Chapter 8: Punishment

Natasha's POV

My breathing becomes heavier as the seconds goes by; It came to the point where taking a breath is becoming hard for me, and it hurts already.

"Valerian," I whispered as I deeply shut my eyes and clung to my chest.

I repeatedly cursed under my breath. "Valerian, fuck. Where are you?!"

I tried to stand up from the bed, but my knees were just weak right now, and I failed to.

"I am so going to kill you." I gritted my teeth.

A groan escaped from my mouth as I caressed my stomach. It's burning. My stomach is burning from so much hunger and pain I'm feeling right now. Even if I try to eat meat or whatever there is, it won't quench my desire because only Valerian could do that for me. I know.

I swore that I didn't want to feel this anymore, but here I am in this situation again.

I haven't seen Valerian for two days now, and I have no idea where he is. Now, I can't help but think that he is punishing me for what happened the other day.

Did I hurt his ego for what I did?

Shame. I only defended my kind because what he said was so uncalled for, and he was out of the line, and he got mad because of that?

Fuck him.

"Ugh," I groaned.

But I can't also deny that I need him right now. I need him so bad right now because I feel like dying if he won't show up anytime soon.

'Say it.'

I quickly opened my eyes when I heard Valerian's voice. But, after roaming my gaze at the four corners of the room, I didn't find him.

'Say it, Natasha.'

The voice echoed again.

My mouth slightly gaped when I realized that I couldn't see him here inside the room because he isn't here right now. I am hearing him inside my mind.

He is inside of my mind.

My heart started beating fast inside my chest.

Can he read my mind now?

It can't be. No.

'Say the word.'

His voice once again echoed inside my head.

I drew a deep breath as I obeyed him.

Being stubborn in times like this will get me nowhere because I indeed need him, and I know I can be prideful sometimes but still, I shouldn't think of my pride anymore, especially right now.

"I need you," I whispered.

In just a snap, the door flung open, and Valerian was already standing in front of me.

Without wasting any second, I quickly ran up to him and brought his hand up to my mouth.

I automatically tasted the sweetness of his blood as I started sipping from his hand.

It only took me a couple of minutes before I was completely satisfied.

I was out of breath when I let him go. I quickly wiped my mouth with my hand because drops of his blood his still dripping.

His blood tasted sweet right now. Unlike the last time, it tasted metallic and rusty. Why did the taste of his blood change? How?

But I could care less. The important thing is that I feel better now.

It's fascinating how my teeth are just in normal form, and I don't have fangs, but I didn't know they could be so sharp and can penetrate through his skin so easily.

Letting out a deep sigh, I looked at him.

Our eyes met.

That's just when I noticed that there's something different with Valerian.

He looked. . . weak.

Before I could even say something, he quickly grabbed my neck and pushed me to the wall.

I gasped when my back hit the hard wall.

Fuck him.

"My turn," he whispered as I felt his fangs pierce through the skin of my neck.

I automatically hold his arm for support as I felt him sip my blood.

He took one final big gulp as an indication that he was done.

And just like that, he's back to his usual bastard self.

Hmm, he also feels weak when not drinking my blood. He feels the same as me.

It's like we're really connected. Like we're really. . . fuck.

I saw the corners of Valerian's lips rise and form into a devilish grin.

"What do you find so amusing?" I questioned as I raised my eyebrow at him, but I can't deny that seeing him flash his devilish face kinda scared me.

"I can't read what's on your mind, but I can communicate with you inside your mind," he stated with still much amusement on his face.

I drew a sigh.

I thought he could read my mind now.

Thank goodness.

"You can do it too, Natasha." He stared straight into my eyes.

"How?" I asked. Genuinely curious.

"Think of me," he answered.

I gulped.

All I have to do is think of him?

"Just think of me and tell me whatever you want to tell me inside your mind," he instructed.

I heaved a sigh and did precisely what he said.

I called his name in my mind.

I slowly tilted my head as I felt an energy.

"You did it," he said.

He's right.

"Did you hear me call your name?"

Valerian nodded. "I did, inside my mind."

I'm amazed by how I did it.

I didn't even need deep concentration in doing it. I just did it flawlessly. I just have to have the intention to talk to him without physically talking to him. It's easy to call him inside my mind. Now I can easily communicate with him inside my mind.

We can't read each other's minds, but we can do this.

"You know what does that mean, Natasha?" Valerian started walking close to me, and once again, my back hit the wall.

I gulped.

