Chapter Two

An oddly cheerful sounding knock echoed throughout my Bedroom and I threw my pillow over my face.

'Go away'. I grumbled.

'Arianna, can I come in?'. Ray's voice cheerfully echoed through the door.

I sat up startled; I quickly gazed at my clock and frowned at it in confusion.

It was not even time to get up yet.. it was 6am and I was not expected to leave until 10am.

'What do you want?'. I spoke up awkwardly.

'Well.. it would be a lot easier to talk about in person and not at a door'. He spoke unhappily.

I let out a deep breath and grabbed my fluffy nightgown, so that I was not simply just wearing my laced white nightdress.

'Alright'. I whispered.

I stared at the door awkwardly, as it began to open.

Ray eyed my red cheeks and smiled politely at me.

'May I sit?'. He smiled, walking towards my bed and eyeing me with a slightly awkward expression.

'You do not have to ask'. I laughed.

'Hey did you see the hounds?'. I grinned.

I hoped talking of them might just distract me from my awkwardness.

'Yes, yes, well done you. Everyone is beaming with joy'. He spoke oddly and a little harshly.

'What do you want, Ray?'. I snapped, uncomfortable with the sudden idea that my brother had arranged this.

He raised his eyebrows and chuckled softly.

I blushed a deep red in response.

'So it is true, you are attracted to me?'. He smirked confidently, tilting my chin up and meeting my shocked face.

I winced in response.

'It does not matter'. I hid my fists clenched behind my back. I felt like I would die of embarrassment.

'Are you going to keep holding yourself back like this, your whole life?'. He muttered.

'No, of course not!'. I snapped.

He then pushed me gently against the bed, holding my arms over my head with one hand. The other hand swiftly unknotted my dressing gown, revealing a lot of my skin.

He smirked, running a finger down from my neck and stopped teasingly just above my chest.

'You should not act this way to someone you do not even like'. I frowned, pulling my face to the side, so I did not meet his eyes.

He released my arms and gave me an annoyed expression.

'You are a beautiful woman and you are simply wasting so much in waiting for some prince charming that is never going to approach you'. He chuckled softly.

'Just because I have a crush, does not mean you can play with my feelings!'. I snapped angrily, slapping him hard across his perfect face.

He then grabbed both of my arms and stretched them out against my pillows.

'Who said I was playing?'. He groaned huskily into my ear.

I let out an odd moan in the back if my throat and he smirked knowingly.

I bite my lip and tried to hide.

Still holding onto my arms, his lips suddenly met mine.

I stared into his eyes in shock and he smirked and then pulled back.

'Close your eyes and just relax'. He muttered huskily.

Every sane part of me told me not to and yet I did.

His lips met mine and he released my hands; his hands then began to brush over the fabric of my nightdress. His fingertips caressed my body over the fabric and a hot warmth entered my mouth.

I squeezed my eyes shut in realisation.. Ray's tongue was assaulting my own, desperately. I timidly met it and soon began tracing its movements.

We kept kissing passionately and then I tried to sit up, startled.

Ray's fingertips were tracing my thigh and I got scared.

'Hey, relax. This is what people do when they like each other'. He chuckled softly.

'Ray.. I am scared'. I whimpered.

'I promise you it will not hurt for long'. He smiled, reassuringly.

I took a deep breath and nodded.

Even if this was requested by my brother or father.. if I did not give in.. I might be seen as weak or unloyal.

Father needed to know I could be trusted around those beasts.. I was loyal and I needed to prove it.

'Just focus on me, alright? Kiss me like you might never get to again'. He grinned.

'Show me your feelings for me'. He added, flirtatiously.

I shakingly touched his face and placed his forehead gently against mine.

'Okay, I am ready'. I whispered.

I was not ready.

His lips met mine aggressively and then I felt a sharp pain between my legs.

It may have only been his fingertips but it hurt me.

I pulled back and wind began to pick up around the room; I threw him off of me with a gust of wind and to my surprise.. lightning.

He was on the floor, holding his head.

I could see blood trickling down his face..

'Did you seriously just throw me from the bed for doing that!?'. He snapped, clearly in pain.

I stared at him in disbelief.

'I am so sorry'. I frowned.

'Forget it, I tried'. He snapped, standing up and walking towards my door.

I stared at him in disbelief; he was leaving because I accidently defended myself.

He knew that this was new to me and yet he was just.. leaving.

