Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 39: I’m here now

Chapter 39: I’m here now

Recommended Listening: [Elastic Heart- Cover by Madilyn Bailey]

Ronan couldn’t even begin to describe the kind of dark and anxious feeling swelling in his chest when his body, weighed down by Moondbind Draught, couldn’t carry him fast enough to Vivian’s location.

His senses were dulled, thus making it increasingly difficult to trace the faint residues of Vivian’s scent. He relied on the disgusting stench of Wickan magic lingering in the air to guide his way.

The stench was so potent that even the Moondbind Draught couldn’t evade it from reaching him.

Compelling his body to shift into his Lycan half wasn’t the wisest of choices under the influence of the Wickan spell.

Every cell in his body burnt through the change, undoubtedly causing internal damages that would cost him a significant amount of time to heal.

Nevertheless, he stormed his way throughout the forest, ripping apart trees with his claws and snapping them like twigs if they impeded his way.

He was quite literally a mindless beast, unable to make sense of his surroundings.

Even Avery’s sudden disappearance was the furthest concern from his mind.

His mind could only dwell on assuming what kind of fearful situation Vivian had to endure in solitude.

And upon finally finding her location and breaking down through the gates into her captivity, the Lycan Alpha couldn’t suppress the primal anger bubbling in his blood.

He thought he was going to completely lose his mind in the event he was unable to find her.

Even her weak punches filled with anger were welcomed. If she wanted to pound away at him for her satisfaction, then so be it.

She deserved better.

She deserved a mate who could actually protect her.

Yet Ronan failed to fulfil the role of a filial and dutiful Alpha towards his omega.

What else could he do except voice apologies that would do nothing to change what had already passed?

Nevertheless, he needed to gather his wits and shoulder Vivian’s pain.

The she-wolf clung to him for dear life, afraid that if she left his arms then the living nightmare would return.

Words alone weren’t enough to convey the depths of the relief she felt when she first heard Ronan’s beastly roar.

She wished he’d had rescued her earlier. However, the Wickans were wicked and sly. They must have inflicted the Lycan Alpha with some sort of spell to weaken him.

Could she really blame him for not coming sooner to her aid?

Yet her mind argued otherwise, and the faint dregs of her dying wolf’s spirit screamed for her to pour out all her heart’s rage and tears onto the Alpha she belonged to.

As her Alpha, Ronan was responsible for her wellbeing and protection.

No.

That wasn’t what she wanted to think. He didn’t deserve to shoulder the blame for her unfortunate circumstances.

Her heart hammered with panic as suddenly the rush of the Wickan magic inscribing procedure replayed in her mind. She’d begun to hyperventilate as a late reaction to Alaric’s presence and touch.

Sensing her distress, Ronan tenderly cupped her face, encouraging her to look directly into the gold depths of his soft gaze.

"Breathe, sweetheart," Ronan consoled, labouring his breathing to guide hers. He inhaled a deep breath, prompting her to do the same thing, then exhaling a moment later. "Eyes on me," he reminded her when her gaze began to wander off.

"I’m with you now," he said, ensuring that her attention was focused on his presence. "I’m always going to be with you, hmm? Who is with you right now, sweetheart?"

"You..." She muttered and then closed her eyes briefly to restrain another rush of burning tears.

Ronan bent down, gently brushing his fingers against Vivian’s cheek. She trembled from his touch, her breath hitching as she slowly opened her eyes again.

Her nightmarish woes melted away when his lips met hers in a soft, sensual kiss. Her eyes fluttered closed again, welcoming the warmth of his lips that seemed to distract her distraught mind.

The sweet contact was brief and slow, allowing Vivian a deserved respite from the events that just occurred. When Ronan broke the kiss, he moved his lips higher up to the corners of her eyes to kiss away the tears there.

Vivian thought it was somewhat silly and it nearly made her chuckle.

She followed his lead, finding her bearings after a few minutes. Ronan was so gentle and understanding that it immediately vanquished the anxiety coiling around her heart and mind.

The Lycan Alpha offered her a reassuring and warm smile once she managed to calm down.

She didn’t know he could smile like that.

It was both handsome and...endearing.

When Ronan decided that Vivian was completely calmed down, he lifted her up into his arms, forcing her to lock her legs around his waist.

"Ronan, what are you—" Vivian began to ask, but the seriousness in Ronan’s gaze warned her against arguing.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and plopped her chin on his shoulder as he carried her out of the underground dungeon.

He seemed to trek his way through the forest again without allowing her to walk by herself.

"I wanted to go after your niece," Ronan spoke again, his grip around her tightening as his gaze narrowed. "But I had to find you first. I tried to search for her along the way...but I couldn’t even trace her scent."

Of course, he wouldn’t be able to trace Avery’s scent because she was too far gone.

Alaric’s grave words, If you ever want to see that niece of yours again, lingered at the back of Vivian’s mind.

The Wickan Master had made it quite clear that he was in a position to harm Avery in any way that he pleased.

Vivian had to obey his commands.

For now, she set such worries for a later period when she could regather her wits.

"I’m worried...but she’s a smart girl, she’ll find her way," Vivian replied back, her voice hoarse from wailing too much. "She’ll make it on her own."

Too calm.

Too nonchalant.

Why wasn’t Vivian more concerned and hysterical about her niece’s disappearance?

Her reaction didn’t sit well with Ronan, but perhaps his little wolf was overly shaken up and still recovering from the trauma of her captivity.

Perhaps, her emotions were drained and she didn’t have the energy to express her worries.

"It would be pointless to search for her now," Ronan stated. "Sabre Coven is not too far away. I managed to bring our horses back after they ran off so we’ll ride there immediately. I’ll request their help to send out a search for Avery."

If only it were that simple.

Her niece was in the hands of the enemy.

And Vivian failed to protect her.