Chapter 5 #2
Someone is watching me.
I’m not sure from where. But I can feel it.
Probably Sylvan. His bedroom window looks out into the garden, so he can see me clearly if he’s watching.
I don’t look back to check. I’ll be back in time and I’ll stay in my room tonight, just like I promised. But he has to trust that I’ll keep my promises, or else the next few months are going to be hell for both of us.
The sun bows for the moon. Crushed grape skies give way to a blanket of the darkest berry blue.
The moon is rising, pearlescent light turning dark bands of clouds pale.
I stroll down the garden path, barefoot against smooth stone, my fingers gliding through flowers and herbs as I pass them.
An arch of flowering vines stands at the end of the path, marking the end of the gardens and the start of the forest.
The hair on the back of my neck stands up as I near it. My steps slow naturally, my breath catching in my throat.
Darkness yawns before me, stretching between the trunks of trees, no light found beyond the garden. I stand on the threshold, my frown deepening.
I don’t remember this darkness. Growing up, every full moon was bright enough for light to find its way to the grass and rocks, no matter the time of night. Even if there was a storm, it found its way.
So what is this? Why is it here?
“Morgan!”
My eyes widen. The voice is deep, masculine. It sounds familiar, although I can’t place it off the top of my head. But it’s coming from out there. From the depths of the trees.
A pull draws me a step forward, electrical currents rippling across me. My breath squeezes from my lungs as the warning bells rattle in my head. This is wrong. Something is wrong—
“One more step. One more, child, one more.”
A scream wrenches from my throat as the darkness reaches for me, a spindly hand twisting from the shadows, reaching, reaching—
My entire body yanks back. I gasp as a set of claws wrap across my stomach. I collide with a hard, furry chest—and a growl shakes the entire world.
Sylvan.
The darkness vanishes in a blink. My knees turn to jelly and I sink to the earth, blinking back tears. What the fuck was that? I’ve never seen anything like that before. There’s never been anything evil in these forests for as long as I’ve known them.
I’m dizzy. Nausea hits me and I moan. The moon is directly above us now, so painfully bright.
What time is it? When I stepped outside, the sun was just setting.
I’m so confused.
Sylvan’s comforting scent washes over me. Whiskey and cinnamon chase away the horror of what just happened. I can’t think straight. I crane my head back, taking every inch of him in.
All of my fear folds into a different shape.
Lust.
Dark gray fur is softer than velvet, thick and shiny beneath the moon. Glowing yellow eyes, the same I’ve seen in Sylvan’s other face, sear me with an intensity that snaps every nerve ending to life. Sharp teeth are bared as I reach up, sliding my palm against the side of his jaw.
He’s beautiful.
“I told you to stay inside.”
Holy fuck. His voice is so deep. A hot flash of need floods my body, so intense that my veins feel like they’re melting. No, no, no. I drank the tea. I drank that entire mug of disgusting tea.
Why am I going into heat?
I squeeze my thighs together, which earns a chuff from him.
“You can’t hide how slick you are from me, omega. I broke my chains to get to you because you disobeyed me.”
“I didn’t,” I rasp. “I had my tea. I was going to walk for a few minutes and then come back inside—”
I squeal as he drags me back within the garden. Suddenly my world is turning as I’m laid back into the grass, his body surrounding me as he pins me down.
Teeth snap in my face. “You promised you’d stay inside. Instead, danger found you. What if I wouldn’t have been able to break them? You could have died!”
“I was going to,” I whimper. “Sylvan. I swear. How are you even shifted right now?”
“You’ve been out for hours.”
I run my fingers through his fur, drowning in him. Everything about him turns me on. The bulk of his muscles, the power and magic coursing through him. I can feel it as his claws sink into the ground next to my head. The scent of fresh soil being turned overpowers his whiskey and cinnamon.
Every instinct tells me to spread my thighs and beg. Beg for his cock, his knot, his scent. I want to be wrapped in it. I want to drown in it.
