10. Runa
Runa
The gray sweatpants outline his fat alpha dick that I know has an even fatter knot at the base. I saw his package this very morning when I wished I hadn’t looked up at the terrace while he wore wet jeans. Now he’s fresh and clean, wearing only gray sweatpants and a five o’clock shadow.
I can’t wait until he grows a beard. I don’t find bearded men attractive, so I hope it happens by tomorrow. Can’t Sven give Ash some alchemy that’ll make his facial hair grow out faster?
Ash bites his bottom lip and pulls it through his teeth. “I wish you wouldn’t look at me like that.”
I’m sure he means that my eyes are hazel, signaling that my body is reacting to his proximity.
I’m mortified. “You know that I can’t help it.
I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t bring it up.
” I think of asking him to put his shirt on, but he’s in his bedroom, where he could walk around nude if he liked. I’m the intruder.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
I don’t know how I can get away with the lie.
He’ll find out I took the vial when he goes to drink it and finds it missing.
When that happens, I also have no idea what he’ll do with me.
He’d be within his rights to punish me. But that makes me think of the over-the-knee discipline he threatened me with this morning, which doesn’t help dim my aroused state.
“I brought your laundry.”
“It’s a little late for doing laundry.”
“We do it around the clock.”
Ash stalks toward me.
I freeze.
“Don’t worry, little wolf. I’m not going to discipline you, even though I could.” Ash grabs a chair, spins it, and sits on it backward. He folds his arms over the back.
“Have a seat.” He points behind me.
I look around. “Where?”
“On my bed.”
I hesitate. “It will leave a scent.”
Dark eyes stare.
Does he want me to leave my scent on his bed? Wha…? I’m confused.
“Sit down.”
When an alpha male uses his commanding tone, wolves sit. Period. I plop my ass onto his bed, grab his pillow, and put it over my middle as a shield against the incoming interrogation. I have to fess up. I know I do.
“Don’t make me ask you again.”
“I was looking for the vial of medicine Sven made you.”
Ash’s gaze flicks outside. “I see you found it.”
I pull the frozen medicine out of my pocket. “Does your medicine get stored below freezing? Is that why it’s outside?”
“No.”
“Why did you put it there?”
“I have my reasons. Why are you stealing it?”
“Because…because…” I open my mouth and close it. Open. Close. Nothing comes out. Some wolves can detect a lie. It’s because of the perspiration and discomfort a person emits when lying. Ash is probably one of those wolves who can tell when someone is lying to them.
Sneaking into his private suite was a bad idea. But I can’t let the Fireborn Alpha die in our pack when I think that’s what might happen to him. And I also can never betray my sister.
“Sven isn’t as good an alchemist as he thinks he is. He’s made mistakes before that have gotten Soren sick. I fear that if he makes a mistake with you, the repercussions will be catastrophic for us all.”
“Are you trying to save me, or your pack from me?”
“My pack.”
“Hm. Do you think Sven will harm me by accident or on purpose?”
“Accident,” I lie.
Ash smiles. “Little wolf, he will harm me on purpose. Nobody benefits if I live uncontrolled.”
“You know!” I hiss.
“Not for certain, but since my own mother tried to poison me, I don’t accept anything from strangers.”
I gape.
Ash’s smile is deranged. “It’s true. She tried to save the world from me, but once the fire catches air, it can’t be contained.
” He looks out the window as if recalling memories and scrubs his face before turning back to me again.
“Now I have you looking out for me. Tell me, how long have you been with Sven?”
Here comes a pile of stinky lies. “It’s recent. I’ll deny it in front of my parents and Soren, so don’t tell them.”
“How recent?”
“A few months.”
Ash grinds his teeth. “I’m sorry to have to be the one who will separate you from your lover.”
“You could let him stay.”
“The humans don’t consider us people. He will hurt you.”
“Not all humans are the same.”
Ash rolls his eyes. “No, it’s only the ones around us who want to hurt us, or you wouldn’t be here trying to save my life.”
“I’m not saving you, egomaniac,” I say. “I don’t want anyone to jeopardize the treaty.”
“I’m committed to peace. Which is why Sven is coming with me.”
“Please, Ash.”
He closes his eyes, then opens them. Flames have replaced his pupils.
“Don’t say my name while you plead for another man’s life.
” His fingernails elongate into claws. His jaw hardens, expanding so his wolf’s teeth can fit.
Ash is losing it right in front of my eyes.
But I can’t back off. I must use this opportunity to negotiate for Sven staying here, because this is the only chance I’ll have to make my case.
“Sven is not a very good alchemist. He might poison you. Accidentally or on purpose. Why take him with you when you know I want him to stay? There’s no reason you have to take him. Besides, if you keep Sven here for me, I’ll be in your debt.”
“It sounds to me like I’ll have to kill him.”
“What? No!” I jump off the bed and march to his chair.
“You can’t do that. That would mean two Regulators would have died in our territory since your arrival.
You said the first one died by your hand, so the humans will assume that Sven died the same way.
That could escalate, and the humans could punish us all. ”
“They’ll just send another Regulator.”
Maren will be devastated.
But wait, she’ll get over it. Ash killing Sven is actually a great idea, but if I say that, Ash will suspect foul play, so I have to pretend it’s the worst idea in the world. “That’s the worst idea ever. You’ll just reinforce the theory that they already have about werewolves. We’re monsters.”
Ash stands and moves the chair aside. Now there’s nothing between us as he towers over me, his gaze on my lips.
I want to reach up and run my fingers over his unshaven jaw, feel the roughness of his stubble.
I stick my hands into my pockets instead.
“If you want him to live,” Ash says, “you will break up with him and tell him to be ready to leave before the storm hits.”
“Before?”
Ash winces from my screech. “I don’t want to get stuck here in the snowstorm.”
“You don’t want to get stuck on the road during the storm either. The Stormcrest castle can withstand a blizzard.”
Ash bends toward me and inhales. There’s a rumble in his chest that I identify as a purr. “Get out of my bedroom before I make you nest in that corner over there.”
I gasp. “That is…” I step back. “You crossed the line.”
Ash walks to the door and opens it.
I sprint out of the bedroom, but linger in the hallway. “You need a Regulator. Just not Sven.”
“Unfortunately, Sven is my man. Either break up with him now, or he’s dead.” Ash slams the door in my face.
I knock.
Ash opens it and thrusts the empty laundry basket at me. And slams the door again.
I knock. (Again.)
When he opens it, his eyes are like twin flames. “What?”
“I hope you get fleas. Bye!”