Chapter 37: I Shouldn’t Be Caught
Rhydian;
I shut my eyes as the night’s wind carries through my hair and swims softly past my ears.
It’s peace.
Peace from the chaos and anger that had consumed my mind for most of today.
I let my head roll back as I feel my muscles finally begin to relax, but everything crashes when a familiar scent suddenly attacks my nostrils.
Strawberries.
The scent is so strong this time, it has a spicy undertone.
I open my eyes as I recognise the scent.
I know who it belongs to, because I smelt it this morning. When I ordered my men to rough him up.
Even then, it wasn’t this strong.
What has gotten him so scared? What’s wrong?
Soon, I start hearing his footsteps. His heart beat... his panting.
I step back into the shadows of the pergola as he approaches. He stops in front of the pergola and bends with his hands on his knees as he catches his breath.
I watch his small frame tremble with exhaustion, and my eyes dance over the bruises scattered along his shirtless upper body.
I knew my men would have caused damage, but seeing it now...
How was I supposed to know he has an almost nonexistent healing capacity??
I just wanted to rough him up a bit with the thought that in a few hours at most, he’ll be back to normal.
But seeing him like this... still hurting...
How was he able to run in this state?
And... What is he running from?
He stands straight and looks behind him. Watching the dark carefully.
"He didn’t follow me... good. Good... I’m not going back there. I... I better find somewhere to hide for the night." He pants as he begins to scan the surroundings with his eyes, and I step further into the dark as he stares at the pergola.
He stares for a few seconds, and I wonder if he’s frozen because he can see me, but I doubt it. One of my best abilities is being stealth.
There’s no way a common omega like him will be able to find me when I’ve masked myself.
"Are you dumb?" He suddenly pants, staring straight at me, and I freeze.
"You can’t possibly think a pergola is a good place to hide, do you?" He continues, and my brows furrow.
He’s not talking to me, is he??
He sighs in exhaustion and turns around with a hand on his forehead and the other on his waist.
"If you stay here, he’ll find you, Elian. Think, please... Please..." He pants as he slides down one of the pillars and buries his face in his hands.
"I’m sick and tired of all this..." He whispers, and through the tremble in his voice... Is he crying??
What happened...
A few minutes ago, Zephan went into Elian’s room and just stayed there... waiting for him.
It seemed he ran away from Zephan? Why?
Didn’t they have sex last night? Why would he run away from Zephan now?
Looking at him now, you’d think... no...
Zephan can be many things... but he’ll never...He’ll never force himself on anyone. At least, not in his right mind.
And why would he want to force himself on someone he’s already had sex with?
This boy... Why am I so curious about whatever’s wrong with him?
He sniffles and sobs softly as he hugs himself tightly.
His scent shifts from fear... to sadness...
Moonflowers and very little of his usual minty scent...
He’s sad... why?
"Master Elian!?" His maid’s voice calls, and his head snaps up.
"Shit!" He curses under his breath before standing up.
I watch him wipe his face as his scent shifts again. He turns in the opposite direction of her voice and starts sprinting again.
What in light’s name is going on??
He disappears into the night again, and I’m left with the scent of his panic... and a burning curiosity in my mind that I can’t explain. Something’s wrong with him. And for some fucked up reason... I care?
*******
Eliàn;
I’ve been running for minutes. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m just certain there isn’t enough distance between me and Zephan yet.
My lungs are burning. My legs and entire body are aching like they’d break down soon, and still... Still, I can’t bring myself to stop.
What if Zephan is after me? If he catches me, what will happen? Especially after what I did to him...
I finally spot a pergola and slow down to a stop.
I bend over and place my palms on my knees as I struggle to catch my breath.
I take big breaths in through my mouth, but it does very little to soothe the fire I feel in my lungs.
I struggle to calm my heart, mind and body, and suddenly the hairs on my skin rise. Why do I feel like I’m being watched??
I stand straight in panic and turn around. I look into the dark, wondering if it’s Zephan who’s watching.
I can feel my heart beating in my ears but no matter how hard I look, I can barely see anything. There’s... no one here. Does that mean...
"He didn’t follow me... good. Good... I’m not going back there. I... I better find somewhere to hide for the night." i pant as I begin to look around in search of somewhere to hide.
I can’t go back to that room, or even building. I need to find a place safe enough to spend the night.
My gaze lands on the pergola, and I pause as I stare at the dark space.
It’s quite dark... if I stay there...
My thoughts stop as I remember that everyone here are beastmen, and their animal side might help them find me even in the dark.
"Are you dumb?" The words slip out of my mouth as I wonder how the fuck I considered hiding in a pergola. Something that was built to draw attention!!
"You can’t possibly think a pergola is a good place to hide, do you?" I groan in frustration as exhaustion begins to embrace me.
I turn around and place a hand on my forehead and the other on my waist as I try to still my thoughts.
"If you stay here, he’ll find you, Elian. Think, please... Please..." I pant as I slide down one of the pillars and bury my face in my hands.
The image of Zephan pops back into my mind. Images of his eyes... of the thing I almost just made him do.
How is it that I’ve been thrown into a mess and all I’ve been equipped with are things to help me attract exactly what I do not want???
I don’t want to get pregnant, don’t want to belong to anyone like a mere commodity. Yet my... pheromones or whatever the fuck they call it, keep attracting these men to me.
This is all too much.
"I’m sick and tired of all this..." The words roll off my tongue, and it’s only after I hear the tremor in my voice that I realise that I’m crying.
Why the fuck am I crying??
I know I’m scared... I know I’m mortified but... is that enough reason to cry?
Fuck, I’m pathetic... I cry at the smallest inconvenience. I hate this.
Aren’t transmigration stories supposed to be sweet and funny tales about finding true love?
Why is mine this bizarre adventure of surviving heart attacks and possibly even molestations??
I sniffle in annoyance as I try to stop my tears, but nothing works.
Why is it so easy for me to break down in tears?
Throughout my life, I’ve learned that no one gives a shit about my tears.
It doesn’t move anyone or get me anything.
Not even my mother moved when I cried. Why then will the rest of the world care?
I’m just a fucking pathetic weakling. I cry at every itch cause that’s all I can do...
"Master Elian!?" Alana’s voice suddenly rents the silence, and my head snaps up.
"Shit!"
I stand up in panic as fear sets into my heart. Did Zephan send her to get me??
I wipe my face and turn in the opposite direction of her voice.
My legs move on autopilot as I begin to run again.
I don’t know what to do anymore, but for tonight, at least... I shouldn’t be caught.
I yelp in shock when I trip over something and air escapes my lungs when I realize I’m falling into some kind of... pit...
I hit the ground at tge bottom of this pit, and everything fades to black.
Shit...