His Anger, My Rage

“Do you think you can get rid of me that easily, princess?” he snarled, his eyes glinting with anger, its gray hue turning into crimson that shook me to the core. I looked down at my hands and instead of seeing the metal pin stabbing against my chest, I saw Aster’s hand on my left breast bleeding severely while the metal pin was buried in the back of it, stopping my reckless attempt at suicide.

I was lost for words as I stared at his face wide-eyed, both our breaths were ragged. I could smell him all over me. The crimson hue in his eyes faded after a few seconds as tears blurred my vision from another feeling of defeat. Why am I seeing a glint of pain in his eyes? Is that some kind of pity?

No. He really would never let go of me…

“Your Grace…” Helena kneeled beside Alpha Aster after he pulled the pin out of his hand with a grunt. Helena pulled him up, away from me and I was left on the ground, still in shock. The adrenaline running in my veins gave a pulsing feeling in my head as I watched her pull a white handkerchief from her dress pocket and wrapped his hand with it to stop the bleeding. 

I don’t know why it hurts so bad to see both of them together. Is she the fiancee he was talking about when we first met at the entrance of the garden maze?

“Princess Eodelle, are you alright?” The Beta asked, whispering in my ear with worry and he never hesitated to help me get up, his arms tight around my shoulder. I saw Alpha Aster’s eyes go sharp as she glared first at his Beta’s hands around me but his face softened when our eyes met. Despite the drowning pain in my chest, there is something within me that convinces me Alpha Aster cares about me… but my pride just can’t accept that he’s concerned about my situation even though I am his true mate. Because if he really does, he would never want to see me suffer like this.

And above all, he protected Helena. That wretched woman!

The guards moved to grab me from the Beta’s arms.

“Go away! I’ll walk the princess to her room—-”

“No, Emyr! Let them handle this situation!” the new Emperor Alpha Aster stopped his Beta. Emyr. I kept his name in my mind to thank him for the kindness he showed to me.

I gave Helena and Aster one final glare but my eyes fluttered in guilt when my eyes caught his bleeding hands…

Why do I feel so miserable hurting him?

***

“NO! No, let me out of here! Let me out!” I screamed as one of the guards, Sandor, threw me scrambling on the floor and slammed the door shut. I desperately stood up and turned the knob but I can’t open it anymore. My mind is still in a haze because of the adrenaline that throbs in my veins and my head starts to ache miserably. 

I flinched, my back hitting the chair behind me and knocking myself down on the floor. My body is trembling and I can’t think straight… I can still smell the metallic tang of Alpha Aster’s blood on my dress, giving me this delicious sensation from the scent. The image of him together with Helena darkens my mind. My chest feels too heavy to breathe and my stomach feels like I am in the middle of a boat fighting a huge storm.

“God… please… I can’t take this pain…” I murmured, sobbing. 

I tried to get up with shaking knees, my hands fumbling on the top of the table where my fingers caught something cold. The sound of metal clinking together when I made a tight grip on the first silverware my hands touched. My breaths ragged as I stare wide-eyed at the knife, my throat dry and my heart hammers against my chest.

Since the incident of my failed attempt to kill Helena in the garden, the memory of Alpha Aster’s bleeding hand never left my mind. It made me wonder if it is my wolf who gives me this feeling of resentment while trying to erase Helena’s arrogant smile in my head. But I have never felt my inner wolf communicate with me before; these sensations are so new to me that they scare me.

But this time, no one can stop me…

The loud banging of the door as it slammed open startled me and the knife fell from my hands. Without second thoughts, I quickly leaned over to get it from the floor. But strong hands pushed me by my shoulders and swung me up to my left, against the bookshelves. I didn’t have time to look at my attacker’s face because my mind was focused on getting the knife. 

“I knew I was right to get in here!”

The familiar snarl woke me up to my senses, awestruck to see Alpha Aster’s glare. His face was so close to me that I could smell the minty scent of his breath brushing against my pale, trembling lips. My mind was so stunned to think why he is here, though… Why is he here?!

