Chapter 48: To Tame The Wolf

Chapter 48: To Tame The WolfFLAP. FLAP. The sharp sound of a belt snapping open echoed through the room. Ariana’s heart pounded violently in her chest. That... that wasn’t the wolf she thought he meant. She had made a huge mistake trusting this man’s words. Realization struck like lightning—he had tricked her. Lured her into his dangerous web with gentle words, making her believe she was about to witness a mystical transformation. But this... this was something else entirely. Her face flushed red as she threw her hands up in panic, but it was too late. In one swift motion, Zavren yanked the belt free. His trousers hit the floor with a soft thud. Ariana gasped, her lips parting in shock. Her hands flew to cover her mouth as she spun her head away, turning sharply to the side, her face burning. "Oh, darling," his voice curled around her like smoke—smug and deep—"you wanted to see the wolf, so why hide now?" "You’ll really need to get used to him... even just a little caress won’t hurt," Zavren murmured silkily. Ariana felt him move as he walked towards her from behind her. Her heart raced wildly at the realization of what he was referring to. He was still calling it his wolf. Why would someone say something so... so— She tried to calm her breath, but it was already trembling. She was barely holding herself together, her willpower hanging by a thread. She needed to escape. Fast. Her heart hammered as she clenched her teeth, willing herself to stay focused. If she could just make it to the bathroom, she could catch her breath—hide from the overwhelming heat and pressure curling around her like smoke. She rushed toward the door, fingers latching onto the handle. But just as she began to turn the knob, a large, firm hand slammed over hers lightly, freezing her in place. Ariana’s face drained of color. His towering form loomed behind her, caging her against the door. Her breath hitched as she tried to calm her spiraling thoughts. "Where do you think you’re running to?" Zavren’s voice was low, dangerous—wrapped in velvety heat. His other hand slid around her waist, pulling her back into him. Ariana’s body stiffened. Her eyes widened. That— Was that his...? Oh Lord. H-How was that even possible? "You’ve awakened the wolf, sweetheart," he whispered, voice thick with heat. "Now, all you have to do... is take responsibility for your actions." Awakened what wolf now— Before she could react, he bent her forward slightly, his presence fully pressing into her from behind. Her back arched instinctively as his breath ghosted over her exposed neck, her hair falling over her face from the shift in position. Her hands remained frozen on the doorknob—still covered by his. She shuddered, her knees weakening beneath her. Then she felt it—his hand sliding up, cupping her full breast through the thin fabric of her nightwear. Her breath caught. A soft gasp slipped from her lips as her chest rose and fell rapidly, her breathing the only sound in the charged silence. "Tame the wolf," he growled near her ear, bending over her. Ariana’s breath quickened as a low, husky chuckle slipped from his lips. Before she could move, his hot, wet tongue traced the back of her neck in slow, circular motions. Her body shivered—helpless beneath the heat of his touch. "You know what happens when the wolf turns into a beast, huh?" he whispered, voice dark and velvety. That single line made her heart thud violently. There was danger in his words—yet the darkness in his tone pulled at something inside her, something that made her want more instead of running. Why was he speaking in proverbs? Oh, heavens, save her... She should’ve run to the bathroom from this temptation. She knew there was danger laced behind his every move. So why... why did she feel like this? Was something wrong with her? She swallowed hard just as Zavren turned her around with ease. With one hand, he pinned both of hers above her head against the door. Her body pressed tightly to the cold surface, and she refused to meet his gaze—her eyes fixed on his bobbing Adam’s apple, avoiding both downward and upward... not daring to see either his bare state or those steel grey eyes. But his free hand lifted her chin gently, forcing her to look at him. The moment her eyes met his, her breath caught in her throat. His lips, a deep and inviting pink, brushed lightly against his teeth. His once-stormy grey eyes had bled into a darkened shade of red. "Go on," he murmured, voice low and coaxing. "Act like it didn’t awaken anything in you, sweetheart." He tightened his grip on her wrists before letting go. Her hands dropped to her sides just as something poked against her stomach. Her eyes widened. "I have fucked you before... and I won’t hesitate to do it again—right here, right now, in this position." Ariana looked at him in shock. T-This position? Reflexively, she tried to push it away—only for her hand to brush against something hard. Her entire body flushed with heat. She gasped, her hand snapping back as though she’d touched a burning kettle. Her gaze darted down—and her breath hitched again. Zavren’s length stood tall, proudly straining against his briefs. Her pupils widened in disbelief. Why... why was it this big She remembered it being big the last time... but why did it feel like it had gotten even bigger? "Don’t be