As tension crackles in the air, Xander swiftly rides his stag to our side. 'Warrick, she has made her decision. Release the reins now,' he warns. Warrick flashes Xander a deathly stare, ‘You stay out of this, Xander, or I’ll give you another scar to add to your collection,’ he yells.
Xander narrows his eyes at Warrick, and Janie steps off her broom. Magic sparks from either hand as she walks towards Warrick with determination. ‘Lay a single claw on my mate, and I will bind you where you stand,’ she warns Warrick.
Orelious also glides forward, baring his fangs, hissing and dark mist emitting from him as his blonde hair flails about. Warrick growls low. The vibration reverberates through his chest, and he readies himself to shift.
‘Everyone, stop it, right now,’ I say, dismounting. ‘No one is going to harm anyone,’ I stand between everyone assertively.
‘We need to leave,’ Xander says, his words heavy with urgency.
‘I know,’ I reply.
Warrick lets out a heavy breath, ‘At least let me make sure you get to Sunfire Plains safely. Then we will part ways when you leave there in the morning?’ he compromises.
‘But what if you remain a stubborn beast and still refuse to leave my side?’
Warrick smirks and crosses his arms. ‘You’re a stubborn wolf. I’m sure you’ll figure something out,’ he muses.
I face my friends for an answer. ‘It’s your call, Rose, but bringing him with us is your risk alone,’ Xander warns.
I face Warrick again and realise if I disagree that, he will follow us anyway. ‘Just until we leave Sunfire Plains, then you can pursue your quest of finishing whatever business you have with the mystic council,’ I say to Warrick sternly.
‘What business would you have with the council?’ Xander asks Warrick. ‘Facing them would be foolish, a death wish,’ he adds.
Warrick lets out a reverberated growl, ‘If my fated soulmate doesn’t want to be with me, then let the council kill me. Perhaps I could finally be at peace,’ he shouts in a mournful, broken manner.
Warrick then removes his pants and stuffs them in my saddlebag. His gaze fixates upon the glowing jar, and his features twist in a scowl of resentment. With a primal snarl, he undergoes a swift transformation, shifting into the magnificent form of his wolf.
We ride our mounts and Janie her glamourous broom forward until the afternoon and rest the stags in a grass field. Xander sneaks towards a flock of fin birds, while Orelious takes Imogen and privately feeds from her behind a tree. Mister Kal follows Janie as she takes her empty water pouch to the nearby river to fill, leaving Warrick and me alone. We try our best to ignore Imogen’s giggles and snorts.
Curiosity tugs at me relentlessly, and I can no longer resist the allure of the glowing jar. I retrieve it from my saddlebag and peer through the glass, marvelling at the intricate flower contained within. Yet, as I hold the jar, a shadow passes over the light, and I glimpse Warrick's glum face. My heart skips a beat, and I hastily return the jar to its place, refusing to let its magic distract me further.
Ignoring Warrick, I saunter away from him to a circle of colossal boulders that beckons me, and I find solace in their ancient embrace. Lying down, hands cradling my head, I surrender to the enchantment of the boundless sky, its vivid shades of blue captivating my gaze.
‘Warrick, you need to stop following me,’ I say to him, as I feel his presence.
‘You’re my m-. ‘
I sit up, ‘Don’t say it, Warrick, don’t you dare say it,’ I warn him. My fingers clenched tightly around the blades of grass beneath me.
Undeterred by my plea, Warrick kneels behind me, his proximity engulfing me in a whirlwind of conflicting sensations. The air crackles with an undeniable force, a magnetic pull between us, and I can’t help but breathe in his scent.
‘Please, Rose,’ he says, his hand seeking mine. The warmth of his touch emits strong sparks that are usually more subtle. With a swift motion, I withdraw my hand, rising from the ground to face him squarely. Warrick remains motionless, as though sensing the fragility of the situation, understanding that any attempt to close the distance between us would result in me fleeing.
As I retrace my steps, making my way back to the group, a familiar scent of sizzling meat fills the air. Through the wisps of smoke, I spot Janie and Xander, skilfully roasting fin birds over the dancing flames. The aroma makes my mouth water and my stomach rumble.
Warrick follows in silence, taking his place beside me, his arm brushing against mine and kindling an electric surge that sets my nerves ablaze.
This has to stop. I can’t allow this connection we have to grow. So, I abruptly stand and stare Warrick down.
'Do you want to know the truth, Warrick?' I ask, my voice steady but my heart racing.
Warrick's surprise is evident in his gaze as he locks eyes with me. 'Yes, of course,' he replies, curiosity mingling with his words.
Janie, Imogen, and Xander give each other a cautious look. Orelious, on the other hand, seems indifferent, petting Mister Kal as if he has no concern for the situation.
‘I’ve already met someone, and he has offered his hand in marriage to me. So, you see, I’m already spoken for,’ I tell him a half-truth, thinking of the sweet, adorable fae boy, Windall, from the stables.
Warrick’s eyes dilate to a complete ebony. His wolf tries to take over and emits a ferocious growl. In a flash, Warrick has his arms around my waist and stares into my eyes. The midnight blue that usually adorns his eyes has vanished, leaving only darkness in its wake. I suppress an ominous shiver that threatens to crawl up my spine.
Imogen and Janie stare at each other, completely confused, while Xander stands ready to intervene. Orelious, however, remains unfazed, as if the chaos around us held no significance, but instead stares at Imogen, admiring every inch of her.
Warrick's intense gaze searches for any trace of deception, but my half-truth has him perplexed. 'Now that you know, you can stop pursuing me,' I assert, placing my hands on his chest, attempting to ignore the intoxicating heat coursing through my body. I push against him, trying to break free, but his grip tightens, refusing to release me.