Chapter 258 Chapter 257
Rayena sniffed, continuing to ruffle the wolf's fur while he snuggled against her. "Why were you on your way here, anyway?"
"It was time to feed him. I wanted to check if he was awake first," Morvan said.
At the mention of food, the wolf started growling and snarling. Rayena couldn't help the giggle that slipped past her lips. "I'm guessing that's enough response." She turned to Morvan, "Please bring the food in."
Morvan nodded, a corner of his lips quirked up but not quite forming a smile. She heard footsteps receding, but she didn't bother to check, all her attention on the wolf that was snuggling up against her, even as his paws and hind legs were still bound up against chains.
She lowered herself, rubbing her face against his fur as she resumed stroking his fur, eager to bury her face into his body. It gave another purr, burying its nose in the crook of her neck, where his mark was. Rayena shuddered as sensations racked through her, butterflies threatening to burst out of her chest.
Morvan soon returned with trays of food, laying them at the edge of the room, careful not to make any noise. Rayena glanced at the trays of food and stiffened. "Can I feed him this time around?" She asked, and Morvan shrugged.
"Only if he'll accept it."
She turned to the animal in front of her, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Would you like me to feed you?" She asked in a gentle tone. The wolf's eye sharpened, and it gave a low growl, butting its snout against her lips, the gentle nudge sending a shiver down her spine.It reminded her of Xenon's gentle touches, his lips brushing against her skin, flooded her mind, and she felt a pang of longing.
Heartbreakingly sweet.
Rayena chuckled, the sound husky and low, as she fiddled with the wolf's ears, the soft fur tickling her fingertips. She watched with great satisfaction as the wolf's tail wagged faster, a low rumble building in its throat. "I'll take that as a yes." Rising to her feet, she walked towards the tray and brought it closer to him. She expected him to immediately begin eating, but he only stared pointedly at her hands.
It took her a long time to realize what he was doing. "Do you want me to feed you?" She asked the moment she did, and he gave a low growl.
"Oh..." She murmured, her cheeks warming.
She took a piece of the huge slab of meat on the tray, the juices dripping onto her fingers as she presented it towards him. He immediately snatched it from her hands, his teeth grazing her skin, and she felt a jolt of surprise, followed by a warm sense of happiness.
She picked up another piece and fed it to him, and he gobbled it from her hands, swallowing it down with a couple of bites. She continued feeding him that way, until every tray that was brought in became empty.
Seeing this, the wolf snuggled against her before returning to lay down, eyes already heavy with sleep. Rayena crouched to her knees, and the tears she'd kept away finally came, hot and unrestrained. She sobbed into her hands, her chest flooding with more happiness than she could handle. She was still finding it hard to believe what she'd just experienced.
"I missed you..." She muttered as she finally got a hold of herself, cleaning her tears away. The wolf gave a low groan, stretching its paw. Rayena gave a shaky smile, and the wolf yawned, his eyelids blinking slowly. It was clear he was fighting sleep.
Rayena rose quietly, wanting to leave him alone, but a warning growl stopped her. Her heart skipped several beats, a soft startled sound slipping past her lips. "You want me to stay?" She asked, and he responded with another growl, tail swishing from side to side.
Rayena turned to a stunned Morvan at the edge of the room. "He doesn't want me to leave."
"It doesn't look like he wants to harm you..." Morvan began slowly, after a moment of thinking deeply, his eyes narrowing as he studied the wolf's relaxed posture. "So you can stay."
"Thank you..." Rayena muttered, a breath of relief escaping her lips, and he gave a low nod.
"I'll leave you two alone now," Morvan said. "The door isn't locked, but soldiers will be standing guard outside. Once he isn't holding you back, you can leave and come to inform me."
The door closed gently behind them, and Rayena moved closer to the wolf, gently stroking its hair. It let out a soft growl, its paws reaching to touch her as it lounged lazily, its eyelids opening and closing.
Rayena began humming a soft tune, watching as it drifted off to sleep, every muscle in its huge body relaxing. Her lips spread into an even bigger smile, and she felt lighter than she had in weeks. This moment was a perfect one.
Although she wanted nothing more than to spend her entire day with him, she surmised Morvan might be wanting to speak with her. Gently, she unfurled herself from his grip, silently rising to her feet and sneaking out of the room.
Just as she guessed, Morvan was at the end of the corridor, waiting for her. She instantly hurried towards him, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
"He's asleep now?" He asked as she caught up with him. Rayena nodded, but glanced back at the door. "I hope when he wakes up, he won't be too angry that I left." She muttered, her voice despondent, and he gave a wry smile.
"Oh, you won't be gone for long. I just wanted to speak with you. As you already know, this is the most progress I've seen the king make, and it's all because of you, Rayena."
Her cheeks heated up at his words, and she instantly averted her gaze. "No need to thank me. I'm just doing everything I can to help him."
"The gods truly don't make mistakes." He added, and Rayena looked up at him, tears stinging her eyes. He cleared his throat, glancing around to check for eavesdroppers before coming closer, keeping his voice hushed. "Do you think there's a chance, he'll change back?"
"To be honest, I don't know. But I'll keep seeing him and doing all I can to help him. Including satisfying his ruts." Rayena revealed.
Morvan's eyes widened. "You'll do that?" He asked, and she nodded, her gaze narrowed in determination. "I think it's fair I continue. He didn't harm me the last time, so it should be fine." She said, though her heart raced. The experience hadn't been all pleasant either.
Morvan conceded with a sigh. "I suppose it should be fine. I really pray he returns back to us, Rayena. Those werewolves are becoming a pain in the neck once more."
Rayena stiffened. "What's wrong? Have they found us out?"