Chapter 8: You Touched What Was Mine
ADRIANA'S POV
My horror at watching the inevitable death of the man who saved me gets distracted by the full moon rising high in the sky. Coming out and shining even more, I didn’t know if it was me or that was actually happening but it stood intimidating in the night sky. Like it was reminding us of its presence, as if to say this is being witnessed.
I felt a sense of ease, feeling as though the moon had spoken. Telling me I wasn't alone in this. Alpha Xander's wolf stops for a moment, almost like he was frozen. It only lasts a few seconds before a heart stopping growl ripples from his throat as his body visibly shakes.
Xander falls to his knees, the earth around him shaking from the weight of his wolf, he writhes in obvious agony as his bones begin to snap and reshape again.
I watch, my eyes wide with horror as a bone protrudes in his back and a guttural sound leaves his mouth, echoing in the night. His body contorts and twists in ways that have something clenching in my lower stomach.
His already large muscles bulge and his body grows three sizes bigger than his normal wolf form, his jaws snap open, giving me a view of lethal looking rows of razor-sharp teeth.
A huge monstrous midnight black wolf, a lot bigger than when he first shifted stands in his place seconds later.
His form was so much bigger than Aiden’s now, it made my breath catch in my throat.
Standing on all fours, he lets out a deafening roar that echoed through the forest. Scarier than the first.
Xander sniffs the air searching for his prey. A fierce growl sounds from him, it bounces off the trees. He takes a slow intimidating step toward Aiden, a murderous intent in his eyes.
He howls up at the bright moon, the powerful sound a testament to the power of the beast that now roamed the night.
The two wolves growl at each other as they circle each other, their canines bared. The larger wolf growls in warning, the sound demanding submission but Aiden doesn't submit. Seeing that he strikes, leaping towards Aiden and swiping at his face with his sharp claws. Aiden ducks under the attack and counters with a powerful bite to Alpha Xander's shoulder, almost getting it but he moves at the last minute.
He is much faster too.
Alpha Xander let out a howl of anger as it reiterates, regaining his footing with very fast precision. He launches himself at Aiden once again. This time he latches to the other wolf and soon enough, they become a tangle of teeth and claws, each trying to get the upper hand over the other.
Aiden is fast and agile, darting around Alpha Xander's wolf and dodging its attacks with ease. I soon realize from the sloppy movements from the latter, that Alpha Xander knows what he is doing. He is playing around, making Aiden think he is winning, letting Aiden tire himself out without him doing much work in making that happen.
The grunts and growl from them are the only other sounds apart from crunching leaves that can be heard in the forest. Alpha Xander looks like he is just joining the fight when I can already see Aiden’s fur matted in blood.
The wounds on Alpha Xander healed so fast that it looked as though he didn't even get any. Seemingly tired of the play, Alpha Xander lands a powerful blow to Aiden’s chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
He howls out in pain, unable to get back up again, his eyes dart up to the bright moon and he cries out. Like he was physically pleading with it to come help him. into the night. He lay there numb, trying to get on his feet.
Alpha Xander stands over Aiden'’s fallen form. It growls and shakes his head before stepping back from the man that has obviously lost.
Alpha Xander stands tall and imposing, his dark eyes fixed on the man in front of him. His black fur seemed to shimmer in the moonlight. He didn't look like the person that had just finished, even his breathing was leveled.
He shifts into his lycan form, where he is one with his animal side. Standing on two feet with his incredible height and fur sprouting out of his skin.
"You would do well to remember your place, Aiden," Xander growled, his voice so much deeper and more menacing.
Aiden meets Xander's gaze steadily, his own eyes narrowed with anger. "I am not afraid of you, Alpha," he spits out, calling the title mockingly. He was still breathing heavily, now in his human form and curled on the ground. "You may be the Alpha, but I am not one of your subordinates. I am my own man, and I will not be cowed by threats."
He let out a low, dangerous chuckle. "Is that so?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, if you insist, I'll give you a few more hours to regain your strength. Perhaps this time, I'll be more interested in teaching you a lesson.”
Aiden’s whole body tenses as he prepares to get up for another fight, before he can even make it to his feet, Xander snarls and lunges forward, his claws extended.
Aiden barely had time to react before Xander was upon him, his claws swiping through the air with lightning speed.
Aiden let out a cry of pain as the claws raked across his chest, leaving deep gashes in their wake. He crumbles back to the ground on his back, his eyes wide with shock and fear as he realizes the full extent of Xander's strength.
