Chapter 28 Take her... Now!
Ruel’s POV
By the time we reach the base, midnight is already creeping in. My legs burn from the run.
“Sergeant Elric?” A warrior calls, saluting me in respect. I give a curt nod, pulling my shirt over my head. Like tiny grains of sand, it scrapes against my skin as I slip it back on.
“I'll catch up with you,” Elric says to me before disappearing into another hallway with the warrior who appeared to be deeply troubled.
“I'll head back to the servants quarter then,” Cortis mutters but waits a moment, and only turns to leave when I give her a nod of approval.
My steps back to my study are much slower than the ones I'd earlier taken out of there.
I curl my fingers around the letter I'm currently holding in my pocket. It feels heavier than necessary.
Perhaps it's the awareness that whatever is written in it could either restore my hope in the Alpha or completely destroy it.
If he's instigating Scarface against me then it means he wants me out and can't be trusted. It means my job here is finished.
It means I've gained to myself the worst enemy I could ever have.
But why would he want me out? I've done everything for him and this pack.
“You don't know if he wants us out or not. Stop assuming things.” Krist says.
All I want is a shower… a hot, quiet shower. Anything to relieve me of some stress.
But… I rub my index finger over the letter in my pocket…. I need to read this first.
Unlocking the door, I brace myself for the storm I expect to meet on the other side. A furious woman pacing, maybe even muttering to herself as she curses me out, probably another futile attack attempt.
I inhale and gently push the door open.
Silence.
The lamps on the wall are almost burnt out, casting a dim yellowish glow on the walls.
My breath catches at the soft sight in front of me.
Ira has her head resting on her arms which are carefully placed on the table. She's asleep. I've never seen her asleep before.
Her lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks. Her lips are parted slightly as she lets out soft breaths. The sound of her gentle breathing is so enchanting I barely realize I've taken a step forward, my eyes trailing how her red hair spreads around her back like a holy covering.
The room's temperature suddenly changes, feeling… warm.
I reach behind me, carefully closing the door.
My heart thuds when I look back at her. She looks nothing like the woman she tries so hard to be.
Right now, at this moment, she looks peaceful.
So peaceful that I step closer.
I brace a hand on the table, ignoring how my breath hitches at the close scent of her skin, staring at her like an idiot.
Like I don't have a letter in my pocket that I need to inspect. Like I don't have several files on my table that I'm yet to look into.
Yet I close my eyes and inhale again.
Her scent is softer now. Unlike when she's awake… when she has her guard up. The innocence from her scent coils around my senses grounding and destabilizing at the same time.
I step back but my wolf leans forward, it's furry chest pressed against my ribs.
“It's not like we're harming her, Ruel. Come on, just one touch.”
No.
I don’t want to.
But I lean closer, close enough to feel the faint warmth of her breath against my skin. A shiver runs down my spine but it doesn't weaken me. Instead it fills me with the crave to possess.
“So sweet,” my wolf howls greedily.
No, not sweet… dangerous. A mistake I will never make.
I straighten abruptly, stepping back to breathe again as I stick my hands back in my pockets, needing to keep them busy.
Scarface's letter crinkles in my clenched fist, reminding me why I can't afford to get lost in her scent.
Still…
I look at her one more time.
There are only two options for me at this point.
The first… To walk out of this room right now.
The second… To stay and do something I will certainly regret.
I stand frozen, staring at Ira sleeping on my table like she owns the place. Like the universe placed her exactly where she shouldn’t be– right in front of me.
She looks so vulnerable, so warm, so soft, breathing in a rhythm that keeps pulling me closer despite every command I give myself to stop.
“Fuck, Ruel! What is wrong with you? Just touch her already. You know she belongs to us.”
I won't do that Krist. I am not that type of man.
Krist paces but stays silent as though counting down the seconds before I finally lose caution to the wind.
Just one touch. A sniff… a little feel. Before I can stop myself, I lean forward.
Just a little. Just enough to smell her richer floral scent again.
But this time I lean even closer, my heart pounding when my nose brushes her hair. I slowly drag a line down her neck. The warmth of her skin melts into mine, toying with my reasoning.
My breath catches, my hand clenched the edge of the table.
“More,” my wolf growls. “Use your tongue. I want to know how sweet she tastes.”
I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t.
But my head lowers anyway and my nose presses further into her skin. Heat coils in my abdomen as I inhale.
I should step away now. Come on Ruel, pull back.
But her scent wraps around me like chains. And helplessly I lean further, my lips drifting down the curve of her neck. Her quiet pulse engraces itself in my mind.
The aura surrounding her is an addictive sweetness I’ve never encountered before.
My wolf practically purrs. The sound rumbles within my throat as I press my lips harder against her flesh.
Suddenly her eyes snap open. I pull back just as fast, fighting so hard to school my shock.
Ira staggers out of her chair, creating an annoying distance between us.
“W-what… what were you doing?” I watch her stutter, her trembling tone proving her surprise. “Why…why were you… were you sniffing me?”
“Mate. Ours. Take her…NOW” Krist growls loudly in my head.
I step closer.