Chapter 5 Wanna Bet?
2224 Words
[the pack house]
“Are you sure this is going to work?” Bella asked, as she observed Vicca take out a map and place it on top of the desk.
“Yes, of course! I’ve seen my mother do it several times,” Vicca stated.
“Did you get some of the clothes?” She added, as Bella nodded and placed some small pieces of clothes on the table, while Vicca proceeded to take an old book and a couple of herbs out.
“Then, how does it work?” Kyan asked as he looked with curiosity at what Vicca was doing.
She glanced up at him with a smile as she placed the clothes on the map and put some sand around it before she set fire to the herbs.
“I’m going to use the last thing Stella wore and some different elements like, fire, sand from the ground, and then the herbs. They will help to find out where she went to.” Vicca replied, as Kyan just nodded understandingly, as his eyes were fixed on her.
Vicca was a close friend of Stella, and she was, of course, a nature witch, she had short red hair, small freckles on her nose and these big baby-blue eyes, which Kyan admired – well, at least in secret. But suddenly, Kyan got an elbow in his side from his brother, which made him glare at him.
“What in the Goddess's name’s wrong with you?” He growled at Jaze.
“Stop staring and listen, you dork!” he hissed. As Kyan realized, everyone was looking at him. He made a small cough, as he tried to hide the embarrassment.
“What were you saying?” He asked, as a small giggle escaped Vicca’s lips.
“I think we got an idea where she might be at.” She replied. As everyone stared at the map and a ring of fire circled a city almost 100 miles (ca. 161 kilometers) from there, and not only that.. It was demon territory.
“How did she get all the way there?” Nathan blurred out, as Vicca shrugged.
“I have no idea, but this is the furthest I probably can get you. I unfortunately, don’t have any idea how you will get there, or where her exact location is.. I’m sorry I can’t do more to help.” She stated apologetically.
“No need to apologize, you have done more than enough.” Kyan replied with a smile, before they headed outside.
“Do you have a crush on Vicca?” Jaze asked as they had walked out of there.
“Shut up Jaze!” Kyan hissed as he pushed his brother.
“You do! Ha! Wait until the others hear this!” He grinned, but Kyan grabbed hold of him as he was on his way over to Nathan and Bella.
“Hell no!” He blurred out, as Jaze crossed his arms at him, and Kyan already knew what he wanted.
“Okay! I admit it, but please don’t tell anyone.. The truth is that.. She is my mate.” He revealed, as Jaze eyes widened.
“Are you serious..? But she’s..”
“I know! I found out some time ago, but I just haven’t had the gut to tell her.. 'Cause what if she rejects me?” Kyan spoke as he sighed. Jaze clearly saw the pain in his brother's eyes as he placed his hand on Kyan’s shoulder.
“She won’t, from where I see it, she is just as crazy about you, as you are about her!” He stated, as Kyan smiled.
“You really think so?” Kyan asked with a hopeful expression.
“I know so!” Jaze added as he clapped him on the back.
“Now let’s find our baby-cuz, and then you can worry about your love life afterward.” Jaze stated as he gave him a playful push and ran, making Kyan roll his eyes.
“Right!”
Then they both ran after Bella and Nathan, who had begun to call for them.
“What were you two doing?” Bella asked as they caught up with them.
“Nothing, someone just needed to take a píss.” Jaze spoke, as he blinked at Kyan, who smiled and nodded his head.
Jaze might be an annoying brother at times, but he had his back when he needed it.
[Stella’s POV]
“I Stella Aurora Lupus reject you, Armaros Mortem, as my mate!” I spoke, as I immediately felt an unbearable pain shoot right through me, when I was able to pull myself up, I glanced at Armaros.
I saw he clutched his shirt, as I was sure he felt the same pain as me, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit satisfied about it, after how he had treated me.
“What the hell was that?” He growled, as he gave me a sharp glare.
“A freaking rejection, live with it!” I snapped as I still tried to pull myself together.
“And what if I won’t accept it!” He asked, as I didn’t reply.
“Well, then I reject your rejection.” He stated, as he walked directly over and pushed me down to the bed, and climbed on top of me, though I tried to get free, I didn’t even stand a chance.
“Why? If you don’t believe in it, why do you care!” I asked, frustrated.
“I don’t! Maybe I just like a little danger.” He spoke, as his hold on my hands loosened a little, as he intwined his fingers with mine, and placed a kiss on my neck, making me shiver. But I hated he made me feel like that.
“So, I’m nothing more than some play thing for you?” I asked him, as I thought I saw something in his eyes.
[..]
Armaros was surprised by the sudden pain he felt, as Stella said she rejected him.
Though, he was scared of the feelings he felt when he was that close to her, and that he felt like he almost couldn’t breathe every time she was looking into his eyes.
He was even more scared of losing it.
He felt like something was ignited inside of him, every time he touched her skin.
But a sting of guilt washed through his veins when she asked him if he was simply using her. And the truth was, that it actually was his intention, but why did he feel bad about it?
