Beds And Betrayal

It was bright. Way too bright. I cracked my eyes open a little more and held my hand up to shield off the light. My whole body ached, feeling heavy against the thin mattress.

I sat up a little, watching through the filter of my fingers as Ben's silhouette moved toward me. He stopped in front of me and I dropped my hand, letting my eyes adjust. His gorgeous eyes stared down at me, the supposed hero standing over his wounded damsel. 'Asshole.' I thought.

"What the hell Ben?" I demanded, shifting a little in the thin sheets.

My wolf didn't put up too much of a fight. We had something very important in common, pride.

"You seem to have the roles reversed love, you ran into battle like it was a playground. I get to be angry about this Carrie, not you."

I rolled my eyes easily, "It's my job, Ben. I would've gotten home and been fine. I've done it a hundred times over."

He growled and stepped closer, "Well consider this you're last time. You won't be doing it again."

I scoffed, wincing slightly as I moved. "You don't have any authority over me. I'm a guardian that isn't changing."

He was at my side now, glaring at me. "You're insane if you thought I would allow for there to be even a possibility of this happening again."

I raised an eyebrow. The way he said it...something was off.

"What did you do?"

Ben let out a breath and met my eyes, obviously preparing for my reaction.

"I had the Gliddian Crest branded onto your palm."

My eyes widened and I checked my palms frantically. My stomach dropped at the sight of the swirling patterned Gliddian Crest making a flat picture on my hand.

"This, it's impossible. You would need an Agro's witch just to complete the spell. And they're all, "

Ben shook his head, "There are very few left, but they're not all dead. One of them owed me a favour. She managed to complete the branding spell before you woke up."

I shook my head in disbelief. The branding spell, an age-old charm that could only be done by an Argo's which. It forced the wolf into the pack and left the pack's crest on the body as a result. The spell was used during the Great Border Wars. But there were hardly any Argo's witches left, most were hunted and killed after the war. You can't be a guardian and belong to a pack. Ben was my alpha now.

"Welcome to the pack love."

I growled and flew at him. My legs wrapped around his waist, beating at his chest with my fists.

"Take it back! Take it back! You fucking asshole!"

He sighed and caught my wrists, setting my down with infuriating gentleness.

"Stop Carrie."

"I don't take orders from you! You pompous, idiotic asshat!"

He watched me, a reluctant kind of amusement lighting his eyes. "I'm you're alpha now Carrie."

"Fuck you," I replied. He sighed and stepped closer.

"You're going to be a part of the pack, I will not have you put a toe in battle ever again."

My hand changed in seconds and in one quick motion I raked my claws across his cheek, only feeling satisfied when I saw blood. My hand dropped and he met my gaze, looking angry but not surprised.

"This isn't going away, You're going to have to accept it."

"Go to hell." His eyes flashed and he gripped my shoulders.

"Enough Carrie."

I growled and tried to attack him, but he caught each blow. Then he began pulling me out of the medical centre, gripping me by the wrist while I stumbled and struggled, trying to fight him from behind while he led me away.

Ben pulled me up a winding rich wood staircase and into a suite that made my heart stop. Heavy maroon drapes, a queen-sized bed in the corner and french glass doors leading to a balcony looking over the pine forests.

"Why am I here Ben?" I asked as he turned to me, finally releasing my wrists.

"This is your room." He replied, gesturing to the beautiful space.

"I want you to see that being part of a pack has perks, "

I nodded, looking around at the suite. Ben watched me and grinned confidently, I wanted to slap him.

"I'll die before I stay here."

His grin fell at my words and he stepped toward me. "The room doesn't satisfy you?"

I rolled my eyes, "The room is gorgeous, it's perfect."

His eyebrows furrowed, "then..?"

I laughed bitterly, "it's perfect, it just isn't mine. And it never will be. I'm not a part of the pack."

He growled and stepped forward but I stepped up to him. Keeping my gaze steady. "It's a beautiful prison, Ben."

He sighed, "You're not a prisoner Carrie."

I raised an eyebrow, "So you'll let me leave?"

He hesitated and I laughed, pushing past him. "Consider this my escape."

I walked into the hallway, knowing he would come after me, just craving space between us. Within seconds his arms were around me, draping around my body from behind, keeping me in place. His lips came to my ear and my breath hitched.

"Wolves want to stay with their packs. It's biological, you're going to end up staying here anyway."

I turned my head the side, looking away.

"Never. I whispered, "This isn't my pack."

His hand reached down and brought my wrist up to eye level. The pad of his thumb run softly over the crest branded onto my skin, "Yes love, it is."

I turned in his arms so that our faces were inches apart. Energy buzzed between us and his eyes blazed.

"Better let me go, Ben, Meg has a dress fitting, and I don't think 'arguing with my new brother in law' is a good excuse for tardiness."

Ben froze and my wolf howled in pain in my head.

"I'm not your brother in law Carrie."

"Yet," I replied, keeping my eyes locked on his.

He stepped back, letting his arms drop.

"You're room will remain open to you until you come to your senses. I want you with the pack whenever I call you, you aren't a guardian anymore so there are no excuses." I growl but step back, eager to get away.

"What makes you think I'll come to your beck and call?"

He smirked a little then turned away, "You won't have a choice."