Free Web NovelChapter 104: Chapter 104: Riverbank Confessions
RAMON’S POV
I walked in on Lorena assaulting Sonia again, and truly lost it this time. The clinic hallway felt too narrow, Sonia was on the ground, her simple dress twisted around her legs, hair falling messily over her face as Lorena yanked at it. The sight sent a hot surge of rage through my veins, sharper than I expected.
I knew I was meant to be backing her up, seeing she was inflicting pain on Sonia. But the girl had been very resourceful in the last two days. There was nothing wrong with setting aside our differences, and giving credit where it was due. The thought flickered through my mind even as my body moved on instinct.
As I stormed forward, I had just one goal in mind. To yank Lorena’s hands off Sonia’s body. My boots thudded heavily against the wooden floor, the sound echoing off the walls. But when I arrived in their midst, it was Sonia my hand gravitated to. Her wrist felt small and warm in my grip as I pulled her up from the ground and away from the chaos.
Lorena couldn’t say a word. I had warned her that one more loud mouth, and she wouldn’t like my reaction. Her eyes widened in shock, mouth opening and closing without sound as I turned my back on her completely.
I didn’t stop with Sonia until we were down by the river. The walk through the trees felt longer than usual, the path dappled with fading sunlight and the soft crunch of leaves under our feet. The air grew cooler near the water, carrying the fresh scent of the river and damp earth. There, I let her go. Her wrist slipped from my fingers, and she stood unsteadily for a moment, breathing hard.
"Why can’t you fight back?!" I raised my voice at her. The words came out harsher than I meant, echoing across the quiet riverbank. She flinched, and my guilty conscience flared immediately. The water flowed steadily beside us, its gentle gurgle a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air.
I shouldn’t have raised my voice at her. I was doing the same thing Lorena did, but in a different way. The realization settled uncomfortably in my chest. "I didn’t mean to scream," I said, after an uncomfortable stretch of silence. The words felt heavy on my tongue, almost foreign.
She didn’t say anything to me. Didn’t so much as respond. She only dropped to the ground, and sat with her back against a tree. Her dress pooled around her legs, the fabric slightly dirty from the earlier struggle. We both remained silent as in real time, we watched the last breath of light fade into darkness.
I regarded her with my alpha lens. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t done that before. She had a special light wrapped around her. It wasn’t like something I had ever witnessed before. It shimmered faintly, soft and warm, clinging to her skin like morning dew. I constantly asked myself who she was. And why she had to possess such special attributes. The bond tugged at me again, insistent and confusing, making it harder to look away.
She lifted her head and caught me staring. Her big doe eyes met mine, wide and vulnerable in the growing darkness.
"The full moon is going to be in three days," she said. Her voice did not carry any weight. It was airy, and light. Almost breathless even. The words hung softly between us, carried on the cool night breeze.
I sat beside her, and her eyes widened a little. Her big doe eyes revealed all of her emotions — surprise, nervousness, and something deeper she tried to hide. The bench felt solid beneath us, the wood still warm from the day’s sun.
"How do you know that? Can you sense it too?" I asked. My voice came out quieter than I expected, the river’s gentle murmur filling the space around us.
"I used to be able to guess back in my pack. But now, I measure it from how hot and restless my wolf is." She shifted slightly, her shoulder brushing mine for a brief moment before she pulled away.
"Is that all there is?" I asked, with a mischievous intent at heart. The question felt dangerous, but I couldn’t stop myself.
"What else?" she replied innocently. Her cheeks flushed faintly in the moonlight, the color spreading across her skin.
"Do you know what happens when one has a mate during the full moon?" I pushed, just to see how far her ignorance ran. The air between us grew thicker, charged with unspoken tension.
"I’ve read a few books. They said all sorts." Her voice trembled just a little, but she held my gaze.
"And have you experienced any of those sorts?" I pressed. My hand itched to reach for her again, but I kept it still.
