22. Aurelia
Chapter 22
The next night, Hadriel led me to the center of the clearing we’d be bunking down in. The cook was setting up and others were preparing to erect the tent I knew was for me and Weston. He was off seeing to the sentries and setting up a perimeter to guard the pack as they slept. I had wanted to go with him and see where he was positioning people—it was knowledge I’d need to get out of here—but I couldn’t find a non-suspicious way to ask. I’d be better off just asking about it later, maybe during pillow talk or when he had his guard down.
Besides, though there hadn’t been any reports of Alexander or his people dogging our heels today and they hadn’t picked up any markings or scents when we stopped, I worried they would still be out there, waiting. I didn’t want to make a run for it until the coast was clear. Hopefully, it would be soon.
“I have to go look after my horse, love,” Hadriel said, stopping near the cooking station. “Why don’t you take over for Burt so that the food is edible.” He patted me. “We’d all appreciate it.”
Burt—whose name was actually Sylvester—glowered at Hadriel as he walked away. He didn’t shrug me off, though, saying that he planned to make chili and asking if I had any input. I did, of course, quickly taking over and using poor Sylvester as more of a sous chef than cooking partner. By the time the pack had everything squared away and were ready to eat, the chili was nearly ready and Weston was standing close, watching me work.
“Almost,” I said, stirring the pot and taking a taste. I passed the spoon onto Sylvester. “Here, see what you think?”
He did as he was told, nodding adamantly. “Best damn chili I have ever tasted. Jessab is going to be mighty threatened by you.”
“Who?”
“The royal cook. He’ll be worried you’ll steal his position.”
“I’ll be too busy getting my head cut off,” I groused with a smile, and Hadriel barked out his laugher as he sat patiently to the side. To Weston I said, “Go ahead and eat. Ten minutes won’t make or break it.”
He nodded, stepping up and spooning some into his bowl, filling it only halfway.
“You can take your fill. There is plenty to go around,” I told him, my heart swelling that he would repeatedly take less to ensure his people had enough. I used to do that in the village when the food was meager.
He did as instructed before Sylvester shooed me up to the pot. “Your turn. Let’s go, they’re all hungry.”
“I’m pretty sure no one thinks it’s poisoned this time.” I tried to step away. “I’m a prisoner. I’m fine to go last.”
“You’re the cook. You go first.” Sylvester gave me a shove and everyone stood around us, waiting for food while nodding their agreement.
Unlike in the village, it was clear there was no use arguing. Face flushed and fighting a pleased little smile that they’d insist, I filled my bowl and turned for Hadriel, only then surprised to find that Weston wasn’t there. Instead, he was walking away, finding a little spot by himself and sitting down.
“Was it something you said?” I asked as Hadriel stood to get in line.
He followed my gaze. “Yesterday was a strange occurrence, him joining us. Usually, he sits on the periphery to eat and then heads off early. Unlike some alphas that lord over everyone all the time, making them nervous, he heads out and lets the pack relax.”
“But... he’s not very intimidating. Why can’t they relax when he’s here?”
Hadriel gave me a funny look. “A great many people find him plenty intimidating. Besides, he’s in charge. It’s hard to really let your hair down when the boss is looking over your shoulder. It’s fine, he’s used to it. Sit there, I’ll be right back.”
Weston looked off to the right, chewing, a solitary figure set back from the pack he ruled. A pang of sadness hit my heart. Maybe it was because I’d distanced myself throughout my life, always removed from those around me, or because I constantly had to eat dinner alone, but I sympathized with him. He just seemed so lonely. So isolated, with no one to talk to. It was his choice, but he was doing it to give his pack some peace of mind. That was commendable. I was angry as hell with him, but the humanity in me recognized that he shouldn’t be rewarded for his sacrifice with a companionless meal.
His head snapped toward me as I moved in his direction. He watched me approach, chewing.
“Hey.” I sat down beside him. “Thought you might like the company of a person you don’t make nervous.”
He didn’t respond but his gaze didn’t leave me. He took another mouthful as I took my first, focusing on the flavors for a moment before breathing out and getting a bit more comfortable.
“Dinner was always wind-down time,” I said to fill the seemingly expectant silence. “I looked forward to it all day—I thought about what I would cook, what drink I would have with it, if I’d have a fire or sit outside. I’d play with the flavors, try new things, and then sit in peace as I finally ate and wound down.”
“This dish tastes like heaven,” he finally said, going for another bite.
