Chapter 133 - 132. Wavering

Black's hands were still on the young witch's cheeks. He gazed into the brown irises and decided to put his plan into action without wasting any more time. He had already waited days and days just for the young woman to wake up, he didn't want to wait another second.

"Light, do you remember what happened to you?"

Immediately, the Skinwalker's body stiffened and her eyes glazed over. The expression on her face changed and darkened. Black understood that she had all her memories of what had happened up to those days and he smiled inwardly. He had to maneuver intelligently.

"It's ok if you don't want to talk but, I want to let you know that I found the person  who is behind everything that happened to you." He stepped aside.

Light's vision that was obstructed by his vast stature cleared. The young girl then noticed that the man wasn't alone in the camp.

Her eyes narrowed to stare at the man standing alone. As she stared at the face, her feet moved on their own. The witch walked absent-mindedly. Her bare feet trod the sun-heated ground. The ground was slightly dry due to the high temperature but she didn't notice it at all. She was moving straight to the werewolf who saw was getting preparing for the confrontation.

Light's feet stopped just at the border of the runes circle drawn by Black. The werewolf had remained in the middle of the circle. He feared Light's reaction because he knew that Black's goal was to reveal to the young woman the role he had played in her kidnapping and this to weaken her.

Even though he intended to assume his mistake, being a part of the plan of the being whose mere presence gave him cold sweats, even unwillingly, wasn't something he could bring himself to do.

"You…"

The young witch's voice was soft, nevertheless, the flinched werewolf. He couldn't help his nervousness. His heart was pounding and his throat was so dry that he now wished he'd touched the stew bowl a few minutes ago.

His cheeks were still wet from the tears he had shed because Black terrorized him, everything about his appearance was absolutely pathetic. He opened his mouth but Light beat him to it.

"You are a member of Bloodhood. Your name is…"

"Olie…Oliver, Young Priestess." He stammered and his eyes peeked at Light's reaction.

The word he said made Light's expression even harsher. The werewolf gulped, but his mouth was too dry. He only managed to add a feeling of discomfort to the swelling lump in his throat. The young woman said nothing and just stared at the werewolf. After agonizing minutes of silence, Light's voice rose again.

"Why?"

Olivier knew it was the moment he shouldn't miss. He had to find the right words to show the young witch that he was sorry. If he could do that, maybe he wouldn't only succeed in thwarting the plans of this evil being, but also escape the wrath of the Alpha.

"I-I fell in love with a witch from another clan… She said that she wanted to be my mate and I… I trusted her. She and her clan set up the attack which forced all the fighters to leave and…"

"Enough."

Once again, the voice was barely louder than a breath. The young Skinwalker lowered her head to the ground. One of her hands reached up to grip the inside of the elbow of her opposite arm. Her fingernails dug into the flesh as she sank her teeth into her lower lip.

Memories of the torture these people had inflicted on her raced through her head, as did the memory of the pain they had stuck deep in her subconscious. It was even deeper in her mind than in her flesh which had, yet, been indelibly scarred. Her lips parted.

"First, they pierced me. With a knife, they had fun drilling all along each of the muscles. They only stopped when I started losing too much blood. They always cast a weak healing spell and then they continued. But I refused the ritual.

Then, there is one who thought that cutting me to make me bleed might not be a bad idea. They stopped when I lost too much blood and lost consciousness this time again they cast a weak healing spell, then they started again.

Unfortunately, there was a moment when I almost died and they healed me with a stronger healing spell. When they saw that slashing me didn't work, they burned me."

Light lifted her loincloth to reveal her left thigh. The werewolf looked down and his pupils dilated.

The young woman's skin was streaked with fine lines drawn in the muscle, tight against each other. At least that's what they guessed because most of those lines were covered by irregular and asymmetrical shapes.

Burns. The werewolf counted thirty-two just on her left thigh. Thirty-two lumps of swollen flesh testified how deep and grave were the burns that had been inflicted on the young woman.

Suddenly, he realized that not a single inch of Light's body had been spared. Apart from her face. Any place with muscles large enough to accommodate a blade, dense enough to bruise had been pierced. The werewolf looked up as he was now aware that no matter what plea he would say, nothing could erase the consequences of his betrayal.

Light smiled and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

"You know what? I still held on. I mean…The pack had to come and save me, right? That's how we become One. Because the pack always protects the tribe. That's why I held on. Because they had to come." Her voice was shaking as her nerves were about to crack. "They were creative and when they saw that I wasn't giving in, they changed their mean. Always more barbaric, always more violent.

