Free Web NovelChapter 92: Chapter 92
My dress hit the ground. For a second no one moved.
The air felt too sensitive like every tiny movement was too much. I crossed my arms over my chest without even thinking because even though I had just taken my clothes off, I still felt exposed and stupid and scared.
All three of them stared at me.
My heart was racing so fast that I could barely hear anything else.
The biggest one stepped closer first. He did not touch me yet. He just looked down at me slowly from my face to my feet and back up again.
"You are scared," he said in a calm voice that did not match the way his eyes burned.
"Of course I’m scared," I shot back before I could stop myself. "You kidnapped me and brought me into a cave and told me I have to tame one of you. What part of that sounds relaxing to you?" I almost cried saying those words.
The silver streaked one laughed softly behind me. I did not turn around because I did not want to lose sight of the one in front of me.
"She has fire in her," he said. "That makes this more interesting, I like it."
The third one, the one with shoulder length black hair, walked slowly to my left side. He folded his arms over his chest and tilted his head slightly.
"You understand the choice, human?" he asked.
"Yes," I said quickly, even though my throat felt tight. "If I choose one of you and I successfully tame him, I get the lunar fur and I leave. If I fail, I won’t."
"You are not as fragile as you look," the biggest one said.
"I never said I was fragile," I replied, trying to sound steady even though my hands were shaking.
The silver streaked one came around so now all three were standing in front of me. They looked so similar but also different in small ways. They were all tall and strong and overwhelming, but their eyes felt different. One felt calm but dangerous. One felt curious. One felt intense and almost angry.
"You must choose carefully," the one on the left said. "You only get one."
I swallowed hard. "What if I refuse to choose?"
"Then we choose for you," the biggest one answered without hesitation.
That shut me up.
They were watching every little reaction on my face. I could feel it. I could feel them studying me like I was some kind of test.
The silver streaked one stepped closer and leaned down slightly so we were eye level.
"Tell us something first," he said. "Why are you really here? Is it just for the lunar fur?"
"Yes," I said immediately.
He raised an eyebrow. "That is not the full truth."
I hesitated.
The biggest one straightened. "Look at us. Not with fear. Look at us and decide whom you think you can tame tonight under the moon."
I forced myself to breathe slowly.
I looked at the silver streaked one first. He looked strong and confident and slightly amused. His eyes held something sharp.
Then I looked at the one with shoulder length hair. He looked calm but calculating. Like he was thinking ten steps ahead.
Then I looked at the biggest one.
He was not smiling. He was not amused. He was just staring at me with a steady gaze that made my chest tighten. There was something in his eyes that felt familiar even though his face was not.
I frowned slightly without meaning to.
He noticed.
"What?" he asked quietly.
I stepped closer to him without fully understanding why I was doing it. My legs felt weak but I forced them to move.
The other two watched closely.
I looked at them again and I took a deep breath.
"I choose," I said, forcing the words out before I could change my mind.
All three of them went completely still.
I looked straight at the biggest one. "I choose you."
The silver streaked one smiled slowly like he had expected that.
The other one crossed his arms again but did not look surprised.
The biggest one did not react at first.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because you’re the only one not trying to scare me on purpose," I said honestly.
His jaw tightened again slightly, but this time it felt different.
The silver streaked one stepped back. "Then the Rite is clear."
The one with shoulder length hair nodded. "She has chosen."
I felt my heart jump into my throat. Then both of them stepped back further.
They moved toward the edge of the chamber, giving space.
"You are alone with him now," the one with shoulder length hair said calmly. "Until the Rite is complete, I hope you’re able to tame him when the moon comes up"
My heart started racing again.
They really were leaving.
"Wait," I said quickly. "You’re just going to walk away?"
"Yes," the silver streaked one replied. "You chose him. Now you face him."
The two of them shifted back into wolves in a sudden smooth motion and disappeared into the shadows of the cave, leaving me alone in the center of the chamber with the biggest one.
The silence that followed felt louder than anything before.
He stood a few feet away from me now.
No one else.
Just him.
My breathing became shallow again.
"You’re not going to hurt me, right?" I asked, hating the way my voice shook.
He did not answer immediately. He stepped closer instead.
Every step he took made my pulse spike. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"I told you before," he said quietly. "Gentle is not what we are."
My throat tightened.
He stopped directly in front of me. freewebnøvel.coɱ
He was so close that I could feel the heat from his body.
"You can still change your mind," he added.
"What happens if I do?" I asked.
"Then my brothers return."
That answer made the decision clear.
He lifted his hand slowly like he was giving me time to pull away.
I did not move as his fingers brushed lightly against my cheek.
I flinched at first, but I did not step back.
His thumb traced slowly along my jaw. His hand moved down to my wrist.
The circle mark was glowing faintly red.
His eyes dropped to it.
His expression changed slightly, but only for a second.
"You understand what must happen?" he asked coldly.
"Yes," I replied, even though my heart was pounding so hard I could barely think.
He leaned closer. His face was inches from mine now. I could feel his breath against my lips.
He lowered his forehead until it almost touched mine. For a second everything felt still.
Then he spoke one word."Aemoria."
My eyes flew open wide.
No one here had called me that.
Only one person ever did.
My heart stopped.
I stared at him in shock, fear rushing through me again because there was no way this stranger should know that name.
"How do you know that name?"
