NINE

KIARA

 "They're coming," Denzel said, his expression impassive. The words had barely left his lips when two Lycans stepped into my line of vision. A couple more joined a few seconds later. 

"What is this? Werewolves in our territory?" One of them drawled, his beady eyes twinkling with amusement. 

"I don't think they're just any kind of werewolves. Their auras are way too powerful," a red head said, eyeing us with disdain.

"The woman looks so fragile. Look at her, her skin is so fair. Look at her eyes, they're so innocent. Those eyes are asking us to ravage her," another Lycan said, licking his lips in anticipation. 

I could feel the rage stirring up within my mate. It was only a matter of time before he would completely lose control. This would result to blood shed. More Lycans would end up swarming to the scene once the smell of blood reached them. I didn't want this to happen. 

"We don't want trouble. We just want to go home," I blurted out the words without thinking. 

They blinked at us and suddenly burst into laughter. 

"She's hilarious, alright?!" One of them chortled. 

"It's just as she said. We don't want to trouble" Denzel said, his face expressionless.

"Oh! Scary!" One of them laughed. 

They approached us , their stance offensive. 

"Don't move. Just close your eyes. I can handle this" Denzel said to me and I nodded, closing my eyes. 

The sound of aggressive growls and cries of pain reached my ears causing my heart to pound. I felt Denzel's movements. They were sharp and precise. I couldn't help but wonder how he was able to fend them off with me in his arms. 

After a little while, everything went silent. I took a deep breath. The air was surprisingly fresh. I had expected to smell blood.

"It's alright. You can open your eyes. We're home" my mate said softly.

I opened my eyes and true to his word, we were standing in front of my room back at the palace. 

My eyes widened, disbelief sinking into me.

"I told you I could handle it" Denzel said, his gaze warm. 

He set me down on my feet and opened the door. 

"You should get some rest. You've been through a lot" he said as I walked into my room. 

"Thank you for saving my life" I said, glancing at him.

He beamed at me, his eyes lighting up. For a moment, I stared at him, unable to think. His smile was beyond dazzling. 

It was so beautiful, it made my heart ache. 

He walked towards me and cupped my face. Then, he planted a gentle kiss on my forehead. 

"Think about what I said earlier. If you would choose to become my Luna, I would like us to have a mating ceremony soon" he said, his fingers stroking my cheek. 

"I'll think about it," I murmured, lowering my gaze.

"I'd like that. Let's have breakfast together soon" he said and I nodded. 

I watched him as he headed towards the door and out of the room, shutting the door behind him. 

Dreading that I would sleep walk my way into trouble again, I couldn't bring myself to go to sleep. So, I sat on the bed, gazing at the night sky. 

After a while, I could feel my eyelids growing heavy. But, I fought my drowsiness. However, it didn't take long before my eyelids fluttered close, my head drooping forward. 

...

"Who's there?" I asked at the sound of the pounding on the door. When I received no response, I walked towards the door. Hesitant, I curled my fingers around the door knob. 

"Who's there?" I mustered the courage to ask once more.

"It's me," I heard a familiar voice say. It was undeniably Denzel's.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but wonder why he'd chosen to come see me at such a late hour. Especially since he'd just been here a little while ago.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door. 

Denzel was standing there, his glowing eyes standing out in the darkness. There was a smirk on his lips. An eery one. 

I took a step backwards, furrowing my brows. Something was wrong. 

Denzel took a step towards me, the lights from the lamps casting a yellow glow across his face. 

"Denzel, what are you doing?" I stuttered, still moving backwards as he steadily approached me. His hungry gaze roved over my facial features as he reached out for me. 

"You're indeed as special as they say you are" he said. 

I furrowed my brows, my heart beating wildly against my rib cage. 

"But, why? Why are you his mate? Why must you stand in our way?" He continued, cocking his head. 

"W-what are you t-talking about?" I stammered, my back colliding with the wall. 

He slammed a hand against the wall beside my head, making me flinch. The crazed look in his eyes was unfamiliar. He felt different. 

"W-who are you?" I asked, a lump forming in my throat. 

His eyes darkened and he wrapped his fingers around my throat, squeezing hard. 

I gasped and sputtered, my lungs straining for air. I couldn't breathe. My eyes were watering, broken sounds escaping my parted lips.

"What am I?" Denzel whispered, leaning towards me. 

"I'm everyone's worst nightmare" he whispered in my ear sending chills crawling down my spine. 

A scream tore out of my lips, terror seizing me as he increased the pressure around my throat.

...

With a start, my eyes shot open. Someone had their hands on my shoulders. My first instinct was to struggle.

"Calm down, it's me. I'm not going to hurt you," I heard Denzel say. 

Peeling my eyes open, my bewildered gaze met his worried ones.

"Your nightmares are getting worse" he whispered, his brows furrowed. 

"I want to sit up" I mumbled. He quietly helped me to a sitting position, not taking his eyes off me.

"Want to talk about your dream?" He asked softly, taking my hand in his. 

I shook my head, shutting my eyes briefly. A whiff of Denzel's scent hit me, it was different. There was a hint of citrus in it. 

With questions buzzing in my mind, I looked around the room for the first time since I woke up. My heart sank when I realized that it wasn't my room.

"Where am I?" I croaked, trembling with anxiety. 

The smile on his face vanished, his eyes turning blue. 

"Who are you? You're not Denzel" I breathed, inching away from him. 

"That's surprising. I didn't think you would recognise the fact that he's not my brother" a feminine voice spoke. 

I looked up, my gaze resting on the figure of the tall woman standing by the door with her arms folded across her chest. 

She had dark hair and ember eyes. Her physique was generally lithe and slightly muscular. She wore her hair in a layered shoulder length hairstyle. This woman had a strong resemblance to my mate. 

"Kai, step away from her. She looks pasty" she said, straightening. 

Denzel's look alike immediately moved away from me and went to stand by her side. I watched as his facial features transformed into an entirely different one. 

"Who are you people?" I asked, puzzled.

"I'm Estella, Denzel's biological sister. This is Kai, my loyal bodyguard. I'm here to ask you for a favour" she said, flashing me a bone chilling smile. 

I had a feeling that she was someone who should never be taken lightly. 

"What favour?"

"I want you to kill my brother for me" she said and I gasped, my eyes bulging in their sockets.

"W-why would you want that?" I stuttered.

"Oh, darling. You're so clueless. Having Denzel in your life is one of the worst things that can ever happen to you. He's a monster."

I stared at her, my lips parted. I couldn't understand why she would want to kill her own brother. Denzel wasn't a monster. He'd saved me. He'd protected me. 

He was different. 

He was kind. 

"Why? He's not a monster. He wouldn't hurt the innocent. So, why? Why do you hate him so much that you want to kill him?" I demanded, my blood heating up. 

I'd never desperately desired to defend anyone like this. 

Estella's eyes darkened. 

"Do you trust him that much?" She asked, her words dripping with bitterness.

"I'm beginning to. He's not trying to take advantage of me. He's not -" she cut me off, her ember eyes filled with irritation.

"Are you sure about that? You know nothing about him. Tell me, has he ever told you about him or his alter ego?" 

"W-what are you talking about?"

She threw her head backwards and laughed until tears escaped her eyes. 

"Did he ever tell you about Deanna?" She asked, her voice filled with mockery.

"Or how he was the one who killed his brides?" 

Those words made my heart skip a beat as fear seeped deep into my bones.

She was lying, right?