CHAPTER 15: I Can't Take it Anymore

The wolf in front of me shifted into his human form and I realized it was Calvin. “Hey, sorry if I frightened you. The guys sent me to see where Lexus had gone but then I saw you were here with him.”

I frowned. “You’re one of the ones making trouble for this village?” I was disappointed. 

“Not because I want to but because a pack sticks together. It was Rubens' idea and he’s the alpha’s son. It’s not like I had much I could say,” he defended himself. “Although I’m glad I got to see you.”

I couldn’t enjoy what he said because I was thinking about how upset Lexus was. “You were just following orders…” I’m not sure if that could justify his actions but I didn’t know much about werewolf packs. “You’re not going to tell anyone about me growing up in the human realm and not really being able to shift yet, right? The King and Queen don’t want anyone to know so it’s kind of a secret now.”

He smiled. “Don’t worry about it, I told you I wouldn’t say anything, and I meant it.” I had to make sure because I didn’t give very much detail to why over text. “I wouldn’t mind sharing some of my secrets with you.”

Calvin seemed a lot different than Lexus to me and maybe that’s why Lexus didn’t trust him. It’s hard to trust someone who acts so differently than what you’re used to. “Well I-“ 

He cut me off. “I have to go, they need me.” He shifted back into his wolf form and ran off. I’m not sure how he knew they needed him, but I didn’t doubt it since Lexus went after them.

Fifteen minutes later I watch a group of injured werewolves running off. I noticed Calvin was among them and felt bad. I He was making life harder on the village so I couldn’t feel that bad. Lexus walked back to me in his human form. “They’re not going to be a problem anymore.” He sat down since he was dizzy.

I noticed his wounds right away. “Lexus, I thought you just going to threaten them or something.” I looked around.

“Threatening does nothing with werewolves, you have to show dominance. Ruben isn’t going to want to put them in that situation again.” He panted.

“I’ll be right back.” I ran into the village urgently and got a first aid kit from the representative after I told her what had happened. I ran back to where Lexus was, and he was laying on the grass next to the rock. I started cleaning his wounds and patching him up. “What’s wrong with you?”

Lexus chuckled. “Nothing, it’s not that serious Aqua, I don’t need you to do any of this.”

I rolled my eyes. “I know dragon shifters heal faster than humans but some of these wounds are deep Lexus.” I continued to treat him. I could have to do this for most of my life. “You should try to think about something, so you don’t notice the pain as much.” 

“What’s it like in the human world?” He asked while looking up. “Are humans really as fragile as they say? They don’t live in kingdoms anymore, right? Have you ever met a witch?” 

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Did you hit your head so hard you have a sudden interest in humans?” I didn’t expect humans to be the topic he wanted to think about.

“No.” He looked at me. “I’ve always been interested in the human world. It’s so different from ours so it’s only natural. When I go visit it, you could show me around.” He didn’t seem like the type to be interested in something like humans, but he was. I guess the big different was enough to be interested.

I blushed. “I don’t know Lexus. The human world is a lot less free than this one. It’s mundane and the society is so strict.”

“You sound like you like it here. If a place like the human world is responsible for the person you are then it couldn’t be that bad.” It wasn’t that bad, there’s a lot I miss about the human world but the life I made there wasn’t worth staying for. “It’s going to be a minute before I can get up. I did just fight off five werewolves.” 

“Wouldn’t the alpha be upset when he finds out?” I’m not sure if I completely understood the relationship between him and the pack.

“If they told the alpha that I’m responsible for their injuries then they’d have to tell him about what they were doing here. Or I’d tell him about what they were doing here. He’d understand and they’d be punished. I have nothing to worry about.”

“Humans are fragile, they break bones commonly, they have common sicknesses, and they’re so emotional that they’re full of hate for each other. They don’t live in kingdoms but there are a few countries that are ran by monarchs. Most countries are a democracy. I’ve never knowingly met a witch.” When I was done treating his wounds, I laid down on my back next to him. “Sadia is worth all of this?”

“Do you want me to lie?” He asked again. 

I nearly said yes but I couldn’t commit to it. “No.”

“Yeah, her happiness is worth it, she deserved it.” He answered truthfully. “What would make you happy Aqua?”

I didn’t know how to answer at first, so I thought about it. “Being a part of something that’s bigger than myself.” 