"You see now, Aiden," Xander growls, his eyes blazing with a fierce, animalistic intensity. "You should not be so stupid next time as to challenge me, I'm not very accepting of disrespect.” He adds the last part like he is giving friendly advice.
Aiden nods, his body trembling as he holds up his hands in surrender. "I understand,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But fuck youl."
Xander let out a satisfied snarl as he looked down at the man in front of him, his naked body open for everyone to see.
What happened next was shocking.
Somehow, Aiden managed to get up immediately and stumbled back, a smirk on his face. A look of shock filled Alpha Xander's face but it quickly gave way to a sort of amused look.
Aiden goes to attack again but Alpha Xander is quick on him and he grabs him by the next, his biceps building with the strength of his hold.
Alpha Xander lands a powerful blow to his chest as he releases him, sending him crashing to the ground as he coughs loudly. His mouth bared open, desperately searching for air.
Aiden let out a final, pitiful whine before going limp, his eyes staring blankly into the sky as the life drained out of him. Xander let out a satisfied growl before turning and walking back into the distance, leaving Aiden's defeated lifeless body behind.
I finally regain feeling in my limbs as the shock leaves me and I run to him immediately, fearing the worst.
I put my palms on his bleeding neck, trying to see if I can stop the bleeding in any way. I catch a brief glimpse of the monster as he stands at the edge of the clearing, his eyes blazing with anger as he watches me attend to Aiden. I grab Aiden and cradle his bleeding face while tears stream down my face, not bothered by the glowing eyes glaring at me from the distance.
“You killed him!" I cried out as I bent my face towards the crook of his neck and sob.
Guilt eats at my insides, the death of him hanging around my neck. This is all my fault. He was just a good man who wanted to help me and he kept his word till the end.
Why, I cried bitterly in my heart, why did everything have to be this way? Why did I have to destroy everything good that I came by?
Suddenly, Aiden coughs, a pained sound following the desperate coughs. A glimmer of hope fills me as I throw my arms around him. “I thought you were dead!” I exclaim. Not realizing my mistake by doing that.
Alpha Xander's heavy footsteps gain my attention and I look up just in time to him coming toward us, muscles rippling. Aiden and I get up immediately. Despite the way his neck was still bleeding, Aiden grabbed my arms and began to walk back as the angry man advanced toward us.
"No!" I cried out, trying to placate him but as usual for me, I just fucked it up more. Somehow only saying the wrong things. "Don’t hurt him anymore, please!”
But Xander was beyond reason. He was an Alpha lycan, and he would not stand for who he has claimed as his being with another man. He lets out a snarl and launches himself at the Aiden, his claws extended.
"Please, don't hurt him," I gasp out when I see how black his eyes have turned. I know he isn't going to stop this time until he kills him. "Don't do this. Dont hurt him. I beg you!"
He grabs Aiden forward and grips both sides of his head. I don't know what he does because he doesn't snap his neck but Aiden lets out a final, pitiful cry before going still, his moving body lying at Xander's feet.
I let out a sob, my hands covering my mouth in shock. "Why did you do this?" I cry out, I close the distance between us without thinking and begin smacking his chest. He shoves me to the side and I fall beside Aiden.
Xander turned to look at me, his eyes filled with unrestrained anger. "You disrespected my name, Adriana,” he said, his voice heavy with anger. "Your lover's death will be the price you will pay for your shortgivings." he said, turning towards Aiden.
"He is not my lover, Xander,” I sob, my voice shaking with grief. The guilty tears streaming down my face endlessly. "He just wanted to help me.” The sentence ends with a pitiful whimper.
"He will die for touching what is mine!” He doesn't even understand what I am saying. It is as though he is deaf, only hearing what he pleases to.
“I am not yours!” I say without thinking, I whimper in fear waiting for the smack. It never comes. "You know," he said, his voice softer now. His bloody fingers come up to stroke my face. The hand he just used to kill a man. I move back when I feel sparks erupting from the touch. "You should never have tried to leave, knowing you were mine."
Before I can think of anything to say, two wolves emerge from the trees, both of them coming towards us
They were monstrous, just like Alpha Xander. One is brown with a single black stripe across his side and the other which is bigger is midnight black, almost like Alpha Xander's wolf.
Alpha Xander grabbed Aiden’s head, his claws ready to tear his head off. Aiden’s eyes fluttered open, landing on me and my heart jumps in joy seeing that he is still alive. It morphs into panic when I see what Alpha Xander plans on doing.
Aiden musters a sad smile, as though reassuring me everything will be fine. He closes his eyes, accepting his fate. A single tear drops from his eyes when Xander growls and his hold tightens.