I sigh in pure bliss. Goddess, this is the way to live.
I turn the page of my book, the sunlight illuminating the library also warms it up. My hand returns to run through the soft tendrils of hair in my lap— attached to Luke’s head.
The sound of him turning the page of his book is loud in the soothing silence.
With considerable willpower, I turn my eyes away from my book and towards the grandfather clock against the wall.
“It’s already been two hours,” I say out loud, surprise evident in my voice
Luke lifts his head off my lap and straightens himself, pulling his legs down the couch “I could’ve sworn it's only been twenty minutes.”
I stretch my arms above my head, a grin curving my lips as I pull my legs up and settle comfortably on the couch, my
book in my hands.
“Go do your Alpha duties,” I say to Luke with a dismissive wave “I’m going to finish this one today.”
Since I can't really meet the rest of those who survived due to the risk of them finding out about the mark, Luke had
showed me the library that’s just in front of the staircase leading to the top floor— the whole of which is reserved for the winners.
I see Luke frown from my peripheral. When I give him no attention he sighs and heaves himself off the couch.
“Why don’t you come along?” he says “I could use a review on the accommodations for the unsupervised packs.”
“We did that last night, remember?” I say, mindlessly turning the page of my book
“Did we?”
“Yes.”
When he doesn’t move from his place for a few more moments, I raise my hooded eyes to meet his, feigning confusion.
“I will be going then,” He says, picking up his suit jacket and shrugging it on
He walks to the door, steps sluggish and determined at the same time. I bite my lip not to grin as I say;
“Luke?”
He pivots on his heel, intent gaze on me “Yes?”
“Would you mind sending a cup of tea here?” I say innocently “Thank you.”
His eyes narrow a fraction, I’m dead sure he can see the amusement dancing across my eyes but he only gives me a
nod and goes out of the door, shutting it behind with a thud!
A laugh escapes me— more like a mischievous giggle. Luke does not like being ignored.
Only moments later, a maid comes in. I look up, a little surprised for a few reasons. The first being that it was too
quick of service to be real, the second being that the maid has no cup in her hands, the third being it that doesn’t make sense why she’s here if not for the tea.
“Alpha Supreme is asking for you in his office, Ms. Attwood.” She tells me
Seriously? With a huff, I push myself off the couch and place a bookmark in my book.
“Did he say what for?” I ask her as we start for the door
“No, Ms.” The maid replies “But there are guests in his office.”
Guests. My heart leaps in my chest at first thought that it must be mom, mom here to see me.
Homesickness crashes over me like a tide of rough water, drowning any logic or sense and the next thing I know is
that I’m racing above the stairs, towards his office.
Without knocking, I go through the door open, face warm and breaths short from having run up so fast. My eyes instantly land on Luke, then to the visitor’s chair, a woman turns to face me.
I almost step back with disappointment.
Korra. Not mom.
Of course you dumbass! How could she be here right now?
Trying to cover up my expression, I offer her a small smile.
“Hello,” I say as I walk towards the other visitor chair
“Expecting someone else, dearie?” Korra asks, her blazing yellow eyes fix on my mark
“No, not really.” I lie smoothly “How come you’re here?”
She turns her gaze to Luke, mirth fills her eyes “Ya didn’t tell ’er, beastie?”
Luke’s eyes narrow at that word, a low growl rumbles through him but he says nothing of it.
“You knew, didn’t you?” Luke gives her a customary disdainful glance
“Please,” She rolls her eyes “This is ’ow fate wanted it, so this is ’ow it went.”
He keeps his glare on her for a few more moments, then turns to me.
“Hazel, I told you we cannot let anyone know about us yet.” He says I nod “Korra’s here to help with that.”
“You told me that.” I say, turning my face to the witch “Can I trust you not to blow my head up?”
“Not remotely.”
The glare that Luke sends her even makes Korra hold a hand up in defense.
“Cool down, beastie.” She flashes him a grin, golden teeth gleaming “I ain’t hurting yar treasure.”
Luke gets up from his place to make his way towards me, his hand falls on my shoulder. He gives it a reassuring squeeze. I take a deep breath, biting my bottom lip.
Am I going to do this? Remove the mark that saved my life? That’s supposed to be the most expensive jewelry
I ever wear?
I turn my eyes to Luke, his gaze is apologetic, reflecting the ruefulness in my own eyes. With a sigh, I internally shake myself.
Get a hold of yourself, Elise. It’s temporary masking.
I nod at Luke, surprising both of us with a fierce grin.
“Should I just get it done with?” Korra asks, almost bored
“Let's do this while the fit is on us,” I say
She closes her eyes, muttering words under her breath. Wisps of gold spin out of her wand and slowly swirl towards me. The wisps curl around me. I feel pain shoot up my skin as if someone is burning my skin with a blue-hot flame.
My lips part instinctively and a blood-curdling scream escapes. I rub my arms, my neck feeling as if something is ripping my skin off. Melting something off me, as if I’m being put from one skin into another. I cant hear my voice but my throat is burning raw with pain.
My senses give in, numbing and bending away under the pain that comes over me. I feel like I’m falling, but I don’t reach the ground. I keep falling and falling and falling until there’s something soft against my back.
I wretch my eyelids to open up, my vision lurches and so does my stomach. I feel sick, like that one time I did when I
thought it’s a good idea to ride in the washing machine with the door open.
With a groan, I heave myself up the bed.
The next instant, I find myself looking into familiar stormy blue eyes, raking over me, searching.
“Are you alright, Hazel?” Luke asks “Does it hurt anywhere?”
