Page 137 of Evil Hearts

Chapter Three

Ari

H eat cocooned Ari, seeping into her skin, an inferno so consuming it felt almost otherworldly. It was a startling contrast to the icy daggers she remembered cutting through her last time she’d been conscious enough to know what was going on around her—had that been real? Or was this?

Her body didn’t ache the same way, no more stabbing cold clawing into her muscles. The thought made her press her lips together, unwilling to break whatever fragile thread kept her suspended in warmth.

She didn’t want to open her eyes—if she did, what would she find?

Her mind stumbled over fragments of memory, jagged and painful. The cruise ship—her attempt at starting over, at escaping the mess of her past life—attacked. Ferocious aliens had attacked the luxury vessel, causing chaos to explode around her.

She shivered despite the warmth. She remembered fighting—clawing, kicking—to reach an escape pod. The doors had hissed closed just as the ship behind her erupted into a blinding inferno, swallowing lives and screams in one final explosion.

She would’ve died if she hadn’t fought so hard.

But then there was the forest, wasn’t there? Frost biting into her as she dangled upside down, cradled in monstrous, furry arms. A pack of massive, otherworldly wolves shadowing her captor. Her stomach twisted. A wolf den. That had to be it. She was prey, tucked neatly into some alien predator’s nest.

Something soft and warm brushed against her leg, startling her. It moved, threading itself slowly between her thighs—a thick, furry tail that radiated heat. Her breath caught, her fingers twitching reflexively against the thick furred hides beneath her.

The inferno shifted, and a low rumble vibrated against her back, deep and soothing like a distant growl. Two strong, fur-covered arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer as something—soft and heavy, like a head—rested atop her own.

Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, her heart pounding. She had to look. Had to know.

Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing a vast room cloaked in shadows. Faint blue lights flickered along the walls, casting an otherworldly glow over the smooth, stone-like surfaces. Nearby, a smokeless flame danced in a basin, its light shifting like bubbly blue mixed drinks.

Ari’s stomach sank as she craned her neck downward. The arms encircling her were black-furred and massive, the same ones she remembered from the forest. She sucked in a sharp breath.

Her new reality slammed hard: she was naked, entangled with a wolf-man in a nest of fur and warmth.

“What the fuck?”

The wolfman chuckled, the sound deep and rumbly, vibrating through the nest and into her bones. “You want to mate?” His voice was dark, threaded with amusement, and entirely too confident.

“No!” Ari shook her head hard, knocking his heavy head off her own as she squirmed in his hold. Her heart raced as she clawed at his arms, trying to pry herself free. “This has to be some dream. Just some... insane nightmare.”

The wolfman released her with a low, throaty laugh. She sat up quickly, clutching the furs around her chest as he stretched languidly beside her, like a predator toying with his prey. “Does this look like a dream to you?” he asked, his sharp cyan eyes gleaming in the room’s dim light.

His large paw dragged down her side, claws grazing her bare skin with surprising gentleness. “Does it feel like a dream?”

Ari shivered, her skin prickling with goosebumps at the heat of his touch. It wasn’t rough—it was almost tender—and the sensation unnerved her more than anything else. She spun around to face him, her body tense as her eyes raked over the creature she had somehow ended up sharing a bed with.

He was massive, towering even while reclining in the nest. His fur was jet black, sleek and glossy under the faint blue glow of the room, and his sharp, angular features were distinctly lupine. Bright cyan eyes burned with intelligence and mischief beneath a heavy brow, his long snout framed by rows of razor-sharp teeth that curved into a sardonic grin.

The strength in his muscled body was unmistakable—he would easily be capable of overpowering her if he wanted.

“What’s going on?” she demanded, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. “Why am I here?”

He rolled onto his back, resting one arm behind his head as he watched her. “You’re not in the position to make demands,” he said mockingly, his gaze flicking over her in a way that made her stomach tighten.

She bristled. “And you’re not in the position to mock me. What would you do in my position?”

“I would never be in your position,” he said smoothly, his grin widening, teeth glinting.

Ari crossed her arms tightly, a scowl darkening her features. “Why not? Everyone has their lowest moments.”

