Chapter 11

Silver’s POV

I stared up at the dark ceiling, thinking about the auction. I had a week to create the perfect piece. I had to make this count. I was so excited that I was invited to submit my artwork to the Pandora Bloom Art Gallery Auction.

I looked over at Elliot; I assumed he was sleeping, but that didn’t stop me from checking.

“Elliot?” I whispered just before pressing my lips together.

Was I being stupid? Should I even bother him with this right now? It was in the middle of the night, and he was probably asleep. Though, it was hard to see because of how dark it was in this room.

“Hmm?” He hummed, surprising me.

I stayed quiet, not sure what to say. My heart thrummed in my chest, and I felt him turning his head to look at me.

At this moment, I was glad it was too dark for him to see the blush on my cheeks.

“I have to paint something for the auction,” I started to say, hesitating slightly. He remained quiet; his eyes fixed on my dark silhouette. “I was wondering if you’d allow me to paint you…”

I held my breath as he continued to stare at me; he was quiet for a moment and then he shifted to his side, facing me. His head resting on his hand and his elbow propping him up.

“And what would you give me in return?” He asked; I could hear the teasing in his tone.

I looked at him, or at least I tried to, but it was too dark to see him fully. But I just knew he was smirking at me.

“What is it you would like?”

“Don’t you know me by now, my dear Silver?” He asked, mockingly.

I stared at him for a moment longer before taking a deep breath. I leaned in so my face was close to his; he remained still. I took that as he permitting me to continue, so, I did.

I kissed him.

He didn’t pull away from me; his lips moved carefully with mine. They were soft and inviting. It lured me in for more as his tongue glided across my bottom lip. All thoughts of everything else left my mind and all that was left was Elliot and me. He trailed his fingers up the nape of my neck, sending goosebumps along my flesh.

I couldn’t help but shiver against him which seemed to please him because I felt him smiling against my lips. Before I knew what was happening, he was pushing me onto my back, and he was on top of me. The weight of his body pressed into me, and I could feel everything. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and I was wearing a tank top and shorts, so I could feel his flesh against mine as he deepened the kiss.

I parted my lips, allowing his tongue access to explore me. His hands went up the sides of my body and I wiggled under him. He was positioned in a way that forced my legs to wrap around his waist and his erection was swelling his boxers which were pressed against my center. I ground against him, wanting more of him.

I’m not sure where this primal need came from, but I was hot all over and I knew only Elliot could put me at ease.

Just as his fingers went up the inside of my tank top, Elliot was soon engulfed in red. I gasped at the sight of it and then the chaotic lights flashed through my vision. Pain consumed me as the all-too-familiar headache took place.

I whimpered and flinched away as the lights continued to blind my vision. Elliot froze as I struggled beneath him. I shoved him away, scrambling off the bed, nearly falling over in the process.

“Silver?” I heard Elliot calling after me as I ran from the room and locked myself in the bathroom.

What was happening? I don’t usually transform like this until the full moon. But the full moon had already passed. This should not be happening.

I pressed my back against the closed door. Elliot knocked and though it was a soft knock, at the moment, it sounded way louder, and my head screamed for the noise to cease.

I put my hands over my ears and closed my eyes tightly. The flashing of lights continued; they went from red to white. The outline of Elliot is still the focus as red blended with the white.

I slid to the ground as tears fell from my eyes. I pressed my knees to my chest and buried my face in my lap.

I’m not sure how long I stayed like that, but eventually, Elliot gave up on trying to reach me. The pain lessened only slightly and the chaotic lights in my vision softened enough for me to see my surroundings. I pulled myself to my feet and looked into the mirror, gasping at what I was seeing.

My hair was a silvery white and my skin was incredibly pale. My eyes were a dark silver and when I opened my mouth, I had the fangs of a wolf.

I was a monster.

Elliot could never see me like this. I had to wait until I reverted to my old self again, but how long would it take? Why was I transforming on a night that wasn’t a full moon?

Why couldn’t I just be normal and shift into a regular wolf and not whatever this thing I turned into was?

I sat back on the ground as the chaotic lights intensified and the pain returned.

At some point, I fell asleep.

I woke up several hours later and the chaotic lights in my vision were gone, as was the pain. I stood and went back to the mirror, relieved to see my old self again.