“Just dizzy,” I rub my temple “What the hell happened?”
A different voice answers me from the other side of my room.
“What the stars willed, dearie. I removed yar mark.”
“That, that’s impossible,” I say, my wide eyes land on Korra
“Ya ’haven't completed the bond, dearie,” Korra says simply
With a low growl, Luke advances at her “The deal was to mask it, make it undetectable.”
Kora grins “What’s done is done.”
Luke gives her a death glare “I should kill you right now.”
“The leash has already slipped,” she looks pointedly at his hands
Mine and Luke’s eyes follow her line of sight and I see his fingers elongated, pointed to sharp claws.
“Need some air, beastie?” She raises an eyebrow, but the momentary glance she sends my way doesn’t go unnoticed by me
“I’m not leaving you alone with her,” Luke growls lowly
“As ya wish.” Korra shrugs but casts a glance at me again
She makes her way towards the window, probably ready to take flight when she looks at me yet again. Curiosity
grabs me by the shirt front and shakes me hard.
“Wait!” I say, without waiting for anyone to answer, I get off the bed
My head spins slightly, but I feel a lot better than I did a few moments ago. Luke instantly moves to my side, placing a hand on the small of my back. I can feel his skin burning with withheld anger.
“You want to say something,” I say to Korra “Then say it.”
She cocks her head, thinking. Then nods, maybe to me, probably to herself.
“Send ’im out and I will.”
Another low growl slips past Luke’s lips, he takes a step forward but I hold him back.
“Just for a moment,” I say quietly “You can wait just outside the door.”
His eyes snap to mine and I’m taken aback by just how dark they are “No. I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Luke, please.” I cup the side of his face “If anything goes wrong I’ll scream my lungs out, promise.”
His eyes dart between both of mine, unconvinced, concerned.
I try again “At my request?”
His jaw tightens, every muscle in his body tenses like springs under pressure but his head jerks a nod. He turns his stormy eyes to Korra.
Luke lets out a breath and I see the armor slide back in place, he puts his hands behind his back, looking down at the
witch with an impassive face.
“Anything happens to her,” he says slowly, calmly, each word hard as a rock “And Braxton will have to face the consequence.”
For one split second, Korra’s eyes widen but she recovers too quickly. A shadow crosses her face, making her yellow eyes more pronounced.
“Done yar share of bargaining, haven’t ya?” she asks, a slight sneer in her voice
“My whole life is a series of bargains, witch.” Luke says “And I always keep my end of the deal.”
With that he leaves the room, closing the door behind. I shift awkwardly on my feet.
“So what did you want to say to me?” I ask calmly
Korra turns her glare from the door to my face “Keeping in mind that full moon is coming, I’ll let him go this time.”
I give her a tight-lipped smile, she lets out a muffled sigh.
“The stars seem ta love playing with ya, dearie.” She says
My brows pull together “How so?”
“Ya know what ’e is, what ’e is gonna become on the full moon.” She says I nod “And ’ is marked on ya, the beast’s
assurance that ’is mate belongs ta ’im, is gone.”
My stomach turns in unease “Luke wouldn’t hurt me, he never has.”
“And ’is mate just so ’happens to be an omega,” Korra ignores my statement “A fragile doll ’e needs ta protect.”
“Luke isn’t like that,” I say, a bit severer this time
“Winters ain’t,” Korra shrugs “But the beast is.”
Korra’s amber eyes settle on mine with a seriousness I haven’t seen before “Don’t let the beast break the chains of restraint Winters has on ’im.”
She turns to the window again and what she says next is barely audible to me;
“The beast cant hurt ya,” she whispers “But ’e can hurt many people ya would like ta see alive.”
Then she shifts into a raven and takes off, leaving me with a racing heart and a swimming head.
I open the door and find Luke just outside, his head snaps to mine and I usher him inside.
“Are you alright?” he asks me instantly, I nod “What did she say?”
I chew my bottom lip “To be careful.”
Luke drags a hand down his face, rubbing his jaw before he lets his hand drop. He closes the distance between us,
cradles my face in his hands, and sets his forehead against mine. His skin is warm against my own, callous hands on my soft cheeks. No stars erupt across my skin, but the sure, warm tingles of his touch make my heart flip.
“Did it hurt a lot?” he asks quietly
My lips tug upward in an easy smile “Like hell.”
“I’m sorry.” Luke says, disappointment evident in his voice “I didn’t know—
I press a quick kiss to his lips “You don’t have to apologize to me.”
His lips quirk upwards at my words, but the smile dims the moment I step back. Luke leans down to kiss me again but I swiftly turn my face so his lips touch my cheek.
“What?” I hold back a laugh at his bewildered expression “I’m tired.”
Luke narrows his eyes at me, a hint of playfulness gleaming in his eyes “Of course, Hazel, you should rest.”
He leans forward so his lips brush against my ear, causing a shiver to race down my spine.
“Trust me, you’ll need it in the long run.” He whispers
“Aren’t you being too desperate, Winters?” I ask
His shoulders shake with silent laughter “You don’t know what desperate looks like, Elise.”
“You need a cold shower,” I pull away from him, a half-embarrassed, half-amused look on my face “And a reminder that you have work to do.”
With a huff, he lets go of me “Rest, and tell me if you feel anything isn’t right.”
I roll my eyes despite my smile “I will,”
Reluctantly, Luke goes out of the room yet again, closing the door behind. The worry I’d felt while talking to Korra evaporates quickly. She’s probably just angry at Luke. Luke wouldn’t lose his calm, he hadn’t lost it before.