Sparks and wounds

Keal’s sharp gaze locked onto mine as he gestured for me to follow him. “Come with me,” he said, his voice low yet commanding

I hesitated. “Where are we going? I asked.”

“You’ll find out,” he replied, not looking back.

Leaving no room for arguments and I followed him. The corridors we passed were dimly lit, their stone walls cool and unsettling. The silence between us lingered, broken only by the soft sound of our footsteps.

When we reached a beautifully caved wooden door, I noticed the detailed wolf designs engraved on the surface. Alpha Keal pushed the door open without a word and stepped inside, gesturing for me to follow.

The room was surprisingly warm, the crackling of a fire in the fireplace adding to the inviting atmosphere. A large bed filled the space, its dark wooden framework echoing the rest of the rustic decor. He turned to me, his expression unreadable.

His hand moved to his side, revealing  dark stains spreading across the fabric of his shirt. “The wounds,” he whispered.

I gasped softly as he pulled off his shirt, revealing the full extent of his injuries. Deep gashes ran along his shoulder, chest, and ribs, likely inflicted by claws. His abdomen, was marked with bruises in angry shades of purples and reds. Blood dripped from a particularly deep cut just below his ribs,  and I could see the faint glow of infection beginning to set in.

I reached for my bag, pulling out the herbs I always carried for emergencies. “Lie down,” I instructed, trying to focus on the task and not the way his muscles moved as he moved toward the bed.

He smirked faintly as he obeyed, lying on the mattress. “You’re bossy for someone so small.”

I ignored him, setting my supplies bedside the table. “You’d be smaller too if you bled bled to death.”

His chuckle was low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine. “Feisty,” he murmured.

I leaned over him, I  pressed  a damp cloth against the cut on his ribs. He hissed in pain, his body tensing beneath my touch.

“Stay still,” I said firmly.

“Easy for you to say,” he muttered. “You’re not the one being stabbed with herbs.”

I rolled my eyes. “Do you prefer letting it get infected?”

“Point taken.”

As my hands touched his skin, I felt a jolt of electricity run through me, and I knew that the spark was back again. His eyes met mine, and I could see the awareness in his eyes, that something was evolving between us.

As I continued my work, our bodies drew closer, our skin brushing against each other. The spark grew stronger, until I could feel it humming through my veins like a live wire. I tried to focus on the task at hand, but it was impossible to ignore the feeling. Alpha Keal's eyes never left mine, and I could sense his own awareness, his own struggle to ignore what was happening.

“What’s that?” he asked abruptly, his tone sharper now.

“What’s what?” I replied, pretending not to know..

“The… feeling,” he said, his gaze locking onto mine. “Every time you touch me, it’s like…” He paused, searching for the right words.

I didn’t respond, focusing instead on applying the poultice to his chest. But I couldn’t ignore the heat spreading through my body or the way my heart raced under his watchful gaze.

“Don’t pretend to be innocent” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You feel it too.”

“I’m here to treat your wounds,” I snapped, trying to keep my voice calm.

His eyes narrowed. “You’re avoiding the question. What is this spark?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I said.”

He grabbed my wrist before I could pull away, his grip firm but not painful. “Don’t lie to me.”

I swallowed hard, trying to free myself, but he wouldn’t let go. “Let me finish what I'm doing,” I said, my tone sharp.

He held my gaze for a moment longer before releasing me, but the intensity in his eyes remained. I returned to tending his wounds, but the silence between us was heavy.

Finally, I leaned back, pleased with my work. “I'm someone,” I said, gathering my supplies.

Before I could step outside, he grabbed my wrist again, pulling me toward him. “Not so fast,” he growled.

“Wait, what do you mean?,” I asked, but my voice weak.

His gaze flicked to my lips before returning to my eyes.  “You started this,” he said, his tone low and accusing.

“What?” I asked, startled.

“The spark,” he said. “You’ve felt it, haven’t you? And you’ve said nothing.”

“That’s not why I’m here,” I said, trying to pull away. “I’m here to help you heal, not—”

“You’re lying,” he interrupted. “If it’s not about the spark, then why does it keep happening? Why are you here?”

“I already told you!” I said, my voice rising.

He pulled me closer, his face inches from mine. “Stop pretending this is nothing.”