Emberflies started blinking into existence, hovering in the trees as the light faded. They’d been around last night, too, though I hadn’t paid them much notice. It had been the rest of the pack that marveled at their presence, apparently never having seen them in the area before. It was probably because the emberflies correctly assumed they were dangerous. I wasn’t sure why they would hang around now, but I enjoyed their glow.
“It could use a few things, but it’s decent for what we had available.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit.”
I shrugged, continuing to eat. “What will you do when you can no longer have fires? Sylvester said we’d only get a few more nights since we were still somewhat remote? I hear we’re taking the long way.”
We’d seen some people on the road today looking at our procession in confusion, but not many travelers walked these lanes and roads. There were bigger thoroughfares leading to closer villages and the somewhat-still-distant larger towns and cities. Our path would take longer in order to remain less conspicuous.
“We’ll smoke some meat to tide you over until a couple of us can go into the nearest town and buy some cold meats and other supplies. The rest of us can hunt and eat in wolf form.”
I hadn’t even known that was possible. I’d never heard the people in the village eating raw meat when in wolf form—not that I had ever asked about it.
I ignored the burning frustration and betrayal about the magic situation. In a few days we’d get close to those larger towns and cities. I could wait to exercise my freedom until then, when it would be hard to find me in a bustling crowd.
I focused on the food, starting the winding down process again.
“I can organize a ground roast, if you want?” I finally said. “If you guys can hunt for a wild pig or something, I can cook it overnight. We can do it the night before we have to go to cold food. It’ll still taste good cold.”
His spoon scraped the bottom of his bowl. “That sounds like a rare treat.” He put the bowl to the side and leaned back, looking out as the pack got their food and settled down to eat it. “I’ve asked you this before, but things were... more strained. Do you remember Granny saying anything about who packaged your supply? Where it went after you?”
Things between us were still plenty strained. It was good for me that he didn’t seem to realize it.
I took a slow bite, really thinking back. “Granny almost never talked about her side of things unless she was telling me what needed to change about a product. Even then, it wasn’t specific to the operation, only the product itself. Alexander was the one that leaked Granny’s business stuff. He liked to brag. I always heard it second hand.” I shook my head. “He did mention right before you guys came that they’d started getting fancy with how they packaged the product. Again, I heard this second hand, so I don’t know specifics. It was said in conjunction with being in the royal market. I’m not sure if it’s a new thing or he’s just now bragging about it. Either way, it sounded like it was very upscale, whatever they were doing. I suppose they did need to take it somewhere to have that done, though I can’t for the life of me remember him ever talking about it. It always sounded like they were taking the product in. I thought ‘in’ meant to the city, I guess, where Granny kept her affairs.”
“Did you write that down in your journal?”
“No. I heard it the day after we, uh, met.” I looked away for a moment, a rush of heat coming over me. “We went looking for the Moonfire Lily that evening and then you guys showed up. I didn’t get a chance to write anything down.”
“Moonfire Lily?”
“It’s a glowing flower that has some amazing properties. It’s rare and hard to find. It’s easier at night because it glows.”
“Was that the flower you had in your workhouse?”
“Of course you combed through the work shed.” I hunched over my bowl. “Yes, it was. I picked that flower a couple months ago and though the stalk has withered, the petals are miraculously still perfect.”
“Granny’s product is purple and black. The packaging, I mean. Does that ring a bell?”
I looked over at Weston for a long moment. “Only because purple reminds me of fairies, and purple and black is my favorite color combination.”
His eyelids fluttered and then blinked twice in quick succession. This time he didn’t turn into stone, unlike when he was trying to keep the knowledge of my magic from me.
“Yes,” he said, his tone deep and thick. “You had purple accents running through your cottage. Your bedroom was purple, your furniture black.”
“And you scoped out my bedroom. Fantastic,” I said sarcastically.
“Obviously. It’s where I found your journals. You didn’t help Granny with the design?”
“No. I would’ve, but she never asked.”
“Was she ever in your cottage?”
“Of course. She bought it for me and visited from time to time. I was the only person she called on for tea. It was another thing that made me feel special. Not work special, but that we had a—a connection.”
He nodded slowly. “Did you ever show her your art?”
My gut tightened. I needed to look away, suddenly wishing I hadn’t sat down with him. “No. The art was just for me. I didn’t show that to anyone. She respected my privacy, getting me what I needed without asking why.”
“You were the enemy, Aurelia. The drug maker. I needed to see what you had stored in your house.”
“And now?”
“And now...” He cleared his throat. “Now you’re the prisoner.”
