Chapter 41 #2
“Fine,” he huffs, moving towards me with purpose. I raise my hand instinctively, ready to protect myself if necessary. Instead of lashing out, he swiftly wraps his arms around my waist, lifting me effortlessly and tossing me over his shoulder.
I thrash in his grasp, my muscles tense and my heart pounds with a mix of fear and anticipation.
The world spins in a dizzying blur as Xandros takes off with an alarming speed that makes my surroundings a mix into a wall of brown and green.
Nausea churns in my stomach from the sudden motion, my senses overwhelmed by the rush of wind against my face.
My grip tightens on his back, my fingers digging into his shirt as I cling to him, worried about him dropping me at this speed.
Within moments, we arrive at our destination. Xandros sets me down gently on the forest floor, and I stumble slightly as I find my footing. Glancing around, I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the earthy scent of the forest. I’m not at the dungeons, instead deep within the forest.
As my eyes adjust to the dim light filtering through the trees, I take in the beauty of the surroundings.
Towering trees stretch toward the sky, their branches intertwined like a protective canopy.
The soft rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds echo around us, soothing my senses and easing the tension that has coiled within me.
Xandros stops, dropping the bag on the ground and unzipping it.
He then starts removing his clothes, placing them in the bag.
I watch him undress, nervously. He strips off his shirt, revealing a smooth chest and abs.
His gaze fixed on me. The contours of his muscular torso are well sculpted, his abdomen a mountain of firm muscle.
He is grace personified—the embodiment of perfect masculine beauty.
Before I realize what I am doing, I step toward him.
My fingertips brush against his forearm.
His skin is warm and soft, smooth to the touch.
His shoulders are broad and sturdy, and his muscles ripple with each movement.
His broad chest is covered in silky hair that trails down to where his pants hang low on his hips.
“Are you going to undress, your clothes will rip if you don’t,” Xandros speaks, breaking me out of the bond induced trance I became absorbed in.
Glancing around nervously, I remove my clothes until I am just standing in my bra and underwear.
Xandros however sighs, stepping closer to me.
His hand grips my hip, tugging me to him, while the other slips behind me, unclasping my bra.
He tosses it near the bag before gripping my underwear and crouching.
He pulls them down, and I grip his shoulder, stepping out of them, feeling extremely exposed to his wandering gaze.
“Do you need help to shift?” he asks me, and I hesitate, wondering how he can possibly help me to shift.
At the same time I also don’t know how to just shift on my own; both times I’ve shifted it was forced.
I nod slowly, my gaze fixed on him. Xandros nods in return, his fingers trailing over the skin of my hip as he circles around me. His touch sends shivers down my spine, and I can feel the heat of his breath against the back of my neck.
“Close your eyes,” he murmurs, his voice low and hypnotic.
I do as he says, my heart thumping with anticipation and a hint of fear.
His fingers trail down my spine, and I can feel his warm breath against my skin as he whispers.
“Now picture your Lycan form,” I try to do as he says.
“Focus on the memory of when you shifted, what it felt like.” My body tenses remembering the pain, the way my bones stretched and moved, the feeling of my skin burning and rippling as it too stretched.
I take a deep breath, focusing on the innate animal within me.
My bones ache as they elongate, my muscles contracting and expanding as they transform.
My skin tightens as fur sprouts from my flesh, covering me in a soft coat of fur.
I feel Xandros’s hand on my back, grounding me in the present moment.
His touch is electrifying. He guides me through the transformation process, his voice soothing and calm.
My senses heighten as I shift, my vision turning to black and white as the world takes on new shapes and forms. The forest is more vibrant now; every scent more vivid, every sound crisper.
Xandros is beside me, still in his human form but with an energy rippling off him.
He moves to stand in front of me, while I stare at my hands and the sharp claws that split my nail beds.
I giggle and then jump at the sound when I find I can still talk and make noise in this form.
Xandros snorts, making me look at him, and for once I am taller than he is.
Though not for long because he quickly shifts into a huge black Lycan.