“What kind of convoluted answer is that?” 

I laughed. “Well, what would your answer be Lexus?”

He turned to his side and looked at me. “Protecting the people, I care about. That includes my kingdom.” 

I sat up. “I guess that’s more straightforward. When I say being a part of something bigger than myself, I mean a family or a community. I want to be able to give myself and my love and receive that back.”

He sat up. “I understand now.” He stared at my lips. “You’ve never had that before?”

I licked my lips. “No… my adoptive family expected me to be like everyone else. They wanted me to socialize like everyone, get a job, go to college, then start a career. They wanted me to only do what was acceptable in their society. A lot of parents are like that in the human world. I gave them everything even though I was constantly falling behind. They didn’t give me anything in return. I was living for them instead of myself. I never could hold friendships so there was no community there.” I never talked to anyone in the way I talked to Lexus. I didn’t even tell my ex this stuff. I felt like my ex was just another person I had to wear a mask in front of. 

“Parents can be like that here too. Our society might not be as strict because there are a lot of acceptable directions to go in. There isn’t just one path. The only things everyone is expected to do is finish basic education and mate.” He glanced into my eyes then went back to staring at my lips. “You might not be all that better off here since you’re expected to be my adviser. You’ll be able to have a life outside of that even though Konn chooses not to. When you get more comfortable with this world and learn how to fly, you’ll be able to explore it more.”

“I think I’m going to be happy being your adviser…” He leaned closer but I stood up. “Are you able to get up now?”

He closed his eyes to collect himself. “Yeah…” he stood up and walked ahead of me to the village. He explained to the representative that she shouldn’t have any other problems with the werewolves. He flew me back to the castle and reported to Konn but left out why the werewolves were making trouble. 

Maybe the mate bond was frustrating me now.

I spent the rest of the day with Arma and Stewart. We hung out in one of the lounges when they got off work. “Do you guys like the prince and princess?” I wanted to know their opinion on Lexus, but I didn’t want to just ask about Lexus. I didn’t want to give them any ideas. “Well, I kind of know how Arma feels about Prince Lexus because of the Vella thing.”

“Yeah, that experience with him wasn’t the best. Cade is my friend you know and there still isn’t anything I can do. Prince Lexus abuses his power and doesn’t care enough about the people closest to him.” I had a completely differ perspective than Arma. “I don’t think much of him. I don’t know Princess Hannah too much outside of rumors, but I like what I know.”

“Prince Hannah I sweet, she always greets me when I’m working and she always thanks workers,” Stewart shared. “Prince Lexus on the other hand… he scares me.” He chuckled nervously. “You’re going to know him a lot better than us soon so many you could tell us what he’s really like. Cade only ever said he was cool.”

I already felt like I knew him a lot more than them.

Later that night I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to see it was Lexus. “What are you doing here?” 

He walked in and closed the door behind himself. He even locked the door then walked closer and closer to me. He had lust in his eyes.

I stumbled backwards almost knocking over the lamp on the nightstand. I was nearly forgetting how to push the right words out of my mouth. “We can’t do this… I want to be accepted here.” I mumbled because all I knew was rejection and deceit. Why would the dragon prince be any different? It wasn’t like the king and queen would let us be together. It was hard to say no when my body was aching with lust.

“Why can’t I take what I want?” He said with his hand wrapped around my throat in a way that only turned me on more. 

A shiver was sent up my spine. “Because you’re engaged…” I didn’t care about that the last time we almost sex until after, but I had to start caring. I loved my new home so I wasn’t going to risk it for a man I couldn’t have. “Because I’m supposed to be working for you and I don’t want to disappoint my family who I never knew till recently.” 

He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Aqua you’re my mate, I know you feel what I feel. Sooner or later, I’m going to claim what’s mine. Before the full moon.” None of the reasons I listed mattered to him. All I could see was possession in his eyes. I stared at his lips as they came closer but pushed my hands against his chest to stop him when I thought about how nice Sadia was to me. He loosened the grip on my neck and pulled away. “I don’t give up easily.” He left the room, I was left with my knees weak and self-control hanging by a thread.

He was right when he said he couldn’t take the mate bond anymore and I couldn’t take it anymore either after today. I rushed to the door and opened it. “Lexus wait.” I whispered.

He turned around when he heard me and smirked.