He is so close his body pressed against mine. I can feel the heat of his body radiating through me, making my heart ram against my chest more frantically than just minutes ago. I moaned helplessly and I saw his eyes glint crimson once again like a blazing fire in a hearth, making him look so desirable in my eyes.

“W-What are you doing here…” I murmured between my shallow breathing. I closed my eyes when he leaned down on my neck, inhaling my scent like he is under a spell. I dared not to look back into his eyes because I feel like I am going to melt at the intensity of his glare as the heat in me rise from my lower abdomen, bringing a surprisingly pleasant sensation, and stimulating the sensitive parts of my skin.

What is he doing to me…

“I have a feeling you are going to do it again. So I came to stop you, princess,” he whispered back, his baritone voice and amazing scent just taking my breath away. 

Is this the effect of our mate bond? I feel like no matter how much I try to reject the attraction I feel for him, we still seem like opposite sides of magnets pulling closer together. It’s too hard to deny the desire I feel for him, especially when he is so close to me like this.

“You should stop doing this,” I snarled at him. I pushed him away with my hands on his chest but he is just too strong, too tough for me that instead of letting me go, he pressed his body more against me, making me gasp sharply.

“This is not your decision to make, you hear me?” He growled softly in my ear and electricity just ran throughout my body when his lips touched my ear, “I didn’t spare your life from the dungeon just for you to take it with your own hands, Eodelle! You are living under my rule which means you are now one of my properties! You are mine, do you hear me?!”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. I should be trembling with fear right now but his rough voice sends strange excitement within me.

But no… it shouldn’t be this way!

Anger boiled within me and I opened my mouth to tell him I would rather die! But I was silenced when he pressed his lips roughly against me, crushing me as I let out a moan of protest. But rather, he just became more daring. His lips started to brush against mine, rough, possessive as he pulled me closer to him. But seconds later, his movement turned soft—-gentle. I got alarmed when his hands moved from my shoulders down to my arms, brushing his fingers softly on my skin and taking my hand to place on his chest, letting me feel the frantic beating of his heart. I love the feeling of how soft his lips are against mine as I felt his tongue brushing on my lower lip, making me gasp for air.

He’s nervous just like me. 

Alpha Aster pulled a little away from me to look into my eyes and his expression softened, which confused me. I can still feel the throbbing feeling of my lips when he crushed his against mine. I was too stunned to say anything. 

I just can’t believe we kissed…

I tilted my head to meet his sexy glare and for seconds, I felt like I got lost in his eyes.

Losing all the control I have over my body, I flung myself on him, wrapping my arms around his neck. I was completely subdued by the desire that this man had awakened inside me. Alpha Aster pulled me tight against him, his arms wrapping around my small waist as we both staggered towards the bed with our lips still locked together in a more passionate, mind-numbing sensation. I feel like I am under his spell or something but I know deep within me, even when the first time we met at the gates of the maze garden, that I have feelings for Aster. That’s why I feel like I was already dying after I found out that Helena is his fiancee.

We both landed on my soft bed as we shared the heat of fervent hunger we feel for each other. I love the sensation his dark, messy hair gives me when I run my fingers over the back of his head, as our kiss deepens.

My rage and his anger fuel the desire that both of us shouldn’t feel.

I was startled when Alpha Aster suddenly pulled away from me, his head tilted to his side, frowning. I couldn’t find a word to say while I took short, quick breaths because I got overwhelmed with embarrassment while I straightened down my skirt which I didn’t notice he had already lifted to my thighs, revealing my long, smooth, round legs.

I felt ashamed and hurt. Did he just regret kissing me?

“Never try to kill yourself again or I will throw you back to the dungeons,” he glared at me threateningly. There was a sudden awkwardness between us as he walked swiftly towards the door without giving me any second glance.

Lost in thoughts, I feel like I am going crazy as I touch my lips with the tip of my fingers. Am I going crazy? What had just happened?