Elis
I couldn't take it anymore. The cottage felt suffocating, her scent overwhelming and her presence intoxicating. I forced myself up from the sofa, ignoring the lingering weakness in my limbs, and strode toward the door.
"What is it? Where are you going?" Lily's voice was filled with concern as she quickly stood to follow me
"Don't!" I barked, my voice sharper than I intended. "Stay here."
The authority in my tone made her hesitate, but I didn't wait to see if she would obey. I stormed out of the cottage, every step heavy with frustration and turmoil. The woods were my only refuge, a place where I could escape her pull and where I could avoid doing something I would regret. I needed to distance myself from her. I wanted her desperately, more than I had ever wanted anything, but I couldn't let myself give in. The curse was a shadow that had loomed over my life for twenty-six years, robbing me of a mate and leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. I wouldn't let Lily become another victim of it.
"Elis! Elis!" Her voice carried through the night, soft and sweet, but it hit me like a storm. Her scent followed, trailing after me, tugging at my every resolve. Lavender, wildrose, and something raw, wrapped around me like a vice and choking the air from my lungs.
"Where are you going?" she called again, her voice closer now.
Before I could stop her, she caught up and grabbed my hand. Her touch burned through me like fire, and my wolf, Tika, roared inside me, thrashing against the fragile walls of my control.
I froze. My body stiffened as her warmth seeped into my skin, spreading through me like a poison I couldn't resist. I felt my restraint slipping and my resolve crumbling.
"Lily," I growled, my voice low and guttural, strained with the effort of holding Tika back.
She didn't let go. Her wide, innocent eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I saw no fear, only concern and only her stubborn determination to reach me.
"Are you running from me?" she asked softly, her words a dagger to my heart.
I couldn't answer. Instead, I turned, my gaze locking onto hers. The moonlight bathed her face, highlighting every curve, every detail, and I knew I was done for. Tika howled in my mind, his growl vibrating through me.
I leaned closer, my voice barely a whisper as I forced the words out. "You don't understand what you're doing to me, Lily. You have to stay away."
Her grip tightened. "I'm not going anywhere, Elis. You can't leave like this, you need to heal a bit and I want to help."
Her defiance stirred something primal within me and something dangerous. I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep control. But as her scent enveloped me and her touch burned against my skin, I realized I was fighting a losing battle.
Tika surged forward, and I felt the faintest tremor of a shift beneath my skin.
"Lily," I rasped, my voice barely above a whisper as I stared into her eyes. She was too close, too warm and too trusting. The pull between us was like a live wire, humming with an intensity I'd never felt before. My control was slipping, and I knew it.
Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out. Her breath mingled with mine, soft and sweet, and I could feel her heartbeat racing through the space between us.
I couldn't stop myself. I reached for her, my hands gripping her arms firmly and pulled her closer. "You don't know what you're doing to me," I growled, my voice laced with both frustration and longing.
"Elis…" she started, but her words were cut off as I crushed my lips to hers. The moment our lips met, a wave of heat surged through me, igniting every nerve in my body. Her softness contrasted sharply with the rough desperation in my kiss. I couldn't hold back; I was claiming her and marking her, even though I knew I shouldn't.
Her hands found their way to my chest, first pressing against me as if to push me away, but then curling into fists and clinging to me instead. Her touch set my skin on fire, and I groaned against her lips, unable to get enough.
Her breath hitched as I deepened the kiss, my fingers threading through her hair and holding her in place. It wasn't just passion, it was something more, something primal and unexplainable, something that connected us on a level I didn't fully understand but couldn't deny.
But then, reality slammed into me like a freight train.
I broke the kiss abruptly, pulling back and panting heavily, my forehead resting against hers. "Lily…" My voice was hoarse, filled with both longing and torment. "I can't. I shouldn't. You don't understand what you're doing by staying close to me."
She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen from the kiss. "Elis, I'm not afraid of you," she whispered, her voice steady but laced with emotion. "I told you, I'm not leaving you like this. Stop running! She demanded.
I clenched my jaw, torn between wanting to kiss her again and desperate need to protect her from me. "You don't understand what I want to do to you now, it's something you haven't experienced before" I said, my voice a low growl.
"I may not understand but let me calm your storm. Stay with me and stop running, Let me help you." She whispered, staring deeply into my eyes.
"Lily," I rasped, my voice breaking as I struggled to rein in the storm raging within me. The heat, the pull and the bond, it was too much. My breath was uneven, and my hands trembled as I gazed into her wide and trusting eyes. "Whatever happens from now on… do not blame me. You asked for this."
Before she could respond, I swept her off her feet in one swift motion. She gasped but didn't protest, instinctively wrapping her arms tightly around my neck. Her touch sent a jolt through me, making Tika, my wolf, growl in satisfaction. She clung to me, her fingers gripping as if she trusted me to protect her. But what she didn't realize was that I wasn't the danger she needed protection from - she was the danger.
I carried her deep into the woods, my steps steady and purposeful despite the chaos inside me. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting a silvery glow on the forest floor. The scent of pine and earth mingled with her intoxicating aroma, consumed me. My wolf roared, clawing at my mind, demanding release.
We reached a clearing under a canopy of short trees. The ground was soft, blanketed in lush, carpet-like grass that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. I stopped, my breathing ragged, and gently lowered her onto the grass.
"Stay," I growled, my voice a mix of warning and desperation.
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I faltered. Her trust and her innocence were almost unbearable. But Tika surged forward, his instincts overpowering my hesitation.
I crouched over her, my body trembling as I fought for control. My hands gripped the ground on either side of her, and my head dropped low. I could feel her breath on my face, hear the rapid beat of her heart echoing in my ears. She wasn't afraid, not even close.
"Elis," she whispered, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "You don't have to fight this alone. I'm here for you. Don't just run off again."
Her words were like a dagger to my chest. I let out a low, guttural growl, tilting my head back to glare at the moon. The curse burned inside me, relentless and unforgiving, but her presence was the only thing keeping me tethered to any shred of humanity I had left.
"Lily," I rasped again, my voice softer now but laced with urgency. "I don't want to hurt you… but I don't think I can stop myself."
The forest grew eerily quiet as if holding its breath, waiting for what was to come.