'I knew someone told you to do this!'. I snapped, distraught.

He turned around and scowled at me.

'Did you honestly think I wanted to be with a weak little girl, who does not even know how to flirt?'. He scoffed.

It was then that my Bedroom door opened and Dexter grabbed him by the front of his shirt, looking angry.

I had forgotten about my pain and I simply stared at their confrontation.

'Seriously Ray!? You cannot just talk to her like that, she is still a Noble'. He snapped, in an annoyed tone.

'Everyone knows it is true'. Ray laughed.

'Let him leave'. I whispered, as tears began to fall down my face.

It took a while before my brother even sat beside me on my bed.

'I am so sorry Aria.. I asked him to be your first kiss.. I knew you liked him and I thought he could at least try to treat you right'. My brother looked at me with a guilty expression.

Ray is my brother's best friend.. I did not want to ruin their friendship just because he was an asshole towards me. And to be fair, I did hurt him.

'Nobody will ever understand me, will they?'. I frowned, wincing at the pain in my chest.

'One day you will find someone worth your first time, trust me, I know. I guess I was stupid to think Ray was worthy of such affections'. He smiled reassuringly.

'He is still your friend. Please do not fall out because of me'. I frowned.

'You are my little sister, of course I am angry'. He sighed, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tightly.

We did not speak a word of it after that.

I walked into the Garden, where mother and father were staring at the white removal van uncomfortably.

They were not ready to let me go.. but they still had to.. it was my duty to show my loyalty to my Coven.

I smiled, knowing full well that my life was going to change drastically after today.

'Arianna, are you ready?'. My father sighed softly, as I approached both of them.

'I will be'. I smiled reassuringly.

To my surprise it was my mother who seemed angry with me.. I could feel it.

She grabbed my hand aggressively and scowled at me.

'Ray came to the Infirmary earlier'. My mother snapped angrily.

'Sweetheart not now'. Father scolded her.

'No, we do not hurt our own'. She muttered, in an annoyed tone.

I stepped back and took a deep breath.

'I am sorry, he simply caught me by surprise'. I gulped.

She grabbed a hold of my chin and scowled at me.

'You better not let it happen again, you make us look weak'. She snapped.

I stared down at the grass, avoiding her completely.

'I am ready to leave'. I grumbled lightly to my father.

He smiled sadly and took my hand. He began walking towards the van.

I paused, with my hand on the handle and took a deep breath.

My father pulled me into a sharp hug, which went on for several minutes.

'There is an encrypted mobile in the glove compartment, for now you watch the two opposing Packs only. Do not make contact, do you understand?'. He spoke quietly, still holding me tightly.

I pulled back and nodded at him.

'I understand father, I will not let the Coven down'. I smiled, blinking slightly through my tears.

It was then that I could feel hot warmth across the Garden.. which meant Ray was nearby.

Ray came from a Coven that practiced fire magic and he was sent here as part of an alliance between our two Covens; The Cluster Coven often practised with oddly enough clusters of fire tornados.. far out of our way.

'Ray, this is not a good time'. My father muttered uncomfortably.

So everyone knew what I did to him.. which meant they also knew what I had almost allowed him to do to me..

I turned around and glared at him.

He had a small cut and bruise from where my lightning had struck his face.. which should have made me feel bad.. but I did not. I felt strong.. like if a wolf started things, I could defend myself.

'I will make sure she gets there safely'. He spoke matter-of-factly to my father, avoiding my face completely.

This only made me feel more uncomfortable.

My father met his gaze and then looked at me questioningly.

'I am quite capable of driving myself, thank you'. I spoke unhappily.

I now knew the man I spent over a year pinning over, was an absolute asshole.. I did not need him.

Maybe all the Warlord's were this way to Noble Coven Leader's daughters.. maybe we were just tools for alliances..

'I think it is a great idea, Arianna'. My mother chimed in, daring me to argue further.

My father simply let out a irritated breath and nodded softly.

'Very well.. get my daughter to Crimson Falls safely, Raymond'. My father ordered.

Wonderful. I sighed.

Ray smiled softly at me and grabbed my bags from the grass.

'Say your goodbyes, Aria. It is a long journey'.

And with that I watched him walk to the back of the van, placing my belongings into the back.

I nodded softly to my parents and then jumped up into my seat.

My new life awaited me.. and regrettably.. Ray also.