Chapter 122 I miss you
Fernando stood in the center of the training yard, shirtless, sweat already gleaming on his chest as he swung a heavy iron staff through the air. Each strike was sharp, controlled, fueled by something deeper than practice, something restless, coiled tight beneath his skin.
Darius entered without announcement, stripped off his tunic, and grabbed a matching staff from the rack.
“Mind if I join?” he asked, voice neutral.
Fernando didn’t stop. “You’re always welcome to get your ass kicked.”
Darius smirked and stepped into the ring.
They circled each other for a moment then clashed.
Wood met wood with a crack that echoed across the empty yard. Blow after blow, parry after counter, neither holding back. Dust rose around them. Breath came hard and fast.
After several minutes, Darius feinted left, then swept low but Fernando leapt over the strike and landed a solid hit to Darius’s ribs.
Darius grunted, stumbling back. “Still faster than I remember.”
“You’re getting soft,” Fernando shot back, though there was no real bite in it.
They paused, catching their breath, leaning on their staves.
Darius wiped sweat from his brow. “Who do you think set Samael free?”
Fernando’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not surprised he escaped.”
Darius raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”
“Because he’s loved,” Fernando said simply. “Not just respected and loved . By guards, by kitchen staff, by warriors who trained under him. And he’s strong enough to break out on his own if he had to.”
Darius snorted. “He’s got wolfsbane still burning in his veins. His wolf’s locked. He can barely shift properly, let alone bust through iron bars.”
Fernando turned to him, eyes sharp. “He’s been the Gamma Wolf of this pack for over eighteen years. Under his watch, we’ve never lost a border skirmish. Never surrendered a single inch of territory. You really think a little poison stops him?”
Darius studied him for a long moment. Then, quietly: “Do you ever think… Alberto was the one who helped him?”
Fernando’s grip tightened on the staff. “Drop it.”
“I’m just asking,” Darius pressed. “He visited him alone. Brought food. Left right before the escape. Mira even confirmed—”
“Enough,” Fernando cut in, voice low but dangerous. “Stop suspecting him. Stop looking for reasons to turn on him. He’s not your enemy.”
Darius held his gaze. “And if he is?”
“Then I’ll deal with it,” Fernando said, stepping closer. “But not like this. Not with whispers and shadows. If Alberto betrays me, he’ll do it to my face and I’ll answer the same way.”
He tossed the staff aside and turned to leave.
Darius called after him, “You’re protecting him too much.”
Fernando stopped but didn’t look back. “Someone has to.”
And with that, he walked away, leaving Darius alone in the dust, staff in hand, questions burning in his chest like embers waiting to ignite.
Alberto stood in front of the full-length mirror in his bedroom, buttoning the last few buttons of his dark shirt. The fabric clung to his shoulders, still slightly damp from the earlier shower. He adjusted the collar, trying to focus on anything except the lingering ache between his legs and the way his skin still carried Fernando's scent.
The door opened without a knock.
Fernando stepped inside, closing it softly behind him. He didn't speak at first, just crossed the room in three long strides and wrapped his arms around Alberto from behind, pulling him back against his chest. His nose pressed to the side of Alberto's neck, inhaling deeply.
Alberto rolled his eyes, though his body betrayed him by leaning back slightly. "Why are you in my room again? I thought we agreed to give each other space tonight."
Fernando's arms tightened. "Missed you."
"You literally just saw me twenty minutes ago."
"Twenty minutes is too long." Fernando nuzzled harder, lips brushing the fresh mark he'd left earlier. "You smell like me. Like us. Can't stay away when you smell like this."
Alberto huffed a laugh despite himself. "You're ridiculous."
Fernando turned him around slowly, hands sliding to Alberto's waist. "Ridiculous and right." He cupped Alberto's face, thumb tracing his bottom lip. "You were thinking about me while you were getting dressed, weren't you?"
Alberto met his gaze, unflinching. "Maybe."
Fernando's smile was slow, predatory. "Thought so."
He kissed him then soft at first, almost careful. Alberto kissed back just as gently, hands coming up to rest on Fernando's chest. The tenderness lasted only seconds before Fernando deepened it, tongue sliding in, claiming.
Alberto made a small sound in the back of his throat.
Fernando pulled back just enough to speak against his lips. "Let me have you again. Please."
