***POV: [Trusted & Tempted Alpha]***
"Years of practice. That is, keeping calm while everyone is testing my patience."
I imdiately 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 soone 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 .
My phone vibrated as she mumbled. Three short pulses that let know it was Claire and not Luca. The only reason she would send anything this late would be for sothing truly urgent... but I was too unsure of moving.
Hands moved and thick black hair surged freely from confinent 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 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.
< Mark her while she can’t resist. >
"No..."
I whispered and remained perfectly still, afraid the slightest movent might wake her and break this fragile mont that I’m not sure I’ve earned. The sound of rain hamring against the maintenance shed’s thin tal roof was almost deafening and reminds 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 ca into this shed - or anywhere - and bothered her.
This close, her scent filled my nose and lungs even more... almost bringing 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 ti to ti.
Claire: [ Luca sent a report that a lone Duskpaw ssenger 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 hearing that soone from her old pack is coming. With my free hand, I typed a response. A little rusty, since I usually return ssages 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 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 mont Citra had been passing through was almost as if the Lunar Goddess herself had arranged our eting. Or soone 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 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 . 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 , a small hum of a whimper escaped her lips. I began to emit a low, soothing rumble unconsciously.
Not a warning growl, but sothing 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 sothing that might take all night. Do you need to cover the morning stakeholder eting? ]
I glanced at the ti, seeing it was not even yet 4 AM. The eting was at 8 sharp... and I’d need to change clothes and prepare beforehand. So ideally, the rational CEO in calculated, I would need to leave here in another two hours to go in without any rest.
The Alpha side of - 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 soone 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 sohow 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 from touching her like that with those rules... but it was plenty enough implied.
Instead, my thumb hovered over my phone’s cara icon. A photo would let keep this private mont when it inevitably ended. A sort of mont I’m not sure she’d be willing to let have again any ti soon.
But taking her picture while she slept felt like a violation of a trust she hadn’t granted . Arguing that I’d let her take all of them she wants of is... probably only going to make her mad, right? With a sigh, I just commit the image to mory.
"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 eting.
My Alpha status that overwheld her instincts and the idea of a new bond so soon... were clearly cards that were not the right ti to play. The part that had been growing stronger since our first eting, 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 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 jealous despite being the one who sent her there.
I thought I could think of it calmly at the ti. 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 .
But I’d also made use of escorts for occasional sexual release after I beca a successful adult. The expensive won 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, so day. That she might find them so much simpler instead.
Instead of . Her fated mate.
Wondering what she’d think of 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."
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