His Manipulation

Vulvan's face was now intches from mine, his hands planted firmly on the wall on either side of me, trapping me. His hot breath danced across my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

As he leaned in closer, the air seemed to thicken, making it hard for me to breathe.

"You know I really hate when I asked you a question and you prove to be stubborn by not answering me." his hands reached my neck, slowly massaging it with his thumb.

"Let's try again. DIFFERENTLY, shall we?" I repeatedly shake my head in protest. Something felt odd when he said differently, and I knew nothing good could come out of it. He started to tighten his grip on my neck, but not too much.

"Vul...Vulvan, please," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "I didn't mean to invade your privacy. I was just looking for you, I swear." My voice trembled as he applied pressure to my neck.

"Looking for me?" Vulvan sneered, his words dripping with venom. "Did I ever say I needed to be found? We fucked, Zara, and that's it. Don't act like a devoted, loyal mate when that's not what we are." His harsh words cut deep, and I felt like I'd been stabbed through the heart. I burst into uncontrollable tears, but Vulvan didn't stop. He kept spewing his venom, each word a fresh wound.

Vulvan's grip on my neck tightened, making it harder for me to breathe. I struggled to gasp for air as he asked, his voice laced with a disturbing curiosity, "Tell me, Zara, do you know how long it takes for someone to suffocate when their air supply is cut off?" His words sent a chill down my spine, and I felt like I was staring into the face of a monster.

"Huh?" I gasped, struggling to pry his hands from my neck. Vulvan's expression was apathetic, his eyes lazy and unbothered by the harm he was inflicting. He seemed completely indifferent to the fact that he was choking me, his gaze drifting over me with a disconcerting lack of concern.

My vision began to blur as my eyes rolled back in my head, and I felt my life slipping away. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: Vulvan was going to kill me over a painting. This was how it was all going to end. My struggles ceased as I watched my life fade to black, my thoughts consumed by the cruel irony of it all.

Vulvan released his grip, and I collapsed to the floor, coughing violently as I struggled to catch my breath. "Next time, don't go looking for what's not lost," he warned, turning to leave. He reached the door, then paused, turning back to face me. I quickly scrambled to my feet, still gasping for air, and followed him, obediently trailing behind as he led the way.

We entered his room, and I stood frozen, still reeling from the shock of what had just transpired. My mind struggled to process the events, and my body trembled with fear. "Zara," Vulvan called out, his voice low and husky, beckoning me to the bathroom. I hesitantly made my way there, my heart racing with anticipation. The bathtub was filled with water, and a sense of dread washed over me.

Vulvan began to undress, his movements deliberate and slow. I averted my gaze, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks as his naked body was revealed. He closed the distance between us, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine. My body betrayed me, responding to his nearness with a surge of heat. I felt a wave of confusion and shame wash over me. How could I be reacting to him like this, especially after what had just happened?

"You need a bath," Vulvan said, his gaze fixed on the paint smudge on my neck. I glanced at his hands, noticing they were also stained with paint, a grim reminder of the violent encounter we'd just had. "Are you going to get in or stand there and stare at me?" he asked, already submerged in the tub. I hesitated, wanting to refuse, but fear held me back. I knew better than to decline his offer, terrified of the consequences if I said no. With a sense of trepidation, I undressed and stepped into the tub, trying to avoid eye contact with Vulvan.

I carefully positioned myself opposite Vulvan, ensuring we faced each other. I knew this would irritate him, and his glare confirmed my suspicion. The air was thick with tension as we sat in silence. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the water against the tub. Despite my outward calm, I was terrified inside. Vulvan's unpredictability unnerved me, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind.

As I struggled to wash off the paint on my neck, Vulvan noticed my difficulty and signalled for me to come closer, his hand beckoning me to move nearer.

Without waiting for me to move, Vulvan dragged me onto his lap, causing the water to rise. I stiffened as our bodies pressed together, and I attempted to get up, but he held me firmly in place. "You mentioned looking for me," he said, his voice low and husky. "Why is that? Did you miss me?" His words were laced with a hint of mockery, and I gasped as one of his hands cupped my breast, his touch sending a shiver down my spine.

"Vulvan, please," I begged, tears streaming down my face. "Just let me go. I don't want to do this." But my pleas fell on deaf ears, and he continued his relentless pursuit. I tried again, my voice shaking with desperation. "Vulvan, I'm really tired." I hated the way my body was betraying me, responding to his touch despite my revulsion. But I refused to give in, clinging to the last shreds of my dignity and self-respect.

"Shhh, you're tensed, just relax, and I'll take care of you," he whispered, his voice dripping with lust and desire, sending a shiver down my spine. I tried to squirm away, but his grip on me was unyielding, holding me firmly in place.

I burst into tears, my fists pounding against his broad chest as I sobbed out each word. "Relax? You think I can relax? What's relaxing about this nightmare? You almost took my life, and now you expect me to calm down? Why? so you can have your way with me? why are you doing this to me?" I cried out, my body shaking with anguish.

The bathroom resonated with the sound of my tears. To my surprise, Vulvan remained silent, gently rubbing my back and cradling me in his arms as I sobbed uncontrollably. I had braced myself for his anger, expecting him to lash out at me, but instead, his touch was tender and soothing.

As I wept, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being manipulated. He was the enemy, the one who had hurt me, and yet, here I was, letting him comfort me as if nothing had happened. It was all because of the painting and the bond that tied us together. My wolf was hurting, and I knew that no matter how much I tried to resist, I would always be drawn back to him.

Vulvan held me until my tears subsided until I had poured out my heart. Time lost all meaning as we stayed in the bathroom, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the tub.

Once I had composed myself, Vulvan carefully lifted me out of the bathtub and wrapped me snugly in a towel. He then scooped me up in his arms and carried me to the bedroom. Every movement he made was deliberate and gentle, a stark contrast to his earlier behaviour.

As he laid me down on his bed, he handed me one of his shirts to wear. I took it, still feeling a bit dazed. Meanwhile, Vulvan disappeared into his closet and emerged a few moments later, dressed in a fresh shirt and sweatpants. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us palpable.

As Vulvan approached the bed, I instinctively shifted away, my wariness still palpable. He let out a deep sigh, his eyes locked on mine. "I just want to sleep beside you, nothing else, I promise," he whispered, his voice laced with a soothing gentleness.

Despite my initial hesitation, Vulvan drew closer, his body inches from mine. I tensed, my unease still simmering, but as he wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, I began to relax. The warmth of his body, the gentle pressure of his arms, and the soft beat of his heart slowly calmed my racing thoughts.

As we lay there, entwined in a tender embrace, I felt my eyelids growing heavy. The world around me melted away, and I drifted off to sleep, lulled by the comforting presence of Vulvan's body beside mine.