239- The Sister I Lost Without Knowing
POV Elowen Grimwald:
If I wasn’t already crazy, Aldren would make me soon.
“If you’re not only mine, I guarantee you won’t be anyone else’s, you dog,” I growled, being crushed between his body and the wall.
Provocative, he brushed his unshaven beard against my neck and licked my ear with his rough tongue, sending a sharp shiver through me.
“Why are you so possessive after you opened that pussy so I could tie a knot?”
My mind short-circuited; I nearly went weak.
“Aldren… you did what?”
“That’s exactly what you heard.”
“What… what does that mean?”
The only thing I knew was that tying “knots” during sex wasn’t common—it was a choice driven by supreme feelings. If the female opened her uterus, she could even get pregnant.
“It means that my beast and I gave in to our desire.”
“You asked me to open…” The realization hit me like a slap across the face. “Don’t tell me I opened my uterus…”
“You did. Don’t worry—you can’t be pregnant, because you haven’t gone through the transformation yet.”
I expelled the breath I’d unconsciously been holding, relieved.
The tight grip of Aldren’s arms loosened around me, and I turned to face him. His arms rested on my hips, and our eyes seemed connected by an invisible thread.
“This is torture, Aldren. Promise me you’ll be only mine, or keep looking at me like you are now and say you don’t want me, that I need to forget you. I promise I will.”
A frustrated growl emerged from his throat. I purred in response, showing him I was being vulnerable for him.
“Elowen, I still can’t give you what you’re asking for,” he murmured, frustrated.
“And what am I asking for, Aldren?” I held the sides of his face, trying to find answers.
“An exposed commitment. It’s not a good moment.”
“No, that’s not what you think! I just want your body to be only mine, even if your heart isn’t! No one besides us needs to know!” I clenched my teeth, holding back the tears that threatened to spill.
“And you want me to promise you that?”
“Yes. And if one day I’m not enough… you need to tell me, so I can move on.”
With a rare, captivating depth in his eyes, Aldren touched the side of my face. I slid my hands to his chest, feeling his warm, vibrating heartbeat.
If I could, I would freeze that moment.
“There are things I need to confirm before I give you an answer. But calm down—I don’t have another. It was just a provocation.”
Thank the gods!
“You like making me suffer, don’t you?” I accused.
“You’re mistaken about many things, Elowen. That’s one of them.”
Aldren leaned toward my mouth and I closed my eyes, melting as his warm, soft lips pressed against mine.
Before I forced my tongue in, he pulled away.
“No…” I protested, purring at him.
“Listen to me and prove you can respect an order of mine. Go to your room and sleep. Tomorrow, don’t open up this conversation we had to anyone.” What choice did I have? I agreed, even if I disagreed. “You’ve just earned a lot of points with me.”
When he wanted to, he maintained enviable self-control.
I knew he wanted me in his bed—I felt it when I touched him—but at that moment, he managed to choose a rational path. I wouldn’t have been able to.
“Good night, Aldren.” I stepped back, taking two steps away.
“I wish you a good night’s sleep, Elowen.”
“You too.” I walked to the door, wishing I didn’t have to leave. I opened it, but before closing it, I looked at him one last time. “Dream of me.”
He turned toward the window, failing to hide the smile at the corner of his lips in time.
I couldn’t imagine what was stopping him from taking a small step forward, but my new goal would be to find out. With him by my side, I could find my sister and offer us a safe home. Everything would be fine.
...
Two days without even crossing paths in the house with my crazy dog.
I wanted to invade that laboratory where he locked himself away, but a voice whispered in my ear that I should give him the time he needed.
Nerin and I talked about everything, except Aldren.
After days without going out into the village, I decided to take advantage of my hard-earned pseudo-freedom and step outside to get some air.
I felt less discouraged when Bratvo told me I could do more shopping if I wanted.
I had eaten all my sweets out of anxiety, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to buy a few more, along with another pair of jeans—so I’d have something else to wear while one was being washed.
With my bodyguard trailing behind me and wearing my jumpsuit, my hair tossed back, I refused to keep hiding the mark on my shoulder.
In truth, I wanted people to think he had marked me—maybe that would drive away any ill-intentioned bitches.
During the days I explored the village, I spoke very briefly with a few she-wolves, because they barely gave me any conversation, partly due to Bratvo’s presence at my side.
To pull me out of boredom, he even showed me the school during the pups’ snack break.
As I approached the entrance of the rustic shopping area, I spotted the woman who always greeted me with smiles and waves whenever we crossed paths.
My smile mirrored hers, and I walked toward her, eager to have someone else to talk to.
“Elowen, isn’t it?” she asked, stepping closer at a slow pace.
“Will you forgive me if I’m honest and admit I forgot your name?”
She laughed.
“Of course. Korlina.” She offered me her hand again and greeted Bratvo as well.
“Korlina. Korlina. Korlina. Now I won’t forget again!”
“That’s good. Going to the market, dear?”
“I think so…” My answer was met with a flicker of strangeness in her tired eyes. “It’s just that I’m a bit lost today, actually. I went out to clear my head.”