10. Chapter 10
Adrian
The scrape of metal against metal jerks me awake.
My body tenses instantly, arms tightening around Julia who remains nestled against my chest, fast asleep.
We've been down here for what feels like half a day, the cold seeping into our bones despite my werewolf heat.
Julia's skin has grown colder everywhere it doesn’t touch mine, her occasional shivers becoming more frequent even as she sleeps fitfully against my chest. Her face is pale, lips slightly blue at the edges, a concerning sign I can't ignore.
I've tried to shelter her with my body, but the damp chill of the cellar is relentless and neither of us are wearing enough clothing .
I hear footsteps above us, then hushed voices.
My muscles tense immediately, arms tightening around Julia who remains silently nestled against me.
She stirs at my movement, eyes fluttering open with confusion.
I press a finger to my lips, then gently shift her behind me as I rise to my feet, positioning myself between her and whatever might come through that door.
The scrape of metal against metal comes again and I’m now fully alert, my claws extending reflexively. My wolf rises close to the surface, ready to protect her.
The heavy oak door creaks open, flooding the dim cellar with harsh light from the stairwell.
I squint against the sudden brightness as two figures appear in the doorway.
"Adrian! Thank the gods we found you!" Percy's voice echoes through the cavernous space.
He stands there looking nothing like his usually immaculate self.
His jacket is dusted with what looks like ash, hair disheveled.
Beside him, Seraphina Draak clutches his arm, her designer outfit wrinkled and her face pinched with concern.
Relief washes through me, tempered immediately by wariness.
"Took you long enough," I growl, helping Julia to her feet. Her limbs are stiff from the cold and hours sitting on stone. She sways slightly, and I keep my arm firmly around her waist.
"We've been searching for hours," Percy explains, rushing down the last few steps. "The entire estate is in an uproar."
Julia attempts to straighten her crumpled dress, finger-combing her hair with trembling hands.
"We followed someone suspicious down here," she says, her voice thin but steady. "They locked us in. "
"Someone locked you in?" Seraphina's eyes widen. "On purpose?"
"Definitely not an accident," I confirm, watching as Julia rebuilds her professional facade despite her obvious exhaustion. Her face is pale, hands trembling slightly, the usual bright alertness in her eyes dimmed. My wolf rumbles with concern.
"The entire security team has been searching every inch of the estate," Percy says. "It’s a mess."
"Did anyone see who might have done this?" I ask, still supporting Julia who's trying very hard to stand on her own.
“We’ve got nothing.” Percy shakes his head. “When the security team tried to review the footage from the hallway, they found it wiped clean.”
"That can't be a coincidence," Julia says, her analytical mind working despite her exhaustion. "The person who locked us in here has to be the thief."
Seraphina steps forward, touching Julia's arm lightly.
"Are you alright? You look frozen."
"I'm fine," Julia insists, though she's still shivering. "We need to get back to the wedding preparations. There's still so much to do, and now we've lost nearly a day."
"The only thing you need is rest," I say firmly, my decision already made. "I'm taking you home."
"But the centerpieces haven't been finalized, and the catering meeting is tomorrow morning, and—"
"Julia," I cut her off gently. "The wedding will survive one evening without you."
"I need to at least check in with Courtney," Julia says, finally giving up the ridiculous idea of going back to work. "She can handle everything while I'm gone."
“Actually, no one's seen Courtney at all today.” Seraphina shifts uncomfortably. “I figured you gave her the day off.”
"What? No, we can’t afford to take a day off till after your wedding." Julia straightens, concern flashing across her pale face. "That's not like her at all. She never misses work."
Julia frowns, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"I'll text her when we get cell reception. I’m sure she has a good reason for not being on-site today."
"Work will still be there for you tomorrow," I say, guiding her firmly toward the door. "Right now, you need rest."
She opens her mouth to protest again, but I can see the moment her exhaustion wins. Her shoulders slump slightly beneath my jacket.
"Come on," I say, tightening my grip on her waist. "Let's get you warmed up."
Percy looks at Julia for a long moment, then back at me. He nods.
"I'll tell everyone you're both safe. We can regroup tomorrow."
“Please rest.” Seraphina squeezes Julia's hand in an uncharacteristic display of affection.
