Petal

"You're a spy, aren't you?"

The words hung in the air, making it colder than it should, making my breath stutter.

I wanted to answer, but my mind was splitting.

Aslaan—that was his name. A name that was never spoken aloud in that house. I had seen the grave. The maid laid flowers on it on behalf of his brothers. Zoran and Kanaan held his death anniversary a month ago.

He was dead. And yet here stood before me.

His skin was hot against my chin. His breath was steady. His heartbeat was loud.

“I asked you a question?” His fingers dug deeper into my skin, pulling me out of my head.

"I'm not a spy," I forced out.

Aslaan’s expression didn’t shift. “That’s not very believable.”

His eye burned a dangerous yellow. My wolf was always stubborn. She always wanted to fight. But before this man, she whimpered.

He was dangerous.

Panic burned my nerves, and my heart hammered. I shook my head. Or maybe it was just trembling. "I'm not. I swear. I was escaping."

His face twitched. Disbelief, maybe. Or maybe it was just how his face looked when he wasn't killing someone.

"Escaping?" he repeated, like the word itself was pathetic.

Without thinking, I yanked the collar of my gown down exposing my shoulder covered with bruises—fresh ones, fading ones, the purple blotches, the deep red marks

"Would a spy be in this state? Would they treat a spy like this ?"

My voice was shaking now, this was my last bet.

Aslaan stared, and then he let out a laugh. It wasn’t loud. It just sounded wrong. It sounded like Kanaan. His lips even curled at the edges like Zoran's.

My neck stiffened, and my mouth went dry.

"Knowing my brothers… that's exactly how they'd treat a spy. Such things aren't going to move me or grant you my sympathy.” His gaze was still unreadable. “May that was the price of your freedom, to spy on me.”

My knees weakened and I sagged against the tree trunk. My hands fell from his wrist and hung limply by my sides.

"So that's it?" My voice cracked. "You're going to kill me."

“I’m afraid so.” His voice was calm. Too calm.

Death didn’t seem cruel. It felt like a release from the pain I had endured so far.

But not like this. Not with Kannan still breathing. Not while Zoran could still wear that awful, smug smile.

They should pay for what they did to me. What they did to my baby.

But I was powerless. I could do nothing.

And like a broken faucet in a dilapidated kitchen, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

"Haven't you all done enough?” My voice rose as I choked on my sobs. “Your brothers have taken everything from me. My pride. My dignity as a woman. My child.” My voice cracked. “Now you want to take my life?”

Something shifted in his gaze, but he didn’t move.

“Fine do it. Take my life.” My teary eyes held his gaze. “That’s what you and your brothers are good at.”

He exhaled and released me.

Silence stretched between us, dotted by my now-whispered sobs.

His gaze lingered on me—long enough to make me uncomfortable. "Where were you heading to?”

I sniffed. “I don’t know. I just…wanted to leave somewhere. Anywhere but that house.

His gaze never left me, the intensity searing itself on my skin. It was like he had a thousand questions, but he chose not to ask.

“Follow me,” Aslaan said, “I will give you a place to sleep. Only for tonight.” He turned.

I should've said thank you. But my tongue stuck to my teeth. My body didn't trust him. He looked exactly like the monster I was running from.

Although he was taller, his shoulders much broader, but he still moved like them. That arrogant gait like the world was owing them.

“I think I’ll stay here.” I wrapped my body, the cold air stinging my skin.

Aslaan turned. “This isn’t a safe place to sleep. Not unless you expect the next wolf you run into, to be more merciful than me.”

His voice was calm, but his words hit like a slap.

I stared at the forest and then back at him.

“Have it your way.” Aslaan turned around and sauntered.

Hesitantly, I followed after him in silence.

It wasn't long before we reached it—a clearing. Small buildings. A fire pit. Not like where I came from, the camp. Simpler. Rougher. But they all bowed when they saw him.

"Alpha," one of them said.

My breath caught and my gaze snapped back to his face.

Alpha?

The mad rogue. The feral one they all feared.

Aslaan turned to a woman. "Help…” he paused, his eyes moved to me, waiting.

“Petal.” My voice still quivered.

“Take care of Petal for tonight.”

She nodded and led me inside. The room was small but clean. Nothing like where I had to sleep every night back then.

The water was warm. The dress was soft.

When I was done, she said, "The Alpha wants you to join him for dinner."

My stomach knotted, but I still followed her. Followed her through the short corridor that felt like it stretched for all eternity.

We arrived at the thick door, and then I felt it.

The scent. It hit my lungs and it made my heart cease.

It was all familiar. Like a Deja vu. But this time it was stronger than what I had felt for Kanaan and Zoran.

The pull wasn’t fragile. It was wild, bone deep.

I could feel my wolf stir, clawing beneath my skin, frantic, like she already knew. Whoever was on the other side of the door was our mate.

Before the servant opened the door, my hand shot out. “Wait, who else is behind the door?”

The servant blinked. “Only Alpha Aslaan.”

His name was like a slap in my face.

As she opened the door, my body coiled with fear, yet my wolf stirred with excitement like she wasn’t rejected by his brothers.