“You like to dive right into the fire, I see.” Hadriel sat down next to me, forming a line rather than a circle, Weston on my other side. “This chili is fucking divine, my love. My asshole is puckering with how good it is.”
“That’s not—” I giggled helplessly. “That’s not normal, I don’t think?”
“It’s certainly a strange compliment,” Weston murmured, sitting forward and taking my empty bowl. “I’ll leave you to your night. Hadriel, bring her to the tent when she’s ready. Don’t stay out too late. We have an early start.”
The crowd parted as he walked through, everyone going a little quiet and nodding at him respectfully. He placed the bowls down in the dirty dish area, said a couple things to those close by, and excused himself. He stopped by the tent, shed his clothes, shifted, and drifted off into the night, presumably to check in with the pack still working. Maybe to relieve some of them so they could eat.
“He doesn’t take time to relax?” I asked Hadriel.
“No. All work and no play makes Alpha a very dull boy.”
“Before I forget.” I pushed to one side and dug into my pocket, feeling what was there and choosing the item I was after. I put out my hand, the item cupped in my palm. “I swiped this for you last night. Don’t get caught.”
His brow knit as he took what I offered. Upon seeing it, a smile spread across his face and he slipped it into his pocket.
“It’s the hallucinogen,” I explained. “Yes, you’ll be fine. No, you won’t get addicted. You’ll see things, though. Take it with caution. If you get into trouble, curl into a small, dark space or just come find me, preferably without the alpha being present.”
“I cannot . . . fucking . . .wait!”
I rubbed my temples and just decided to put it out there.
“Did you know?”
He paused in eating.
“Did you know I had magic?” I elaborated, choking up a little with emotion. It was such a big deal for so, so many reasons.
He lowered his spoon slowly. “Do you want a comfortable lie or the truth?”
“The truth. Always.” I furrowed my brow. “Why would someone ask if they wanted a lie?”
“To feel better about a shitty situation. Yes, I knew. Even Tanix can feel it and he’s not an alpha. Before you ask, the reason I didn’t say anything is because it is between you and the alpha. This is his show. I’m just a stage hand.”
Now I put my face in my hands, wanting to cry again in frustration, or joy, or just overall fatigue with this awful and life-altering journey.
“I don’t know how to feel,” I finally murmured.
“Bittersweet, I imagine. Right? Happy and relieved to have it, sad that so much of your life was spent being told you didn’t.”
It felt like those words speared my heart, sending blood seeping down in the wake of destruction. Tears welled in my eyes. That was a pretty succinct summary.
“And then mad, probably,” he went on, resuming his dinner, “because now that you know you have it, and after finding out in mostly a bullshit kind of way, the guy who could help you... won’t.”
Another very succinct summary.
“You know what they say,” I murmured. “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”
He bumped my shoulder in support. “What do you plan to do?”
“What do you mean? I’m a captive. What can I do?”
He huffed and said very quietly, so low I could barely hear, “You don’t fool me, love. Just don’t kill him. The kingdom greatly needs him. He brought all the animal shifters together in a way they hadn’t been before. He’s a good man who sometimes has questionable judgment.”
“You think that excuses him?”
“No, so I’m asking as a favor. Beat the shit out of him? Fine. Nearly end his life? More power to you. But as a gift to me, please don’t kill him.”
A while later, when a few people had come to join us, everyone laughing and chatting, telling me how much they liked dinner, I noticed Weston slip into the clearing again. He hugged the tree line, mostly, his great wolf head swinging my way for a moment. When he reached the tent, he shifted into his human form and ducked inside, leaving the flap open. A small pool of light flickered on, spilling across the ground. The invitation was clear: he was waiting for me.
I hugged my knees, looking at my feet. The desire to go to him yanked at my middle, drying up any interest in hanging out with these members of the pack. Part of me hated to leave, though. I felt included right now. They listened when I talked, laughed at my jokes, and told me to stop telling stories because they were depressing, which made me laugh so hard I wheezed. It shouldn’t have been funny, but the way they said it, with dark humor, tickled me.
But as much as I enjoyed having the easy camaraderie, even as a prisoner, I couldn’t deny the overwhelming need to be near Weston. It was maddening. He was the man who kept me hostage and had no guilt about ripping my life apart. He continued to keep my magic from me. I should want to torch the bed he slept in.
Instead, I just wanted to curl up with him and feel his warm skin. To receive his kisses and his attention. To feel his body moving within mine.
Fuck this strange pull.
Is this what love feels like?
It couldn’t be. I didn’t know enough about him to feel love. This had to be something else, another little secret he was probably keeping from me. It had to be.
