But I was really surprised when I said, “Rafael… Rafael… What’s wrong with my hand? I’m bleeding…”
Rafael quickly looked at my hands and swiftly carried me on his back. “Calm down, Sarah. Take a deep breath and don’t panic. We’ll be back soon!” Rafael said in a very calm voice. He knows that I always panic when I see blood, which makes me doubt if I’m a real wolf like the others.
Tears started flowing without me even asking as Rafael easily lifted me up. I don’t know what would have happened to me without him. And without realizing it, I began to realize that Rafael was right. I’ve loved him for a long time, despite always denying it. I’ve always relied on him.
“Please don’t leave me! I can’t live without you, Rafael.”
“You won’t lose me forever. You are my mate.”
If hearing those words from your loved one brings relief, it doesn’t happen to me. I know that Rafael has to give up a lot to be with me. His parents? His family? Will they accept me?
Tears continued to flow, and I was shocked when my eyes suddenly started shedding tears of blood.
“Rafael… your clothes are covered in blood,” I said through sobs that I couldn’t hold back.
“No problem, honey. We’ll be there soon.” Rafael’s voice remained calm as always, always able to make me feel like a complete mess.
We arrived in the forest behind the campus, and Rafael immediately transformed into a wolf with beautiful white fur mixed with silver strands. I had never seen Rafael’s true form, but I was always amazed by his beauty.
I quickly jumped onto Rafael’s back, feeling weak and drained of energy. I held onto Rafael tightly, and I felt us heading home. “Where are we going?” I asked through our mind link, which only works when I’m feeling down.
“To your house.”
“No! Don’t take me home. Benji will beat you up if he finds out!”
“I think it’s time he found out who I am!”
“No, not yet, honey. Take me to our special place!” I commanded.
Rafael headed straight for the hut in the west campus. It has been our secret spot for a long time. A cottage surrounded by lavender plants. The purple color calms my heart. This place is even more special on the hill of Mount Ashland, with extreme temperatures due to its elevation of 2,296 feet above sea level. It’s very cold, but its remoteness makes it incredibly special.
Rafael first brought me here when he had completely transformed into a wolf. He was 18 years old at the time, and I was 15. Everything changed that day when Rafael made a vow to make me his eternal partner. I never really cared or believed in that vow, but it all changed a few hours ago.
I don’t know what he saw in me. I’m just a quiet nerd who always walks alone after everyone else has left. I get nervous and break into a cold sweat in crowds. I always complain to Rafael when Benji bullies me. And I cry because I miss my father.
Finally, we reached the hut, still just as we left it. I knew Rafael had someone he trusted to take care of the cottage, someone who is deaf and mute. A pure wolf with incredible strength that Rafael found nearby.
His name is Jose, a very handsome wolf with a Latin face. He was a runaway wolf who crossed various territories before ending up here. Rafael cares deeply for him, and only Rafael can communicate with Jose through sign language, which our Alpha knows very well.
“Is Jose not coming with us?” I asked Rafael after seeing Jose leave us.
“He’s keeping watch around here,” Rafael replied.
“Can you communicate with him through a mind link?” I asked, still in Rafael’s arms. He was always so protective when I was like this.
“Of course. You know, I’ve been teaching him some new moves recently,” Rafael said excitedly as he wiped my bloodstained face with a warm towel. It seemed like Jose already knew we were coming here since all the medical supplies and food were already prepared on the table.
“That’s great. Will you show me tomorrow?” I said, my voice getting softer as sleepiness took over.
“Of course. Are you sleepy?” Rafael asked, as if he could sense it. “Don’t sleep just yet. You need to eat and clean up before going to bed!” he ordered, his seductive baritone voice sending shivers down my spine.
I simply nodded. I didn’t want to argue or refuse anything. My body felt sore and weak, and all I really wanted was to sleep. However, Rafael patiently fed me warm food, which helped warm me up and gave me a bit of energy. It seemed like my nosebleed was still persisting, and I had no idea what was causing it. This was the first time such a thing had happened to me.
“Are you able to walk?”
I nodded, not wanting to be a burden to Rafael.
“Sarah…”
I slumped, my vision suddenly darkening. Fortunately, Rafael caught me before I fell to the floor. Without hesitation, he carried me to the bathroom and sat me on the sink to remove my blood-soaked clothes.
“Rafael… I’m embarrassed…” I murmured.
“Your body always arouses my desire, Sarah. Even with this damn suit covering it, I can still feel it all. So, I’ve been restraining my desire for you,” he confessed, his calm voice turning husky. I could sense his genuine struggle to hold back his desires.
I chuckled softly, wishing I could offer my body as a token of gratitude for his kindness. But in my weakened state, I wouldn’t be able to do much. I wanted to give my best to Rafael, at the very least, I didn’t want to fail in meeting his needs. And I certainly didn’t want to disappoint him when the time came for us to make love.
“Give me some time to prepare myself for you, my Alpha,” I said.
He smiled sincerely as he continued to clean my body. Once he finished and helped me put on clean clothes, it was Rafael’s turn to clean himself. My heart raced as I admired his perfectly sculpted body before my eyes. I knew I wanted that body for myself, exclusively. From now on, regardless of what happened, only Rafael could have me.
