Chapter 5-AZALEA

The room I was in became suffocating, the adrenaline of what just happened leaving and reality kicking in. Wolves just attacked me. I sat on the edge of the bed in the room I found myself in. It was a simple hut in the woods that August brought me to rest my legs. The lamp cast long shadows on the wall, but the dim light did nothing to ease the storm raging in my chest. 

August’s voice still echoed in my ears, sharp and frustrated, how he'd looked at me like I had broken some unspoken rule. 

It made my stomach twist, but behind the anger, I'd seen something raw and vulnerable, though he'd never admit it. That was August. I have come to know him over the past few weeks, and it's a surprise how fast I'm catching up. 

My fingers absentmindedly found the mark on my neck. A jolt of electricity went through me when I did that, and a hiss came from my lips before I could stop it. 

The door creaked, and my head snapped up; my heart jumped into my throat when I saw him step in—closing the door behind him without a word. His presence filled the room like a storm cloud, and I felt the magnetic pull I always felt whenever he was near. 

“You shouldn't have been out there.” His voice was low but scolding. 

“Do you even realise how dangerous it was?”

“I'm sorry,” I said quickly. My voice was shaky. “I just…” I swallowed hard, trying to hold my ground under the weight of his glare. “I needed to see you.”

He froze, his jaw tightening. I thought he might yell for a moment, but his voice was softer when he spoke. 

“You shouldn't have had to come looking for me, Azalea; that's on me.”

Something in his tone was heavy and full of refer that made my heart ache, but before I could respond, his voice came rushing out like a dam breaking. 

“Do you have any idea what you've done?” He asked, pacing the room. “Everyone knows now, Azalea. Everyone knows now that you're my mate.”

The air left my lungs in a rush. 

“What?” I whispered. “How?” 

“My brother,” he growled, his tone dripping with bitterness. “He twisted the truth and made it sound like I betrayed them. Like I turned my back on them for a human.” 

My stomach churned. “That's not true,” I said quickly, facing him. “You didn't betray anyone.”

“Try telling them that.” He snapped, running his hands through his hair. His frustration was obvious, making the room feel smaller. “They don't trust you, Azalea. They don't trust us; now they see you as a threat.”

 I couldn't breathe. My legs felt weak, and but I refused to let him see me falter. “I didn't mean to make things worse,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. 

He stopped pacing and turned to me, his expression softening enough to see the sharp edges of his words. “I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean to make things worse, but that's why I told you to stay away from the woods; it's not safe for you. Not anymore.”

“You didn't come to see me anymore,” I said trembling. I didn't know why I sounded like I wanted to cry, and I didn't know why it felt like his words hurt me; I honestly could not pinpoint what was going on with me exactly. “For days, August, I wanted…I thought…” My throat tightened, and I forced myself to look away. “I thought you weren't going to come see me anymore or that something happened to you, so I was worried.”

He was in front of me before I could blink, his hands reaching for mine; his touch was warm and grounding, sending shivers up my spine. “You think I don't want you?” He asked, his voice low and rough. 

“Azalea, I've wanted you every second since I laid my eyes on you. You're all I think about; the mate pull is not even making it easy. Do you know how hard it's been to stay away? Do you know the amount of times I had to sport blue balls to important meetings, just thinking about you?”

My breath caught, and for a moment, I couldn't speak. Without looking at my face, I knew it was flushed.  His eyes burned into mine, filled with a desperation I hadn't expected. “Then why?” I whispered. “Why didn't you come?” I finally asked when I could put words together. 

“Because I thought I was protecting you.” He said, his voice breaking slightly. “Many things are going on beyond, and there are wars that I need to win. I needed to be careful of the way I came to you. My brother is a madman who would do anything to bring me down. So, I have to be careful around people I care about. I had to sort something out.” 

“I thought I was protecting you, but I was wrong. My absence only made things worse.”

Tears stung my eyes, and I blinked them away quickly. “Thank you for considering me, but I think I'm good. I dont need protecting.” I told him. 

“I just thought you didn't want me again,” I said, shrugging and trying my best not to make it feel like a big deal. 

“Is that even possible? Not to want your mate anymore? We are tied together forever.”

“Yeah, I get, that's what I thought though.” 

He stared at me, his gaze searching mine like there was something he was looking for. “Then come with me.” He said suddenly, his tone urgent. “Come to my pack. I need you there, Azalea; we will face them together. They'll have to accept you if they see how much you mean to me. I need you, just you.”

My heart twisted, the weight of his words crashing down on me. I pulled back slightly, shaking my head. “I can't,” I said softly. “Not yet.”

I gave him the same answer I've been giving him since he started asking me the question. 

I couldn't leave my father. I just couldn't.