CHAPTER 172: No Control
CHAPTER 172: No Control
RHEA
Blood.
It’s everywhere, on my hands, under my claws, splattered across my fur. At my feet lies a wolf, its throat torn open, eyes still open, unseeing.
I did this.
The realisation should sicken me. Should fill me with remorse, with disgust at my own actions. Instead, I feel hungry and empty.
Hungry for more blood.
More pain.
I lift my nose into the air and inhale deeply, searching for another scent that might lead me back into the hunt. And I find it running away.
I believe they were running together, the one that I have on my feet and the one that is running. They had attacked me while I was on my run and now they will be hunted.
I can’t stop it. Can’t help.
I chase her, the she–wolf, across the field, through the trees and bushes, through the mud and the puddles. I’m gaining on her, I’m faster than her.
She’s weak, and I’m strong. The scent of her blood makes me more and more angry, more and more vicious, more and more desperate.
When she’s finally close enough, I launch myself at the wolf, taking her to the ground. Her body rolls, and she’s fast to get on all fours and turn to face me, but not fast enough.
My teeth sink into her fur and I can taste the blood, feel it rushing to her skin. I can hear the beating of her heart as my jaws tighten.
I can’t let go. I need this.
“Let her go.” Aron’s voice reaches me through our link, and I can sense he’s close. He’s coming.
But I can’t let go. Not now. She deserves to die.
“Rhea,” He warns again, this time firmer, and I can feel him coming closer.
“Let go. She’s one of ours. You don’t hurt one of us. Not like this.”
I don’t want to listen to him, I can’t
But then I’m ripped off from the wolf as a force collides into my body. Aron.
I snap my teeth and snarl at him before realising it’s him. His hand comes around the base of my neck, squeezing, and I feel him forcing me to let go, to change back to my human self.
“I’ll deal with her. Check on the wolf.” He quickly says, not to me, maybe to Kovas.
I barely move under Aron’s grasp. His weight is heavy, pinning me to the ground, and his fingers grip my throat tightly, restricting my air supply, and making my body feel weak.
“I’ll let you breathe if you shift.”
I growl in protest and he shakes me roughly.
“Now.” He hisses, and I obey him. He’s in command, not me.
The shift leaves me panting and trembling as my bare stomach presses against the cold, damp earth. Aron’s still above me, and I can feel his hands, the way they’re moving across my skin.
“You hurt one of our own.” His voice is low, and the sound of it makes me shiver in fear. I don’t know what I have done, what is going on or how it’s all happened.
I’m just confused. And angry. I want blood.
“She attacked me,” My voice shakes.
“Oh, did she?” He asks and presses me harder against the ground, his knee digging into the side of my waist. “I don’t think so. You killed someone.”
A soft whine of pain escapes me. “Aron, please-”
“Quiet,” He snaps. “You were told not to run far off from the grounds. I specifically told you that. Didn’t I?”
1/3
“But I was-
He presses me harder, and my breath leaves me in a painful cry. His mouth moves to my ear, his lips touching the shell.” You killed someone. You went out and killed one of our wolves.”
“I-“I struggle under his grasp, wanting to be let go, but I can’t.
He won’t.
“You will learn to control yourself or else,” He speaks, slowly. “Do you understand?”
I nod my head. I don’t know what else to say or do.
His weight shifts off me, but I feel a hand wrapping around my wrist, and he tugs me to my feet, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of my arm as I stand there, trying to regain my composure. Trying to breathe and think straight.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I don’t know why–what came over me. Why I did that. It wasn’t–I just, I couldn’t. I was just so angry.” My words come tumbling out, my mind is racing and my thoughts are scattered. “I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”
His hand lets go of my arm, and I turn to him, seeing his eyes shift.
“Did she hurt you?” His voice is low.
“What?” I’m not sure of his question. Did she?
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He nods his head before he looks around. I see the she–wolf on the ground, wounded and weak, with Kovas holding her down. “Take her to the healer.” He tells Kovas.
The other man nods his head and picks up the she–wolf before carrying her out of the forest.
Aron turns to me again before wrapping his arm around me. “Come. We’ll speak more at home.”
My breathing continues to be shallow, and my skin feels cold. He covers me up with his shirt halfway before reaching the house.
“I’ll give you time to think-”
“Aron, don’t-”
“And calm down.” He stops at my door and opens it. “Stay inside and think of what you just did.” His voice lowers and I see the shift in his expression. I don’t like it.
“Aron, it wasn’t-”
“I know.” He breathes out and shakes his head. “Just go inside, for now.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to protest because he shuts the door in front of me and leaves. I’m all alone, with the guilt of knowing that I killed someone, and that Aron saw that.
He thinks I’m some kind of monster, doesn’t he?
