eyes.

“Answer me!” He growled angrily, grabbing my jaw with his claws and yanking them back to face him. I could feel the blazing anger from his eyes and I struggled to open my mouth once again.

“I...I-I don't know…” I whimpered as his claws dug into my skin.

“But you did say you had no knowledge of where you came from. How did you suddenly remember some strange language and its meaning?”

As he bared his teeth at me, his fangs gleamed in display and my heart rammed against my chest, seeking a way to escape the fear that tried to overwhelm me.

Oh, helluva! I was done for! How could I have forgotten I supposedly lost my memory? How was I possibly going to get out of this alive?

Icarus' wolf was before me, ready for me to admit my true nature so it could rip me apart. I was at the face of death, and at war in my mind and there was no help forthcoming.

“Freya, did you not say you do not remember your home?” Icarus pressed further. “How then do you remember these strings of words you kept repeating at me?”

“I..I…” I tried to churn out words, but the heavy lump in my throat made it difficult. My brain felt too numb to cook up any more lies.

Could this be it? Could this be how my journey ends?

Icarus leaned into my neck, taking a deep sniff of me which he exhaled with a growl and his face scrunched up in disgust.

“I smell fear all around you, Freya.” Icarus snarled, wrapping his claws around my neck. “Do your own lies terrify you? Do you not have confidence in your own words?”

His lips tilted up in a crooked smile and my eyes grew wide as they filled my mind with the exact picture of Icarus. Wearing an Identical smile, he watched as the fire consumed me that night.

Tears welled up in my eyes at the memory and I churned out the first thing that popped up in my head.

“I-I really don't know how that happened, okay? I guess t-the-the talisman knocked some memories into me.” I strained out as his grip on my neck tightened.

Like magic, Icarus' face formed a frown and I watched as his eyes subtly softened after I had finished speaking.

I watched as guilt overwhelmed him again at the reminder of the accident which was partly his fault. His wolf shrunk back and his grip on me loosened while he lowered me back on the ground.

He eyed the bandages wrapped around my head as he retracted his hand from my neck.

Still shivering, I eyed him from underneath my lashes and he cleared his throat, scratching his neck awkwardly.

“How's your wound?” He asked. “Is it...healing fine?”

“Yes it is.” I replied, looking away from him as tears slipped from my eyes. “Thank you.”

Those tears were a mixture of emotions spilling out of me and I could hardly contain them.

“Hey, what's wrong?” He asked me, turning his face towards me with a finger. But I staggered away from him.

“Don't touch me…” I whimpered.

“Look, I'm sorry I scared you, okay? You know how much I hate witches, so I had to be sure you were not one of them. I should learn to tame my wolf better.”

I sniffed, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

“You just showed how much you don't trust me, Icarus.” The more I spoke, the more my voice quivered. “You don't know how hard it is for me to be alone with no home.”

Icarus sighed, his eyes filled with regret. “But there's no way I'd know if you don't tell me, Freya. You know that.”

“Wasn't that what I was trying to do? The one sentence I could finally remember, I said to you in excitement and you hounded me for it, accusing me of being a witch!”

I began to sob, crocodile tears spilling out from my eyes and he pulled her into his warm arms, consoling and apologising profusely.

I really needed an award in acting, because even I was impressed with my abilities. At that moment, I decided to take it a notch higher by bursting into laughter.

Icarus froze, releasing me from his hold while he watched me laugh my heart out with tears spilling down my face. The confusion written all over him made me laugh even harder.

“Gotcha!” I exclaimed after I had come to a calm.

“Got me...how?” Icarus asked, looking around in confusion.

“You fell for it, dummy!” I started laughing again and this time, Icarus frowned.

“Fell for what?” He folded his arms over his broad chest, irritation flitting across.

“I noticed you hate witches so much, so I found some weird words inscribed on the talismans and decided to tease you with it. You fell right into it! So much for the high and broody Alpha.” I burst into another round of laughter. “But why do you hate witches so much though?”

“That was an expensive joke, Freya.” Icarus drew his brows together as his frown deepened, eyes glaring. “I don't appreciate those nature of games. It’s a deadly one. My wolf would have ripped your heart out. Weren't you concerned for your life?”

“Oh, please!” I nudged him, wearing a goofy smile on my face. “Come on, loosen up. You're such a tough nut…”

He sighed, straightening his garment stretched and ripped by his wolf. I could see him struggling to keep a straight face, so I nudged him again with a huge smile on my face until he broke into a genuinely beautiful smile.

“Now, that's how you take a joke!” I teased and he shook his head, sighing.

“What sort of Luna has the gods bestowed on me this time?” He muttered before looking at me after regaining his composure.

“Anyway, I had come to personally invite you to join me for dinner before all this...drama happened.” He gestured with his fingers. “See it as my peace offering for...the accident.”

“Hmmm…” I took a moment to contemplate if I should have dinner with him or not.

Then it hit me. This was my chance to get the information I had racked my brain over for.

“Okay, If you insist. ” I shrugged in response and his lips were greeted with a wicked grin.

“The pleasure would always be mine, my Luna.” He said before walking backwards towards the door. “I'll send Ava to get you ready. See you by 7!”

I felt my heart come to a calm immediately after Icarus disappeared through the door.

“Holy freaking Molly! That was a close call!” I clutched my chest which heaved heavily as I scrambled for a seat.

“What in helluva is going on!” I jumped to my feet again, stomping it in annoyance. “I was so certain that spell was all I needed to have Icarus’ soul completely trapped by me.”

I began to pace the floor. After all, he was going to be destroyed by the wickedness of his own soul...unless…

I gasped. “There's no way Icarus could be pure at heart. Not after all the evil deeds he had committed.”

At that moment I knew I couldn't do this on my own. I remembered Imani told me I had to figure it out on my own, but a part of me felt she just wanted to get rid of me quickly. There's got to be something she missed.

I walked over to the mirror in my bathroom, deciding to use that one instead in case Icarus decided to barge into my room.

Imani izađi naprijed!

I summoned her and this time, she seemed to be in a better spirit.

“Imani…” I bowed in greeting. “With your clue, I used the hypnotic spell, but once again it didn't work. This is so frustrating! I almost got into trouble with Icarus because of this. What exactly am I doing wrong?”

“Well, what do you think?” Imani asked me.

“If I knew, I wouldn't have summoned you.” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “You have no idea how I was able to escape being exposed today. ”

“Quit complaining, Freya!” Imani frowned at me and I straightened at the sternness of her voice.

“Well, you're in luck, because I have something special for you. The spirits from the other side have been whispering.” Said Imani with a chilling smile tugging on her shrivelled lips. “They say that if you want to concoct a spell that would work on Icarus, you would need to know his weakness.”

I sighed. “Here we go again.”

“Combined with wolfsbane and a fresh wild fire lily, you will be able to cast any spell on him.” Imani said.

“But be careful, these rituals require a lot of energy, so ensure you choose the right spell and you attack at the right time.”

“Thank you Imani.” I bowed in gratitude with a smug smile on my lips.

Now, how difficult could it be to break into the weakness of this evil man?