Fangs vs Claws

by Rua Hasan

He can play around with other girls, and I simply can’t have some fun?

  “What do you want, Aiden?” I asked bitterly. “Can’t you see we’re trying to have fun.”

  I could tell Aiden was shocked because of how I talked to him. He took his eyes off me and glared at Nate.

  “Nate! Mind explaining to me why you brought my mate here?” he growled.

  He ignored his question and looked at his wrist.

  “Oh, look at the time. It’s getting late. I have to go,” Nate said and sprinted to the exit.

  “You’re not wearing a watch, stupid,” I yelled at him.

  He only waved at me then walked out of the club.

  Well, looks like I won.

  I looked at Aiden then walked over to the bar and ordered another drink. Before I could sit down, Aiden grabbed my arm, yanking me forward.

  “Oh no you don’t,” he told me. “We’re going home.”

  He dragged me outside the club and toward a car.

  “Oh no, I’m not,” I yelled at him. I wasn’t going to let him boss me around.

  “Why are you acting like this?” he growled. “First, you go to a bar with my best friend, and now you’re acting as if I did something wrong.”

  “Maybe because you did!” I yelled back.

  This shut him up. It looked like he was trying to remember something but failed.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  Oh great, now he’s denying.

  I ignored him, not wanting to deal with his lies. I decided to walk home, but he grabbed my arm and dragging me into the car.

  “Let go of me, Aiden! I’m not going with you!” I yelled.

  He just shoved me into the car and made sure to lock all the doors. He got into the car and drove off.

  I looked out the window, not wanting to face him.

  Aiden parked the car outside a forest.

  What the heck is he up to?

  “Can you just drive so I can just get out of here?” I said.

  “What were you doing with Nate?” he asked calmly, but I could hear his wolf’s voice mixed with it. He seemed really angry and was losing his patience, which made him look scarier. Something in me told me not to mess with him while he’s angry because he could do anything. But did I listen?

  Nope, instead, I said the stupidest thing my mouth ever came up with.

  “What else do you expect? What do people usually do at bars?” I said.

  If only I could take that back because once those words came out of my mouth, I saw a vein pop on his forehead. He was shaking like crazy, and I knew his wolf was taking over.

  “You are mine!” he yelled. “Don’t you ever think you could leave me! You belong to me and only me.”

  And with that, he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to him.

  I felt his teeth sink into my skin the moment I made contact with his chest. A piercing scream came out of my mouth as I felt pain overwhelm where my shoulder and neck met.

  He did not just do that!

  I felt tears begin to form in my eyes, not because of the pain consuming me, but because now there was no way going back. I was trapped.

  Trapped in a place I call destiny.

  With no way out.

  Chapter 21

  I slapped Aiden across the face with all my force. I felt the tears run down my cheek as the new bite mark was throbbing in pain. My brain was barely processing what just happened.

  How could Aiden do this to me?

  Especially when I’m not ready. He’s just applying more pressure on me.

  Aiden didn’t say anything. He seemed dazed, like he was thinking and like the slap didn’t even affect him.

  “How could you!” I yelled as I pushed him away from me and punched his hard chest. My fist hurt.

  “Who gave you the right?” I yelled in his face. I was so angry. Yes, I know this was partly my fault for pissing him off, but when that usually happens to someone, they’re supposed to shout it out, hit a wall, or something. He didn’t have to mark me! He just took away everything I had with that one bite.

  Now, I have to spend all my days knowing that I will watch history repeating itself. I’m going to live by his side for years watching him grow old and eventually die.

  I felt my heart ache just at the thought. I couldn’t stand to look at his face right now, not after what he just did. My shaking hands made their way to the button that released the seatbelt around me and unlocked the doors.

  “Where are you going?” Aiden asked as he grabbed my arm. His voice was soft; I could hear the guilt in them. He probably feared I might never forgive him for what he’s done.

  But something in me told me that I would, eventually.

  But right now, I refused. I needed some time alone, away from all the drama.

  “Just leave me alone,” I said as I pulled my arm from his grip and rushed out the door. My feet stepped on the grass underneath me, and I sprinted into the forest, leaving Aiden to think about what he’d just done.

  The tears stopped, but my heartbeat didn’t. It was beating so fast as I ran past the trees with my hair flowing with the wind. The forest was quiet as the sun shined down on the trees. The birds in the trees stopped singing, and the squirrels on the ground ran away as they saw me. The place was peaceful, helping me relax as I think. The sun was bright as it shined on my skin, not affecting me at all. Yes, you heard it. The sunlight doesn’t affect us vampires, doesn’t make our skin sparkle like in the movie Twilight or burn our skin like in all the fairytales.

  Once I calmed my beating heart, I sat underneath a big oak tree and let my feelings overwhelm me. My mind was too focused on what just happened. My life flashed before my eyes.

  I saw what I was going to go through, the same process I went through many years ago.

  Get attached.

  Live the moment as everyone tells me to.

  Then regret it later on.

  I put my head in my hands. I let the world around me shut down as I tried to forget and doze off.

  Maybe I might be able to run away from all my problems.