Sylvan’s growl makes my nipples stiffen, their outlines apparent between the sheer robe and the skimpy bralette I threw on earlier. It barely holds my tits up, but I’d truly planned to go back inside and straight to bed.
Suddenly he’s rolling me over onto my stomach. Instinctively, I push my hips back, presenting myself to him, colliding with something hard and thick.
Goddess, I need it. I need it so fucking badly. Seeing his hard-on once wasn’t enough. I want to feel him inside me.
Claws sweep my hair to the side. A hot tongue runs down my neck, and I shiver in response.
I’m shaking with need.
It’s humiliating. Or, it should be. But I can’t feel the shame. Instead, all I can feel is want.
Hot breaths feather my skin. “When I release you, I need you to run.”
A whine follows, but it isn’t from me. It’s from him. A pained, whimpering whine that makes me so slick and needy, I let out a soft cry.
I need him.
“I don’t want to run,” I pant. “Don’t send me away.”
I’ve never wanted someone like this in my entire life. To not take him, to not touch him—it feels wrong. The only right in this world is him rutting me into the earth.
“No. I cannot have you.”
“I want you,” I cry. Goddess, what am I doing?
I’m begging him. I can’t stop begging him.
“Please. Please. I need you.” Can’t he feel it?
Something is happening, something tight in my chest like a string pulled taut.
Beneath the full moon, everything is laid bare.
This ache runs deep, this desire to want and be wanted in return.
Does he want me?
“Promise me.” His teeth bite the air next to my ear, but I’m not scared of him. “You’ll run.”
“Don’t send me away. I want you—”
“No.” His snarl shakes me. Tears roll down my cheeks as I push myself back against his body. He shoves my chest down, pinning me in place. “Promise. Now.”
“Do you want me? I know you want me. I know it. I want—”
“No. I do not want you.”
Pain lances my chest. I go very still as he leans in.
“Promise me you’ll run.”
He doesn’t want me back. I made a fool of myself in front of a stranger. That string in my chest pulls so tightly, I gasp. “I promise,” I say weakly.
“Keep it this time.”
Sylvan’s ears flatten against his head, his muscles rippling as he stands.
I immediately roll to my feet.
He doesn’t want me.
I take off running. Maybe it’s the survival instincts kicking in. Maybe it’s the pain of standing before him, knowing he doesn’t feel whatever I just did.
The hair stands up on the back of my neck again and I scream as I burst through the back door. Claws tear open the screen, his growl following me as I sprint through the house, up the stairs, and to my room.
My bedroom door slams behind me. The lock clicks and the house sighs. Tears fall down my cheeks as I throw myself onto my bed, the ache of need so all-consuming I can’t stop myself from crying.
Our first full moon went so horribly wrong.
But I’m empty without him inside me.
Sylvan’s howl strikes through the night, jagged and broken like a flash of lightning. He needs me just as much.
What’s wrong with us? Is this the spell’s doing?
Maybe it is. But even so, I can’t shake the despair that eats me.
Why am I denying myself? Why did he make me run from him?
He could have torn my clothing to shreds.
He could be inside me right now, making me feel better. Soothing this relentless fucking ache.
I press my palm against the back of my neck, remembering how it felt for him to lick me.
A sob shakes me. Why did he turn me away? Am I not good enough for him? Is it because I’m not a good witch? Why does everyone in my life always see me as lesser than?
Pain tears through my chest as I realize I’m going to be alone tonight. I don’t have to be alone, but I’m going to be. He sent me away.
I’m going to be sick. I make it to the bathroom just in time to throw up, my head spinning.
I’m alone. I’m unwanted.
I throw up again, another sob breaking me. Fuck, that fucking tea killed me. I should have known it would do this, just like it did last time. Verena’s teas don’t work for me. They always backfire.
Once everything is out of my stomach, I curl up on the bath mat, and close my eyes.
This heat is going to hurt the most.