Chapter 25

Hannah’s POV

I stood quickly as shards of glass broke through the window and scattered across the ground. A figure climbed his way through the window. He was a large man that wore a dark trench coat that covered most of his face. He was a large-built man that towered over me; I could smell the liquor radiating off his body almost right away and the stench of him made me nearly gag.

My heartbeat against my chest violently and my body trembled uncontrollably as I took a step away from him. He stood near the window for a long while, staring at me even though I couldn’t see his face.

“He has a dangerous aura,” Nora breathed fiercely. “I don’t recognize him.”

She didn’t need to tell me that in order or me to know that he was a dangerous man. I could feel it. There was something off about him and worry started to build up inside of me.

“Who are you?” I demanded to know.

Without saying anything, he removed his hood. I didn’t recognize him at all, but his eyes were so dark they were practically black. There was a darkness inside of him that sent a chill down my spine. His hair was long and dark as well. He tucked a stray streak of hair behind his ear before smiling, but the smile didn’t meet his eyes.

“Who sent you?” I asked him, trying to keep my tone even.

He scoffed but he didn’t answer me. Before I could grasp what was happening, he lunged toward me. I screamed out, hoping that someone would hear me calling for help but no one came into the living quarters. It was like the walls were now soundproof.

He grabbed me with force, pulling my body close to him. I gagged at the strong stench of alcohol on his breath as he leaned closer to me and pressed his lips firmly against mine.

I struggled to pull away from him, but he was too strong and kept me locked in place. I felt the moistness of his tongue invading my mouth, exploring me curiously and hungrily. I coughed as I tried to maintain my breath, but it was difficult to breathe as he held me tighter. My body felt like it was going to snap at any moment.

He pressed even firmly into me, and I fell onto the couch with him on top of me. I managed to pull my face away, so he was no longer kissing my mouth, but kissing trails down the nape of my neck.

His fingers trailed up the sides of my body, cupping the seems of my gown. I felt it begin to tear away at his touch and I struggled even harder against him. I attempted to kick him, but his legs were locked around mine.

“Please!” I begged as his mouth made its way against mine again. He pulled away and kissed my chest firmly. He began biting at my shoulder blade, I was worried he was going to leave a mark on my skin. If he marked me, then what would happen?

“I can’t transform!” Nora complained. “He’s too strong.”

Who was this man? What did he want from me? How did he manage to get past the guards and enter the palace?

I felt tears burning in my eyes as more of my gown began ripping away; I was nearly bare. I was vulnerable to him. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.

Just as I screamed out again, the door of the living quarters burst open. It startled this man because he released me suddenly and turned in time to see Sebastian running towards us. Fury was clear in his eyes as he stared at this man. He didn’t waste much time. Sebastian pulled the man off me with one hand.

He threw him to the ground and the darkness in the man’s eyes was turning into a light brown as fear overtook him. He opened his mouth to say something, but Sebastian didn’t give him the chance. Without saying anything, he punched him in the head, nearly knocking him unconscious. Blood splattered across the ground, and some made its way to the wall.

“Who sent you?!” Sebastian hissed, grabbing the man and pulling him off the ground.

The man weakly opened his eyes, his body trembling as he was facing the wolf king.

“I don’t know her name…” the man stammered. “She paid me to come here and have my way with the luna queen…”

“Amy…” Nora said, mimicking my thoughts. It had to have been Amy, or someone in my family.

“You will leave here, and you will never return to this kingdom again. I don’t know who you are or where you came from, but you are exiled. Don’t make me regret not killing you,” Sebastian hissed, releasing the man.

He fell to the ground in a puddle of his blood. He scrambled to his feet, still trembling violently as he found his way to the door. He didn’t look back as he ran for safety.

I was amazed that Sebastian didn’t kill him.

I grabbed the ripped fabrics of my gown and attempted to cover myself.

I stayed there for a long while as Sebastian finished cleaning the living room. He didn’t tell me where he was bringing the body, but I assumed it was where he brought all the others. I held my knees close to my chest and buried my face in my lap, trying not to sob too loudly.

I couldn’t believe something like this had happened. If I had to put money on who sent this man, I would put money on my family.

“Amy…” Nora muttered in agreement.

Would she really stoop this low? Who am I kidding? Of course, she would. She wanted to get rid of me for whatever reason. She had the chance of marrying the Alpha King and she didn’t take it. They made me marry him; so, why was she acting like this now? It didn’t make any sense to me.

“Are you okay?” Sebastian surprised me by asking as he returned to the living room. He had changed clothing and he no longer had blood staining his hands.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and nodded, trying not to show the fear lingering in my eyes.

“How did you know to come home?” I asked; I realized it was a little too early for him to be home. He was supposed to be gone for most of the day, it was hardly the afternoon.

He seemed hesitant for a moment.

“I could feel you,” he said, meeting my eyes. “I could sense something was wrong, so I came home.”

I wasn’t sure what to say in response; I bowed my head in defeat as he came closer to me. He scooped me into his arms before I could protest and held me close to him for a moment. I breathed in his scent and instantly felt my body relaxing. I rested my head against him as he brought me through the main foyer of the palace and up the stairs to the bathroom.

As we got into the bathroom, I feared he was going to make me take another ice bath and I struggled for a moment for him to release me.

He surprisingly released me right away and attempted to cover my naked body with his hands.

“Stop,” he muttered, rolling his eyes as he turned on the bath. I saw the hot steam of the water and I relaxed again, relieved that it was a normal bath this time.

He helped me into the tub and allowed me to bathe. He grabbed me a fresh gown and helped me get dressed once I was done in the tub. We were silent for most of the time as we’re trying to process what had just happened.

I stared up at the masked man before me, reaching out to touch the outer core of his mask. He flinched for a moment and recoiled away from me before I had the chance to remove his mask.

“Why won’t you let me see?” I found myself asking him.

He didn’t respond, so I asked again.

“I saw you last night at the pool. I saw your face… why won’t you let me see you again?”

“That was never meant to happen,” he growled.

“But it did,” I told him. “I saw your face… your handsome face…”

“What do you take me for?” He snapped, shooting an icy gaze in my direction. I flinched at his tone, afraid that I had set him off again. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“No…” I whispered. “Of course not.”

“Then why do you insist on making a mockery of me?” He hissed. “I’m not your plaything to use for your desires.”

“I never said you were!” I said in return, trying to keep my tone even.

“You sit here and make fun of my face and expect me to obey your wishes and allow it to continue?” He shouted.

“I wasn’t making fun of your face!” I told him; that I was growing offended by his accusations. “I wouldn’t!”

He scoffed and turned away from me.

“For a minute… you had me fooled. But I see that you aren’t any different than the rest of them.”

“Sebastian…” I tried to say to him, reaching toward him. He slapped my hand away instantly and I winced at the sting.

“Don’t touch me,” he muttered, stomping towards the door. “Go gossip with your maid about how hideous you think I am. That’s what you all talk about, isn’t it?”

He slammed the door behind me, leaving me alone in the bathroom and dumbfounded.