KIARA’S POV
I paced up and down the cell of the dungeon trying to wrap my head around what had happened. Cami had brought food and water for me.
Once inside the cell, Cami threw the food and water on the floor and wrapped herself with the silver chains. I had been so stunned by her actions that I couldn’t react.
That b*** wasn’t as simple as she presented herself to be. She was definitely trying to frame me. I had to talk to Kevin about this. I did want Kevin to hate me and stay away from me. But, that doesn’t mean I would let someone walk over me.
Kevin and mom were too disturbed to lock the door of the cell behind them. So, I just walked out of the dungeon.
The moon was shining high in the sky. The cool breeze caressed my face. All of a sudden I realised that I hadn’t sent the daily.
Taking out my phone, I clicked a few pictures of the dungeon. My head was buried in my phone and I didn’t notice when I had ventured near the lake.
I would have walked straight into the water but Kevin’s strong arms grabbed me. He spun me around so I was facing him.
My heart pounded in my ears over the soft rippling of the water. He lifted my chin roughly and met my eyes.
His gaze was cold and piercing as if he was trying to search my soul. “I never thought you could hurt someone…” He gritted out through clenched teeth.
My heart shattered to tiny bits on seeing the hatred and fury in his eyes. I wanted to tell him that it was a ploy but restrained myself. After all, I had worked so hard to make him hate me. How could I let this opportunity pass?
“I never thought you could hurt someone…” He muttered again before releasing me. I grasped a branch of a nearby bush to steady myself. Blood trickled down my wrist as the thorns from the brambles pierced my hand.
A hiss escaped my mouth but Kevin didn’t turn back. His steps didn’t even falter slightly. With sure, steady steps he disappeared into the darkness.
A dry laugh escaped my throat. I must be the first werewolf in the world who had tried her best to garner her mate’s hatred… Now that he hated me, shouldn’t I be celebrating?
KEVIN’S POV
I wandered through the woods aimlessly. I knew that Kiara was headstrong and cheeky but I never thought that she would do anything serious.
Guilt, pain, despair grief shrouded my heart in a thick fog. I didn’t know what to do anymore. If my mate didn’t like me, I could keep trying to win her heart. But, I had a feeling that she despised me… maybe she was… just plain evil who derived pleasure by hurting others…
I don't know how long I kept walking or how deep I had ventured into the forest. A sudden change in the environment sent a shiver down my spine; jolting me back to reality. I drew in a deep breath, trying to figure out the cause of my apprehension.
My eyes widened as I was assaulted by unfamiliar scent. My ears caught onto their heavy breathing and erratic heartbeat. Their intentions didn’t seem good.
Before I could shift and prepare for the attack, I was ambushed by three werewolves.
A scream escaped my mouth as one of them managed to clamp his teeth on my right arm. I swung my leg and kicked him in the gut. The wolf went flying across and hit a tree.
A painful howl escaped his throat as he fell to the ground with a crash. This seemed to have deterred the other two wolves. I know I should have shifted but I got distracted by their appearance.
The large black wolf and the smaller brown one had the same shade of eyes. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had seen them before.
My vision became bleary and my head started spinning. I staggered and fell flat on my face. I willed myself to get up and fight back but my body felt like it weighed a hundred tonnes.
“Kevin!” Kiara’s sweet voice was the last thing I heard before my eyelids drooped and darkness engulfed me…
KIARA’S POV
I sat on a boulder, gazing at the water of the lake. The reflection of the moon would get bleary every time there was a ripple. The lapping of the water seemed like music in the silence of the night.
An ear-piercing scream echoed through the woods making me shudder. I don't know if my head was messed up or something, the voice sounded like Kevin. Scrambling to my feet, I took off in the direction of the scream. Kevin or not, someone was in need of my help.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Kevin's still form lying on the ground, not far from the lake.
“Kevin!” I called out in a panicked voice as I ran towards him. I kneeled in front of him and turned him over.
My heart almost stopped beating when I saw froth oozing out of his mouth. Why did his condition seem like the boy I had kissed?
“No! No! No! Don’t even think about it. Nothing will happen to him.” I chanted as I tried to feel his pulse.
I let out a sigh of relief when I felt the gentle throbbing on his wrist. My hands shook uncontrollably as I took out my phone and called Nivaan.
The moment he picked up the call, I blurted out, “Nivaan… come quickly near the lake of the packhouse…” When he didn’t reply instantly I added, “Please…”
I licked my lips as I stared at the screen of the phone. Why didn’t Nivaan reply? Was he in some danger? Was his phone with Ariana? Damn! I should have thought before calling him.
