Chapter 15 CHAPTER 015
Stone POV:
The scotch in the glass swirled around, the light bouncing off its amber colour. I had called for my Beta to show up in my study, anger searing across my chest.
I tried not to let it grow to avoid being out of control. I even took my pills to suppress my wolf. That was partly why I hadn't torn him apart when I saw him with my mate.
What? I scoffed at that word. Mate. I was slowly accepting that ridiculous title.
Before I could digress into another line of thought, the door opened slowly and he stepped in. He was now dressed in a new shirt and pants, his hair looking wet and sticking to his forehead.
"You called for me, your Highness."
I rose and began to approach him, trying hard not to ram a punch across his chin. I was sure as hell his puffed out chest was only an attempt to not look stupidly scared. So I stretched the glass of scotch towards him.
He glanced at it and then back at me but he knew better than to refuse it.
"Let's talk."
"I believe this is about Ari, your Highness..."
I turned around and smack his face with my fist. I could hear the crack of his nose and he immediately crouched, staying low while I breathed loudly.
"Say her name again," I muttered, looking down at him with his bloodied nose. "I said say her name, fucking goddammit!" Another punch to the head that sent him on the floor, the glass of scotch falling to the ground and splashed across the rug.
He struggled to stand, head still lowered to the ground. I stepped closer, grabbed his collar and pulled him straight up so that our faces were leveled. His face was now full of red liquid but his eyes still had resolve in them.
"Now, let's talk." He nodded, lips pursed. I turned around to go sit on my chair. My hand was bloodied so I grabbed a napkin and cleaned. "Earlier tonight, we realized Ari was no longer in her room. We searched everywhere around the palace but she was nowhere to be found."
I grabbed the telephone and punched in digits. "Clean up in my study, now." Then I resumed our discussion, leaning over my table so that I could stare at my Beta. "Tell me, why did I get back to the palace and found you in the clearing with...my mate, talking over your roasted hunt. Let me guess, the hunt was after her."
The thought of her being out there in the wild getting chased by a beast caused another uproar in my chest.
"I caught it before it did anything to her..."
"You just happen to be where she is, right? Tell me, Harry, did you know she was escaping?"
Harry scoffed, despite his bloodied face. "You know me, Alpha. I will never do what you're insinuating."
I shook my head, twitching my lips. "The Beta Harry I know would have rang the fucking alarm the moment you found her. Not coddle her and make a feast for her."
"I needed to put her at ease, lest she escaped. If she did, you know my wolf will have no choice but to harm and I know what that will cost me."
I leaned back, a wry smile on my face. "Glad you do. Now, let this be the last time I'll warn you about going near her. I won't be nice next time." I lifted my chin towards his nose.
He nodded and turned to leave but I wasn't done. "I'm also keeping her here. I'll have the seer do some background checks while you ask around the street for anything we can find about her."
Harry looked like he wanted to say something but thought against it and left. Seconds after, a knock sounded on the door and a maid in uniform walked in. She set to work immediately.
I turned my chair so that I was facing the window, my gaze feasting on the beautiful view of the night sky, dotted by tiny glowing orbs. In the silhouette, trees stood tall, the gentle wind blowing past them as the crickets chirped. I could hear the distant ripping of the stream and I longed to swim in it like I always did.
That would be a good idea if only she was with me. I turned back to the cleaning maid.
"Go to her room and bring her to the stream." She didn't need introduction to know who I was talking about. Immediately she had gathered the glass shards, she moved out of my office.
I knew what I was going to do. If she thought escaping me would be easy, she was dead wrong.
Moments later, I was standing at the bank, cigarette between my lips and a bottle of wine in hand. Two glasses sat on the rock beside me. I heard footsteps behind me and a smile curled my lips.
"I hear you need me here, your Highness." Her voice reached my ears and I turned to see she was in a long robe that she tied at the waist with a belt.
I looked down and back at her face before stepping back. I crushed the cigarette under my foot and began to undress, shirt first. She looked away immediately as if staring at my bare chest burned her eyes. That act made me smile despite myself.
By the time she would turn around, I had taken off my pants as well and was now standing naked. She squealed and turned her whole body around.
"What...why did you want me here?"
I stepped close to her and wrapped my arm around her waist, pressing her back against me. She flinched, shutting her eyes close.
"What's with the innocent act, Ari? Aren't we mates?" I asked lowly, setting her robe loose with my other hand. A small squeaky sound escaped her. "Sooner or later, we will have to do what other mates do. Whether you like it or not."
"I will die before that happens."
I raised by brows. "And how will you do that?" The front of her robe was now open so I slid my hand inside, pressing my palm against her stomach while I buried my nose in the crook of her neck. She smelled like lavender as if she'd just had her bath. I inhaled audibly. "How will you die when I'm going to ensure that never happens? Death has no power when I'm involved, dear Ari."
I began to trail my palm upwards, loving the way she squirmed against me, unsure whether to love or hate my touch. "Even if you wish to die."