scared, Snowflake," Zavren murmured, his voice low and smooth like velvet. "My wolf doesn’t bite... not this one, at least." He bit his own lip, watching her with dark amusement, his voice curling around her like warm silk. There was something irresistible in the way he said it—something dangerous and tempting. Maybe... maybe if she did what he wanted, he’d stop. Maybe he’d leave her alone. She bit her lip softly, uncertain but trapped. Zavren’s jaw flexed, the muscle ticking as he watched her move—agonizingly slow. His eyes briefly closed, the effort to control himself etched across his face. The predator in him was stirring, restless. It wanted to seize her hand, guide her, force the touch he craved. But no. The wolf had to be patient. The prey was already walking into the nest on her own. Just as she reached out, Zavren shut his eyes in anticipation—but instead of what he expected, his Adam’s apple bobbed sharply as his eyes snapped open, flashing with disbelief. She hadn’t grabbed it. She poked it. His breath caught as he watched her gaze lock onto it with deep curiosity, her brows furrowed slightly like she was trying to solve a mystery. If anyone walked in right now, they’d probably think she was examining something for a political project rather than... Fuck. He parted his lips to speak, but no words came. They lodged in his throat as she poked it again—this time, on the other side. Then again at the side. Down, up, sideways, center. And again. Each poke was slow, calculated, almost innocent... but maddening. Just as she raised her hand for what would’ve been the second-to-last poke, her breath caught in her throat. Zavren’s hand shot forward, wrapping firmly around her wrist and holding it still. Ariana slowly lifted her eyes from where they had been fixated and met his gaze. For a moment, she caught a flicker in his eyes—something wild, something her mind was just a second too slow to read. His voice came, low and strained, barely above a whisper. "Darling... I said caress, not poke. You wouldn’t want me teaching you English right now, of all times... would you?" To his utter disbelief—she nodded. Zavren’s entire body stilled. His usually cold, unreadable expression cracked into one of stunned surprise as his eyes dropped to her lips. They were curved. She was smiling. Was she doing this on purpose? Or... was it pure curiosity? Either way, the darkness in him stirred again. His eyes lowered, catching sight of her dimples. Oh... those dimples. "Aria... fuck... fucking fuck, Aria," he groaned, her name spilling from his lips like a curse—raw, desperate, unrestrained—as his hands raked through his hair. In one swift motion, his hand slid to the front of her neck, fingers wrapping gently yet firmly around her throat. Then, without warning, his lips crashed against hers in a fiery, wild kiss. Ariana gasped, lips parting instinctively as his tongue invaded her mouth, colliding with hers in a heated clash. His other hand gripped her waist as he deepened the kiss, stealing the breath from her lungs. He sucked her lower lip hard, drawing a muffled whimper from her. Just when she thought he would continue—maybe even lose control—he broke away suddenly, pressing his face to her neck. But he froze. His teeth were extending. He clenched his jaw, trying to resist the shift. If he went any further... he wouldn’t be able to stop. And he didn’t want to be rough with her—not like this. Not yet. His voice came out tight, strained, barely more than a whisper—but sharp and final: "Leave. Go to sleep. Now." Ariana blinked, breathless and flushed. Her eyes lifted to his. She stared at him, stunned. Now? Why was he stopping—now that she... wanted more? What is wrong with this man? He opened his mouth to explain—but stilled. Something flickered in her eyes. Something he couldn’t name. Without another word, she stepped back, walking slowly toward the bed. His fangs retracted lightly, his breath shaky as he turned and shut himself inside the bathroom. Ariana sat on the bed, confusion swirling in her chest. Her curiosity burned brighter than ever. Why did he stop all of a sudden? He was so unpredictable—and she did not like it one bit. But why was she suddenly interested? Wasn’t she the one who had pulled away before? Minutes passed. Zavren finally opened the bathroom door. A towel hung loosely around his neck, his damp hair tousled and falling slightly into his eyes. If anything, the disheveled look made his sharp features appear even more ethereal—dangerous, and beautiful all at once. To his surprise, Ariana lay on the bed, a book resting on her chest, her eyes closed in peaceful sleep. A slow smile tugged at his lips. He couldn’t believe it. She’d fallen asleep—with a book on her chest. A pen dangled loosely from her fingers, as if she had been writing something before drifting off. Curious, Zavren gently pulled the duvet over her, then carefully lifted the book from her chest. His eyes caught the line she had scribbled: Did you go in because you thought I couldn’t calm the wolf? His body froze. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips. Was that what she thought...? He stared at the sleeping girl beneath the covers, her lashes casting soft shadows on her cheeks. Slowly, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and whispered, "Darling... I was afraid I might bite you."