***POV: [Trusted & Tempted Alpha]***
"Years of practice. That is, keeping calm while everyone is testing my patience."
I immediately
regretted
the words... too sharp or too
provocative
no matter how she might take that. But Citra didn’t respond with her usual
barbed retorts
.
Instead, her breathing began to slow. Deepening into the
rhythm
of someone drifting toward
sleep
.
"I should..."
Her voice was so quiet that even with my hearing, I barely caught the words over the rain. Over the chaotic needs raging inside me.
My phone vibrated as she mumbled.
Three short pulses
that let me know it was Claire and not Luca. The only reason she would send me anything this late would be for something
truly urgent
... but I was too unsure of moving.
Hands moved and
thick black hair
surged freely from confinement before unfurling onto my arm and chest. I’d never seen her with her hair down before,
up close
. Only in that Duskpaw pack braid and the video evidence from the spa that I
watched more than I want to admit
.
The sight of it loosened and free so near made my heart stutter - then the soft sigh she let out made it thump hard as I could feel her body
relax
further
against mine
. Trust implied by that probably
unconscious act
of removing one armor of her current identity...
My wolf prowled
restlessly
within my heart, urging me to wrap an arm around her. To pull her closer. Warm her more. The urge to shift, to
press my teeth
against the smooth skin of her neck was
almost unbearable
.
"No..."
I whispered and remained perfectly still, afraid the slightest movement might wake her and
break
this fragile moment that
I’m not sure I’ve earned
. The sound of rain hammering against the maintenance shed’s thin metal roof was almost deafening and reminds me of the
advantage
I’m taking.
The words ’this changes nothing’ echoed, but whether that was true or not was hard to say. Because I had been sure I couldn’t be any
more attracted to her
or to
want to protect her
any more than I already did.
But I was clearly
wrong
about that. Even without performing the mark, I would probably
fight
anyone who came into this shed - or anywhere - and
bothered
her.
This close, her scent filled my nose and lungs even more... almost bringing me to a daze. That intoxicating blend of
wildness and female beast
that she had about her, now with wet hair, fur, and a faint lingering of lavender shampoo added on.
My phone vibrated in my pocket again, and I very, very carefully shifted just enough to extract it without
disturbing
her. I had never been so aware of another person’s body... even in the
physical intimacies
I’ve taken part in from time to time.
Claire: [ Luca sent a report that a lone Duskpaw messenger is supposed to be coming. Wants to know if you’re available to discuss. ]
It took everything I had not to
clutch tight
around the woman next to me hearing that someone from her
old pack
is coming. With my free hand, I typed a response. A little rusty, since I usually
return messages
with Lodestar since it launched.
Boss: [ Handling a situation. Will follow up with him in the morning. ]
Claire: [ Is that situation about 5’6" with twin tails? Need any tech backup? ]
My assistant had been
running interference
for me much more often lately, especially where Citra was concerned. I suspected she had already developed lots of her own
opinions
about what I was
doing
with my potential mate... with this rogue.
Boss: [ No. All under control. Go back to sleep. ]
Claire: [ Send SFW pics. :eyes: ]
When I saw her in the park, I only had room in my heart to think it was
lucky
. My patrol routes and schedules were
supposed to be randomized
to maintain security. Under my assistant’s program... this was simply next on the
rotation
.
Yet, finding myself here at the
exact
moment Citra had been passing through was almost as if the Lunar Goddess herself had
arranged
our meeting. Or someone else had...
"Maybe I should talk with Claire sooner than not?"
The whispers made the woman on my shoulder twist and nudge closer to fully
laying on my chest
, forcing me to count to ten again. Twice.
My assistant had access to
every transaction made
on my personal account, which likely included whatever Citra had been doing in this industrial zone at three in the morning.
Not being able to sleep was a
flimsy excuse
for her to use. But pressing her for answers would only
drive her away
.
Even if I knew exactly what she was up to... I think I need to
wait for her to tell me
. Or just
be here
, even if she doesn’t want to say. Just like I am for the
lightning
still occasionally illuminating the shed.
When another
crash of close thunder
made her stir against me, a small hum of a whimper escaped her lips. I began to emit a low,
soothing rumble
unconsciously.
Not a
warning growl
, but something softer. Her muscles relaxed again and her hand reached over to brace and
grip my far thigh
. My phone vibrated after I
stared at the hand
for who knows
how long
.
Luca: [ Claire says you’re handling something that might take all night. Do you need me to cover the morning stakeholder meeting? ]
I glanced at the time, seeing it was not even yet 4 AM. The meeting was at 8 sharp... and I’d need to
change clothes
and prepare beforehand. So ideally, the rational CEO in me calculated, I would need to leave here
in another two hours
to go in without any rest.
The Alpha side of me - no,
just the woman here with her
... had
no intention
of moving until Citra woke naturally. This isn’t about mates and business. It’s about just
showing care
to someone that really needed it.
Boss: [ Yes. Have Claire take extra notes, especially on the Whitecrest’s positions. Aid her with that afterward. You’ll have a better read on werewolf cues than her. ]
She looked both younger and somehow
ageless
in sleep - and my fingers
itched
to brush a strand of hair from her cheek, but I held back. She might not have
forbidden me from touching her
like that with
those rules
... but it was plenty enough
implied
.
Instead, my thumb hovered over my phone’s camera icon. A photo would let me keep this
private moment
when it inevitably ended. A sort of moment I’m not sure she’d be willing to
let me have again
any time soon.
But taking her picture while she slept felt like a
violation of a trust
she hadn’t granted me.
Arguing
that I’d let her take all of them she wants of me is... probably only going to
make her mad
, right? With a sigh, I just commit the image to memory.
"Where were you going tonight, Princess? What are you planning? Can I not help more directly?"
I whispered, hopefully too softly to wake her. I understand that from
her perspective
, I represented everything that could
strip away her autonomy
. She made that
abundantly
clear at our first meeting.
My Alpha status that
overwhelmed her instincts
and the idea of
a new bond
so soon... were clearly cards that were
not the right time
to play. The part that had been growing stronger since our first meeting, since I realized just what kind of person she was...
didn’t care
.
I was just
grateful
she was here now, safe in this shelter instead of out in the storm. Lightning flashed again, and I caught sight of her jacket and backpack leaning against the wall. Empty or full? What
secrets
did it hold?
I’d built
tiny scraps of trust
by respecting her boundaries. I wouldn’t
violate
that now, no matter how much my Alpha instincts
demanded
a little more clarity. Demanded to know what she was doing in my territory
and with whom
.
Possessiveness
rearing up as if it can
trick
me into marking her. Anise had spoken highly of her, as did the other workers at Crystalline. Humans... who had seen and
touched her
... and made me
jealous
despite being the one who sent her there.
I thought I could think of it
calmly
at the time. That I could separate
professionalism
from more
sensual
pursuits - just like when I’m the one partaking of their services. From what they said, I even believed firmly that she was
more capable
of that than me.
But I’d also made use of escorts for occasional
sexual release
after I became a successful adult. The expensive women who would
take money
for
secrecy and companionship
. Who always kept things simple if only for the very fact of
not being werewolves
.
And even though I didn’t know her then, there has been no small guilt. A guilt that is redirecting itself into
suspicions
... that she might find them too, some day. That she might find them
so much simpler instead
.
Instead of me. Her
fated
mate.
Wondering
what she’d think of me
if she knew what I’d done and what I now thought, I nervously closed my eyes and
matched the timing
of my breathing to hers. Savoring that small feeling of
oneness
.
"Sleep for as long as you need. I’ll keep watch until morning. I’ll keep watch forever, my mate."