A blush formed on her face, and she lowered her head. The color deepened, spreading down her neck in the soft moonlight. I almost felt pity for her. She was in a strange land, with a mate who didn’t exactly want her. It was soon to be a full moon. Which meant she was more aroused than usual. Her body would be begging for her mate to consume her, and make their bond official. The thought sent a surge of heat through me, conflicting with the walls I had built so carefully.
But I couldn’t do it. I knew if I went all the way with her, that was the end. I would have to keep her.
"I don’t know," she finally replied. Her voice was barely above a whisper, vulnerable and honest.
"Oh sure you do. But you have a mate who is not exactly interested, so you’re trying to suppress your desires. I’m sure that’s why you love working at the clinic. You’re consumed by it." The words came out teasing, but there was truth in them that I couldn’t ignore.
"How do you know I love working at the packs clinic?" She shyly raised her head to face me. Her eyes sparkled with surprise, the moonlight catching the wetness in them. freёwebnoѵel.com
"It’s in your eyes. There’s a sparkle in your eyes. Everytime you save a life, it shines." The admission slipped out before I could stop it, raw and unguarded.
"So you believe I’m a healer now?" She asked, taking me by surprise. Her voice held quiet hope, fragile like the night around us.
"What does my belief change? It’s not like you care about my opinion. I wouldn’t care about the opinion of my captor." The words tasted bitter even as I said them, the lie heavier than I expected.
"Yeah, but you’re my mate. And like we’ve established, the full moon is coming. A book said during this time, your desire is ruled by the need to please your mate. How’s that affecting me, when we’ve not even had the mate dance that seals our bond?" Her voice grew softer, almost wistful, as she stared at the river.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. Those books she was reading may be more insightful than I initially gave them credit for. The sound rumbled low in my chest, surprising us both.
"Your smile is beautiful. You should smile more." The words left her lips quietly, catching me completely off guard.
I froze at those words. She was getting better at shocking me. The quiet girl I took from her father’s pack was opening up more. I didn’t know if it was something I should be thankful for.
"You do know I’m not going to stop seeking revenge on your father, right?" I asked, needing to remind myself as much as her. The heaviness in my heart grew with the words.
"I know," she nodded. "I also know I’ll always be collateral. Believe it or not, I’m beginning to accept all of what life decides to throw my way." Her voice was steady, resigned, yet carried a quiet strength that tugged at something deep inside me.
"But you also believe your father will win the war, and come save you?" I asked with a heaviness in my heart.
Where, and when that feeling crept up in me, I wasn’t so sure. I just knew thinking about her leaving my pack, made me not as excited as I thought I’d be. The river continued its endless flow, indifferent to the storm raging in my chest.
"I can only dream. I want to be free from oppression."
"But you just said you’re embracing everything life throws your way."
She looked to be in deep thought for a few seconds, before her eyes suddenly bulged. The moonlight highlighted the determination flickering across her face.
"I meant it this way. The direction of my life is currently in your hands. If you decide to kill me today, a war may break after the deed is done, but I’ll not be there to witness it. If I can’t change your mind, why dwell in worry? The only thing I can do is find inherent happiness, so even when it hurts, the hurt won’t consume me." Her words carried a quiet wisdom that settled deep in my bones.
So much wisdom in the head of someone so young. You could tell she read a lot too. She was just a different breed. Understandable, in all honesty. Her father might be a grotesque gremlin, but he was an intelligent man. And from what I heard about her mother, she was also very intelligent. The thought of her parents sent another wave of conflict through me, but I pushed it down.
"Can I kiss you?" She asked, and it was as if time stopped. The question hung in the cool night air, bold and unexpected.
"What?!" My voice came out sharper than I intended, surprise flashing through me.
"Yeah I know it’s totally wrong to ask. But every time I get weak from healing the wolves, and you kiss me, I regain my lost strength. And I need a lot of strength for ton—"
I didn’t wait for her to finish. Besides I wasn’t shocked she asked for a kiss, I was only shocked she asked before I could steal one. My hand reached for her, pulling her close as my lips claimed hers in the darkness.
