“I observe you are solitary here. Where is your pack?” Jayce elevated his chin. He would not avert his gaze from the deranged man for even a moment. A stream of blood flowed from the man, despite his apparent lack of injury. Molly’s gaze tracked it to a guard beside the carriage, whose head lay several feet from his body. She muffled her mouth and further drew the curtain to obscure her from the man’s view.
His gaze appeared to locate her regardless. A smirk appeared on his face upon observing the movement of the curtain. “They are sufficiently close, do not be concerned.” He advanced a step while maintaining his gaze on the carriage. He inhaled deeply and enquired, “Who is present? Do I detect the scent of a female?”
Jayce advanced, obscuring his visage, yet his voice resonated with lethal intent as he spoke. “Advance another step, and I shall extract your eyes from their sockets before fracturing your nose for daring to pursue her.”
“It appears I have struck a chord.” The man smirked. “She must possess remarkable qualities-“
Molly blinked, and Prince Jayce was upon him. He seized him by the throat as the man lifted his claws to attack. Jayce’s shirt was torn at the collar, revealing blood dripping onto the snow from an apparent scratch. Molly swiftly drew the curtain upon witnessing Jayce commence the act of tearing out the man’s throat. His screams ceased abruptly, and she believed she would never erase the dreadful sound from her memory.
Molly positioned herself with her knees drawn to her chest in the corner of the carriage. She was uncertain about the duration that had elapsed before Jayce finally re-entered. The blood was removed from his hands, and his coat concealed any evidence of a scar, yet she was aware that one must have existed. He did not glance at her once as the carriage commenced to move again.
It was only after they halted a few hours later that he finally spoke.
“We will halt for the night. There is a creek near the camp’s perimeter for washing up, but do not wander too far.” He spoke while gazing out the window, as though he were already distant from the carriage. Upon completion, he exited without uttering another word and did not glance back to ascertain if she would pursue him.
The moon illuminated the sky above her as she clutched the cloak tightly, gazing at the stars while cautiously disembarking from the carriage. Had her fear not sought to dominate her thoughts, she would have recognised the beauty of the night.
Molly exhaled deeply and redirected her attention to the clearing. A multitude of tents had been erected among the trees, leading her to question the feasibility of anyone perceiving their camp in such darkness. They refrained from igniting a fire, regardless of the intense cold. Waking up in a bloodbath due to a rogue pack’s discovery would be more dire than enduring the cold.
James was the sole guard whose name she recognised; he occupied himself with arranging several chairs for the other guards to repose. “Pardon me.” She uttered softly while crunching her boots in the snow to approach him. He pivoted and presented a weary smile. “Can you inform me of my designated sleeping arrangements for the night?”
“Oh-” He turned his gaze towards the larger tent situated behind them. It is evident that that one was intended for the prince. “Jayce requested your presence with him.”
Molly’s cheeks flushed instantly, prompting her to take a slight step back. “He was undoubtedly erroneous.”
“No, I was not,” he interjected with a deep voice. He stood with the tent flap fully open and half of his shirt unbuttoned, as though he were in the process of changing. His hair was dishevelled, and a slight dark stubble was visible on his jaw due to neglecting to shave. Her gaze remained on the crimson mark on his chest before she swiftly averted her eyes. “You will reside with me.”
“Are you certain? I have no objection to remaining here.” Molly looked at James, but he had already departed.
Prince Jayce exhaled in exasperation. “I require your presence here tonight. I may need… tea or something similar. Just come in.” He snapped, and she discerned that it was challenging for him to maintain a subdued tone.
Molly hesitantly accompanied him indoors. A rudimentary bed lay on the floor, with garments strewn in the corner alongside bloodied rags, and little else apart from a plate of food. She turned to discover him entirely shirtless, absently touching the mark on his chest.
Molly swiftly advanced to seize his hand. “Refrain from that action; it will exacerbate the situation,” she remarked, her cheeks flushed. She anticipated that he would attribute it to the frigid weather. She sifted through the assortment of garments and successfully located an item resembling a rag to cleanse his wound with water.
He remained motionless as she approached, his gaze fixed on her silently while he refrained from speaking as she meticulously removed the blood and dirt. It was predominantly closed; she presumed this was due to the wolf within him, yet if he continued to prod at it, it would eventually reopen anew.
“There,” Molly remarked softly as she observed the scratch, attempting to refrain from directing her gaze lower to examine the remainder of him. “It should not bleed again if left undisturbed.”
His azure eyes exhibited tranquilly as she gazed up at him. There was neither tempest nor fury in the depths of his gaze. A calm sea. “Thank you,” he stated; for a moment, she believed she had imagined it.
He donned a thick jumper before lying in bed. Molly discarded the rag into the pile and apprehensively removed her cloak. “Do you require me to procure anything for you?”
“No,” he muttered, his eyes already shut. “Recline.”
Molly searched for a location to recline that would not be in proximity to him. He extended his hand and seized her wrist, drawing her onto the blankets beside him.
“Oh—”
“Silence,” he commanded.
Molly remained motionless with her eyes wide open. What was his motive for wanting her present if he had no requirements? Her bones resisted relaxation for eternity until she perceived the gentle sounds of his breath near her ear. Her body yearned to nestle against his warmth to combat the frigid chill, yet she compelled herself to utilise the blankets enveloping them.
She was unaware that she had succumbed to slumber until Jayce abruptly roused her the following morning. “Rise swiftly. My guards have detected an individual in proximity.”