"You already had me twice today," Alberto murmured, but his fingers were already working on Fernando's shirt buttons.
"Twice isn't enough." Fernando walked him backward until Alberto's thighs hit the edge of the bed. "Never enough with you."
Alberto sat, pulling Fernando down with him. "You're insatiable."
"For you? Always." Fernando kissed along his jaw, down his throat. "Say yes."
Alberto tilted his head back, giving more access. "Yes."
Fernando's hands moved fast unbuttoning Alberto's shirt, pushing it off his shoulders, shoving his trousers down. Alberto kicked them away, already hard, already aching.
Fernando shed his own clothes in record time, then pushed Alberto flat on his back, crawling over him.
"Spread for me," he said, voice low.
Alberto parted his legs, knees bending. "Be careful. I'm still sore from earlier."
Fernando kissed the inside of his thigh. "I'll be gentle."
He wasn't.
Fernando licked a long stripe up Alberto's cock, then took him into his mouth, sucking hard from the start.
Alberto's hips jerked. "Fuck—Fernando—"
Fernando pulled off with a wet sound.
"Get up here," Alberto ordered, reaching for him.
Fernando crawled up, kissing him deeply while he positioned himself. He pushed in without warning slowly but relentlessly, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt.
Alberto gasped, nails digging into Fernando's shoulders. "Slow—wait—"
Fernando kissed him again, swallowing the protest. "You can take it."
He started moving long, deep strokes that made Alberto's breath hitch every time.
"Too much," Alberto panted after a few minutes. "Fernando—slow down—"
Fernando's pace increased instead. "You feel perfect. So fucking perfect."
Alberto's head thrashed against the pillow. "It hurts Fernando, you're going too hard—"
Fernando didn't stop. If anything, he went harder, hips snapping forward, driving deeper.
Alberto cried out, half pain, half pleasure. "Stop—fuck—it hurts!"
Fernando's hand wrapped around Alberto's cock, stroking fast. "You say stop but you're so hard. You're dripping for me."
Alberto's eyes watered, body trembling. "Fernando—please—"
"Please what?" Fernando growled against his ear. "Please stop? Or please don't stop?"
Alberto sobbed once, hips bucking up despite himself. "I can't—too much—"
"You can," Fernando said, voice rough with want. "You will. Come for me while I'm fucking you raw."
Alberto's protests dissolved into broken moans. The pain blurred into an overwhelming sensation every thrust hitting deep, every stroke on his cock pushing him higher.
"Fernando—I'm—fuck—"
"Come," Fernando commanded, teeth sinking into Alberto's shoulder.
Alberto screamed raw, loud, body locking up as he came hard, spilling between them, ass clenching rhythmically around Fernando.
Fernando groaned, thrusts turning erratic. "That's it—milk me—fuck—"
He slammed in one last time and came with a guttural sound, filling Alberto again.
They stayed like that, Fernando still buried deep, both breathing harshly.
Alberto's voice was wrecked when he finally spoke. "You didn't stop."
Fernando kissed the bite mark he'd just left. "You didn't really want me to."
Alberto closed his eyes, chest heaving. "You're an asshole."
Fernando pulled out slowly, carefully, then gathered Alberto against his chest. "Your asshole."
Alberto let out a tired laugh. "Yeah. Mine."
Fernando stroked his hair. "Still sore?"
"Very."
Fernando kissed his temple. "I'll run you a bath later. Carry you there if I have to."
Alberto snorted. "Romantic."
"Only for you." Fernando tightened his hold. "Love you."
Alberto turned his face into Fernando's neck. "Love you too. Even when you're a brute."
Fernando smiled against his skin. "Especially then?"
Alberto sighed. "Especially then."
They lay tangled together, quiet for a long moment.
Eventually Alberto murmured, "We really have to go join the pack soon."
Fernando groaned. "Five more minutes."
"Ten," Alberto countered.
"Deal."
Fernando kissed him softly gentle this time, all the earlier ferocity banked.
Alberto kissed back just as gently.
"Next time," Fernando whispered, "I'll be softer."
Alberto raised an eyebrow. "You said that last time."
Fernando laughed quietly. "I'll try harder to mean it."
Alberto rolled his eyes again, but he was smiling. "Liar."
"Your liar."
Alberto pulled him closer. "Mine."