Chapter 138 The Only Woman
“Your focus wavers too easily,” Gavriel said softly. “You can’t let your opponent see that.”
Althea looked up at him, her cheeks warm. “I wasn’t… wavering.”
His eyes glinted. “No?”
The tension between them deepened. Then Gavriel slowly stepped back, exhaling through his nose as if trying to steady himself.
“You still remember more than I thought,” he said.
She smiled faintly, catching her breath. “Maybe Amon taught me well.”
For a moment, he just looked at her—something unreadable flickering in his gaze. Then he turned toward the edge of the grounds, where the trees swayed in the afternoon wind.
“That’s enough practice,” he said, his tone soft but commanding. “Now, come. You’ll see what a real run feels like.”
Before she could ask what he meant, his eyes began to glow faintly. In the next instant, his body started to change—bones cracking and reshaping, muscles stretching as fur rippled across his skin.
Within moments, a massive wolf stood before her, its coat a striking mix of silver and deep black. His icy cold grey eyes, the only part of him unchanged, locked on her with a gaze that was both powerful and knowing.
He lowered himself in front of her.
\[Climb on,\] his voice echoed in her mind, smooth and sure.
Althea’s eyes widened, but she obeyed, climbing onto his back carefully. Her fingers sank into his thick fur, warm and soft beneath her hands.
\[Hold tight.\]
Then he ran.
The world blurred around them—trees, wind, the scent of pine rushing past. Her hair whipped behind her, and laughter escaped her lips before she could stop it. For the first time in so long, she felt free.
\[Where are we going?\] she asked through the mindlink, her voice laced with curiosity. The cool wind brushed her cheeks, and she could feel the steady rhythm of his stride beneath her—strong, powerful, unrelenting.
\[To a place where we can have our privacy,\] Gavriel’s deep voice filled her mind, calm and serious. \[And where you can freely admire your king as he shifts back into his human form.\]
\[What?!\] she burst out, her voice echoing inside his thoughts in disbelief.
She gripped his fur tighter, half-expecting him to be joking, but he didn’t slow down or even react. Was he serious? Her heart jumped between embarrassment and confusion.
\[You’re joking, right?\] she finally managed, though her voice came out smaller than she intended.
\[Do I look like I know how to joke, Althea?\] His tone carried that faint edge of amusement—barely there, but enough for her to feel the warmth creeping up her neck.
She huffed. \[Maybe you do?\] she muttered, though she couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips.
Gavriel slowed before he came to a halt in a wide clearing surrounded by towering trees. The air was still, filled only with the faint rustle of leaves.
Althea swallowed hard, her hands tightening against his fur. A nervous flutter stirred in her chest. She knew what was coming next—he was about to shift back to his human form—and that meant he would be… completely naked.
Her heart began to race as he lowered himself slightly.
\[We’re here. You can get down now,\] Gavriel said through the mindlink, his tone leaving no room for argument.
She hesitated for a moment before sliding off his back, landing softly on the grass. The moment her feet touched the ground, the air shimmered faintly. Then, right before her eyes, the massive wolf began to change. His bones reshaped, fur receding, muscles flexing as skin took form.
And just as she feared, there he was—Gavriel in his full, bare form, powerful and unbothered by his own nudity.
Althea’s eyes went wide, and she quickly spun around, her cheeks burning crimson.
“M-my King!” she stammered. She kept her gaze fixed on the trees, trying to look anywhere but at him. She could still feel the heat of his presence, the sound of his low growl echoing through the clearing.
“You’re feasting your eyes on other men,” Gavriel said in a low, gruff voice, stepping closer, “and now you look away from me?”
Althea swallowed hard, her heart beating wildly as she tried to speak, “T-that’s different. You’re—”
“Your mate,” he finished for her, his tone deepening. “Which means you should only look at me.”
He reached out, his fingers grazing her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His eyes were molten gold now, burning with quiet intensity.
“I don’t like the thought of your eyes wandering to another man,” he murmured, his thumb brushing along her jawline. “Not even for a heartbeat.”
“You’re possessive,” she managed to whisper.
“Of course,” he replied softly, almost a growl. “Because you’re mine, Althea.”
Her lips parted, but no words came out. Gavriel leaned closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. “Next time you want to admire someone,” he said, voice low and teasing, “do it properly. Admire me.”
Althea met his gaze, refusing to look away this time. Her lips parted again, this time in disbelief.
Shameless! The word screamed inside her head. How could this Alpha King be so shameless?
“Could you even do the same for me?” she shot back before she could stop herself. “Look at no other woman except me? Admire only me?”
For a moment, silence hung between them—until a faint, rare smirk curved Gavriel’s lips.
Gavriel’s eyes glinted, amusement flickering through them. He stepped closer until their breaths mingled, his towering presence swallowing the space between them.
“You’re the only woman who dares look me in the eye like that, Althea,” he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. “The only one who makes me forget to look anywhere else.”
Her heart slammed in her chest, loud enough she was sure he could hear it. His words carried weight—too raw, too close to truth—and it left her dizzy.
Althea swallowed hard. “What are you saying? I’m your captive. I’m Cain’s daughter,” she reminded him, her voice trembling even as she refused to look away. Her heart was pounding so fast she could almost hear it echoing in her chest.
“You’re mine,” Gavriel said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “And nothing will ever change that. You’ll stay by my side, no matter what happens. Even if you’re Cain’s daughter, you’re still my mate and I intend to keep it that way. Because I can’t see any other woman standing beside me but you.”
Before she could react, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was gentle, almost tender, but it left her completely frozen, her mind still trying to process the weight of his words.