I splashed some cold water on my face before leaving the bathroom. Elliot sat on the bed, staring at the wall. His lips were pressed in a thin line, and he didn’t look pleased at all.

My heart felt heavy as I approached the bed. His gaze snapped to me, and I could see just how unhappy he truly was. It made me freeze in my steps and stare back at him.

“Be truthful with me, Silver,” he said, his tone hard as he narrowed his eyes. “Do you not want to be with me?”

…..

Elliot’s POV

“Wh…what?” Silver stammered; her eyes large with alarm at my question.

I wasn’t sure what else to think. She rejected my advances on our first night together after we married, and she rejected me earlier this evening. She didn’t just reject me this time though; she shoved me off her and ran into the bathroom. She would rather sleep on the cold bathroom ground all night than sleep in the same bed as me.

When I had her pressed against the wall a few days ago, she pushed me off her then too and spent the night in her studio.

“Why do you insist on rejecting me so often?” I asked her, trying to keep all emotions locked away.

I saw her swallowing hard like she was trying to figure out what to say. With each passing second of silence, I grew more irritated.

“I wasn’t rejecting you,” she finally said, her gaze shifting downward. “I’m just not feeling well…”

“She’s hiding something from us,” my wolf, Atlas, said deep within my mind.

“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered to my wolf. “I shouldn’t let this bother me. The only thing that matters is the fact that sleeping in the same bed as her helps me sleep.”

“Then, why did you secretly send her an invite to your auction? And why haven’t you told her you are the owner of Pandora’s Bloom?”

“Because she’s still my wife regardless of if this marriage was a transaction,” I retorted.

“Are you angry with me?” Silver asked after a long pause.

I met her dark green eyes and sighed, shaking my head, I motioned for her spot on the bed.

“Just come here and get some sleep,” I told her.

She looked uncertain, but she did as she was told.

I spent most of the next day at the packhouse. I’m able to get more work done in my office here than I can at my mansion.

There was a knock on my office door, bringing me out of my thoughts and then it opened. Leo stepped into my line of sight. He was holding a manilla folder in his hands.

“I have Silver’s records, as you requested,” Leo said, holding up the folder. “But there’s nothing unusual in it. It’s just basic information. She’s wolfless as she said, and she grew up in the Stormwind pack.”

I rubbed my face with my hands, feeling annoyed.

“If there’s nothing unusual about her, then why does she calm me when I sleep? Are you sure she doesn’t have any kind of witch powers?”

Leo furrowed his brows together.

“There’s nothing about any witch genes in her file,” he answered. “Are you sure she’s not your mate? That’s the only other explanation I can think of.”

“She has no wolf. She can’t be my mate,” I muttered. “Just forget it. Keep investigating. There must be something about her.”

Leo nodded.

“I’ll keep you posted on what I find.”

He left soon after, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I wanted to know this woman I married and what makes her so special. My wolf and I agree that she’s hiding something, and we are determined to find out what it is.

I returned home just before dinner and found Silver in her art studio. I knocked before entering because I promised that the studio would be off-limits to everybody, including myself.

“Come in,” she said; she sounded stressed.

I walked into the studio to find her standing in front of a couple of portraits. She was staring at them like they held answers to her biggest questions.

Without looking at me she said, “I’m trying to paint something for the auction, but nothing seems good enough.”

The paintings in front of her were gorgeous, so I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. Then, in the corner of my eye, I spotted something that irritated me immensely.

“What the hell is that?” I growled through my teeth.

She stiffened and glanced at me before following my gaze.

“A portrait that I found in my stuff,” she said, biting her lower lip. “Leo dropped off another suitcase that my father gave him to give to me and it was in there.”

Fury boiled in me.

The portrait was of Gavin.

Clenching my fists, I turned to look at her.

“Why is it in here?”

She met my gaze and then shrugged.

“He’s well known around here and it’s one of my better portrait paintings. I thought maybe it could have a chance at the auction,” she said as if it was no big deal.

A low growl escaped my throat.

“I refuse to allow my wife to use a portrait of her ex-boyfriend,” I sneered.

She looked almost frightened as she took a step back.

“Then, what else should I do?” She asked, eyeing me carefully.

I took my coat off and put it on a nearby chair before stepping toward her, my eyes never leaving hers.

“Paint me,” I ordered. “I’ll be your model.”