Telling myself it was to strengthen my escape plan, I finally relented. I excused myself and made my way to the tent. Once there, I hesitated at the opened flap.
He sat on the ground next to the cot, using it as a back rest, reading one of my journals with a pencil in hand, making notes. He looked up as I was deciding if I’d leave again and placed his thumb in the spine of the journal to keep his place before closing it.
“Come in,” he said softly.
I eyed the journal.
He caught the look, lifting it for a moment. “You were twenty-two here. Granny got you a cake for your birthday. You seemed really happy and fulfilled in this passage. I can see why you thought she was family. She did seem to notice the details of your life in a way I’ve never heard of her doing with anyone else.”
I took the step inside the tent, choosing to sit on the ground beside him. “She noticed everyone’s details. I realized that when we were traveling earlier today and I was talking to Hadriel about my depressing life.” I smiled remembering his comments as he’d squeezed my knee in support.
“She knew Raz’s favorite liquor and when his mating anniversary was. She often surprised him and his mate with something special because she knew how much they each loved the memory of their mating day. Alexander got a lot of gifts, the disgusting pig. He boasted about them all the time.”
“Yes, I’ve seen your comments about all that. She kept her people happy. There is nothing wrong in that.”
“As an employer.”
He lowered the journal again. “You can’t know that specifically. As you said, she took you in before she knew how priceless you’d become to her organization.”
It was nice of him to say. I clutched on to the sentiment, hoping it was at least partially true.
“I’m skimming, Aurelia.” His tone was hushed. “I am looking only for the bits of information that can help me. As much as I can, I am skimming. I’m trying to preserve your privacy.”
“Yet you’re reading about the birthday that she surprised me with a cake.”
He looked at me for a long beat. “Sometimes I can’t help but get snagged. Maybe you can share this story. Then maybe it won’t be so very depressing.”
I huffed out a laugh, leaning into him. “You’ve got jokes, too, huh?”
“You’ll fit right in at the castle, that’s clear.”
My smile drifted away. He was so sure he’d get me there. He was resolute in making me stand judgment, even knowing I could receive a life-ending punishment.
I couldn’t think about this anymore. Hadriel was right—my life was so fucking depressing. I might as well give in to the things I enjoyed, regardless of how toxic they might be.
I pushed the journal away and swung a leg over Weston’s lap, sitting down onto him with a release of breath. His cock hardened quickly and his hands came around me, the journal forgotten. Despite all logic, I did crave this man. I always had. Despite his betrayal and my anger, I wanted him. I might as well make the most of it and forget the stuff that would bring me down, at least for the moment.
“My head is clear,” I breathed, taking his lips with mine. I ran my tongue along the seam of his mouth and was rewarded when his opened and his tongue danced with mine.
His hands slid up the inside of my shirt but I pushed off him, needing to take my clothes off by myself. The items in my pockets needed to stay there without being discovered.
I closed the tent flap and undressed quickly, folding my clothes and putting them to the side before crawling onto the bed and spreading my thighs, running a finger through my wetness before circling my clit.
He rose slowly, taking me in. Still nude from shifting, he knelt onto the mattress, ducking down to lick.
“You shouldn’t taste this good,” he groaned, getting more comfortable and doing it again. “You shouldn’t taste like candy until we’ve imprinted. But here we are...”
He sucked on my clit as his fingers started to move. I groaned, jerking my hips with his pace. He took his fingers away and fucked me with his tongue, now working my clit. After switching again, I gyrated my hips rhythmically, fisting his hair. He growled with the treatment and the extra vibration sent me over the edge. I called out his name, shivering with release.
He kissed up my body slowly, taking time to focus on my nipples before his lips slid to my neck. He kissed and sucked as he pushed my legs out wide to accommodate his size. He fisted the base of his cock, sliding its head up and down my slit.
“Tell me how much you want your alpha’s big cock in your tight little pussy,” he commanded, his voice rough and sexy, his words deliciously dirty.
“Yes, Weston,” I mewed, straining up to him. “Please, fuck me.”
“I’m going to fuck you deep and hard until you beg me to come, and then I’m going to fuck you harder.”
I grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him nearer. His cock stroked along my seam, catching at my opening before slipping by again, driving me crazy with anticipation.
“Do you want me to fuck you, baby? Do you want this cock?”
“Yes,” I groaned as his teeth ran along my neck.
“Tell me. Beg me to fuck your tight little cunt.”
He circled my clit with his slick cockhead and in moments I was utterly lost to him.