His gaze sharpened, and the grin fell away. “Because I’m the prince, and you’re an intruder on my land.”

Her breath hitched. “A prince?”

He nodded, gesturing lazily to the room around them, its grandeur suddenly oppressive. “Prince Ryxin,” he said, his tone smug. “First Commander of the Yzefrxyl forces and brother to the Alpha King.”

A prince? Her stomach flipped. Panic surged, her instincts taking over as she dropped to her hands and knees, bowing low. Her forehead pressed against the soft furs as she stammered, “I beg your forgiveness. I didn’t know—”

His voice cut through her apology, sharp and biting. “Why are you presenting yourself to me if you don’t want to mate?”

Her head snapped up, and heat flooded her cheeks. “I wasn’t—” she stuttered, flustered. “I was trying to show you respect.”

“You’re in the ultimate position of trust,” he drawled, his cyan eyes gleaming with dark amusement. “A position a female offers when she’s ready for a male to claim her.”

Ari sat up quickly, tucking her legs beneath her and crossing her arms over her chest. “This is all a misunderstanding,” she said, her voice rising with her frustration. “I didn’t want to accidentally offend you any further.’

Ryxin smirked. “Your loss.”

Ari crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. “What am I doing here?”

Ryxin’s smirk faded, his expression sobering. “It’s my fault you were left in the frozen wilderness for so long,” he admitted, his deep voice tinged with guilt. “So, I took it upon myself to ensure your survival. Keeping you warm and cared for was my responsibility.”

“By having me sleep with you ?” Her voice rose incredulously, and she gestured between the two of them.

Ryxin tilted his head. “Would you have preferred waking up in a healing dome?” He gestured at the nest. “Or tucked safely in my bed?”

Ari shivered at the thought of the alternatives. The idea of being enclosed in a pod, cut off and alone, made her stomach twist. Her claustrophobia would’ve sent her spiraling. She swallowed hard and whispered, “Your bed.” She sighed and then licked her lips. “But why did you have to be in it?”

Ryxin leaned back, one brow raised. “I’m the prince. If I want to sleep in my bed, I’ll sleep in my bed.” His sharp teeth flashed in a brief grin. “You’re just a…”

“A what?” Ari snapped, her annoyance overtaking her nerves. “Some kind of living comfort stuffed animal toy for you?”

“Do humans have pets?”

She blinked, thrown off by the sudden question. “I mean… sure. It’s rare, but not that uncommon in one form or another.”

“Good,” Ryxin said with satisfaction. “That settles it. I’ll claim you as mine.”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me? I didn’t agree to that.”

The wolfman shrugged, his muscles rippling under his sleek black fur. “If you don’t want to be my pet, then you’ll be offered to my brother to do with as he pleases. Between the two of us, he’s the stricter one. Most likely, he’ll throw the five of you into the forest to survive on your own. The Fallen will decide your fate then—if you survive.”

“But why?”

“Because you’re not a child of Lux, and an intruder to our territory… not once, but twice,” he explained. “My brother doesn’t forgive those who don’t respect our land.”

Ari felt the fight drain out of her. She had no leverage, no options. Being tossed into the frozen wilderness again would be a death sentence.

“Fine,” she muttered, dropping her arms. “What does being a… pet… even mean?”

Ryxin’s cyan eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “It means I’ll protect you from the others, ensure you’re well taken care of. Fed, clothed, kept warm.” He leaned forward slightly, his size overwhelming. “All I ask in return is that you keep me company at night.”

Her brow furrowed as dread settled. “What does ‘keep you company’ mean?”

He gave her a look that was almost playful, gesturing to the bed. “More of what we were just doing.”

She smirked. “And how do you know I wouldn’t try something while you’re asleep?”

A low chuckle rumbled from him, vibrating through the air. “You’re harmless,” he said with smug certainty. “That’s why you’ll make the perfect pet. You need me to survive, human. Not the other way around.”

Ari sighed. She hated this—hated being trapped with no choice. But if her only options were this or death, she had no real decision to make. “Okay,” she said quietly, the word bitter on her tongue. “I’ll be your pet.”