We climb the stairs slowly, Julia leaning more heavily against me with each step. By the time we reach the main floor, I've had enough of watching her struggle and simply lift her into my arms.
"Adrian!" she protests weakly. "Put me down. I can walk."
"Humor me," I retort, carrying her through the corridors of Windfall Manor .
We pass Silverine in the grand foyer. Her violet eyes fix on Julia in my arms, her expression unreadable.
"Adrian!"
My mother steps from the shadows behind Silverine, her eyes widening at the sight of Julia's pallid face pressed against my chest. For a moment, her usual steel gives way to genuine concern.
"Is Julia okay?" Her voice catches, her hand reaching out as if to touch Julia’s head. "We looked everywhere for you."
She cuts herself off, the momentary softness hardening back into determination.
"Whoever did this will answer to the pack."
"Count on it," I reply, moving past her without stopping.
Outside, the evening air is crisp and cool. Julia shivers again, and I tuck her closer against my chest before settling her in my truck. I wrap my jacket more securely around her shoulders and crank the heater to maximum.
"You don't have to do this," she says as I climb into the driver's seat. "I could stay at the manor."
"You need rest, not more stress." I pull away from the grand estate, watching it recede in my rearview mirror. "And I need to know you're safe. Plus, not one would believe a wolf could leave his mate behind when she’s exhausted and danger lurks."
And I don’t think I could leave you behind, even if I tried. My wolf growls inside my chest just at the thought. No, I definitely couldn’t.
Julia doesn't argue further, which tells me just how exhausted she truly is. She leans her head against the window, her breath creating small clouds of fog on the glass. The truck's heater battles against the chill, but she still shivers .
“Just rest for now.” I tell her as we lock eyes. “I’ll take care of everything.”
I glance over to find her eyes closing, her body finally surrendering to exhaustion. She looks vulnerable in her sleep, the lines of tension around her mouth softening. Something protective and possessive coils in my chest.
By the time I pull up to my cabin, she's fully asleep, her breathing deep and even. The windows glow with the automatic timer lights I'd set, making the place look welcoming against the darkening forest. I circle the truck and open her door carefully, gathering her into my arms again.
"Hmm?" She stirs slightly as I carry her up the porch steps.
"We're here," I say softly.
She blinks in confusion at our surroundings but doesn't protest as I carry her inside. I settle her on the sofa, wrapping her in the thick wool blanket that lies across its back.
"Stay here," I tell her. "I'll get a fire going and get you something warm to eat."
I move to the hearth, arranging kindling and logs with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, flames leap upward, casting warm light across the room and beginning to chase away the chill. Julia watches through half-lidded eyes, the blanket pulled tight around her shoulders.
"How long were we down there?" she asks, her voice rough with fatigue.
"At least twelve hours," I answer, moving to the kitchen. "You need food and something warm to drink. "
I pull homemade chicken and vegetable soup from the freezer and set it to heat on the stove, then slice bread from the loaf I purchased at the bakery yesterday morning.
My movements are automatic, practiced from years of caring for myself, but there's something different about doing these tasks for Julia. My wolf preens at being able to care for her, to provide for her.
Double shit. The beast is way too attached to her. But there’s nothing I can do to prevent it from happening.
It’s the mate bond. I know it. I’ve known it since the moment I caught her scent.
But it doesn’t mean that Julia will accept it.
When I return to the living area with a tray, Julia has shifted to sit closer to the fire. The flames highlight her profile, the elegant curve of her neck, the curl of her lashes against her cheek. Something tightens in my chest at the sight of her in my space.
She belongs here. She belongs by my side.
"Eat," I say, placing the tray on the coffee table before her. "You'll feel better."
She doesn't argue, accepting the bowl of steaming soup with grateful hands. Her hunger becomes apparent once she starts eating, and I watch with satisfaction as some color returns to her cheeks.
"Thank you," she says between spoonsful. "This is really good."
"My mother's recipe," I admit. "One of the few useful things she gave me."
Julia's lips curve in a small smile.
"Besides the glowing eyes and fangs?"
"Those are from my father's side," I reply, surprised to find myself joking. "Mom just contributed the charming personality. "
Her laugh, though quiet, eases something tight inside me. We sit in companionable silence as she finishes her meal, the crackling fire and occasional pop of settling logs the only sounds.