My eyes darted to Kevin’s pale face. I felt so helpless…
“Hello! Is someone there? Somebody, please help!” I kept shouting at the top of my lungs but the only reply I got was the echo of my own voice.
I paced Kevin’s head on my lap and tried to wake him up but he was unresponsive. His face was taking on a bluish tinge.
Tears flowed down my cheeks as I prayed, “Please… you have to save my mate… I never complained even after suffering so much hardship… but if anything happens to him, I will… I will…” I burst out sobbing after that…
There was a faint popping sound and Nivaan emerged with a tall girl with blonde hair.
She knelt in front of me and examined the wound on his arm. Her face turned ashen as she exclaimed, “Damn! He has been bitten by one of the poisoned wolves…”
My heart skipped a beat at her statement. My voice shook as I asked, “What do you mean?”
“The wolf who bit him was given the same potion as you…”
My hands flew to my mouth and I stared at her, too petrified to speak. How in the hell did she know about me?
Nivaan placed his hand on her shoulders and asked, “Is there no way to save him?”
My heart pounded in anticipation as she kept quiet for a while. Her eyes remained locked with my brother as if they were having a silent conversation.
She exhaled deeply and said, “Mom has an antidote…”
Nivaan grasped her hand and said, “Please Vally…”
She pursed her lips and nodded before disappearing.
“It’s okay cuckoo… he will be alright… you shouldn’t worry so much… it is not like he is your real mate…” Nivaan said, sitting beside me.
Letting out a deep sigh, I said with a weak smile, “I must be the most unlucky person in this world…”
His jaws hung open and his eyes widened, “Don’t tell me that Kevin is your mate…”
My lips pursed into a thin line and I nodded. I ran my hand through Kevin’s hair and said, “Hang in there love… I am the only one who can kill you…”
NIvaan jumped to his feet and started pacing around like a wounded animal. “F***! F***! F***! This is so cruel… how can that b*** make you do this…”
“She doesn’t know that Kevin is my real mate… you shouldn’t tell her either…”
“Hmm… that makes things even more complicated… But, you are right we should not let Ariana find out about this…”
“Don’t you think we should try to treat Kevin ourselves? What if she doesn’t return?” I said, sensing Kevin’s weakening pulse.
“She will come,” Nivaan’s confident voice left no room for argument.
Valence did appear a few moments later with a syringe. Without any explanation, she injected the contents right into Kevin’s neck.
The effect was almost instant. Color returned to his face and his pulse became steady. In a few more minutes the wound on his arm started healing.
“He will remain unconscious for a little more while. You must go and get some help.”
I placed Kevin’s head on the ground and got to my feet. I tried to walk but my feet were too wobbly and I staggered.
Nivaan was beside me in an instant. He supported me and looked at Valence questioningly.
“You go with her, I will keep a watch till you guys return…” Valence said, sitting beside Kevin and checking his pulse…”
Nivaan grasped my hand tightly and supported me as I walked through the stony path to the packhouse.
“How do you know Valence?”
“Umm… she has been…umm… helping me… look for mom and dad…” He stuttered, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What was Nivaan trying to hide?
I stopped walking, forcing him to halt as well. Placing my hand on either of his shoulders, I raised my eyebrows. “What are you not telling me?”
He looked at me with innocent eyes and batted his eyelids. That little swine. It wasn’t so easy to fool me. I squinted my eyes and pinched his ears lightly.
“Oww!!! Fine… I will tell you… Valence is Ariana’s daughter…”
“What the bloody hell! We should go back immediately… What if she kills Kevin?”
“If she wanted Kevin dead, why would she save his life?”
“Ummm… Still…”
“Cuckoo, listen to me carefully… Over the past two years, she was the one who helped me sneak out of the cottage. I trust her…”
Looking at him defend her so passionately, I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you love her too?”
“Are you crazy!? Every time I look at her face, I am reminded of Ariana. Do you really think I can develop feelings for her?”
The sound of something dropping drew my attention. I turned to find Valence standing behind us.
Tears gleamed in her inner eye. She seemed hurt by Nivaan’s words. Clearing her throat she grabbed Nivaan’s hand and said, “There is no one in the packhouse. So, I teleported Kevin to your bedroom. We must leave before mom arrives…”
They vanished before I could even say goodbye. I couldn’t help but worry about my brother. Love is a complicated thing. It makes you irrational. God knew what Valence would do to keep Nivaan tied to her…