Picture: Malik's bed

This morning, I clearly felt him.

My wolf.

Since that time when Malik rescued me from the water, I have had tingles from time to time and I wondered if they weren't signs of my wolf coming back, only to dismiss it later as the pure product of my imagination.

I thought such thing was impossible and I had already accepted years ago the fact that my wolf would never come back. He became scarce on that dreadful night when I was banned from the pack, after I betrayed my former best friend.

Betraying one of your pack member is so unatural that it is not surprising that I could no longer feel my wolf. I knew our bond wasn't broken and that he was still present in the back of my mind, but I no longer felt him. Had our bond been truly broken, I would have died in a few days, but for some reason, Darren, who used to be my Alpha, didn't completely severed the link between me and my former pack mates. I don't know if Kyle asked him not to, or if he just forgot to do so, because the only thing on his mind at that time was to have me gone.

What is weird, is that for years I had hoped, begged my wolf to come back and talk to me but now that he might be back for good, I feel mostly scared.

This is not the good time nor the good place for my wolf to resurface.

Having my wolf back would mean unwanted memories assaulting me at night.

Having my wolf back would mean greater difficulties to overcome my instincts.

Having my wolf back would mean that everything would feel more intense, and I like the dull state of mind in which I currently am. It's safer.

But mostly, having my wolf back could mean, although the possibility is very thin, that I might be able to get in touch again with my former pack mates through our mental link.

I could talk to Kyle again.

This is a terrible idea and I would prefer not to have to resist the temptation, as he probably wishes I was never born, and I don't deserve to talk to him anyways, much less to beg for his forgiveness.

Plus, Darren and Nate would move Heaven and Earth to find me if they learned that I have tried to contact their precious mate.

And when they find me, they would kill me without a second thought.

"Really, Kyle? Daydreaming again?"

I quickly look up to find Serena watching me with a scolding expression on her pretty face.

It doesn't matter if she tries to appear mad, though. I know she's not. In fact, I'm pretty happy to see her again. I kinda missed her.

"Don't look at me with such puppy eyes" she tries -and fails - to maintain her stern composture. "I wish you would tell me what is going on in that obviously overcrowded head of yours"

"Nothing, I swear" I tell her, giving her my sweetest expression.

"You're not as good as you think at hiding the truth, Kyle dear" she says, making me laugh.

"You always talk like an old woman when you're actually younger than me!" I exclaim and this time, she laughs with me.

" What can I say, Kyle? I'm an old soul"

"Yeah, without a doubt"

She smiles and we both enjoy in silence the relaxed atmosphere.

That is, until she speaks again.

"Are you sure you're okay, Kyle? You seem to be a bit distracted lately and even a bit... restless. That's not like you"

That's because the need to shift is, unfortunately, back . I hope it won't get any stronger, or it would slowly become unbearable.

I wish I could tell her that, so she would know that at least, I am not being unprofessional or lazy, but sadly I can't tell her the truth so instead I try changing the topic.

" I take my responsibilities at heart, Serena. In fact, I was planning to go and clean up the attic, so that maybe we could find the ring that Mistress Monica lost"

"How do you know that she lost it?" she asks, her voice turning slightly suspicious and I instantanly reply, without thinking of the consequences :

"I overheard you telling Juliette about it yesterday"

"That's impossible, Kyle"

"But I swear I -" I start, but she doesn't let me finish:

"Oh, I know you're telling the truth, but that's precisely what surprises me. I remember I was in the garden at that time, while you where at the kitchen's entrance. You shouldn't have been able to hear me. No humans have such a good hearing."

"Serena, I swear it's not what you think" I start panicking, no longer able to think clearly. "I wasn't in the kitchen, like you said. You didn't see me, I was - no, in fact I was told that- "

"Save it" she sighs. "I have no use for your lies. Just go to Master Malik's room now. His guests will arrive shortly, and I guess they will spend the whole afternoon together. Just open the windows, freshen up the atmosphere and once the young lads get there, see if they don't need anything."

"Yes, of course"

I turn to leave but then she calls my name again, in a much softer tone than beforeand I turn back to look at her.

"Yes?"

"Be very careful, Kyle, okay? There's no need for anyone else apart from me to know about your little special... gift. And don't forget that on this Island more than anywhere else in the world, walls have ears."

I nod, finding a bit of confort in knowing that at least she won't tell anyone about what she learned about me today.

Or maybe you're just being very naive right now, Alex.

I go to Malik's bedroom and do just as I was instructed: I open the windows, hover the carpet that is even dirtier than my mind and tidy up the whole room.

What now? I suppose I should wait for their arrival. They might want a drink or a snack.

Feeling unsure and bored, I eye with envy Malik's comfy bed. Taking a few cautious steps toward it, I can't help but notice that it smells just like him, that is, absolutely mouth-watering.

Maybe I can lay down for just a little while, right? It isn't too risky since I know I will hear them coming, with my enhanced hearing.

I hide my face in his big white pillow, sighing in contentment.

Just for two minutes...

***** Half an hour later

I jump in fright and almost fall from the bed when an unfamiliar voice yells in my ear

"BOUH!"

I am about to beat the ass of the moron who just woke me up in such a rude manner, when I realise where I am.

Malik's bed.

And these three good-looking young men are probably... Malik's friends.

Speaking of Malik, right now he doesn't seem too friendly.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Don't you have anything to say" my young Master asks me with his arms crossed.

I will only admit it to myself, but although I'm not scared of him, right now I'm starting to feel a bit nervous about the whole situation.

"Erm... sorry, I guess?" I scratch the back of my neck and his friends snort at my blunt answer, only Malik isn't too amused.

