Chapter 61 - [Bonus ]The Lake

(From Ella's Perspective)

The cold wind fell on my face as the sound of the wind blowing filled my ears. He was not walking as fast as usual. He was walking in my stride, looking straight, but I still could feel the burn on my skin as he peeked glances at me. 

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

"You'll see."

"You started to use this sentence a lot. Before you used to use 'that's none of your business', and now this... Honestly, what are you doing?"

"Isn't that an improvement?"

"Oh yeah, a great improvement," I muttered. "Anyway, won't you take me back to the cabin again?"

"Why? Do you want to go there?" he asked in a tone that it made clear that he did not like the idea of going to the cabin at all. 

"No, just saying that shouldn't we inform Anders that I have shifter blood? I mean, he is the one who said it to us earlier, so..."

"No need. He will know it sooner or later. No need to go there and inform him. He is not a king."

"I didn't say he is a king. I just..."

"Do you like him?"

"What? What are you saying? Of course not. Why would I like him?"

I could not believe he was saying these kinds of things. Was he serious right now? I just said that perhaps we should inform Anders, and here he was, asking me if I liked Anders or not. 

"You better not."

"Why do you care?" I asked. I just wanted to see how he was going to react if I teased him. It was kind of fun to see him like this. 

"Because," he said, suddenly grabbing my arm and bringing me closer to him, "you're mine now. Did you forget that I marked you? Be it a half mark, still, you're mine_ the way I'm yours." 

"What if other girls throw themselves at you? Or you go to them?"

"If other girls do that, then you're free to go deal with them. If you need any help with that, you can always ask me. But I'm not going to them because that's the promise that is made during marking," he said, "And you know that I don't break my promises." 

"You're quite intriguing when you talk like this," I muttered. 

"Did I scare you?"

"No... but you made me feel strange." 

"Strange is good, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I mumbled, "it's good."

We walked for five more minutes when he told me to stop. But I did not listen at first but came back to consciousness when he held my arm. 

"What are you doing?" I asked as he covered my eyes with his hands, his sharp breath falling on my neck. I realized how close we were. My cheeks heated up when his lips touched my ear. 

"You better want to get surprised," he whispered, letting shivers of warmth spread over my skin. 

"Are you going to introduce me to someone? Your monster buddy?"

He chuckled. The sound echoed into my ears, and I could not help but wonder how someone so cold could laugh so magnificently. 

"You always know what to say and when to say, let it be silly, yet they are the things that make you unique," he said. 

"Where are you taking me?" I asked as he led me forward. 

"You'll see, little Ella."

I thought I would fall when my legs met the broken branch, but I did not. He led me safely into an unknown place and stopped me there. I wondered what kind of place this was where I felt relaxed suddenly as if all my worries had gone away. The wind was far more relaxed and lively here. It was gentle, not fierce like yesterday as if a tender touch on the skin that left one breathless. 

"Can you hear anything?" he whispered again, without removing his hands from over my eyes. 

I tried to concentrate, letting all my thoughts aside as my mind slowly tried to take in what could be around us. I heard his breathing, so deep and warm as always. But then I heard something more- the sound of the wind along with the sound of water flowing, not too fast, but almost steady, in a rhythmic way. 

"Water..."

"Yes," he said. 

"It's a lake or a river," I said. 

"Do you want to add anything else?"

I tried to concentrate once again. What more there could be? I got the smell of a flower, but I did not know its name. But I did not like the smell though it was not something that would make me puke. 

"Is there a flower tree or something here?"

"Alright. It's time you see by yourself," he said and removed his hands from my eyes. 

The sight that was in front of me was not supposed to exist. I was sure that one would lose their mind here if there was a chance to lose their mind because of seeing something so heavenly. 

It was indeed a lake. The blackish-blue water shone as the moonlight fell on it. If I cut off the smell of the flower, there was another earthy smell as well that was not disgusting at all. Rather, it was quite relaxing. 

"Do you like this place?" he asked. I did not notice that he was observing me all this time. Did I make a stupid expression? I just hoped he was not going to laugh even if I did so. 

"It's beautiful," I murmured. "You should have brought me here earlier."

"It's where I come to relax at night. It's not far from the cave, but only shifters can enter this place. As you have shifter blood, you have access here," he said. "Come on. Let's sit under that ash tree."

"What's that flower?"

"Primrose," he replied.

"I hate the smell," I said. 

"You hate..."

"It's... I don't know. I just don't like it."

"Alright then. Come on," he said and took my hand. He led me to a side where the huge ash tree was. He sat down and I sat beside him. It felt too good to be here with him. 

"Do you know why I've brought you here today?" he asked.

"So I can be truthful about everything," I replied.

"Yes. Tonight as you promised, you'll tell me about your life, everything about your life."

"It's boring," I groaned.

"Perhaps I want to know the boring life," he said and I could not help but glance up at him. He looked even more handsome tonight. It was like his looks were getting better and better each day. 

"Is it bad to do something, a small thing with someone who you still can't believe with your heart?"

"Depends on the thing. But if you think he's worth it, then I don't think there is a problem with it," he replied. 

"Isn't this a stupid thing to do? I mean, the need... I understand it's biology and stuff. Part of me wants it too, but I'm not..."

"Sure?"

"Yeah."

"Ella, if you like someone, I think we all become a bit stupid."

"Do you... Do you like me?" I asked. I could not even believe how I managed to get this much courage. I never thought of asking this kind of thing directly, but I still did so. "It's a stupid question. Never mind. You don't have to answer this, you know. It's weird. I'm weird. I shouldn't have asked this. Now I've put you in an uncomfortable position. I just..."

"Yes, Ella. I like you," he replied, smiling. "I've always liked you. But if you're not so sure yourself, you can take your time. You can question yourself what you really want and then if you think that I'm worthy of a chance, then we can take a step forward."

"Will you wait for me?"

"For you, I'll wait, but please, make it a bit quick," he said. 

"You said please. It's the first time," I said, smiling. 

"A lot of my first times are with you."

"Really? Like?"

"Like you're the first human to be alive after willingly coming into my grasp, the first person to be alive after raising your voice at me and jumping on me, you are also the first human who I listened to attentively. Then you're my first kiss," he said. 

"That's unbelievable. I know that you said it before too, but still... You had sex, right? Then how do you start doing it? Of course, you start by kissing and stuff," I said. 

"The thing that you're talking about is lovemaking. But all I wanted was to satisfy my needs. There was no love. And besides, I don't like anyone touching my lips. But that was before I met you."

"You're weird. My lips are not something special," I said, blushing.

"Do you want me to show how special your lips are?" he asked, smirking.

"No, not now. I need time," I said. 

"Take your time," he said. "And I haven't finished saying in which cases you're the first one. Then you're the first one I apologized to, the first one I comforted and hugged, and the first one I requested for something.. And the first one who makes me want to do things that I never thought I would feel."