When Aylin's breath caught, a strong hand reached out and grabbed her wrist with unwavering force. Before she could react, she was yanked backward and pulled into the man's chest, her back pressed against the hard, fever-warmed surface of his body. His grip on her wrist was firm, and the power in his grip was clear even through the fog of his fever.
Her heart skipped a beat as she was pressed against him, her body flush with his in a startling and overwhelming manner. His chest rose and fell quickly behind her, each breath sharp, as if the simple act of breathing were a fight. His other arm snaked around her waist, holding her tightly and securing her to him.
The warmth radiating from him was almost scorching, a contrast to the cold fear that crawled up Aylin's spine. She felt the rough texture of her clothes against his skin, and the muscles in his arm were hard and tense beneath her. No other man had ever touched her like this. Not even Silas. His touches were always polite and brief.
There was no softness in this man's touch, only raw, primal strength. However, in this case, it was protective rather than threatening.
His breath was hot against her ear as he leaned forward, his face pressing into her hair and his lips brushing the back of her head. "Shhh," he whispered, the word low, like a command. His voice was hoarse and strained, but there was no denying the urgency in it. The growl that rumbled deep in his chest followed, reverberating against her back.
Aylin's pulse hammered in her ears, but she kept still, frozen by his presence. His grip on her wrist tightened briefly as his other hand slid up her body, finding her mouth and gently but firmly pressing against it, masking her breath. Her eyes widened with shock.
"Stay quiet," he rasped, his voice raw and desperate. His strength was palpable, and for a second, Aylin thought he might break her in half if it suited him. But she realized he was not holding her out of aggression; it was for survival. She did not experience anything disgusting like she did with Valen.
Her mind raced, her body reacting to every movement of his muscles beneath her, but she could feel his faint and erratic pulse against her skin. The fever continued to grip him, but his instincts were sharper than ever, sensing the danger just outside.
She could hear it now: soft, deliberate footsteps approaching. The sound of a hunter, someone on the trail. Aylin's heart raced, the realization sinking in: he was hiding both of them from the intruders.
The man's grip on her remained firm, and his eyes flickered to the cabin entrance, a dangerous gleam in them. He was not only powerful, but also aware of everything. Despite his weakened state, he was tracking and listening. A shiver went down her spine. Whoever was out there had no idea which predator they were dealing with.
Her wolf growled low in her mind, sensing the same danger. 'We should run.'
But she couldn't move. Not yet.
The man's hand, still over her mouth, shifted slightly as he leaned closer, his chest pressing harder against her back, acting as a barrier between her and whatever threat lurked beyond the cabin walls. His scent, wild and untamed, engulfed her, sharp and alluring. There was an air of command about him that felt as old as the earth itself.
He was not just trying to hide them; he was masking their scent with his Alpha power, which enveloped them both in silence. The same dark aura from earlier was seeping out of him, engulfing them and the fire she started in the small chamber.
'What kind of power is this? I never heard of something like this.'
Aylin's heart pounded in her chest as she darted a glance toward the door, but her gaze was quickly drawn back to the man's face, half-hidden in the shadows, the fever burning through him as his grip tightened on her wrist. He held her like a shield, like a life raft in a storm, despite the fact that he was adrift.
The footsteps outside stopped. Aylin held her breath, barely daring to blink.
Time seemed to stretch on, drawn thin by tension. And then, with a barely discernible shift, the man relaxed just enough for her to hear him speak again, his voice rasping against the back of her head. "They don't know we're here. Not yet. Stay quiet. Don't make a sound."
The command in his voice, even as it trembled with exhaustion, left no room for debate. She could feel the weight of his strength and determination, a force unlike any she had ever encountered.
Aylin nodded subtly, her mind still racing, but she realized for the first time since this strange encounter began that he was now in charge. Whether she liked it or not, her survival was dependent on his strength.
'Can I trust him?' She wondered as her fingers brushed against the pendant concealed beneath her clothing. There was one more use left: one last teleport. She could get them both out and into safety in an instant.
'We could use the last use of the pendant. Save him.' Her wolf whispered.
Aylin tightened his grip on the pendant. Save him? Why? This man, this fevered, dangerous force, was a stranger. A wounded Alpha, strong enough to snap her in half but fragile enough to barely stand. If they escaped together, she would be bound to his fate. What if he turned against her the moment he recovered? What if, like others before, his strength became a weapon against her?
Her wolf growled, pressing against her ribs, restless. 'He is not like them. Believe me.'