106- The Scent of Instinct
POV Edric Eldoria:
I ran to the first floor, moving too fast.
Anton startled when he saw me appear and let out a low whistle.
“What happened?” he asked.
“She took the inhibitor,” I warned, glancing toward the window. The sky was clear, and a few rays of sunlight streaked across the blue. “Keep an eye on her.”
“What are you going to do?”
“First, I’ll retrieve the body from Lunara’s old room, then I’ll head to the village.”
“What are your plans?”
“I’ll act naturally and observe. Whoever allowed that male to enter is expecting some reaction from me, some form of retaliation.”
His eyes brightened.
“And you’ll act strangely, since you’re not going to reveal the attack you suffered.”
I smiled.
“Exactly.”
“Hmm... clever,” he praised.
Before, I had gathered the pack and aligned the rules and measures that needed to be taken to protect everyone. They were aware of the attacks we were suffering—why, and from where they came. Even so, a traitor had emerged. It was time to change tactics and act differently.
“Remember, stay alert to any noise you hear.”
“I know. No one will touch Lunara, don’t worry.”
I had seen the fear in her eyes after that bastard threatened and touched her. She had been terrified, yet seething with deep rage. Of all the pleasures I’d ever had in life, Alessio’s death would rank at the very top of my list.
“Good.”
Nicoleta would arrive at any moment to prepare breakfast and take care of household chores. She would collect the body and toss it somewhere deep in the forest. The animals would handle the rest.
(...)
POV Lunara Grimwald:
I let out an exasperated roar when another wave of heat hit me.
It was so strong I thought it might tear me in two.
The damn antidote wasn’t working—it seemed to be making things worse. Hours had passed since I’d taken the cursed pills, and everything just kept getting worse.
I stood up abruptly, leaping out of bed. My wild instincts were beginning to take over, seeping through my human will.
I looked around the empty room. The fire crackled in the fireplace, warming the space. The sun was already high in the sky, but weak—serving only to brighten the day.
I stared at the window, admiring the white landscape. Snow weighed down the branches of the trees, and the animals that inhabited the forest left tracks wherever they went.
I sighed, loving the view Edric had from his room.
My fur bristled as another wave struck me. I felt uncomfortable, as though something was wrong with me. I placed my hands on my waist and turned around, scanning the room.
I touched the bed, straightening the sheets as if something were off about them. Then I ran to Edric’s closet and smelled his clothes—all of them—grabbing the ones that carried his scent most strongly.
I put on one of his shirts and hugged myself, smiling, wrapped in the scent of fresh pine and damp earth.
I had no idea what I was doing; I just felt the need to do it—and I gave in.
I carried all the clothes I’d grabbed to the bed, tossing them onto the mattress. I adjusted them, folding and spreading them out, covering the corners and arranging the center.
I looked at the mess I’d made, tilting my head to the side. I bit my lips, feeling as though something was still missing.
I went back to the closet and took more shirts, tearing them apart into shreds scattered across the bed. Then I went to the bathroom and rummaged through the laundry basket, finding the sweatpants he’d worn to sleep. His scent, clinging to them, was divine—like he was right there with me.
Edric might be a bit upset with the state of the room and his clothes when he returned, but there was nothing I could do. It was necessary—it had to be done.
He’d have to understand that this was for us, for our own good.
I dragged the bed to the other side of the room, closer to the window where a strip of sunlight stretched across the floor, and pushed the armchair aside, along with the nightstands. I kept at it for several minutes, collecting new pieces of clothing, tearing some apart and spreading them across the bed, readapting the whole room.
I extended my claws and shredded the pillow. White feathers floated through the air, landing delicately over the pile of clothes. I did the same with the other pillows until there were none left—until it was perfect for me.
When I finished, I lay down and inhaled deeply, approving of his scent that now permeated the room completely.
I purred, pleased with the work I’d done.
It was flawless—only he was missing to keep me company.
I hummed softly, curling up amid those clothes, rubbing my scent into them, blending it with his. The two matched so well—they were perfect together.
I exhaled more of my scent, saturating the entire room with the aroma of my she-wolf in heat.
I sat up and waited for the male—for him—for the only alpha I wanted, needed. And no matter how much I told myself that he wasn’t and never would be relevant, it was a lie.
He was already imprinted on me—in my dreams, in my heart, and in my soul.
I stared at the door patiently, waiting for him.