At one point, I was just tired… Yes. It wasn't the pain, I just wanted it all to stop. I prayed to the Goddess with all my might. I was hoping every second for my father to come. That I will see him in his powerful black wolf form. I was praying to see him as in all the stories that are passed down within the clan. But nobody came.

Looking back on it, I wonder if it was worth hanging on for so long. The goddess didn't even deign to listen to me. What kind of goddess turns her back on those she calls her children?" Light mumbled under her breath.

Black watched the scene from a few away, and a gleam of interest shone deep in his eyes. He might have found a way to get to his goal even faster. He took a few steps and stopped near the young woman.

His eyes captured the witch's irises again. She didn't know why but Light wanted to lose herself in them every time the man looked at her. But that's not all. His voice and even the light scent from his skin, she seemed to know him, and yet she was sure that it was the first time they had met.

"Maybe it's time to set yourself free so you don't have to worship a god who ignores you when you need him? A blessing is a beautiful gift, but what's the meaning of a gift when the god who bestowed it looks the other way when you need him?"

Black closed the distance between him and Light, he cupped her cheek and brushed it with his fingertips.

"I came. I rescued you. I couldn't have done otherwise. I would never ignore somebody who is so desperately in need of help…" His voice had a low pitch that echoed in Light's chest.

The hand that was stroking her cheek slid to her neck to cling to it, making it even more impossible to escape his penetrating gaze.

"I saved you Light because I saw something in you that I couldn't live without any longer. I saved you but I can do more if you wish. I can free you and all your people. I can offer you a life of freedom, far from the affection of a Goddess who looks away whenever she wants."

"Light, Young Priestess, don't listen to this man. He's…"

Without turning his head, Black just side glanced at the werewolf who immediately fell silent as he felt the silent threat. Once again, his whole body froze and began to shake. He tried to open his mouth but the look that promised him an eternity of agony prevented him.

"I already asked you but, who are you?" Light asked, her eyes locked on Black's.

"It is true that under this appearance it's not easy for you to recognize me. Maybe that way it will be easier."

A mist emanated from the man's body and completely enveloped him, when it disappeared, a huge black wolf had taken his place. Light squinted and her eyes widened when she recognized the fur.

"The Wolf of Sacrifice!"

The wolf sat down tame when he heard the young witch's response. Light approached and her hand brushed the fur. To encourage her, Black leaned against the palm of her hand and let the young woman take the last step. When he felt the fingers stroke his fur, he couldn't help but wag his tail.

Again, the fog appeared. Light stepped back, but the black, opaque smoke enveloped her too and the next moment Black was in front of her, back in his human form. They were both surrounded by the fog which enclosed them in an airtight bubble, cutting them off from the world. Black walked over to the witch and with his index finger and thumb, he lifted her chin.

"I can help you Light. I want to." He spread his whips of dark energy and a shiver of fear ran through Light's body.

She recognized the things that had killed all those people. The flashes of this night of horror flashed in his head, waking up a slight migraine. She winced and her body faltered but Black didn't let her collapse. The wizard grabbed her waist and pulled her against him.

"I'm powerful. I want to protect you."

The young woman's breath hitched as the panic caused by the trauma washed over her. The arm around her waist tightened a little more as if the man wanted to merge their two bodies. The feeling was overwhelming and yet, little by little, Light felt her breathing calm down.

Seconds passed and she realized that Black's other arm had gone up as he stroked her hair. Quietly without saying anything. She felt like a child in a protective envelope.

"Why?" Her hands gripped the man's biceps.

She felt the arm firmly pressed around her waist, holding her tight. The gesture was assured and infallible and yet casual and effortless, like that night.

"Because when I saw you that night, I found a long-sought treasure and I want to protect it."

The words made her heart beat a little faster. Light closed her eyes and remembered the feeling of that moment. One moment she had felt the last strengths of her body abandon her in the middle of a scene where hope had no place, the next moment, wrapped in his arms, she knew someone had finally heard her vain prayers.

After days of torture, days of suffering, days in fear, and days alone, this man took her in his arms and took her away from this place. He was the one who took him. Not the Goddess, not the pack, not the tribe. Him.

She felt her heart flutter at the mix of emotions. The fear of this strange and powerful power, the gratitude that she had finally been heard when she thought it was all over, the security of knowing he was there for her.

She could feel her heart wavering at the thought again and again.. She could feel her heart wavering at his words.