"Do you think the thief planned it?" Julia asks finally, setting her empty bowl aside. "Locking us in the cellar?"
I consider this, leaning back in my chair.
"I don’t think so. I think they set up the alarm to draw us away while they went to the cellar, but I don’t think they planned on you noticing them. That’s why they locked us in. Because they didn’t want us seeing them run away."
"The question is why did they go down to the cellar?" Julia pulls the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "If we figure this out, then we’ll be one step closer to retrieving the tiara."
"We'll figure it out," I assure her. "But not tonight."
Julia nods, but her expression remains troubled.
"My entire career is riding on this wedding, Adrian. If it falls apart, I'm finished."
The raw vulnerability in her voice strikes something deep within me. For the first time, I truly see beyond her controlled exterior to the fear driving her, not just of failing at her job, but of failing herself.
"You didn't come this far to fail now," I whisper. "We'll find the tiara. The wedding will happen."
Our eyes meet across the small space, and something shifts between us, a connection that feels deeper than our arrangement, more real than our pretend relationship.
Julia's eyes grow heavy, her breathing becoming slower as fatigue overtakes her again. I rise from my chair, extending my hand.
"Come on," I say gently. "You need real sleep, in a real bed. "
She allows me to guide her to the bedroom. The room holds our scents, mingled together.
Like they should.
I mentally shake the dangerous thought. I can’t allow myself to think like this. Not when Julia still thinks I’m only pretending.
There’s no more pretending for me.
My wolf purrs as I help her sit on the edge of the bed.
Kneeling, I remove her shoes, setting them neatly aside.
It's such an intimate gesture that I feel her breath catch.
I retrieve my flannel shirt, which she left neatly folded on the pillow this morning—what feels like a lifetime ago.
I hand it to her and she accepts it without saying a word.
Julia looks up at me from the bed, those big, beautiful eyes haunted by fatigue. Her hands fidget on the flannel shirt and my cheeks color with an instant burn.
“Sorry,” I mutter, then turn my back to her.
I hear the sound of rustling fabric, and soon, her clothing is discarded on the ground beside the bed.
I try not to look at it, try not to notice how her scent becomes stronger, more enticing.
And I fail miserably. My wolf leans against my control, pushing me to turn around and claim what’s rightfully ours.
I control the beast, but barely. I really should leave.
When I hear the blankets folding back over her body, I turn around. And immediately wish I didn’t. Julia sits in the bed, her hair in disarray, my flannel shirt so big on her small, curvy body.
"There are extra blankets in the closet if you get cold," I say, the words almost choking me. "I’ll be right next door if you need anything. "
Julia looks up at me, her expression soft with exhaustion but tinged with something else I can't quite name. Longing? Lust? Are those my feelings I’m projecting onto her?
"Thank you for taking care of me."
"Get some sleep," I say, turning toward the door. "We'll figure this out tomorrow."
Then I feel her fingers close around my wrist, light but electric. The touch stops me instantly.
"Stay with me," she says, her voice barely audible. "Please."
I turn back, shocked at her words. My wolf rises all the way to the surface, the beast roaring in approval. I see the way her eyes enlarge and her jugular pulses with a sudden heartbeat increase.
She sees it, too. My wolf, its eyes shining. The beast inside the man, lurking just under the surface.
Julia looks up at me, eyes heavy with exhaustion but lucid and clear. I sit carefully on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in mine.
“Lie down with me.” Her full lips lift in a half smile. “Just until I fall asleep.”
"Okay," I say, settling more comfortably beside her. "I'll stay."
Julia's lips curve in a small, grateful smile as she leans back against the pillows. Her hand remains in mine, a link between us that feels increasingly like something I'm not ready to name.
My wolf, however, has no such reservations. It settles contentedly, watching over her as her breathing grows deep and even. For now, that's enough.
She's safe, she's warm, and she's here .
But as I watch her fall into peaceful sleep, reality bubbles to the surface. What happens when this is over? When the tiara is found, the wedding complete, our arrangement concluded?
What happens when she leaves Saltford Bay, and me, behind?
My wolf growls at the thought, possessive and protective. For once, I find myself in complete agreement with the beast.