Chapter 2

Nyra’s POV

“Oh, come on… Don't tell me you didn't get that.” The strange voice which interrupted the conversation continued and was followed by footsteps which sounded like that of someone trying to show he owned the place.

But besides that, I was concerned about what was going on in my body. I didn't understand the scent I perceived which almost made my mouth water. It was a dangerous mixture of cedar with mocha chocolate. I was almost licking my lips as Naya, my wolf, was already going crazy within me. It was hard to believe that I was going to meet my mate in the strangest of places.

“Flower…? Leaf…? Don't you get it…?” He continued, really trying his best to make them understand his uncanny word play but the rogues were proving to be a lost cause.

They all turned around looking cluelessly at the man who dared to interrupt the moment. I was beginning to fear they would all gang up to kill my mate before I could get to know him. Perhaps it was the curse of death on me that was about work on him and make him meet his end. All those thoughts made me panic before I knew what was happening.

“Fine…whatever. It's clear you don't have a sharp sense of humor. So, let's just get this over with. Let the girl go…” He finally emerged and was just as palatable as his voice and his aura was.

He was quite tall and looked both fierce and attractive at the same time. The thick eyebrows and the neatly carved facial hair were just the perfect fit for his muscular jawline.

I had become so lost in his eyes that I had completely forgotten that I was almost about to get killed by a couple of rogues. He just made me feel so safe that I didn't bother if he actually had what it took to get me out of that one. But just as I thought about that, I became worried about him.

“And who the heck are you?” The huge rogue who was probably their leader spoke up as he stepped towards him. “What makes you think you can come to my turf and begin giving orders?”

I impulsively ran over to the other side where my hero stood, even though it made my body go more ecstatic when I needed it to be calm and composed.

‘Oh goddess…he smells so nice; I can take a bite out of him…’ Naya was painting so many crazy pictures in my head when we needed to stay focused on how to get out of that place alive. ‘Maybe we could ask him if he…’

‘Just stay put, Naya…now's not the time for all this…’ I had to shun her as I didn't want to dwell so much on that or I could actually take a bite of him right there.

‘Sheesh…’ Naya was being really erratic. ‘I just wanted to suggest asking what his name is…’

‘We would have to stay alive to find out later. We can't be distracting him now…’ With that I was finally able to get naughty Naya back in character.

“Well… I don't really care for introductions. I'm just here for the girl…” My hero continued with confidence that didn't waver for one moment and that made me believe that he actually had what it took to take out every single one of the rogues. “Now, I would like you to back away from us and nobody gets hurt…”

The rogues broke out in hoarse laughter like they had done earlier. But he wasn't moved at all and that made me desperately wonder what he was going to do to back that up.

“Now, I see you really want your face busted up…” the rogue leader was drawing even closer and that made my knees weak with fear. “I'm sure the ladies wouldn't want you that much by the time I'm done grinding your nose to dust…”

And with that, the rogue leader began making a charge at us. But he still wasn't fazed. It almost looked like he was secretly amused with the way things were playing out.

Just when the rogue was about to strike, my hero mowed the rogue with a punch powerful enough to send one into the afterlife. There was no movement from the unconscious leader of the rogues and from his men as well. They all stared at my hero with their jaw dropping to the ground in fear and amazement.

“Does anyone want some…?” He asked as he took a look at the man he had knocked down before looking at the rogues who were already shaking their heads in disagreement to the offer. “Take his body out of here before I change my mind.

And just like that, it was just the both of us in the woods. I just couldn't believe it as it all felt like a dream that could never come to me even in my sleep.

The silence was beginning to get really odd, but I just couldn't get myself to speak up first as I just didn't know what in the blue moon, I was supposed to say to him.

“Care to tell me exactly what you are doing out here all by yourself?” He finally put me out of my misery by asking first and that made me quite comfortable with him. “Is this the only place you can get flowers from? Don't you have flowers in your pack?”

“We do, but my Luna insisted that I come here and get them instead…” I waited for him to turn around and get me. In those few seconds he was making that turn to look at me, it felt like time was moving in slow motion.

I was almost falling backwards by the time we made eye contact.

“If this is a dream, make me wake up right now because I can’t take any more of this only to realize none of it was real…” I closed my eyes and said those words hoping that I would open my eyes in my bedroom.

It was really going to be such a pain to wake up to realize none of it was real. And I was already bracing for impact with the harsh reality that awaited.

“It’s real…” he spoke and his arms were around me before he could finish. “Looks like you are the main reason the moon goddess brought me here…you are way more beautiful than I imagined…”

“Oh my…” I couldn’t say a word as it was actually happening. I was right in the arms of my mate.

“I had no idea the Luna of the Moonfang was a lunatic…I guess her daughter wouldn’t be much different…” he carried on with his wordplay which he seemed to be particularly good at. “Why would she give such horrible punishment? What exactly did you do?”

“I could write an entire story about that…” I let out a sigh as I didn’t want him knowing about my background just yet.

“You could tell me the story on the way back. But first let’s help you get the flowers…” hesitantly took his arms off me and held me by the hand. “What’s your name, mate?”

“Nyra… what about you?”

“I’m Rowan…”

My heart almost stopped as I passed out, and in that very heartbeat, just before the darkness swallowed me, I felt the cold tip of a blade press against my back and a whisper that wasn’t his slide into my ear: “The curse isn’t done with you yet…”