“You like what you see?” Rafael asked, walking towards me with his naked body.
With my head still resting against the sink, I smiled softly and gently touched my lover’s body as he tried to tease me. “Are you teasing me? You belong to me. You can only make love to me.”
He grinned at me. “Of course. I wouldn’t make love to anyone else, especially not to a sick woman, darling.”
“You could be charged with rape if you did that.”
“Is that so? With my own lover?”
“I’ll report you to the sheriff next door!”
“He’s my friend. I think he’d just laugh at your report, honey.”
I smiled. It wouldn’t be like Rafael if he didn’t draw strength from every situation. He was a skilled fighter and a capable pack leader. I had to admit his intelligence surpassed the average.
“I like it when you call me ‘darling.’ Thank you, darling!” I replied, briefly kissing Rafael’s lips.
“Let’s go to sleep. You need rest.”
“We need rest. This place is far away,” I said as I wrapped my arms around his neck and held his waist with my legs. Rafael carried me to bed, and we fell asleep together.
***
The morning sun pierced through the curtains, waking me up. Rafael’s hands were still wrapped around my stomach, and his warm breath tickled my neck. I pulled back the blanket and was surprised to find Rafael naked under the black fabric.
“Rafael, why are you naked?” I asked, trying not to look down. It was the first time I experienced the sensation of his handsome body enveloping my small frame. I felt a mixture of excitement and embarrassment, especially as I recalled our time in the bathroom. The memory of my promise to make love to him soon filled my heart, unknowingly igniting a flame within me.
“Are you awake?” Rafael’s signature morning voice sounded so sexy. “Why is your body warm? You didn’t have a fever last night,” he said, sounding concerned as he opened the blanket and stood up.
“What are you doing?” I exclaimed, avoiding looking at his naked body.
“Why are you shouting?” he asked, confused. “I want to get a wet towel to cool you down.”
I quickly covered my head with the blanket, feeling embarrassed by the thoughts racing through my mind. How did those passionate scenes find their way into my thoughts? It was strange, something I had never experienced before. What if Rafael took my words seriously and acted on them? The thought made me shudder, and the nosebleed returned.
“Aaa… I’m having another nosebleed, Rafael,” I said.
Rafael immediately jumped onto the bed and pulled back the covers. It happened so quickly that, as far as I knew, Rafael was already sitting me on his thigh, holding a towel to prevent further bleeding.
“Why is this happening to me?” I sighed. I was annoyed and wanted to cry, but I held back because I felt embarrassed in front of this handsome man still standing naked before me.
“I asked Jose which medicine is suitable for your nosebleed. He knows more about medicinal herbs than you do.”
I simply nodded and didn’t reply, as the blood continued to flow and soak the towel. Meanwhile, Rafael used his mind’s power to instruct every cell in my body to stop the bleeding. He had mentioned before that he had the power to heal himself, not instantly, but it allowed him to recover quickly. I wasn’t sure if that power would work as effectively in my body, but this could be a perfect opportunity to put it to the test.
“Why is this happening again?” I muttered, growing frustrated. I was tired of feeling weak like this. What was really happening to me? Ever since the dream about my grandmother, my body had been growing weaker.
Brakkk…
The sound was deafening, like the collision of snow rolling into a tree. The vibrations reached our cabin, and I looked at Rafael, whose eyes instantly turned brown. His wolf eyes were visible, a sign that he was on high alert.
“Quickly, hide in the cupboard, Sarah!” Rafael commanded before transforming into a wolf and heading outside.
I had no idea what was happening outside the cabin, but I could hear voices. I heard Rafael’s growls as he communicated with his opponent, asserting his authority as the Alpha of the Blue Pack and demanding that the wild wolf retreat from his territory. Then, I heard the arrival of two more wild wolves, attempting to surround Rafael and Jose.
I was terrified. If I wasn’t mistaken, there were three wild wolves out there. I heard Jose growling as he chased one of the intruding wolves, a clear indication that a fight was taking place. It sent shivers down my spine. If only I could transform, I would have joined them, at least able to defend myself instead of hiding like a coward in the cupboard.
And then, silence fell. I peered outside and found neither Rafael nor Jose. Desperate, I tried to connect with Rafael’s thoughts, and luckily, he heard my call.
“I’m alright. Stay hidden until I come back. Don’t let the other wolves catch your scent!”
“You must stay safe, Rafael!”
“No problem.”
After that, the connection was cut. I returned to the cupboard and began reciting the safety spell my grandmother had taught me, while thoughts of Rafael and Jose occupied my mind.
I didn’t know how long I stayed hidden, as all I could hear were the voices of Rafael and Jose entering the cabin. I rushed out of the room, carrying blankets for both of them.
“Rafael, are you hurt?” I panicked.
“Jose… are you alright?” I asked, and Jose nodded firmly.
I noticed that Rafael had a slight wound on his thigh, quite deep by the looks of it. Panicking, I searched through the medical kit box but found it empty. I tried to concentrate, recalling how my grandmother once healed Benji when he was injured.
“Blood…,” I thought.
Grandmother had taken some blood and applied it to Benji’s wound before wrapping it in finely ground leaves.
“Could my blood work too?”