  But just like death, my destiny cannot be escaped.

  Oh, sometimes I wonder to myself if the moon goddess hates me. Because it sure seems like it!

  The sound of a branch breaking brought me out of my thoughts. I lifted my head from my hands as my ears perked up, trying to figure out where that sound came from. I noticed the birds that were on the trees flew away suddenly. I put my guard up.

  I sniffed the air half expecting it to be Aiden, but I got no scent of his. Instead, there was a strange smell, a smell I didn’t recognize. I got off the ground looking at my surroundings for any harm to come. The smell was still in the air, but there was no movement of any sort.

  Maybe it was just my imagination. It could have been a squirrel.

  But one thing was obvious.

  The forest was quiet.

  Too quiet.

  I saw something move in the corner of my eye. But before I could make a run for it or process what was going on, I fell to the ground, hitting my head to a nearby tree. I hissed in pain. A dark brown wolf was on top of me. It was big, but not big enough to be an Alpha. Its canines were hanging out of its mouth looking awfully sharp. His eyes were what brought chills down my spine. And not the pleasurable kind of chill.

  His eyes held so much darkness. It held danger, and it held death.

  There was no life coming out of it.

  He snapped his teeth at me threateningly.

  I hiss as my eyes reddened. I let my fangs come out as I opened my mouth to show him who he was messing with.

  I don’t know what’s his problem. But if it’s a fight he wants, it’s a fight he’ll get.

  I used as much strength I had to push him off me and quickly got to my feet. We were only a few steps away from each other, and every step he took forward, I would take one backward. My back hit a tree as the wolf growled at me. A second later, he launched at me quickly, but I was fas
ter.

  I got out of the way just in time before the wolf hit me. He crashed into a tree. I heard him growl in pain as his head made contact with the tree. Before he could turn around, I came from behind him and hooked my arm around his neck, choking him.

  The wolf was struggling under me while trying to bite my arm. In one swift movement, I found myself flying into the air and then to the ground. I screamed, and my voice echoed through the forest.

  The wolf jumped on me while I was in a weak state and started to bite my legs. One thing I noticed was that he wasn’t going for the neck, which I was thankful for.

  But why?

  I struggled when he started to drag me from the ground, holding my legs.

  What did this wolf want?

  Before I could do anything else, the wolf was no longer on top of me. Instead, he was to my right on the ground while a huge gray wolf was on top of it growling viciously. Right away I knew who it was.

  Aiden.

  I was going to get up and help him, but I fell to the ground because of my injured leg. Blood kept spilling through the bites were, and my head throbbed in pain. I looked at the scene before my eyes and saw the brown wolf struggle underneath Aiden. But in one quick move, his teeth sunk into the wolf’s neck. The brown wolf stopped moving.

  Aiden left the lifeless body on the ground.

  There was blood everywhere on the ground. My stomach growled. I know this wasn’t the time to be hungry, but what can I do? I’m a vampire.

  Aiden’s wolf backed away from the dead body and came toward me. Once he reached me, he started to lick my wounded leg.

  I sighed in relief.

  Well, that was something.

  I was speechless about what just happened.

  Why was the wolf trying to harm me? Was it because I’m a vampire?

  But that wouldn’t make sense because if he wanted to harm me because I’m a vampire, then he would’ve wanted to kill me.

  But that’s not what the wolf’s intentions were. Through the whole attack, the wolf was not aiming for my neck. My thoughts were broken when I noticed Aiden shift in front of me, displaying his gorgeous body.

  I felt my cheeks heat up as I blushed in embarrassment. He must have noticed my reaction because I heard him chuckle lightly.

  “What happened? Are you okay?” he asked as he checked for any other injuries.

  When his hand touched the back of my head, I hissed in pain, and he to let go.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, and I don’t really know what just happened. He just attacked me out of nowhere,” I answered.

  He nodded at me before lifting his head, looking at the sky. His eyes weren’t focused; he must’ve been linking someone. Once he was done, he gathered me in his arms and lifted me from the ground.

  I winced at the sudden action.

  He made his way through the forest and back to where we left the car. He was walking silently, and I could tell he was mad. I just didn’t know if it was because of what just happened or because of earlier today.

  Once we got there, he opened the car, sat me on the passenger seat, and went to the back of the car to grab something.

  A few seconds later, he was back wearing shorts.

  I noticed someone was running toward us. Once they got closer, I noticed it was Liam and some other guards I recognized.

  “Are you guys okay?” Liam asked breathlessly.

  “We’re fine, but a rogue was here in our territory and even tried to attack Stella. Send guards to look over the area for anything suspicious. I also want to know how a rogue was able to sneak into my pack. Where were the guards when this happened?” Aiden growled out.

  Yup, he was definitely mad.

  Liam nodded his head and told guards to search the place.

  “I don’t know how, but I’ll increase the number of wolves guarding the border,” Liam said before walking away as he talked on his phone.

  Aiden walked around the car and got into the driver seat. He started the engine and drove off in a direction opposite to the pack house.

  “Where are we going?” I asked confused.

