Chapter 20: Silver Blood

My hands struggled to hold on to Alijah's hair, prompting him to run slower. Thanks to this, it took longer to reach our destination. Eventually, we found our way out of the desert and into another forest by the following afternoon.

We only stopped when we found a river to camp and wash off in. I slowly got off him, attempting to situate myself with the map in my bag. However, there were no breathers for me, especially when he came closer to the river's edge and drank from it.

"No, stop! You're supposed to boil it!" I huffed as he rolled his eyes and grabbed my arm in his mouth.

It caused me to drop our bags by the edge of the river. Even though my healing slowed thanks to the Iris, my hands and feet were better than the night before. Gently, Alijah pulled me into the water before shifting into his humanoid form.

Tugging me into his chest again, I struggled to keep the cloth on me when his hand traveled up my back.

It's coming…

His hand stopped by my neck before clasping onto my hair that reached my back. My heart stopped when he tugged me into the water, where I let the grumpy wolf submerge me under it. With that simple dunk, blood ran downstream along with what was stuck in my body.

However, that wouldn't be enough to clean my hair, but it made it more visible and pinker. We were away from prying eyes, which meant nothing held him back from wanting to drill me. Not that I blamed him for wanting to know who he was stuck with.

Sadly, it froze me in place. Tugging me back up to the surface, I couldn't hold on to the cloth that washed away from my body and down the stream. My chest was so close to Alijah's that it made me wonder if he felt anything other than disgust towards me.

Letting go of my hair, he placed his hands on my cheeks as his fingers wiped any residual blood that had stayed.

What I would give… to know your thoughts right now.

His fingers traced under my eyes before ending on my hair again. However, he pulled on it rougher this time. It was almost as if he was fighting with something within himself as his gaze shimmered slightly.

"Who are you?" Alijah asked coldly, holding me close to him.

I used my arms to separate us slightly, though our flesh was touching. Not that I had the mind to enjoy this, yet I couldn't tear myself away from his addictive embrace.

"I'm Rem; I already told you that," I answered, avoiding the elephant in the room.

Instead of letting it go, he trailed his hand down my hair. It was nothing like the wig I had on before.

"Don't play coy with me." He huffed, clasping into my hair again before tugging on it, triggering my back to arch a bit.

He tugged on it, arching my back and prompting my chest to touch his. A soft whine left my lips, and the warmth of his skin on me was extraordinary. The only thing that kept me centered was how frightened his eyes were toward me.

It sent shivers down my spine.

"Isn't that good enough?! Why do I have to be something else?!" I tried to argue back, feeling shivers go down my spine.

You'll hate me! Please… don't find out! Please!

He held me by my waist with his free hand before resting his head on my neck. His lips pressed against my nape as his fiery breath made my heart flutter.

"No, I want to know who you are." He declared, gently nibbling my skin.

I yelped at the feeling of his fangs gently pressing against me, yet he never sunk them into me. The blood from his cheeks dripped down my shoulder when he licked where he had bit.

Ah... You know... You totally know about my feelings for you! If you don't, then... I...

"I'm one of those silver blood you hate! Happy?!" I squealed, unable to resist his tease.

He let go of my hair, triggering me to place my forehead on his chest. My entire body was trembling, expecting his rejection, yet his grip on me was relentless. Even though my hands were still bandaged and slightly stung, I pressed them against his chest.

I could stop this if I wanted, but it would forever close his heart to me.

Something… I won't allow happening, even if it kills me.

There was nothing more I wished than to become Alijah's friend.

No, I desire to be someone important in your life, and it doesn't matter what shape it takes. All that matters is that I can be in your life.

He took a deep breath before biting his lip.

"Not what I meant. I'll ask again, and if you don't answer honestly. You'll never achieve your dream of making me 'love' this world, Rem." He warned, eyes shimmering.

I froze in his arms upon hearing him say that. The icy tone of his voice made damn sure I knew he wouldn't forgive me if I continued this path of lies.

"Who are you, Rem?" He questioned, narrowing his eyes.

No… I can't… You'll…

"The… I… I'm the girl who'll do anything to save you!" I broke as a soft, broken chuckle left his lips before he let me go and turned away.

Instantly, tears ran down my cheeks, realizing he was done with my games.

Ah… No… Rem… You're going... No… I can't… Just do it before you lose him forever!

"I'm Rem Silver Fang! Fenris Silver Fang's daughter!" I yelled at Alijah as my voice squeaked at the end.

Instead of walking away from me, he quickly spun around towards me, revealing a gentle smile on his lips.

"You're Lilith's daughter?" His soft tone when he said that caused my heart to ache.

Of course, that's the part you'd care about.

