novelraw Chapter 1440 - 39 : Snapping Jaws and Flying Claws
Chapter 1440 - 39 : Snapping Jaws and Flying Claws
*Saoirse*
As I tossed and turned in my old bed, I realized sleep was clearly not going to bless me that night. It had been a few days since I returned to Hunters Glen and last seen Rhys as we had had our awkward, cold farewell. I had been hopeful that he would reach out to me but lost hope after a while. He had to still be mad at me.
I rolled out of bed, snatching my staff and making my way out the door after donning my light training clothes. I spent hours each day learning to wield my magic. I found that it helped me calm down. It was a way for me to step away from my worldly problems and completely surrender to my inner self.
When I was training, there were no responsibilities, no quarreling with Rhys. It was just me, the staff, and the burning energy that flowed through my veins.
I shut my eyes as the cool forest air toyed with my skin. A shiver ran through me as I continued down the path leading further into the woods. It wasn’t recommended to wander the trees in the middle of the night. I knew that. At the same time, with the staff in hand, I felt as if nothing could harm me.
I gripped my staff tightly in my hands, pushing my energy outward until I felt the familiar tingling in my fingertips. I took a steadying breath before shoving the power through the staff, watching closely as the rod began to glow. It was physically trying to do so, but I forced myself to keep my breathing even, knowing that I had to learn to keep a handle on it.
I wanted to get better at this for many reasons, and they weren’t all selfless. I spun the staff, watching intently as some energy sizzled out of the top. Someday soon, I would be able to use it against my enemies to protect those I love. For now, it was a way for me to escape the stresses of daily life.
When I was alone with my abilities, I didn’t have to be anyone but myself. I could push myself as much as I wanted with no one around to judge me.
My eyes flew open when I felt a presence approaching me from behind. My breathing quickened as I whirled around and came face to face with Conall.
I stumbled back as I stared at him. He was watching me wordlessly, his dark eyes glinting even in the darkness.
I swallowed hard. “Conall,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “What are you doing here?”
It was obvious that he was angry. My hands tightened even harder around the staff. He stalked toward me, closing the small space between us. He glowered down at me. “Are the rumors true?” he gritted out. The words were nearly a growl.
I took a step back, remembering all the times this man had cornered me in the past. I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m afraid that I don’t know what you mean.”
He leaned his face toward mine so that they were just inches apart. He was practically shaking with rage. His voice was low and dangerous. “The rumors I was forced to endure during my time recovering at the healing center.”
That didn’t really clear things up. I saw him eyeing the staff I held, so I could only assume that he meant my powers. “Yes,” I said finally. “I have acquired some new abilities. I could demonstrate for you if you’d like.”
I did just that, hoping that it would intimidate him enough to make him back off. It was much more difficult to call upon my powers with Conall leering down at me. The energy was barely sizzling through my fingertips when his hand swiped through the air impatiently.
“I don’t give a shit about your little magic show,” he seethed. “Is it true that you lost your virginity to the Prince of Egoren?”
I just gaped up at him, a shiver going through my whole body. He knew, and I wasn’t able to control my expression quickly enough to even think about denying it.
I didn’t and couldn’t anyway. Giving myself to Rhys had been the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me. I could never say that it didn’t happen, even if doing so could possibly save my life.
I squared my shoulders and looked Conall straight in the eye. “Yes, it’s true.”
Conall’s dark eyes became wide and angry as he stared down at me with shock and rage. I was afraid of him, but I felt a strange sense of empowerment fill me at being able to admit to being with Rhys.
I yelped when Conall suddenly reached out and snagged my wrist, causing me to let go of my staff. It clattered to the ground.
“Conall,” I protested, tugging uselessly against him. He was too strong. “Please. You’re hurting me.”
“Oh, I’ll do much worse than this,” he promised me darkly. He shoved me against a nearby tree, crushing my body against the hard bark. “I will make your life a living hell for betraying and humiliating me, you little slut.”
I tried to muster up the combat training I had recently gone through, but everything I had learned flew from my mind as Conall pinned my body against the tree. “You are mine,” he growled firmly as I writhed and struggled against him. “How dare you defy your fiance? You’ll be thoroughly punished for your deceit, you little slut.”
I gritted my teeth hard. Even though fear was threatening to erupt inside of me, I wasn’t going to back down. I glared up at him. “I was never yours,” I spat hatefully. “And I never will be.”
