Chapter 4 The beast beneath his skin

“Do you not know what happens to mated Lycans and werewolves?" I shake my head, brows furrowed.

" What was the recent rule passed by the king?“

" I don't know.“

" When was the last time the King captured a new pack? “

Why is he asking me all these questions? Seeing my furrowed brow, his hold loosens. " Then what do you know?“ I flinch at his harsh words.

He rakes his hand through his hair. " What am I to do with you?“ He asks himself, then he laughs. " Brother sure knows what he is doing.“

Shaking his head, the Demon lord grabs my hand and pulls me up. " We are leaving, I can't afford to keep you here for one more second.“

I follow him numbly.

Brother used to say I was smart, even I used to think I was, but it seems my brain has gotten dull in the past few or I I was never smart in the first place.

It hurts hearing my own mate think I am clueless?

We trudge out of the palace in silence, I should find a way to meet Nyx, I should ask her what happens now.

But he is walking too fast, obviously in a hurry to return to his lair.

According to what I heard about him, he left the Palace after killing his own parents, and he was cursed to kill whoever he touches, that is why he wears gloves.

That is why he is called the Demon Lord.

Because he's a killer.

The king must hate him for killing their parents.

My gaze shifts to the extravagance we just left behind, to the forest in front of us. Who knew freedom wasn't through the kingdom but through a lone Moon gate in the Demon lord's palace.

The moment we get to the forest, he lets go of my hand. “Shift." He tells me and the feeling of trepidation crawls up my heart.

I shake my head.

The Demon Lord seems to be more irritated." You can't shift?“ His eyes rake over me, then he sighs. “Fine, come here."

I go to him, and he picks me up like he had done earlier. “Hold me tightly." I have only just done as he said when he moves, a strangled sound leaves my throat at his speed and I have to grab his cloth tightly and close my eyes so I won't fall.

So much for wanting to see how the outside world is. We spend more than three hours in the forest, and I realize how useless I am. Maybe if I could shift, he wouldn't have to carry me.

“How much longer before we get there?" The wind whips my hair around, making it fall on my face, I can feel cold air on my skin and I wonder why Roderick doesn't look a little bit surprised.

Night has fallen already, I doubt he can keep going for much longer.

“We will make a stop here, there's a cottage about a minute walk from here." He slows down, making me sign in relief.

“You can put me down if you are tired." I tell him, but his hold tightens on me.

“I have carried you for three hours, one more minute won't hurt." My face flushes, and I hide my face in his chest.

We soon arrived. I had expected to see a depleted, run down cottage, but I am met with the site of a building that looks like it has people living in it.

The door is open as if inviting us in and the house is lit up by bulbs. “Are you sure it's okay to stay here?"

“I own it."

“Ok." He takes me straight to the room and lays me on the bed, then he heads to the bathroom and I stand up to rummage the closet for something I could change into.

While wondering why he has a house in the middle of nowhere. I don't find a change of clothes, so I opt for sleeping instead.

I haven't laid on the bed for long before the bed dips behind me and the Demon Lord pulls me closer by my waist. “Good night, mate."

My heart does a thump, I want to tell him good night too, but it's like my lips are sewn together, so I just lay there and think.

My body hasn't adjusted to this new environment, and despite how exhausted I feel, my eyes don't close.

I don't know how long I stay like that, until a soft whimper reaches my ear. It first starts slowly, almost inaudible, then it slowly increases.

It takes me a while to realize the whimper is coming from my mate, my brows furrow as he digs his nails into my skin and his claws slowly slice into my stomach.

A painful gasp tears out of my mouth, I quickly grab his hand. “Your highness." I call, prying his furry hand away from my skin but he sinks it deeper. “Y-your highness, you are hurting me." I cry out in pain as his claws dig deeper and the smell of blood evades my nose.

I start struggling, using all my strength to push him away. “Stop!" I shout, thrashing on the bed.

It hurts.

" Stop it!“ I grab onto his claws but it burns me and I yank my hand away.

The pain increases, almost unbearable. I can see my own blood dripping out of my dress.

Tears roll down my cheeks. Disregarding the pain the touch of his skin brings.

I grab his claws again and pull it with all my strength. “ Roderick stop!“ I scream and this seems to wake him because he jolts awake.

I scamper off the bed, holding onto my bleeding side as I press myself against the wall. Staring at him with wide eyes.

His whole book is covered in fur and his eyes are glowing, it is almost as if he's about to shift.

His brows are scrunched up in confusion as he scans the room until his eyes settle on me and they stray to my bleeding abdomen.

His jaw clenched, nostril glared, a guttural growl rumbles out of his chest and he jumps off the bed, rushing towards me.

But my head is clouded with fear and the smell of blood in the room. I don't care if he is my mate or husband.

All I see is red.

Danger!

He's going to kill you. Something screams in my head and I bolt, running out of the room and out of the door in seconds.

A loud howl shakes the ground as Roderick chases after me, and when I look back, I am not seeing him in his human form anymore.

All I see is a beast running after me, ready to tear me apart.

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