Chapter 5: The First Meeting
1775 Words
Aetheria was awakened from a deep, nightmarish slumber. The darkness enveloped her like a shroud, and she knew that she was not alone. She could hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the shadows, sending chills down her spine. She jolted out of bed, her heart pounding in her chest. Her initial reaction was to scan her surroundings, but her eyes betrayed her in the darkness.
As she scanned the room, still trying to piece together the events that led her here, a voice broke the silence; its timbre was rich and captivating, commanding attention with its quiet strength.
"You're awake," the man said, his presence in the room unnoticed until now. He sat in a chair by the fireplace, the very picture of regal composure. His posture was relaxed yet authoritative; he was a striking figure.
"How do you feel?" he asked, his concern evident even in the measured cadence of his speech. His voice was not just beautiful; it resonated with an underlying power that seemed to vibrate through the air, reaching Aetheria in waves that soothed her even as they intrigued her to her core.
Aetheria turned her gaze toward him, her eyes widening slightly as she took in his appearance for the first time. He was breathtakingly handsome, his features sharp and commanding, yet there was a gentleness in his eyes that belied his imposing presence. His dark and unruly hair framed his face in a way that emphasized his striking blue eyes, which watched her with an intensity that was both disconcerting and oddly comforting.
"Who are you?" she gasped. "Where am I?" she added while secretly checking her clothes.
"Are you in pain?" the man asked, ignoring her every question.
"Answer me!" Aetheria snapped, but he remained silent , his piercing gaze never leaving her face.
"You are in my territory, shouldn't you be the one introducing yourself to me or at least telling me a bit of your story? What were you doing in my land, Miss Frostborne?" The calm, chilling voice trailed off as Aetheria's heart raced with fear. She had never encountered such a powerful and intimidating presence before.
For a moment, Aetheria was speechless, the realization that this man had been her savior filled her with emotions. The memory of the chase and the rogues remained fragmented, a puzzle she couldn't yet solve.
"I... I don't remember much," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just the chase... and then darkness." Confusion clouded her features as she tried to reconcile her last memories with the safety and luxury of her current environment.
He nodded, his expression unreadable as he absorbed her words. "You were in grave danger," he said simply, standing to approach the bed with deliberate steps. "But you're safe now, under my protection."
The assurance in his voice, coupled with the promise of safety, offered Aetheria a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of her thoughts. Yet, questions swirled in her mind, not just about the night's events but about the man before her, whose very presence seemed to command the room.
"You're a werewolf," Aetheria whispered as Draiken turned her back on her. "An Alpha," she added. "You know who I am. Why?"
He turned towards her; she flinched as he raised his hand and reached for her chin while his eyes narrowed upon seeing her initial reaction as if she were assuming that he was about to hit her.
"I am a werewolf, yes. An Alpha, yes. But as to knowing who you are, I'm not quite sure about that. That, yet I have to explore, and we have plenty of time, Miss Frostborne." The man was so undeniably tall that Aetheria had to look up to meet his gaze.
"Could you at least tell me which Alpha I am in the presence of?" Aetheria muttered. He chuckles.
"Aren't you the polite one?" He said amusingly, while picking a lock of hair and tracing his finger along its length, "You're in the presence of Draiken De Laurentiis, Miss Frostborne." Draiken whispered as he kissed the tip of her hair.
The De Laurentiis name was enough for Aetheria to shudder in fear. She almost lost her balance as she realized the danger she was in, but Draiken was quick to catch her. Draiken's eyes were filled with concern and confusion. He quickly pulled her close, enveloping her in his protective embrace, but Aetheria pushed him away.
"Thank you for helping me, Alpha Draiken, but I can take care of myself, I must go now," she said firmly. The last thing she would desire is to get entangled with the De Laurentiis, especially Draiken De Laurentiis— the rumored outcast of the De Laurentiis. The tyrant and bloodthirsty monster, who was said to have no mercy for anyone who crossed him.
She remembers Quinlan being shaken when he learned that this Alpha had come back from Britain. Draiken De Laurentiis, the first grandson of the De Laurentiis family, is Quinlan's rival to the throne.
Driven by the urge to avoid such a formidable Alpha, Aetheria made a swift decision to leave the luxurious yet unfamiliar confines of Draiken's estate. As she burst through the room's door, her sudden movement caused it to swing open widely, revealing a line of servants arrayed outside. Yet, their intentions to serve only deepened her desire to escape.
Canaiez, who stood at the forefront, addressed her with a formality that felt foreign in her current state of turmoil. "Miss Frostborne," he began, his tone respectful yet firm, aiming to convey both concern and authority.
