Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 60: To prove a point [2]

Chapter 60: To prove a point [2]

Soran was not the reckless type to overstep his bounds, but when he heard Vivian’s protesting shouts, he was concerned about her state of well-being.

While he knew that intervening in a Lycan Alpha’s affairs would inevitably result in his death, he was no spineless coward to abandon a damsel in distress.

Thus, bearing great risks ahead, he trailed after Ronan and Vivian through the forest. He was cautious to maintain a safe distance, casting a cloaking spell to blanket over his scent in case Ronan caught a whiff of him in the air.

When he witnessed the beastly shift from man to Lycan, Soran’s hair stood on end. He swallowed the tight ball of uneasiness in the back of his throat, camouflaging himself amongst the shrubs and bushes by the treeline at the edge of the forest where the lake was.

What is he planning to do to her? Soran thought to himself, squinting his eyes to gauge the scene unravelling before him. I hope he isn’t going to hurt her...if he does, I’ll die before I can cast a spell in defense.

Unlike before, Ronan didn’t drop to all fours to ensure he was below Vivian’s height. Since her arrival, he figured that she was intimidated by people taller than her, and it roused old fears.

Hence, he was determined to prove why she should never have lowered her guard around him.

Vivian visibly trembled under his gaze, her body running frigid, and not just from the icy night air itself. When he drew closer, he lifted her chin with one sharp nail on the claw of his right hand.

In this beastly form, she barely reached the height of his torso, and she could see what a drastic change in aura there was compared to before.

"Do you see, sweetheart?" Ronan spoke, his voice gruff and husky, projecting a tone that was unpleasant to the ear.

Not like before.

"Is this what you want from me?" The Lycan Alpha questioned, watching the way her eyes wavered, glistening with unshed tears under the moonlight. "To let the beast in me run wild and feed more into your fears?"

Soran observed from afar, one hand conjuring magic in the middle of his palm in readiness if Ronan unleashed any form of violence.

Vivian realised just how foolish she’d been. That was apparent before, but now she understood her impulsiveness was one of the unintelligent traits Moonborn and Nightshade Packs scorned her for.

"Do you even understand what I could do to you right now?" The Lycan Alpha bared his canines, much like a wolfish smirk. He dipped his head down to whisper in her ear. "I could pin you down; have my way as I please without any consideration for your pleas for me to stop. I can engrave every part of your body with my mark until it knows me and only me."

"I can be cruel and teach you who you belong to," Ronan rambled on. "You’ll be begging for mercy and screaming my name. You will have no will of your own, and you’ll only be used for my pleasure whether you want it or not."

"What a beast..." Soran mumbled to himself. "The poor girl, is he intentionally trying to frighten her?"

Vivian gasped upon hearingRonan’s dark declarations. Just imagining such a scenario was enough to invoke fear and excitement.

Good. That ought to have scared her. Just as he intended to.

Her heart pounded in her chest, almost as if it would explode at any moment.

However, if she backed down now from her earlier resolve, she’d only be proving his point right. While Vivian might have appeared reserved on the surface, she was equally as stubborn.

Mustering her courage, she stepped closer into his embrace. Ronan immediately retracted his claw to avoid slicing open her chin when she moved closer.

"Now, it’s your turn to see," Vivian remarked, crossing her arms to prevent her body from quivering as she gazed up at him. "Why did you move your claw?"

"I didn’t want to hurt you," Ronan revealed, clenching his claws at his sides. "My claws are very sharp, and undoubtedly you could get injured from them."

"Do you not see that it’s your instinct not to hurt me?" Vivian questioned bluntly, her brows furrowed. "You say you are afraid of losing control and hurting me, yet your first move was to remove your claw from my chin when I came closer. Isn’t that proof that you would never hurt me?"

Soran almost whistled in approval. He had to admit that he never expected much from Vivian, but it appeared the omega was much smarter than she revealed.

What more was she hiding beneath that helpless, frightened exterior?

"Intentionally, I would never." Ronan snarled, displeased with her insistence. "Unintentionally? It’s possible. I can’t trust my Lycan will be—"

"But I do," Vivian interrupted him, sassily perching her hands on her hips. Ronan had to force his intrusive gaze away because she was still wearing nothing except his tunic that barely covered her creamy thighs. "I trust him. He’s been nothing but kind, and... and he actually treats me like a mate."

Now that struck another nerve.

However, she wasn’t to blame.

It was true that Ronan had never outwardly expressed his desires for her as his mate, nor did he ever conduct himself as her Alpha.

Yet his Lycan did.

Since the start, it had always been his Lycan that adored her as their mate.

Not him.

"So do you plan to always use this as an excuse?" Vivian jabbed her finger in his chest, even when it was difficult for her to reach. "You need to make up your mind, Ronan."

It was impressive how decisive Vivian was. Ronan never judged her for one who could find her bearings.

However, in Vivian’s case, she knew how crucial it was for her to earn Ronan’s trust. She needed him to bond with her and be open with her.

Only then would she be able to discover his weakness and the vulnerabilities of his clan as per Alaric’s wishes.

It was cruel on her part, but there was little choice and say in the matter.

Both her and her niece’s lives were at stake.

And for the first time since their arrival at the lake where the water rippled and reflected the moonlight, Ronan kneeled so that he was at eye level with Vivian, taking both her hands gently into his own.

"Perhaps you aren’t aware what Lycan’s curse truly is and what it’s capable of," Ronan said, his eyes fluttering closed. "It’s time you learn what haunts me and why it’s dangerous for you."