Conall snarled and pushed me away from him and to the ground. I yelped as I hit the ground hard and watched in stunned silence as he shifted before my gaze, transforming into a large, dark-haired wolf.
My heart flew into my throat. I scrambled to my feet and searched for my staff. I inwardly groaned when I saw that Conall was between me and my weapon. I winced in pain from my fall as I tried to call upon my abilities, but I was too scared for them to be of much use.
Conall stalked toward me, lowering his head as he snarled. I stood frozen, knowing intuitively that I couldn’t run. If I did, he would have access to my back. But if I just stood there, I was even more vulnerable.
“Conall, don’t do this,” I pleaded in a last-ditch effort to survive. I was trembling, unable to move even if I wanted to.
I was just getting ready to move when he suddenly lunged at me, landed on top of me, and pinned me to the cold, hard ground. I gasped as my back hit the forest floor, taking the breath out of me.
I stared up at Conall, realizing that this could be the end, but I stared up at him defiantly. I wasn’t going to let him kill me with fear on my face. I was going to go down fighting.
I sucked in a breath as Conall lifted his large paw above my face, his sharp claws glinting.
I gasped as a large shadow crashed into Conall, sending him sprawling off me. I rolled over and watched in disbelief as another large wolf entered the scene, beginning to tumble with Conall. This wolf was slightly larger with midnight black fur with blue tints. It turned to look at me for a brief moment, and I caught a glimpse of its flashing crimson eyes.
Rhys...
I cried out as the two began to brawl violently, claws flying through the air as they came at each other again and again.
Fear gripped my throat as the two wrestled. They were pretty evenly matched, which completely terrified me. The sounds of snapping jaws and their hard bodies ramming into one another were frightening.
I screamed when Rhys’ jaw closed around Conall’s throat, causing the slightly smaller wolf to cry out in both rage and pain. Rhys held him down with his front paws, shoving Conall into the dirt as his struggles became more and more feeble until he was completely still.
My breathing came out ragged. I slowly approached where Rhys stood over Conall. Rhys looked up at me and then back down at Conall.
I shivered slightly as I stood beside Rhys. “Is he...” I trailed off, not able to finish. I suddenly felt ill as I stared down at the wolf’s limp, unmoving form.
Rhys nodded, but his dark eyes glinted angrily. He came over and nuzzled me with his nose, seeming to check me over. His breath was warm against my skin, causing me to tremble again.
“I’m fine,” I told him. I bit my lip. “It’s you who I’m worried about.”
I was obviously grateful that Rhys came to rescue me. He came right on time. If he had been just a few seconds later getting to me, I might not have been able to stand like I was now. I likely wouldn’t even be breathing anymore.
“You came for me,” I murmured to him. I put my hands under his chin and rested my forehead against his furry one. “You saved my life, Rhys. Thank you.”
My heart thudded in my chest as he rumbled in response.
Fear gripped me as I glanced at Conall’s still form again. I was alive thanks to Rhys, but I wondered at what cost. It was hard to say what Conall had planned to do to me. He said he would make my life a living hell, so perhaps he hadn’t wanted to kill me right away. He might have been planning to torture me. It was impossible to know what he would have done.
Rhys stepped away from me and shifted back into his human form. He grabbed a nearby pack and quickly pulled on some clothes he had stowed inside of it. He didn’t speak as he got dressed. I watched him intently, still not quite able to believe that he was truly there with me and we were both alive after that frightening ordeal.
Rhys was just as perfect as I had remembered. It had only been days since we last saw each other, but it felt much longer. His dark hair shimmered beneath the moonlight, and his fair skin seemed to shine.
I felt kind of dirty for admiring him as we stood before the body of my dead fiance, but I just couldn’t help it. I had missed Rhys so much, and we were finally together again.
He saved me, which had to mean that he didn’t completely hate me after all that had happened between us.
It gave me hope.
Rhys looked up as he finished getting dressed. I couldn’t believe that someone as gentle as him could have possibly killed Conall. He looked at me with such intensity now that it caused worry to twist my gut as the gravity of what just happened finally settled.
Conall’s death likely meant a definite end to our alliance with Blackston. I thought hard, wondering if there was any way this would not lead to a violent conflict between our packs.