"Yes, I am," I mumbled, trying to hold the tears back, but it was useless.

Closing the gap, he suddenly pulled me into the water, only to surface right after. He washed the blood off his face. Soon, he shook his head, trying to get the water out of his ears.

Did you do that because I'm crying? Why?

"That explains… so much about you," Alijah smirked.

Why are you smiling like that? Why don't you hate me? I'm a silver blood… Why…

"How old are you, Rem?" he asked, causing me to tilt my head.

Huh?

"O-Only three years younger than you… Twenty." I answered, standing there like a deer in headlights.

Why… Huh? Just… What?

"Three? I'm much older than that little Luma." Alijah chuckled, glancing at me.

Ah… I must be dreaming. Yes, that's the only explanation.

"Your body's twenty-three, though." I rolled my eyes.

Alijah shook his head, but I was right. He had the same body as the day he was locked away.

"Hah… Fine. So… why do you want to save me? Don't your parents want to kill me?" He continued, removing his pants and underwear before throwing them outside towards the shore.

My eyes twitched, realizing that we were both naked in the river's waters. My only saving grace was that it wasn't crystal clear. Though my heart was…

"B-Because…" I trailed off.

This was one question I couldn't answer.

Well, honestly, at least.

"Because?" He came closer, sending my chaotic heart into a storm.

My eyes instinctively gazed away from him and towards the river's edge. To get a glance at him would end me right where I was.

"I can't tell you that," I mumbled.

He undid his braid, placing what he used to tie it on his wrist before he swam behind me. It was a weird cloth, but I couldn't focus as my eyes slowly followed him.

What are you planning?

I couldn't read him anymore. This wasn't the normal Alijah, I knew. No, he was playful.

"Why not?" He questioned from behind me as his hands suddenly found their way to my tail and hair.

"Because I can't!" I yelped again from his sudden touch.

It was a silly reaction as all he was trying to do was help rid the blood off my hair. Unlike before, his hands were so tender. I hadn't brushed it the entire time we traveled, which meant serious knots had formed.

Not that I minded them, but Alijah seemed to. This wolf always took good care of his hair.

"I thought it was because you wanted me to smile," He noted my previous answer while using his fingers to help my hair become smoother and cleaner.

His touch felt so good that I couldn't help but lean back onto him.

"I do want that!" I tried to keep my emotions in check.

Hey, Alijah, are you testing me? Do you know what I feel? You have to. Otherwise, why would you be like this? Why aren't you angry about what happened to you? Or are you, and this is payback? Oh, how I wish I could read your mind!

Everything would have been much simpler if I had that perk.

"Then?" Alijah tugged on my hair gently to wet it more.

It would take over one wash to get everything off, but he excelled at patience.

Well, to a point.

"That's for me to know and for you never to find out!" I grumbled, prompting him to yank me onto him suddenly.

In a second, my back was against his chest as my bum touched his…

Your… That's your… Oh!

I felt like I was going to die where I was.

"Oi! Why?" Alijah growled, holding my arms to my chest, preventing me from escaping.

I tried not to think much of what was down there for him. However, I attempted to tug my waist away because it probably would never respond to me.

Right? There is no way I… No, if something like that happens, I won't be able to… stop myself from claiming you.

"Please…" I whispered, feeling weak.

My heart broke because of his actions, sending it into another world. Luckily, Alijah backed off, glancing towards the side, allowing me to see his cheeks were light pink. I didn't know if it was the tone of my voice, but he wasn't going further with his tease.

"Fine, I'll let you go this once." He sighed, "I can finally see you have some cute brown streaks in your hair. Oh, they're even in your short tail. Adorable."

This man didn't know what fire he was playing with. It was taking everything in me from kissing him, leaving me to want to break right where I stood.

Please don't do it, Rem! Control yourself!

Alijah felt nothing for me, not how I felt about him. Memories of my dreams rushed through my mind while I tried to shove them down. I couldn't help but grumble under my breath as I could barely keep my hands to myself.

Ignoring my demeanor, Alijah continued to move past it, "So, how's your family?"

"Probably dying to find me," I answered, clasping my hands tightly against my chest.

I didn't want to be like any other woman who negatively affected his life.

Why are you being like this? My mind is about to go haywire! By now, in my dreams, I would've… We would've been…

My heart wouldn't survive this onslaught of attacks.

Please be mean to me, Alijah. I can't stop wanting you, so please… make me hate you.

I wanted to stop breathing if it would stop the pain that was swelling within my chest.

Please… tell me how everything was my fault that I put you in danger, that I'm a mistake you never wanted to cross.

Hated silver blood was all I could ever be to him because if I was more…