“With all due respect, this isn’t—” My protest was cut off as his lips met with mine.

I froze, shocked by the suddenness of it. His kiss was fierce, demanding, igniting the spark  into something hotter, more consuming. I pushed against his chest, but he stood firm.

“Stop it!” I managed to say, breaking away.

His eyes burned with a mix of frustration and desire. “Why?” he demanded. “Why do you keep denying this? You feel it as much as I do.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“Then explain it to me,” he said, cutting me off again. “Why does it feel like fire every time you touch me?

Why can’t I ignore it? And why the hell won’t you admit it?”

“I don’t know what you're talking about!” I shot back, my voice shaking.

“Bullshit,” he growled. “You’re hiding something.”

“And what about you?” I shot back, my anger rising. “You’re acting like this is my fault!”

“You’re the one who brought the spark into my life,” he said, his voice low but no commanding.

“Let me go…” I paused, unsure of what to say.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing lightly against my ear, his breath warm and intentional.

“If you won’t tell me what this is,” he murmured, his voice low, “then stop pretending you don’t want it.” The words sent a jolt of electricity through me, leaving me breathless, my chest tightening as my heart raced.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. The intensity of his presence held me captive. His closeness was overwhelming, and I felt like I was standing on the edge of something I didn’t fully understand. Just as the tension between us seemed ready to ignite, Keal pulled back abruptly, his eyes dark with barely restrained desire.

Without a word, he reached for my bag. Before I could stop him, he snatched it from my hands and placed it on the small table by the bed. “Don’t shout,” he warned, his tone icy and commanding. “If you dare scream, I’ll lock you up for in the dungeons for seven days. Do you understand me?”

The threat sent a chill down my spine, silencing the protest that had been rising in my throat. I nodded reluctantly, my mouth dry. His gaze lingered on me, sharp and assessing, before he turned his attention back to me, stepping closer with deliberate slowness.

“What are you hiding?” he asked, his voice a dangerous whisper. “What is it you don’t want me to see?”

“I’m not hiding anything,” I said, my voice shaking as I took a cautious step back. His towering presence and the weight of his gaze made it impossible to think clearly.

“Lies,” he growled, closing the distance between us. “Your heart is racing like prey caught in a trap.” He reached out, his fingers brushing the side of my face before trailing down to my neck, where he pressed gently against my pulse. “You’re scared… and excited.”

“That’s not true!” I snapped, my voice shaking even as I tried to sound defiant. The smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth told me he didn’t believe me.

Alpha Keal’s smirk vanished as his expression darkened. “You want to fight me?” he asked softly, his voice laced with menace. “Do you think you can win against me, human?”

The word "human" dripped with disdain, and I felt a flicker of anger rise within me, briefly overpowering  my fear. “I don’t want to fight you,” I said through clenched teeth, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I just want you to leave me alone.”

He laughed. “Leave you alone? Is that what you think this is? You’re in my pack now. You’re in my territory. You don’t get to make demands.”

Desperation surged through me, and my eyes darted to the deep cuts on his side—the wounds I had just dressed earlier. My breath cut as I realized I had only one chance. Summoning all the courage I could gather, I kicked out, aiming directly for his wounded side.

He felt the pain. Alpha Keal staggered, his hand flying to his side as a guttural growl erupted from his throat. His eyes burned with fury, and before my greatest suprise, his body began to shift. Muscles coiled, his frame expanding as his wolf form emerged, wild and raw.

“One more move again,” he shouted, as his transformation rippled through him, “and I will teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.” His glowing eyes pinned me in place. “Don’t forget who I am,” he growled, his words sharp and feral. “I am the Alpha of this pack, and you, human, are nothing but a slave here.”

Fear gripped me as his words sunk in. His aura was suffocating, the dominance rolling off him like a tidal wave. I barely had time to react before he lunged forward, grabbing me roughly. His hands gripped my arms as he pulled me back onto the bed with ease.

“You don’t seem to understand your place,” he said, his voice low but vibrating.  His weight pressed me into the mattress, his strength leaving no room for escape. “Let me make it clear: you belong to this pack now. You belong to me.”

I struggled beneath him, but it was futile. His dominance was absolute, and my mind reeled with the terrifying realization of just how helpless I was.