The look on her face reminded him of how she looked at him, when they met in the forrest all those years ago.
How she looked at him, when one of his father’s men had hit him. And he didn’t want her to look at him like that.
But he couldn’t get himself to answer her question, so he just stared at her, not uttering a single word.
“I can’t believe I thought you were different, Armaros, but everyone was right – It was stupid of me to think that you were more than this..” She spoke as tears were filling her eyes, only adding more pain to the one he already felt in his chest.
“You’re right, I’ll never be the person you hoped for, Stella. I’m not some redemption case, I am literally a demon.” He replied as he gently removed her tears with his thumb. For some reason, he couldn’t bear to see her cry.
“It doesn’t mean you have to act like one.. Everyone has both light and darkness in them, but it’s their job to choose between what is right, and what is wrong – or.. That’s at least what I believed to be the case..” Stella spoke, as he saw this resigned look in her eyes, and he knew he was the one to blame for it.
“But not anymore?” Armaros asked, as he continued to observe her.
“Maybe.. I.. I don’t know, you’re constantly shifting between two personalities and.. I wanna believe that there is something good inside of you, but at the same time.. I fear that you are going to take advantage of me, and that scares me.” She revealed, she wasn’t even sure why she was telling him all that, but it was like she couldn’t help it.
“Why would you even wanna trust me in the first place?” Armaros continued to ask.
“Maybe I just wanted to believe that it really meant something when you saved me back then, ‘cause you did, and then again when your brother threatened me, why did you even do that?” Stella asked, which nonplussed Armaros.
“I.. Didn’t want to see you get hurt.. I think.” Armaros spoke as he knitted his eyebrows.
“Not that it matters anyway.. I’ve already told Damien that he shouldn’t lay a finger on you, I don’t want anyone but me to touch you!” He spoke, as he quickly hid any sign of emotion.
“Why do you keep on doing that?” Stella asked.
“Do what?”
“You seem like you care and then act like you don’t!” She pointed out.
“Because I don’t care Stella, I can’t, and I won’t, it brings nothing but pain and misery, and it makes you weak, and I’m not weak Stella!” He stated, as he looked straight into her eyes.
“I’m not saying you are weak, but I don’t believe you are careless..” she spoke, as he pulled her arms higher up over her head.
“I am, I could do whatever I wanted with you right here and now if I wanted to, and I couldn’t care less about your opinion.” He snarled, as she stared into his eyes, seemingly searching for something.
“Then prove it.” She challenged him, as he blinked several times to make sure that he didn’t just imagine what just came out of her mouth.
“Prove to me, you are this monster you say you are.” She repeated.
“Maybe I will.” He spoke, as he moved even closer to her, but he immediately felt how her heartbeat started to race as she clinched her eyes closed, and she tensed.
He knew he couldn’t do it, a part of him was aware that she was probably right. He just didn’t want to admit to that, but then he suddenly came up with a better idea.
“But why force it, when I could make you beg for it?” He whispered in her ear.
Stella immediately opened her eyes, and looked at him.
“Ha! You wish!” She scoffed, as she proceeded to roll her eyes at him, while she once again tried to get free from his hold, but like before, he didn’t move one bit.
“Wanna bet?” He argued, as a mischievous grin creepèd on to his face.
“What kind of bet are we talking about?” Stella asked as she narrowed her eyes, while her lips turned to a thin line.
“You’ll give me 2 weeks.. And in this period of time, you will agree to spend time with me at all given time that I’ll ask for it – also at nighttime, which means you will have to sleep in the same bed as me.. The rules are pretty simple. One; you are going to behave nicely and respectfully, as I will do the same, and two; you won’t attempt to run away. If I succeed.. Or you try to pull out of the bet.. Or break any of my rules, you’ll stay here with me.. Willingly.” he explained, as she listened.
“But.. What will I get out of it?” She asked him as he smirked.
“I thought you might ask.. If I fail, I’ll grant you your freedom and I will let you go home to your tribe.” He revealed.
“Deal!” Stella blurred out, as Armaros' smile widened.
“Great, then I’ll see you at dinner.” He spoke, before he raised himself and left the room.
[Stella’s POV]
“Miss Lupus?” A voice from the door spoke, as another demon stuck his head in through the door, making me tense.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, my name is Shax – Armaros told me to give you this.” He spoke as he walked over and handed me a pile of clothes and a towel.
“You can take a bath and then Armaros would like to see you for dinner. I will come back in 20 minutes, or do you need more time?” He asked politely.
“Oh.. No, 20 minutes are fine, and.. Thank you.. Shax.” I replied, as he sent me a smile and nodded.
“You are very welcome, miss Lupus.” He answered, as he walked backwards to the door.
“Just call me Stella.” I added, as he suddenly seemed a bit perplexed by my response.
“If that is what you prefer, miss.. I mean Stella.” He added before he left the room again.
- Writer
