Chapter 7 One weakness we can't afford
Ruel's POV
“She’s yours, Commander Ruel.” Scarface mutters, his eyes dropping with uncertainty.
For a second, I just stare at him, his words not sinking in.
She's yours.
The words echo in my head and my jaw tightens so hard it hurts.
“Repeat what you just said, Scarface.” My tone drops, the fury within me bleeding through.
Scarface shifts uneasily, adjusting his stance. “She’s… yours, Commander.” His throat bobs as he swallows.
Elric glances between us with raised brows. “What the hell do you mean by that?” He questions, settling on Scarface.
The officer doesn't respond immediately as though gathering his thoughts, then after a second he speaks. “Well,” he starts sluggishly.
“Who the fuck put you up to this?” I snap, my patience turning to dust.
Elric lifts both hands instantly. “Don’t look at me. I walked in with you.” he says, stepping away from Scarface as though realizing I've still got control over my wolf.
“I know,” I bite out, turning my glare back on Scarface. “Speak up.”
“This morning… some royal guards arrived. They brought to the base six women with them. When I asked, they said they were gifts from the Alpha King himself.” he says, reaching into his pocket.
“They also handed me a letter for you. And a note for me.” He pulls out a neatly folded paper.
“A note,” I repeat, striding over to him.
“Yes Sir, it's addressed to any of your officers. And since Sir Elric wasn't here, I thought I'd do as instructed.” He hands over the lightweight paper.
“What does it say?” Elric questions, stepping closer but I don't respond, my brows furrowing as I read through the words written within.
Scarface’s calm tone fills the empty atmosphere. “It said to choose one from the women. A pleasure body… for you, Commander Ruel. The Alpha King thought maybe… the battles were starting to wear you down.”
The handwriting is bold, lazy, arrogant.
It has come to my attention that the previous battle has truly taken a toll on your Commander as he is beginning to forget his place in the pack hierarchy.
I’m sending him a comfort. He can do with her whatever it is he pleases. Pick whichever from among the women my men will bring you, the one that'll please your Commander the most. I trust your taste remains refined.
I stare at the royal stamp, my chest heaving in fury.
“Pleasure body?” Elric frowns in disgust. “That’s what the Alpha King thinks will solve this?”
Scarface nods faintly. “Yes, sir.”
I inhale, my fingers curling into a fist. “And you thought this was a good idea?” I growl.
He shakes his head quickly. “No, Commander, I…I didn't have a choice. It was an order from the Alpha King.”
“What sort of twisted shit is this?” Elric mutters under his breath. “Hell, I want to burn the damn note before even reading it.”
Scarface, sensing my anger steps back but I turn away from him, my eyes falling on the skinny lady who's still glaring daggers at us.
“You picked her. Why?” I ask, my pulse hammering with rage.
“Actually we all agreed she looked the youngest. And, uh…” His voice drops. “The most beautiful.”
He sounds stupid. Not that I can't see the beauty he's talking about but haven't we had even more beautiful people fall to their death because of the alpha King's nonchalance?
He's speaking like he doesn't know what it is we've been complaining about. Fucking months of requests and complaints and this… a woman, is what he sends.
Is this another test, to see if I'm loyal enough?
Elric shifts closer to me, clearly ready to move if I lose control. I don't blame him for expecting me to snap but I won't. This, no matter how much it disgusts me, wasn't Scarface's idea.
“Scarface,” I say quietly.
“Sir?”
“Leave.” I command.
His gulp is louder than his retreating footsteps.
“It's not his fault you know.” Elric mutters as the door shuts behind Scarface.
The young woman looks like someone who barely feeds. It makes me wonder where exactly the royal guards got her from.
I don’t move for a long moment. Then I pull out the pocket knife strapped to my thigh and start toward her.
Her eyes widen. “Stay away from me!” she yells, her voice shaky yet carrying a surprising boldness.
I ignore her, closing the gap between us and bringing the blade down on her.
“No!” She screams.
In one clean cut, the ropes come undone but before I can step back, she grabs the knife by the edge.
The metallic stench of blood attacks me as blood spills instantly from her palm, bright red against her pale skin.
“What the…” I don't get to complete that statement as she twists her wrist, turning the knife, and going straight for my throat.
It happens fast… so fast that I barely get the chance to think.
But my body moves swiftly, slapping the knife away. It clatters across the floor, stained with blood.
Grabbing her shoulders, I slam her into the wall, a painful gasp escaping her lungs.
Blue eyes burn bright, filled with fear and wrath. Her breath trembles as she struggles, her soft chest heaving against mine.
“The fuck is wrong with y…?” I never get to finish because in that moment, I breathe her in.
The scent, like a hundred running horses, crashes into me –floral, sweet, and hot. It sears down my throat, into my lungs, into my blood.
My knees weaken, subtly but enough that my pulse stutters. My wolf rises so suddenly it nearly tears out of me a word I never thought I'd hear in a million years.
MATE.
The word blasts inside my skull, briefly making me dizzy.
Mate! He growls again. This time it's louder, certain… frightening.
I stumble, pressing my palms on the wall beside her, struggling to steady myself.
“Get off me!” she screams, tears welling up in her fearful eyes.
I push away, my breath harsh, my heart pounding like I just fought the worst battle of my life.
“Ruel?” Elric’s voice echoes from behind me.
I stagger backwards even more, my head feeling like it's a few seconds from exploding with how demanding my wolf’s voice is.
“Elric!” I grit out, my hands in fists as I fight to keep my wolf down.
“Commander?” Elric answers and I groan.
Fuck, if he's addressing me by my title then he can sense that my wolf is on the surface.
“Put her in a cell,” I force out, stepping even farther from them.
Krist growls in protest, its deep hungry tone vibrating through my chest.
“Sir, she…”
“Now!” I snap. “Get her out of here!”
The floral scent won’t leave. It clings to me like heat, burning under my skin, making it almost impossible to tame the beast within me.
Elric without another word, grabs her, exiting my room quickly.
Mate. Ours. Ours!
“No! That is one weakness we can't afford so fucking stop it.” I growl back, fighting to catch my breath.