  “Where do you expect? You’re injured, and we need to check on it,” he answered as he took his eye off the road and looked at me for a second.

  

  Half an hour later, I was sitting on a chair in a hospital room with Aiden. Things had been awkward between us. We hadn’t spoken to each other since we got here. I mean, what should I expect after what happened.

  I just don’t know if I’m able to be mad at him for so long. He’s my mate.

  But that still didn’t give him the right to do that.

  Through the whole ride here, I felt he was tense, as if any minute then I would break down because of what he did.

  If I were going to forgive him, then he would have to earn it. I was going to make him work for my forgiveness; he had to get on his knees and beg.

  I smiled evilly to myself when the thought came to my mind. Having the big bad Alpha get on his knees—oh, that’s a sight I would want to see. I told myself that being mad at him wouldn’t achieve anything; it’s fate we’re talking about. He was bound to do it sooner or later.

  It’s just I’m going to make him regret ever marking me without my permission.

  The door opened, and a male doctor wearing a white lab coat came in holding some papers.

  “Alpha, Luna,” he said as he bowed his head in respect.

  “Stella has an injured leg and a bruised head. I want you to check on her and see if everything is okay,” Aiden told the doctor.

  The doctor nodded and started to check my injuries. After a couple of minutes, he was done wrapping and cleaning them and went to check the papers he was holding before.

  “Alpha, the Luna is fine, just has a bruised head that will heal by tomorrow. The same goes for the injuries on her leg,” the doctor said. He bowed his head before leaving.

  Aiden and I walked back to the car, and as we got in, he broke the silence.

  “Next time you’re not going anywhere without Scott. I’m also giving you an extra guard just in case,” he said with a tone that told me this was not held up for discussion.

  I sighed.

  Great, more guards.

  “You know that’s unnecessary. This could have been a onetime thing. Besides, how many times do I have to tell you, I can take care of myself,” I argued.

  “Stella, I’m not risking it! Do you know how much you scared me when I heard you scream?” he said as his voice cracked in the end.

  “Maybe that wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t mark me in the first place,” I yelled.

  This shut him up.

  Through the rest of the ride, it looked like he was arguing with himself. I know he wasn’t regretting about marking me; he just wished he could have had more control over his wolf and waited until I was ready.

  That’s something I will never understand about male wolves. Why do they have to be so protective and possessive? Especially Alphas. I heard that a Luna and an Alpha are both equal. They both get to say their opinions and speak their thoughts. The Alpha doesn’t step over his mate, even though at times he might act like it, but they’re not above them. They both have the right to make their decision and not be controlled around.

  But why do I feel like I’m some kind of puppet when it comes to Aiden?

  It’s like he’s choosing my life for me.

  I noticed we were parked right outside of the pack house. I was about to open the door and head out when Aiden held my hand. I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, but it was loud enough for me to hear.

  “I’m so sorry, Stella. You know I would never want to hurt you.”

  He paused.

  “It’s just when I saw you with Nate in a bar, my wolf lost it and wanted to claim you as his,” he continued.

  “But that doesn’t give you the right to force me into being yours. Don’t I get a say in all this? Aren’t we supposed to be equal?” I
asked as my voice rose.

  “We are,” Aiden said.

  I shook my head.

  “Then how come I don’t feel like it? All I feel is like I’m your puppet, being controlled around, and you expect me to stay quiet while you control my life. Tell me. Why do I feel like you’re making all the decisions for me? Why do I feel so useless when I’m with you? Huh. Why?” I yelled as my voice cracked in the end.

  He only looked at me with sad eyes.

  I opened the door and got out as I ran into the pack house. I didn’t want to go into my room because Aiden might be there. So I made my way to Marie’s room, hoping she could give me the comfort I needed.

  I knocked on her door, and when she opened it, she gasped. She pulled me into her room and looked at my marked neck with wide eyes. At first, she seemed excited and happy, but when she saw my expression, it all went away.

  “What happened?” she asked as she sat me on her bed.

  “Aiden marked me earlier today without my permission, and I don’t know what to do,” I said as I rubbed my hands over my face, sounding frustrated.

  “Wait, why would he do that?” she asked.

  “Because earlier today, I saw Kayla coming out of his office, and it looked like they did it.”

  I paused, making sure she knew what I meant.

  “So Nate took me to a bar to forget about it, and when Aiden found out, his wolf took over,” I blabbed on.

  “Wait, did you just say that there was a bar open at a time like this?” Marie asked.

  I mentally slapped myself.

  “Is that all that you heard?” I asked.

  She shook her head while smiling softly.

  “Oh, sweetie, tell me did you get Aiden’s point of view on this?” she asked.

  I looked down at my lap while shaking my head.

  “Stella, I’ve known Aiden for years, and let me tell you, he’s a very loyal person. Yes, I know that doesn’t give him the right to mark you, but maybe you should ask him what actually happened. Besides, you can’t really believe such a slut like Kayla,” she said as she scrunched her nose in disgust.

  I let her words sink into my brain. She was right. I should get his view on this, but that doesn’t change the fact he marked me when I was not ready.

  “Are you saying I should forgive him?” I asked.