Book 2: Chpt 9: Souls in Conflict
Chapter 9: Souls in Conflict
An Jieun
As soon as I heard the door shut behind us, I felt relief and panic. I’m relieved to be away from Han Yong–rae and Hyun Ara, and they cannot do anything to me while James Ashwood is near me, but he is also the source of my panic. He’s my wolf, mate. How dare Selene mate me with one of her filthy matts. I have the blood of a goddess flowing in me. These mortal creatures, supernatural or not, can never compare to my mother’s lineage. I don’t care how helpful he is. I’m done with this charade.
This dumb idiot is just standing in front of the door. What
is
ong with him? How do
I get him to let go of me? He will put me down if I push him with all my strength. I wiggle myself free from his large frame. He seems to understand what I want without telling him and sets my feet on the ground. Maybe the mutt can be trained.
I walk over to the closet where simple robes have been left. I throw one to James. He’s watching me. It’s so different than how anyone has ever looked at me before. There is a sense of desire, but the look in his eye is more wonder and, could I dare say protection. Who does he think he is? I don’t need him to protect me. I’ll show him just how strong I am.
“I know what you are thinking and don’t!” Kwan warns with a growl.
“I wasn’t going to do anything.” I sneer back at her.
“We need him whether you like it or not. You cannot harm him.” I feel Kwan push for control.
She’s stronger than I’ve ever felt before. This isn’t good, she’s getting stronger, and I don’t have a choice but to go along with James Ashwood, which means giving control to someone else again. Will I ever be a free fox like my mother once was? I do need him to leave here safely, without being hunted, but that didn’t mean I was going to throw myself at him like some love–sick bitch of a mutt. I look back and my mate.
The robe is so short on him, and he has it tied incorrectly. His long, lean body looks even bigger like an adult stole a child’s robe. I can’t help but giggle at how silly and awkward he looks as he fumbles with it.
He looks at me when I giggle, and his cheeks are red like a hibiscus flower. Strangely, he is my mate, but he doesn’t act like the others who thought I was.
As I was contemplating the conundrum, Kwan intruded into my thoughts. “It’s because a mate doesn’t take a mate protects and cherishes. Also, he’s an
Alpha and a powerful one at that. His instincts to protect what is his is even stronger.”
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“I don’t belong to anyone.” I snarl back at her.
“You don’t get it. We are not property; we are the other half of a whole. We complete his soul and the pack. We have a destiny to fulfill.” Kwan scoffs as if I’m entirely ignorant to the wolf concept of mates.
“It’s a destiny I never asked for.” I try to sound as firm as I can.
“That’s right, you never did, but you and I are one. We cannot be separated, so our destiny and fate are intertwined. I will not let you stubbornly get in our way because you want to live on the side of some desolate mountain alone collecting poor souls when we have a greater purpose.” Kwan’s voice doesn’t get louder, but its intensity increases. I feel like the wind is knocked out of me, and I drop to my knees as I try and catch my breath. James rushes to me and supports me, so I don’t collapse.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” the worry and panic in his voice is something no one has ever given me before.
“What are you so scared of? Are you scared of actually being useful? Could it be that you believe father that you are a curse?” This time it felt like I was punched in the gut. My body falls to the floor, but James catches me. He pulls me to his chest. He’s warm, and his arms are so long they almost wrap around me twice.
“What’s going on? Please tell me?” It almost sounds like he’s going to start crying any minute. I can hear his heart beating faster by the second.
I can’t say a word at the moment; I’m struggling to catch my breath. Kwan has always been the physical strength in our body, and she’s figured out how to make me comply. She pulls all her physical strength out of an area, and since I am the physically weaker one, I cannot compensate quickly enough. I feel she fully restores our physical strength. I can breathe again. “Are you done fighting me? I’m not going to give you a choice. Because you are a decent of goddess, you have maintained control, but now with our mate an Alpha, I am a Luna and just as strong. Now, will we start working together, or will we die?.