"We are indeed mates. We belong to each other. You belong to me."

I could almost hear my heart beating inside my chest because of his words.

"I have no idea how it happened. Maybe you casted a spell on me," he said, which raged me.

"You're the one who poisoned my blood!" I retorted.

Valerian slowly shook his head. "No, it was meant to happen. I didn't poison your blood. What I did was just a confirmation."

I fell silent.

I didn't cast a spell on him. Hell, I went here to kill him. Why would I do that?!

If it's true that he didn't poison my blood, then how did it happen? How are we mates?

"Are you a vampire, Natasha?" Valerian asked, which made me crease my forehead in confusion.

"I'm not. Why would you ask that?"

I have lived with my pack my whole life. I was with my werewolves' parents my entire life. How am I a vampire? He's gone nuts.

I sucked on my lower lip.

I can read minds. Something that my kind can't do. Reading minds is a vampire's ability.

Fuck.

I quickly shook the thought out of my mind.

Valerian is clearly dictating things in my mind, and I shouldn't let him fool me.

"I'm certain I am not a werewolf. I still question how we became mates, but I believe it was your doing," I heard him say, snapping me out of my reverie.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What?! No! I didn't do anything! What the hell are you talking about?!"

I hate that he's blaming me for something I didn't do.

"No one will admit to their crime, Natasha."

What?

I didn't do anything.

I came here to do a mission, and I didn't expect things like this to happen. He's assuming that I did something for us to be mates?

Hell! I don't even like the way he treats women, and he really thinks that?!

"You're really a bastard." I spat out.

Valerian just looked at me for a couple of seconds before he turned his back on me without saying a single word.

Shit. No.

I need to calm down and do something.

I can't win if I always let him provoke me. I can't let my emotion control me. I can't let my emotions get in the way. I need to get my mind back to my plan.

Think. Think. Think.

"Wait!" I called before he was completely out of the room.

Valerian stopped on his track, but he didn't turn to face me.

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves down and gather all my courage.

"Can I come with you?" I asked.

And with that, he turned around.

"I can't stay here," I added.

"You can't go anywhere," he firmly said.

I already expected that he would say that. It's Valerian Fenrir, after all.

"I'll die here."

"I'll kill you if you disobey me."

Fuck.

I took a deep breath for the nth time. I need to calm down.

"You know you can't lock me up here forever, right?"

"You are not locked up, Natasha. Now, shut your mouth, and don't tempt me to lock you up in the basement." Valerian once again turned his back on me and started walking outside.

I followed him.

Thank goodness he's just walking like a normal person right now and not using his speed. Otherwise, I'd have a hard time.

"Let me out," I ordered as I followed him walk downstairs.

"No," he firmly said.

"What? Why?" I blew a breath and rolled my eyes. "Look, I already accepted that we're mates-- it's not like I have a choice but--"

"You're not the one to say that." Valerian cut me off mid-sentence. Amusement is dancing in his tone as he said what he said.

I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "You really believe I did something?! I don't even like you!"

"You told me you were stalking me because you like me," he remarked.

Fuck.

I really did tell him that because I couldn't find another reason to say to him.

As far as I remember, I told him I had been admiring him from afar for a long time already, and the reason why I wanted to kill him was because I saw the way he treated women.

I couldn't think of any reason at that time, and I couldn't put my pack at risk when he asked about me, and now I have to suffer the consequences of the words I used to reason out.

I have to make sure that I wouldn't be caught in my own mouth again.

"You can't go anywhere," Valerian said.

I groaned.

"I'm not going anywhere. I told you I got kicked out of my own pack. I have nowhere to go. I just don't want to spend every time of my life here in your house. I'd go insane," I told him.

I halted when Valerian halted. I didn't notice that we had already reached the main door.

A smirk formed on my lips when an idea popped up in my mind. "I'll kill myself if you won't let me out."

Valerian turned to face me with his forehead creased.

I bit the inside of my cheeks.

Fuck.

Why does he look so hot in my eyes all of a sudden?

I gulped and tried to shake the thought of him off my mind.

"You need me too, Valerian. I saw you earlier. You were weak without my blood. You need me."

Valerian remained silent with his forehead still creased.

I have to look up to him because he's way taller than me.

Our eyes met for a second before he turned his back on me and opened the door.

He went out without saying anything, but he left the door open.

I smiled triumphantly as I followed him outside.

Maybe he realized that I was right. And that all his threats of killing me have no use anymore because, again, I am right.

He needs me as much as I need him.