The Alpha Prince's Bodyguard

Chapter 6

Instead of Ve’s uncharacteristically aggressive comeback soothing Rhys enough to question what is different about her today, it actually gives him permission to attack. That target is fighting back and Rhys is all for it. He needs this more than he has needed anything in a very long time.

"Even the fact that this could all be the end?..."

Rhys stares at the woman, frustration leaking from every pore, he wants to grab her shoulders and shake her. This is about her death as much as his. He takes a single step forward, and she takes a single step back as if there is an invisible string between them that needs to be kept tight at all stages, rarely meeting in the middle. Her unconscious movement of giving him space just makes him more furious.

She has no idea what is good for her. She should care almost as much as him. Both their lives are hanging in the balance and the odds are so far against them that they might as well sign their death certificates now and save others the trouble.

"...Why would you? You could never understand what it is like to have everything up against you, to have your life dictated in such a way, you have no idea what it is like to be tripped up at every turn, to be held down until you nearly drown in the sess pool of hate that my father has built for me…"

He is staring at Ve. There are eyes that stare back, he can feel their ferocious gaze, but they are so shadowed by the combination of the hood and the shadowing of the dark trees which tower above them. He is yelling directly at her, but his grievance with her is already lost as he lets go of the flood gates, he needed to yell, talking was never enough for all that he has held in. Arrabella only ever getting the highly filtered version, the little bits that he was willing to share, never the deep feelings, never a single glimpse of the insecurities which plague him.

"...You will never understand what it is like to be treated like that by your family, to be excluded, to know that even in something so important you are going to get f*cked over once again, that the others will be so much better off. Knowing that your father would be happy to see you die. To live a life that is to be cut short just because of the actions of another…"

Ve’s body is vibrating in anger, yet her aura seems to be getting smaller. Her hands are clenched so tightly by her side, her claws are cutting into her palms, the wolf is so near the surface, yet he can’t even feel it, the more dangerous she becomes, the weaker her aura is.

The large man is just standing two steps away, his usually calm face is red, and his eyes are slightly bloodshot, yelling so loud that spit is flying between the two. His posture is leaned forward, when he is so angry, that foot in height appears more, if anyone was looking on it would appear to be a large man screaming at a strangely dressed child.

The difference is that Ve isn’t recoiling, her back is straight, if this is the worst she had to endure she would call her life a dream, this is barely a blip on the horizon, it is just that Rhys has chosen the wrong day for such an outburst.

Every other day she could take on the entire world, she could just look at him while receiving a verbal lashing, just endure it all without saying a word…. Not today.

She is furious, yet she stays silent. Her straight white teeth pierce her tongue in an effort to keep it all in, her throat hurts as if keeping them in actually tears at her. She tries to remember her place, all her training, everything she has learned along the way. Willing herself to stay quiet.

Despite her best efforts, all reason is fading away as she stares at that red face, wanting to strangle him in the same way that she disposed of his girlfriend the night before.

The silver strand around his wrist feels heavier than usual as if craving to take another life, the tough calloused skin from wearing such a weapon is hidden beneath a long sleeve, just another thing she has had to take, another sacrifice.

"... You will never understand the pressure, the ridicule, everything that I faced, how unfair my whole life has been to this point and every time I feel like it's reached the peak of disappointment, it manages to surprise me once more, delivering reality by the fistful, killing me in the process…"

The anxiety which has been curling its way around Rhys’ insides loosens a little as he continues his tirade. Instead of losing momentum, his voice is just getting louder.

"...It has been so f*cking hard, every step I have been chained, everything is dragging me down, yet I have to keep a smile on my face. I pretend that nothing gets to me, the burden is so f*cking big that you could never comprehend it. My so-called brothers will have the advantage and, once again, I will be left in the dark, even when it is so important my father still won't throw me a single scrap. Probably already planning my funeral, so they can all spit on my corpse and dance on my ashes…"

Rhys continues getting louder, but his anger is fading, the rant is strangely cathartic. While he has been able to talk to Arrabella, he would never air so much grievance, that is too much of himself, and he never wanted to appear so weak.

"...You will never understand…"

Finally, Ve has had her fill. For fourteen years she has listened to the pity party in silence, absorbing it, sympathizing to a certain extent, all her thoughts and opinions kept to herself.

Now this is all too much, Rhys is living in some sort of delusion and needs a slap back down to reality and with how Ve is feeling, she is willing to be the one to deliver it, and maybe she is the only one that can. Others will sympathize with him and coddle him, but she has no interest in such niceties.

She cuts him off, her voice is just as loud as his. The voice, which usually has a sweet texture but is filled with so much blandness, is instead filled with fiery passion.

"Me understand? Are really saying that to me? Are you so f*cking delusional that you could dare say that to me?…"

Rhys silences, his eyes are wide, and his lips appear thin as they are held together in shock. Ve’s voice, which is always the same level, matches his instantly and escalates quickly. She asks questions but gives no time to answer, nor does she expect an answer.

Her head tilts back so her face meets his, not just her eyes. Her hood slips slightly as she glares straight into his eyes. Her eyes are still shadowed but the color is vibrant enough in her rage to shine through.

"Do you even understand who you are talking to? You dare to say such words to me…"

If grievances are going to be aired, Ve is going to take full advantage of this opportunity. Bottling up everything for so long is tearing her apart, she is being poisoned on the inside for a very long time. The only person she thought had a certain understanding of her, it turns out, was false and that was without truly delving into everything.

The highly opinionated, intelligent woman has been forced to remain silent, merely observing her surroundings and all the things happening around her without ever voicing anything.

A woman that should be highly respected instead lacks even common courtesy aimed towards her.

"... Have you even stopped for a second to take a look around yourself and assess other people's situation? Your lack of awareness astounds me, you may be able to say that to anyone else in the world, but the fact that you can stand here and say these words to me without thinking for a moment about my situation…"

His questions, while understandable, hit Ve right where it hurts. Does anyone understand hate the way she does? Where are her kind words, where is her friendly smile? Where is the smallest sliver of appreciation?

Ve finally takes a step forward, closing that obligatory gap between them as her long pale finger extends out poking hard straight into his strong chest. Rhys doesn't back down even though the action is a shock.

"... Maybe if you could think about anyone else in that self-absorbed mind, then you would have a bit of situational awareness. It might do you some good, it might even give you a bit of clarity on this whole situation. You think you have it so f*cking hard? How about you open up your eyes and have a look at how hard the person next to you has it, all the things that you said you think I don't understand? If you saw it as it is, you would know that I have it much worse than you…"

Ve’s small finger repeatedly jabs into his chest. He can feel the bruise forming under her abuse. With her strength, he has to actually brace his body to stop from being pushed back.