The Howl of Claim | COMPLETED

XXXVI | F r e y a R u t h

Ascian ( P e r s o n W i t h N o S h a d o w )

Numb.

In my perspective, feeling numb is very good. You have pulled away from the worldly pain and feeling only to be enveloped in numbness, the only feeling that keeps you away from actually feeling.

To others, numbness is a sign of shock, pain, and inactive receptors.

For me, numbness is a grace, a blessing that helps me stay devoid of any emotion.

Right now, it was what I was feeling. Numb.

No pain, no nothing.

When I opened my eyes, I realized I was on a bed in a room with a white ceiling. It didn't take a genius to figure out that I was in the medical ward.

I was very well aware of the man talking to the doctor and I was very well aware of why I was here but what didn't seem to get to me was why was I not able to move?

It felt like an imaginary weight placed on the length of my body, weighing it down rendering it immovable.

I blacked out the moment I had ripped the Lycan into pieces and lived without a bruise but then, why was I numb? Was it because of that thing that took over my body?

What was it?

I blinked a few times, hoping the pain would never come back. I could only hope.

The pain I felt at that moment.

I blinked again, the second time I blinked, a face appeared in front of me and my eyes widened.

Darius.

He was looking at me with a gleaming smile. A smile so big that I wondered if it hurt. It was as if he couldn't contain his happiness but then, his eyes held anger as well.

Anger for those guys that had attacked us. He just didn't want to show me that part of him at the moment but I had already spotted it.

"Are you okay?" Surprisingly, it was me who asked.

Darius shook his head, still trying to shimmer his smile down a bit but he was not able to.

"Are you okay?" He asked and I nodded.

"I don't feel a thing." Literally.

A second of silence passed by, "Do you know what happened with me?" I looked at his cheek where I had punched earlier. It was slightly red.

"You half shifted, love."

I started to sit up and Darius helped me.

His hands caressing me ever so gently. Not that he wasn't gentle before, but I think I was noticing it more now.

"You half shifted into a lyacn and once we mate, you will turn completely into a Lycan." Oh.

"But for the time being, you cannot shift into anything at all. Not even your wolf." I sighed, sucks.

"You know what this half shift means?" Darius asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes. I only shake my head.

"Why do I think you are going to say something that I won't like?"

"It means you have accepted me. You want me."

"What! No, I d-" My cheeks were red and I wanted to keep saying that I did not but Darius didn't let me go any further, he had grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me to his lips, ever so softly.

"You can not hide your need from me, love." He teased my lips and I let him. Who was I stop him anyway, it wasn't like he was going to stop even if I tell him to.

Also, it was like the numbness I had been talking about for a while was kicked out of the window because all I felt right now was raw passion and the need to get a release.

So like, I accepted him as a person or a wolf?

My body was tingling all over and I wanted to jump his bones that very moment.

Now I understand! I was closing to my shift, that's why I was so moody . . . Still am.

My lips were being gently caressed by his but I couldn't move.

Darius finally pulled away slightly - giving me time to recover - and looked at me while I was frozen. Someone get me some water please or I am going to choke on my own spit and die.

I am sure he was about to go in for a kiss again when the door opened and Avalon walked in. I immediately pushed Darius away and looked somewhere else.

"I and Marco with other men are waiting for you." Marco. . .

"Marco! Is he okay?" Darius looked back at me for a while and then finally nodded. I am sure he was surprised as to why I was asking about Marco. The one I hated with a passion - not really.

"He is fine. A small scratch, he was hit by a paralyzing dart. He is okay, up and healthy." I nod slowly and look at my hands, relief washing over me. Thank god.

"Actually, the first question he asked when he woke up was about you." I look at Darius who had a very small smile on his face.

"Happy to see you guys working out." Darius whispered and my eyes went wide, is he sure he is not jealous?

Darius stood up and walked towards the door.

I started to get off the bed when Darius stopped,

"What do you think you are doing?"

I looked up at Darius who had now crossed his arms on his chest.

"Didn't you hear Avalon? Everyone is waiting."

"For me! You are going to stay here and rest. Heal!" I was about to say something when Darius put a finger to my lips, "Don't try to hurt yourself even further, I am ordering you."

And with that, he left.

I just sat surprised. Who does he think he is to order me! I am not one of his men.

Grunting, I stood up and walked towards the mirror that was attached to the wall.

Man! I looked fucking flawless. Was this because I half shifted? Damn.

No scars or acne, only smooth flawless skin. Even thicker eyelashes than before.

But . . . My hair.

They were till my collarbones - finally. It means, probably, tomorrow or today I will be having my marking ceremony. Shit! I have to talk to Darius about it.

I ran a hand through my red hair and sighed. Shall I cut them? Make them shorter to delay the day of marking.

I looked down at my clothes to notice myself in a hospital gown. Hmm.

Would it be okay to walk out of this room in a hospital gown?

There was a risk of flashing my ass to everyone but there was also a fifty percent chance of not flashing. I will be okay.

With that thought in my mind, I exited the room and started to walk in the direction where the smell of my mate was the strongest.

Damn my shifting senses, a lot of scents were now more prominent.

I started to walk with confidence and whoever passed by me, lowered their gazes - Definitely something that has to do with my half shift.

Continuing to walk, I finally stopped out of the door of a room that held several lycans in it including my mate.

They would not know.

I attached my ear to the door and tried to listen. I expected voices but there was nothing until the door I was leaning in opened and I immediately straightened up.

My erasthai looked down with golden eyes and furrowed eyebrows.

"Everyone, out." His voice thundered and the men who were inside immediately shuffled out of the room but I stood confidently.

I noticed, that all the men who passed me had their eyes cast down.

After giving Darius a once over, I decided I didn't want to talk to him anymore and I turned around to walk away as well but Darius had other plans.

He pulled me into the meeting room and slammed the door shut behind me.

"Haven't anyone taught you to not to eavesdrop?" Darius had me pinned to the door with one of his arms above my head.

"And in a hospital gown!"

I just noticed something.

He made me weak. I felt so vulnerable around him. My emotions were always haywire but the sense of safety always calmed me. I can no longer get angry at him and it annoyed me.

"What were you guys talking about?" I raised an eyebrow and I immediately saw the ignorance in his eyes, he wasn't going to tell me.

"Nothing that should concern yo-"

"Listen, if you want me to be your better half, you better include me in your Pack's business. Then how else am I going to feel capable of standing beside you? I should go back to my pack, at least I would be includ-"

"The man, who came to get you was someone we knew. Just that." Darius came closer, "-And never threaten me with you leaving cause I am not letting you go anywhere anymore. I have been co-operative enough by giving you space and all, but not anymore."

Darius looked at my hair and then back in my eyes, "We will be having our ceremony tomorrow so you can finally be the part of my pack."

...

Hello Wolfies ♥️

Bye Wolfies ♥️

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