"Just turn on the TV and choose the game you want to play, guys" he tells his friends, before grabbing my arm firmly. "Kyle and I just need to have a little friendly chat."

"Good luck, Kyle" one of them shout at me, making the others laugh and I want to tell them to shut the fuck off but before I can do that, I am dragged out of the room by an exasperated-looking Malik.

I am being pushed inside an all-white, huge bathroom that is twice the size of my bedroom, I think. I would gladly spend the whole day in the sauna but Malik obviously has other plans, because he closes the door behind him before looking at me in silence.

"Why do you always force us to go the Turkish baths when you could actually bring your own harem to this spatious bathroom? I think I like the sauna even more than the Turkish baths. " I say, immediately regretting my stupid comment when he narrows his eyes in an angry manner.

He takes two steps in my direction and I take two backward.

My young, playful Master doesn't seem so young anymore, nor so playful.

I feel the wall against myself and I want to curse at myself for my cowardice.

I am a werewolf, not a fragile human.

"Who gave you the right to sleep on my bed during my absence, Alex?"

Hearing say my name in such an angry tone shouldn't actually give me goosebumps. Bad, naughty Alex.

"Alex? I asked you a question."

Oh, right.

"You know," I blurt "your question actually reminds me of Goldilocks and the three bears. You know, when the bears go back to their house and they go like 'Who has touched my bowl?" and 'Who has been lying on my bed' and of course it's the little girl but in the end they don't get mad like you did and-"

" Be quiet" he cuts me - rude. "I know you're feeling nervous right now, but I want you to stop talking, Alex"

I can't do nothing but obey, because, although I am a werewolf, it's pretty obvious to me by now that he is a very powerful vampire, whose powers will only keep growing as time goes by.

Also, the fact that he knows I'm feeling nervous actually makes me feel even more nervous. Does that even make any sense?

"I - I'm sorry Master Malik" I mumble honestly but he just shakes his head.

"You're lucky you're not Thomas. If you were my pet, I would have spanked you so hard for your misbehaviour that your bottom would be crimson red by now"

Make me your pet, then.

Of course, he already made it pretty clear that he didn't have any interest in me, but a man can dream.

Do I want a spanking, though? Definitely not. Being spanked by a younger brat who happens to be my Master isn't on my bucket list.

"... don't want..."

"What is it that you don't want, Alex?"

"Mmmh, what?" I ask, confused about his question.

"You talked out loud" he explains, his exasperated expression from earlier back. "What is it that you don't want? Being my pet?"

"No, I mean, I was thinking about the span... the spanking thing" I stutter, before blushing upon realising how stupid I sound right now.

He smirks - of course, he does - at that, placing his hands on both sides of my head so that he is now caging me against the wall.

"So you do want to be my pet, then?" he teases, making me blush even harder.

"No! I mean, no, yes, but I - "

"That's a pity" he whispers close to my ear and I am once again assaulted by his delicious and now familiar scent. "Because I think you really need a good spanking"

"Malik! I'm not sure I - "

" It's Master Malik. Are you sure you don't want one? I have a feeling that you would actually love it" he whispers and I shiver at the slightly lustful tone his voice is taking.

What is his plan? Making me die of embarassement? I don't say anything, instead doing my best to look at him in the eyes and stand my ground like the proud werewolf I should be.

He stares back and we keep challenging each other in silence for a while, until finally his dominant aura overcomes mine and I can no longer take it. I lower my eyes and look down at the ground, mentally trying to convince myself that the only reason I gave up first is because he is my employer.

When I look up, I am surprised to see that he doesn't have a triumphant expression on his face, like I thought he would. Instead, he is looking at me intently, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Mmh, interesting"

I don't have time to ask him what's so interesting, because someone starts banging loudly at the door - I think it's the same asshole that woke up me earlier.

"What is it?" Malik asks, sounding as exasperated as I feel.

"Nothing, but I'm hungry, and although Yann went down to the kitchen, I think he couldn't find his way since he hasn't come back. Come on, Malik, go after him! We're your guests and we're starving." a voice whines from behind the door, making me roll my eyes.

"Spoiled brats" Malik curses under his breath and I can't help but nod my head frantically in approval, earning me another scowl.

"I will go find this idiot. Just stay here" he tells me in a voice that tells me he won't accept any further disobedience today.

I just nod and he gets up to open the door.

I hear going down the steps and suddenly someone else is standing in the bathroom.

I only have time to notice that Indeed he's the one who woke me up - the slender one with black hair, grey eyes, white skin and a permanent smirk on his face before I'm brutally smashed against the wall. I try to push him off me but to no avail, the bastard is way stronger than me, although he is actually smaller.

Do young vampires have an habit of hitting the gym every day, or what?

I feel sharp teeth grazing at my neck, while he is inhaling at me deeply.

"The others might not have noticed it yet, but after all I always had a better smelling than the rest of them, being the older one. I knew from the beginning that something was wrong with you, sleepy boy" he hisses as his grip on my throat tightens.

"I beg your pardon? I'm almost in my thirties, thank you very much, teen. " I retort, trying to hide my growing fear behind a mask of bravado but his cruel smile tells me he isn't fooled.

"Lie as much as you want, the game is over, wolf."

Cliffhanger again, kinda? Sorry guys, but at least I didn't write a chapter and ended it just before a sex scene- those kind of cliffangers are, for dirty little me, the worst kind of cliffangers.

Also, I wrote this chapter in two hours straight and did absolutely no editing! Hopefully, I'll have it fixed by tomorrow!

Anyway, I better stop rambling now. Have a nice evening/day, guys. And thank you for your support, you're the best ! :) xx