Chp 44
1285 Words
Pearl POV
The forest loomed ahead, dense and endless, swallowing the morning light as if it were hungrily awaiting us. My boots crunched softly against the gravel path as I followed behind Lucien, each step filled with hesitation.
He walked a few paces ahead, confident, too confident, humming under his breath as though this were a leisurely stroll and not a critical task. I clutched my map and tried to focus, but my thoughts were all tangled.
This isn’t right.
I shouldn’t be with him. I should’ve been with Demyan. Even if he was distant, even if we were fighting I trusted him. I could’ve handled anything with him beside me.
But now?
Now, I had to survive the task and Lucien.
The forest grew thicker, the sounds of the academy fading behind us. Lucien finally slowed down, turning back with a half-smile that never quite reached his eyes.
"Keep up, Perin," he said, voice light but mocking. "I wouldn’t want to carry you the whole way."
“I don’t need you to,” I replied sharply, my voice colder than I intended.
He chuckled, not offended. “Still so fiery. You know, I think I’m starting to enjoy this little adventure already.”
I didn’t answer. I just kept walking.
Branches rustled above us, and birds scattered at our footsteps. The sun filtered through the canopy in broken beams, casting fleeting shadows on the path. My instincts were alerting my senses on edge, not because of the wild but because of the man beside me.
Lucien wasn’t just unpredictable. He was dangerous. I could feel it in my bones.
And what scared me more was how far we still had to go.
The sun dipped behind the tall trees, leaving behind streaks of orange and violet across the sky. The air had grown colder, the chirping of birds replaced by the distant hoot of an owl. Each step felt heavier as the shadows thickened around us.
"We should set camp soon," I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I glanced at the map. "There’s a clearing marked here. It’s closer to the trail."
Lucien didn’t even look at the map.
“No need,” he said with a smile. “I know a better spot. Quiet. Hidden. We won’t be disturbed.”
My heart skipped. That’s exactly what I didn’t want.
He led the way off the marked trail, pushing aside brambles and stepping through uneven terrain until we reached a small, shadowy hollow surrounded by thick trees. There were no signs of other teams. No chance anyone would just happen to pass by.
“This isn’t safe,” I said, trying to sound practical. “What if something happens? We’re far from the main route.”
He turned toward me slowly, his eyes dark in the fading light. “Isn’t that the point?” he said softly. “Just the two of us, no interruptions.”
My skin crawled.
I took a step back instinctively, hugging my arms. “I think we should stick closer to the trail. I’ll camp on my own if you don’t want to.”
He chuckled low, the sound curling through the silence like smoke. “Always so defensive, Perin. Relax. I’m not going to bite… unless you want me to.”
That did it.
I turned away sharply, pulling out my sleeping cloth and unrolling it beneath a tree far from where he started setting his things. I didn’t care if the ground was hard. I just needed space. Distance.
But even as I tried to steady my breath, a deeper fear settled in my chest.
If he tried anything, I wasn’t sure I could stop him.
I wished Demyan were here.
Even if he was angry with me… even if he wouldn’t talk to me… he wouldn’t have let this happen.
I wrapped my arms around myself, pretending to be asleep long before Lucien settled down. But sleep wouldn’t come.
Because I could feel his eyes still watching me in the dark.
I kept my back turned, pretending to sleep, the rough bark of the tree pressing against my spine. My hands clutched the thin cloak I had wrapped around myself, trying to still the trembling in my fingers. The silence of the forest wasn't comforting, it was suffocating.
A twig snapped.
My heart jumped.
I kept my breathing even, feigning slumber, but my ears were wide open. Soft footsteps crept closer, too careful to be casual.
“Perin,” Lucien’s voice was low, hushed, yet too close. “You asleep?”
I didn’t move.
Another step.
He was right behind me.
“I know you’re not,” he whispered.
And then I felt it. His fingers brushed against my shoulder, far too slowly, far too deliberately.
I sat up instantly, jolting back. “Don’t touch me,” I said, my voice sharp, louder than I intended, but I didn’t care. Let the whole forest hear.
Lucien just smiled like he expected this. “You’re wound too tight. You should learn to loosen up. I could help you, you know.” He crouched beside me, gaze sliding down my body. “You always push people away. Even Demyan.”
His name on Lucien’s lips made me flinch.
“What is it between you two anyway?” he asked, tilting his head. “He guards you like a wolf over his bones. But you—you’re not his, are you?”
I stood up, backing away. “You’re disgusting.”
He followed me, step for step, eyes narrowing slightly. “You don’t get to call me names when you're hiding what you really are.”
My chest tightened.
Was he hinting at my secret?
“Stay away from me,” I warned, voice shaking.
Lucien smirked, but there was something darker in his eyes now, something dangerous. “You should sleep, Perin. It’s a long road tomorrow. And who knows what could happen in the dark if you wander off alone…”
I turned and walked straight back to my spot back stiff, fists clenched. I didn’t sleep. I didn’t even close my eyes. I waited for hours, straining my ears, heart pounding at every rustle of leaves.But he never came closer again. Still, I knew one thing. I couldn’t stay near him much longer.
I sat facing the trees, back stiff, breath shallow. The night was quiet—but not the comforting kind. It was the kind that made your skin crawl.
Suddenly, I felt it.
Arms wrapped around me from behind tight, suffocating.
“W-What—Lucien?” My voice came out cracked, panicked.
His grip only tightened.
“Let me go!” I struggled, elbowing back, trying to wriggle out, but he was too strong. I could feel his breath near my ear, cold and smug.
“I knew it,” he whispered. “You think you could fool an Alpha’s senses forever? You're a girl… and you’re mine now.”
Panic surged through me like wildfire. “No! Let go of me!” I kicked, scratched, thrashed but he held me tighter, unrelenting.
“I’ll mate with you right now,” he growled, “and once that happens, there’s no going back. You’ll have no choice but to marry me.”
Terror pulsed through my veins. My heart slammed against my ribs as I pushed, clawed, screamed—but the forest swallowed the sound.
“No—stop—” My words were lost as something sharp jabbed into my neck.
The world spun.
My strength gave out.
My arms dropped. My vision blurred.
Lucien’s voice echoed, distant and muffled, “You should’ve just accepted me…”
Then everything went black.
- Writer