I peer up at him, and he steps closer, sniffing me before nipping at my now pointy ear.
I shake my head at the feel of it before scratching my ear, only to remember my claws when they slice through it, making me hiss.
Xandros makes a weird noise. “Gentle, you need to remember you’re stronger in this form,” he tells me, grabbing my hands and holding them up.
“And claws are sharp,” he tells me. I nod, knowing exactly how sharp claws are from when his mother slashed my face.
Yet, my body buzzes, making me feel giddy with anticipation.
“Go on then, I’ll follow you,” he tells me, and excitement fills me.
I take off running through the forest, darting between trees with ease.
Xandros follows close behind me, his own form moving with grace and speed that matches mine.
We run for hours, exploring every corner of the forest. The world around me is a blur of colors and smells—a wild and untamed place I become distracted by as I explore.
As the sun begins to set, Xandros grabs my tail, making me stop.
My clumsy Lycan isn’t exactly balanced well when it comes to stopping and turning.
As I pivot, Xandros is jerked forward, knocking into me, and I am suddenly falling.
My eyes widen as I see the canopying trees and then dirt.
I clench my eyes shut and toss out my hands just as I feel him grab me.
With a soft thud, I land on top of him, and he groans.
Opening my eyes, I see my claws piercing his chest like hooks and my eyes widen in horror.
“Sorry,” I blurt, pulling them out. Blood spills out of the holes and on instinct I lean down, running my tongue over them.
His clawed hands brush my fur gently and tug on my ears, making me stop and sit upright, realizing my own actions.
As I peer down, I realize my saliva healed him, the wounds now closed.
“I didn’t mean to startle you, I forget you’re new to this,” he tells me, tugging on my tail that he seems to like playing with.
Only then do I realize it is wagging from side to side, his eyes tracking it as his other hand grabs it.
He chuckles. “So weird seeing you with a tail, yours is so fluffy,” he laughs as it whips out of his hand only for him to snatch in his other.
I try to make it stop moving only to find it impossible.
“It’s because you’re happy, and excited to be free.
Don’t be embarrassed. We are part animal,” he tells me, sitting up and making me straddle his lap.
I hastily climb off him, wanting to run some more, when he grabs my hand, tugging me in a different direction.
As we step out of the trees, I find one of the maids setting up a picnic.
She nods when she sees us and disappears into the treeline.
Xandros leads me over to it and I gasp at the view.
Had we really run to the top of the mountain?
As I step closer to the edge, Xandros snatches my tail, distracted by the breathtaking view.
I hadn’t realized I nearly stepped off the edge of it. He jerks me back, not letting me.
“You’re so easily distracted in this form,” he tells me, shifting back and sitting, I shift back too, finding it easier to shift back than into my Lycan form.
I look for something to cover myself when Xandros grabs my wrist, pulling me into his lap.
Up here and naked, the wind is like ice.
Goosebumps lace my skin, and Xandros rummages in the basket, pulling out a blanket, and wrapping it around us.
With the blanket and his body warmth, I eventually stop shivering enough to eat as we watch the sunset.
The world around us is bathed in shades of orange and gold, nature’s canvas painting a serene backdrop. However, my heart is anything but calm. Unresolved emotions churn within me, tearing at my very core. I long to be back in the safety of the castle, away from the torment of conflicting desires.
Right now, Xandros is far from the man I’m so used to.
Xandros sensing my unease, his keen senses attuned to my every shift in mood.
He comes to a halt, his eyes fixing on mine with unwavering intensity.
“So, what do you want to do next?” he asks, his voice a deep rumble that sends shivers down my spine.
His concern is evident, yet I can’t bring myself to share the true turmoil that plagues me.
And If I did, it would only get me punished.
The truth is, I want to hear Toby’s voice, knowing this is around the time I would sit on the phone with him. I can’t make that call with Xandros by my side, his piercing gaze burning into my soul.
Instead, I muster a tired smile and feigned exhaustion. “I think I’d like to go to bed,” I reply, hoping he will accept my excuse and grant me the solitude I crave.