“Fuck me, Weston. Please, fuck me hard. Mark me. Make me yours.”
He moved his lips against the shell of my ear, his cock paused at my opening. “You’re already mine,” he growled and flipped me over, yanking me back until I was on my hands and knees. “I will brand you with my cock until you are ruined for anyone else.”
He thrust in deep, taking me from behind like he had our first time in the woods: rough and feral and deliciously dominant.
“Yes, Weston, please, yes!”
His pace was hard and fast as he slid into me with wild abandon. His chest touched down over my back, his hips pumping. I felt his lips on my neck, sucking in my skin before his teeth bit down.
Incredible shivers rolled over my flesh, and I groaned with the sensations. It was all so much better than that first time. We knew each other’s bodies now, what the other liked. He knew what I could take and no longer went easy on me like I realized he had then. I knew how I liked being dominated, his strength pinning me in place as he rammed his cock deep inside. I shoved back into him, desperate for every thrust, my shoulder tingling with the need to feel him bite deeper, to make the mark last longer. Forever.
“More,” I groaned, so wet it dribbled down my thigh, so full of desire, of pleasure, I saw lights dance behind my eyes. “More.”
He complied eagerly, gripping my waist so that he could pummel me, his movements possessive. I was lost to the sensations, the hard swing of his hips, the comforting feel of his skin and proximity, knowing I was safe no matter how hard he took me. And I wanted it hard, bruising. I wanted him to whisk me away from this life and suspend me in pleasure, to reduce my point of focus down until he was all I knew.
He pushed me forward, pulling out and swinging me around. He yanked me closer again and wrapped my legs around his hips while he stayed up on his knees. He held me there while he thrust up into me, his lips crashing down onto mine. I devoured him, savored his taste. My groan expressed the depths of my pleasure and he answered as though starving for the feel of me, needing more, to be closer, to couple harder.
“You feel so fucking good,” he groaned, his thumb moving against my clit, his lips pressed against mine. “Perfect. Like you were meant to be fucked by me and me alone.” He held me tightly, fully in control of my body, driving my desire higher. “I’m going to fuck you to the limit.” He rammed his knot into me, the friction so intense, the electricity between us crackling. “I’m going to make you forget everything but this cock rocking hard deep inside that wet little pussy.”
I groaned, my head lolling against his shoulder, my pussy stretched gloriously around him.
“Tell me,” he commanded, his power ripping through me. “Tell me how bad you want this. Tell me who you belong to.”
I panted with the rising sensations, utterly lost in the moment. Lost to him.
“Holy fuck,” I cried, hitting a plateau and grinding my teeth as my eyes fluttered, my body needing release. Needing to jump off this incredibly high precipice. “Oh fuck, Weston, fuck?—”
“Who?” he demanded, dominating me with his size, with his body.
I vibrated against him, consumed. Overcome. Fucking demolished.
“You, Weston!” I cried, clutching his shoulders. “You,” I said, over and over, the words tumbling from my mouth, needing him in a way I didn’t even understand. “You, Weston, I’m yours. Take me. I’m yours!”
I kissed him with everything I had, with everything that I was. My focus narrowed to just his hard thrusts, his arms around me, his heat.
“Take my knot, my Little Wolf,” he commanded as he fucked it in harder. “Take it deep.” The stretch nearly undid me. “Tell me again. Tell me who you belong to.”
“You,” I whimpered, my eyes fluttering, the sensations almost unbearable. “I’m yours.”
An explosion of pleasure rocked me to my core, soaking into every cell in my body. He roared through his release, clutching me hard, branding me with his pleasure.
I shook against him as his movement slowed, still holding me tightly.
“That’s right, baby,” he murmured as exquisite shivers from the retreating climax rolled through me. “Take all that cum.” He sucked in my fevered skin, his movements small now, rolling that knot within me. “I’m going to keep filling you up until my scent is seared into you. Everyone will know you belong to the alpha.”
I whimpered with desire. My breath was heavy from exertion. He worked that knot, joining us, rubbing against all the right places.
I mewled with increased pleasure, all my nerve endings firing, my pussy so full. He pulled and pushed so the friction between us increased as his cock started to pulse. Our joined sex was wet and slippery, the sounds erotic. I started building again immediately, drowning in these feelings with no desire to find the surface.
“I’m going to fuck you raw,” he said darkly. “And when I’m done, you’re going to beg me to do it again.”
All I could do was cry out in pleasure as he made good on his word, taking me to new heights until all I knew was him.