Chapter Fifteen
Arabella’s eyes snapped open, a groan escaping her lips as pain shot through her at even the slightest movement. She blinked several times to clear her blurry vision, gradually adjusting to the light. Her bright blue eyes met the figure of a person dressed in black hoodie before her, causing her to lurch back in fright.
A startled shriek escaped Arabella’s lips as she quickly darted out of bed, only to realize that it was Blaze who stood before her. Blaze pulled back the hood that had obscured a significant portion of his face and shook his head. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Scowling, Arabella heaved a breath, her irritation evident. “I almost had a heart attack. I could have died!”
“I didn’t intend for that to happen,” he repeated, his tone softening. “I was just watching to ensure you’re okay.”
“What happened?” she inquired, furrowing her brows.
Arabella suspected that something must have occurred for Blaze to feel the need to watch over her. Blaze had never done such a thing before, and his behavior was certainly unusual. It occurred to her that maybe Sandro had issued this directive; after all, he controlled nearly every aspect of their lives within the house.
Blaze gestured to the vast bed. “You should get back to bed.”
Stepping cautiously toward the bed, Arabella contemplated the unfamiliar room. Its ambiance was airy and inviting, starkly contrasting to the previous room where she had been confined. The colors seemed softer, and the room had an overall feminine touch, unlike the dark and masculine atmosphere of her former space.
“Is this a new room Sandro assigned to me?” she queried, her gaze fixated on the pink curtains gently swaying in the breeze.
“You don’t remember what happened last night?” Blaze asked.
“What happened?” Arabella furrowed her brows, attempting to recall events from the previous night.
Blaze grimaced, his hands clenched into fists. “That bastard… he’ll pay for this.”
“Are you referring to Sandro?” Arabella probed, sensing the intensity of Blaze’s emotions.
Blaze’s gaze intensified, though he remained silent. His narrowed eyes remained fixed on her. “Perhaps you should try to remember. He did something terrible to you. It’s hard to believe you could forget so quickly, especially considering it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”
Arabella winced at his raised voice, taken aback by his reaction. Blaze’s expression softened, and he ran a hand through his messy hair. “I’m sorry.”
Arabella gave a half-shrug, her frown deepening. His outburst had left her feeling even more bewildered. Though she lacked a clear understanding of the situation, the aches that shot through her body with every movement made her certain that whatever had occurred was far from pleasant.
And her intuition led her back to Sandro as the possible source of her suffering; after all, he had been the one to cause her pain before.
Suddenly, she rose from the bed and walked towards the door. “Sandro will be furious if he doesn’t find me in my room. I don’t know where I am, but I don’t believe you should be here.”
“Sandro isn’t present,” Blaze murmured, his voice low. “At least he hasn’t discovered your absence yet.”
Arabella’s confusion only deepened. “What do you mean he doesn’t know where I am? Where exactly am I, Blaze?”
“You’re in my house,” Blaze replied calmly. “I rescued you last night.”
Her hand slipped from the door handle, and she turned to face him. “Could you explain what happened? And why would you risk your life like that? You could have been killed!”
Blaze’s frustration surged, cutting off her words. “Would you rather I stood by and let you die instead of doing what I could to save you?!”
Arabella began to speak, but Blaze silenced her with a firm interruption. “No excuses. You should be grateful you’re not under his control. Believe me; he had far worse plans for you.”
He added with a growl, “At least if I died, I would know I tried to save you.”
Exhaling heavily, Arabella sank onto the King-sized bed, her head throbbing. Blaze walked over and grasped her hand, concern evident as he heard her wince. “Are you hurt? Do you feel any pain?”
Arabella shook her head, meeting his gaze as he settled beside her.
“I witnessed what he did to you,” Blaze’s voice turned raspy, his muscles tense. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. “I can’t just move on from it.”
Blaze shut his eyes and heaved a deep breath. He wasn’t surprised she didn’t recall about last night because he had seen the terrible things Sandro did.
He was certain she had erased her memory- it was common in the world he was from. Werewolves and other supernatural beings tend to erase their memories after going through a lot.
Only the most exceptionally powerful beings or those with access to magic could perform such memory manipulation on themselves. However, Arabella was a mere human without any concealed abilities. Her memory had vanished overnight, leaving Blaze to ponder whether it was an act of the moon goddess or if someone had tampered with her mind during her time at the clinic before he arrived.
A low growl rumbled from Blaze’s throat as he recollected the disturbing events that had unfolded before his eyes. He wished he could erase those memories, but the harsh reality was that he couldn’t. Everything had transpired right before him, an unforgettable imprint on his mind.
Arabella’s initial scream had drawn him to the room, though he’d been powerless to intervene. She was bound by Sandro’s authority, subject to his whims and desires. Blaze lacked the power to dictate terms to Sandro unless he was prepared to sever ties with the pack. However, such an act would likely result in dire consequences for him.
Despite Arabella’s pleas, Sandro had proceeded with his intentions, heedless of her resistance. It wasn’t until Blaze had witnessed her lifeless form in the clinic that he’d acted impulsively, taking her away as soon as Francis had left his room. Blaze was fully aware of the risks involved in such a move, but his primary concern had been her safety. Saving her had outweighed any potential repercussions.
“What might Sandro do if he manages to capture me again? He’ll likely kill you,” Arabella voiced her concerns.
Blaze’s response was persistent, “You needn’t worry about me. Your safety is assured here as well. Just follow my guidance and avoid places where you could be spotted.”
Arabella nodded in acknowledgment, her stomach audibly rumbling.
“Let me fetch you something to eat. We can discuss things further once you’ve had a meal,” Blaze said as he rose from his seat and approached the door. Turning back, he tilted his head slightly. “What would you like to eat?”
Arabella’s response was casual, “Anything is fine.”
“Very well,” Blaze confirmed with a nod, focusing on tending to her needs.