Without even batting an eye or allowing the expectations they carried to influence her, Aetheria responded decisively. "I am leaving, and I am grateful for you taking care of me," she declared, her voice laden with gratitude and urgency. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and ran.
Canaiez, momentarily taken aback by her swift rejection, instinctively commanded the servants to stop her, hoping to prevent her from making a rash decision that could place her in danger once more. Yet, before the servants could act on his command, Draiken intervened with a subtle yet authoritative gesture, signaling them to stand down.
The amusement evident on Draiken's face as he watched Aetheria flee was a complex mix of admiration for her spirit and amusement at her defiance. "Let her be," he said. The servants, understanding the unspoken command in their Alpha's demeanor, reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Aetheria the freedom she so desperately sought.
"Alpha, why did you not stop her?" Canaiez asked as he followed Draiken into his room. "I thought you fancied that human?"
"I do," Draiken answered.
"Then why?"
"When hunting, prey should be chased before devouring them, and wild cubs must be tamed before you can pet them." The woman is no different.
"What if something happens to that human again?" Canaiez said it in a calm voice.
"Nothing will happen to her in my land, Canaiez," Draiken answered as he unbuttoned his suit.
"She has nowhere to go, I'm pretty sure she will return to the Frostbornes."
"Let her be, Canaiez." With that statement, Draiken walked away, leaving Canaiez standing alone.
"You have a meeting with the council later at ten, Alpha," Canaiez called out to Draiken's retreating figure but received no response. Canaiez let out a deep sigh. He knew that the upcoming meeting with the council would be crucial for Draiken's future as the next head of the De Laurentiis.
Meanwhile, Aetheria was back in the Frostborne Estate, aside from the fact that she had nowhere to go, she had learned something from rogues. Ashara has something to do with the attempt to kill her.
"Open the gate," Aetheria commanded the guards. Without hesitation, the guards let her in.
The moment she stepped into the house, Ashara's reaction was all the confirmation Aetheria needed. The surprise and disappointment etched on Ashara's face spoke volumes, revealing her involvement. Ashara had expected Aetheria to be gone, perhaps even dead, not standing before her, alive and burning with accusations held in her gaze.
Before Aetheria could confront Ashara, Shezafera Frostborne appeared and, without warning, struck Aetheria's face, a slap that echoed through the hall. "For giving us embarrassment last night by running away," Shezafera hissed, her eyes cold with fury. The slap was not just a punishment; it was a statement, a demonstration of the Frostbornes' perceived superiority and control.
She could feel her cheek stinging from the blow, yet stood her ground. The pain of the slap paled in comparison to the betrayal she felt, the realization that the family she had once sought acceptance from was capable of such treachery.
"You know why I left," Aetheria retorted. "Ashara's involvement with those rogues... was it all part of your plan?" Ashara recoiled, her earlier confidence faltering under Aetheria's direct accusation.
Shezafera, attempting to regain control of the situation, turned her ire towards Ashara. "Is this true? Did you have a hand in this madness?" Shezafera demanded, her gaze piercing. The matriarch's question was not driven by concern for Aetheria but by the potential scandal that Ashara's actions could bring upon their family.
"Of course not, mother. Me, who hates rogues? I would never put our family's reputation at risk like that." Ashara lied.
"Stop blaming your sister, Aetheria!" Shezafera snapped as she turned to face her.
"Aetheria, you disappoint me in so many ways." The voice of Luiz Frostborne echoed through the hall as he just entered. "How could you turn your back on Quinlan Brancacci and put him into humiliation just like that? He is the future of the De Laurentiis, you know very well we can't mess them up." Aetheria could not believe what she heard.
"Who's turning his back on whom? Who is humiliating whom, Father?" Aetheria mockingly answered.
"Manners, Aetheria! He is your father!" Shezafera intervened.
"If you are this disrespectful, I might as well kick you out of this family," Luiz exclaimed. Shezafera's smirking and Ashara's sly smile did not go unnoticed by Aetheria. But before Aetheria could even say a thing, Ashara intervened.
"Father, please. Aetheria is just a human, and the world out there is far more dangerous. She is still my sister, not by blood, but I do care for her," Ashara said. Aetheria knows it was all an act, yet the Alpha fell for it. She saw how Luiz's expression softened as he gently put his hand on Ashara's cheek.
"You're lucky to be at the mercy of your sister." Luiz was full of disdain. He then turned his back on her and left the hall.
- Writer
