Chapter 193 193
Chapter 193 193
Lorien POV
“Fuck,” Auren groaned, dropping his forehead to my shoulder like he was using me to anchor himself. “We can’t do that right now. Keep driving.”
My head snapped toward him just as Ardyn pressed the gas, pushing the truck harder toward home. “Why the hell not?” I demanded. “After everything that happened tonight, you’re not as wound up as I am?”
“Oh, trust me,” Auren murmured, his hand sliding up my thigh and squeezing, heat sparking through my entire body. “I’m worked up enough to lose my mind. I need you so damn badly. But we are not doing anything where one of our patrols could walk right up on us.”
I pouted mostly because he was right, but also because waiting felt like torture.
His eyes flashed with hunger as he leaned in, voice dropping to something dark and sinful. “Now that my mark is finally on you, I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight. I want you in my bed under me, on top of me, bent over for hours.” The smirk that followed was wicked, and Ardyn took a sharp turn, groaning dramatically.
“Please,” Ardyn muttered, revolted. “Can you two not wait ten minutes? Nobody wants to hear this.”
But I caught the tiny curl at the corner of his mouth. Grossed out or not, he was happy for us.
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I said, resting my head on Auren’s shoulder. His fingers resumed tracing slow circles into my thigh, making it nearly impossible to think about anything else.
“Thank you,” Ardyn whispered, like silence was a precious gift.
The truck fell quiet after that. It was late, the road dark and smooth, the kind of ride that usually lulled me to sleep but my nerves were still crackling, my body buzzing like live electricity.
When we reached the pack house, Olyssia sat on the front porch swing, rocking gently with a mug in hand. She smiled the moment she saw us, lifting her hand in a lazy wave. Relief washed over me. If something had gone wrong with Lior, she wouldn’t look so settled, so calm.
“I’ll drop you two here and park in the garage,” Ardyn said quietly as he rolled to a stop. “Have a good night.”
Auren didn’t even wait for the truck to fully halt he was out in a blink, reaching back for me. I tugged the borrowed shirt lower as I climbed out, but his hand dwarfed mine and pulled me close the moment my feet hit the ground.
The front door burst open. Rion strode out, eyes searching anxiously until he saw us.
“You’re back,” he exhaled, shoulders dropping. “Thank the goddess. Lior’s asleep, and the doctor says he’s doing well.”
“Good,” Auren said, and I gave Rion a small smile.
“I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
As Ardyn’s taillights faded, Olyssia stood from the swing. “What are you doing about the other two?”
Auren’s arm slid around my waist, drawing me tight against his side. “Let them sweat. They’re hiding something.”
“How long can you keep them before people start asking questions?” Olyssia asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
Auren’s posture shifted Alpha mode, unshakeable and cold. “I’m the Alpha. Questions don’t matter. They stay as long as I want.”
His body had gone rigid, and that tension sent a ripple of unease through me.
“Who?” I whispered, careful that no one else could overhear. “What’s going on?”
“Lucen and Lysandra,” he replied. “They’re in the dungeon. I’ll deal with them tomorrow.”
and then before I could react Auren bent, grabbed my ass, and lifted me effortlessly. My legs wrapped around him on instinct.
“Right now,” he growled, voice rough with need, “I’m taking you upstairs.”