BEASTLY INFERNO:4

YOU'RE dead to me. YOU'RE DEAD to me. YOU'RE DEAD TO me. YOU'RE DEAD TO ME!" The words echoed in my mind like an incessant drumbeat, my heart pounding in my chest as I woke with a start. I scanned the unfamiliar room with trepidation. This wasn't Ellie's bedroom. I jumped to my feet, disoriented, and quickly noticed that Tristan was nowhere to be found. My body still felt heavy with sleep, and I was in nothing but a nightgown, completely naked beneath it. Panic surged as I glanced around.

I rushed to the corner, where my bag had been carelessly discarded, and hastily pulled on a pair of green pants. Just as I was about to grab my bra, the door opened with a soft creak. My heart leapt into my throat. I quickly dropped the bra and turned, meeting Tristan's cold, unreadable gaze. Without a word, he walked toward me and stretched out his hand, offering me my phone.

"Call them," he commanded in a low, firm tone.

I hesitated but reluctantly took the phone, dialing my mom's number. The line rang twice before she finally picked up.

"Mom!" I breathed, trying to steady my voice, but it cracked as I heard her familiar, comforting tone.

"Neroli, hunny, how are you? Is Ellie's family treating you well?" she asked softly.

Tears welled in my eyes as her words hit me hard. I looked up at Tristan, who stood across from me, watching intently. He gave me a pointed look that seemed to warn me to control my words.

"I-it's great, Mom," I forced out, my voice trembling despite my efforts. "Ellie's family has been very welcoming."

Tristan's eyes narrowed slightly, and I saw the faintest flicker of approval in his gaze. I continued, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know you'll do great at your exams, and I can't wait to see you at your graduation." Her voice was warm, but it only made my heart sink deeper. Graduation was weeks away. How could I possibly focus on anything when I was stuck here?

"Enjoy your vacation, Mom... I love you both," I whispered, trying to keep my composure. She echoed the words back to me, and the line went quiet as the call ended.

"That was good," Tristan said, taking the phone from my hands without a word of praise. He grabbed my arm and led me to the dining area. I felt a chill run through me at his touch, but I said nothing, too exhausted to protest. He pulled out a chair and roughly guided me into it, the coldness of the seat against my bare legs adding to the discomfort I was already feeling.

"Wait here. I'll be back," he muttered before turning and leaving.

I sat there, staring at the table, suddenly feeling drained beyond measure. My mind spun with confusion and regret. I wished I had never come to Ellie's house. I hadn't signed up for this... whatever this was.

Then, a plate was dropped in front of me, and I froze. I stared at the slab of raw, bloody red meat in front of me, my stomach lurching. How could he possibly expect me to eat this?

I looked up at Tristan, but his face remained impassive. "The food isn't cooked! I can't eat this!" My voice trembled with disbelief and disgust.

He fixed me with a cold stare. "I told you before... I'm not just a wolf. I'm something much more. And it so happens that I don't care for cooked food, only raw meat. Since you're my mate, you'll have to do the same, at least until I can get you some cereals. But even then, you'll still eat meat for lunch."

A wave of horror swept over me, threatening to choke me. My stomach turned as I fought to keep myself from retching. "I'm waiting, Neroli... We're waiting."

His voice had taken on a dark edge, and I knew there would be no way out of this. I picked up the fork and knife, my hands shaking as I cut a piece of the raw meat. I stared at it in repulsion, the texture like rubber and the taste of iron as soon as I put it in my mouth. I wanted to gag, but I fought it down. I forced myself to take two more bites before I could take it no longer. I pushed the plate away, my stomach rebelling.

"I-I'm full," I said weakly, unable to meet his gaze.

Tristan's eyes locked onto mine with an unreadable intensity. "Go wash up," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I stood quickly and made my way back to the bedroom, grabbing my supplies as I went. The bathroom was located within the room, and I locked the door behind me, grateful for the brief privacy. I undressed and stepped into the shower, scrubbing my teeth until my gums hurt. The familiar feel of the warm water soothed me, and I closed my eyes, trying to forget the raw meat still lingering in my mouth.

I used the special products for my hair, working them through until my scalp felt clean and refreshed. After I finished, I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my body, then wrapped another around my head to dry my hair. I quickly dressed, feeling a little more like myself.

As I stepped out of the bathroom, I felt dizzy and lightheaded, the exhaustion catching up to me. I stumbled and bumped into Tristan, who caught me effortlessly before I could fall. His expression softened, and he smiled, his voice low and smooth.

"Water," he said, his hands lifting me with surprising gentleness and carrying me bridal-style to the kitchen. He handed me a glass of water, and I drank it quickly, the cool liquid soothing the nausea in my stomach. The dizziness faded, but when I looked up, my gaze met his, and my heart skipped a beat. His intense eyes held me captive, and I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks.

Then, without warning, he leaned down, his lips brushing the side of my neck. My breath hitched, and my body tensed in response, a wave of conflicting emotions flooding through me. Just as quickly as he had leaned in, he pulled back and took my hands.

"It's time to go meet the Alpha," he said, his voice serious again.

We walked for a few minutes before we arrived at a series of large, connected houses. In the daylight, the compound seemed vast and imposing, surrounded by men training and children playing in a well-kept garden. We entered one of the houses, and I couldn't help but marvel at the lavish interior. But my awe was short-lived, as Tristan stopped in front of a door and knocked.

A muffled voice called for us to enter, and we did. Inside, a man was sitting in a chair with a woman straddling his lap, both of them locked in a passionate kiss. The man's hands were all over her, and she was grinding against him, making soft, breathless noises. I froze in place, my face turning red with embarrassment. Tristan, however, only sighed.

"Seriously, guys?" he muttered, sounding unimpressed.

The couple reluctantly broke apart, the woman adjusting her clothes with a casual shrug. The man gave Tristan a brief, amused look before addressing us.

"Welcome, Tristan. Please, sit with your mate... Neroli."

I stared at him, surprised that he knew my name. Tristan and I sat down, and the man began discussing topics that made no sense to me—something about the moon, rogues, and a coming change. It all sounded cryptic and ominous.

"I'm Heather," the woman finally said, smiling warmly. "I'm the Luna of this pack." She seemed to notice my confused expression and added, "Luna means 'wife.' The Alpha is the boss, so I'm the boss's wife." I nodded slowly, still processing the overwhelming information.

"Nice to meet you, Heather. You have a lovely home," I managed, though my attention kept flicking back to the man—Dimitri, as he had introduced himself.

"I think Neroli must be getting bored," Dimitri said, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Why don't you take her to see some of the attractions?"

Tristan stood and bowed low to both Dimitri and Heather before leading me out. As we walked, I couldn't help but glance back at the men training outside. My eyes widened as I saw them morph into wolves right before me. My breath caught in my throat.

I turned to Tristan, my thoughts swirling. If he claims he's more than just a wolf, then what exactly is he?