Chapter 32 The Cunning Wolf

Chapter 32 The Cunning Wolf

Tania wanted to leave and go after her master. She was sure that even though he hadn't spoken to her before, he might want to impart some last bit of wisdom. "Can I take your leave, Your Highness?" she said, terrified that she had spoken like that to the king. He could just have her executed with one command or maybe shred her into pieces, Like the rumors she's heard have said he could. Her gaze went to his biceps that were bulging from his sleeveless tunic. They were so intimidating that she lowered her eyes quickly, shaking like a dry leaf in the summer breeze. Her hands clasped at her waist, and more bruises became visible.

Eltanin realized that she was terrified of him when she took a step back. But now that he had found his mate, he wasn't letting her go. "You haven't answered my question."

Eltanin held her bruised hands in his and a bolt of electricity rocked through him. He swore he saw stars exploding in his mind. He inhaled a shaky breath as his lips quivered. He had never felt this anxious, wonderful and randy in his entire life. And he had lived a long time and had seen many things. He was such a masochistic lion and she… a lamb. His lamb. His gaze roamed over her face and hands, his stare so potent that her lips parted when her eyes met his. When his eyes went back to her injuries, his chest filled with raw rage causing his aura to spill out again. "Fuck!" he rasped when she winced in fear. He controlled himself by sheer will. "Tell me who beat you!."

But Tania didn't speak a word. And Eltanin knew that she behaved like the true slave that she was. The girl was in a plain dress. Even though she looked drab and had faded into the background, she was observing things. He had noticed how her gaze would flit to different parts in the library, would rake her gaze over Rigel or even him, and then she would again fade into the background. Typical of a slave and of an amateur spy. It was very obvious by the way Menkar met him. The High Priest had brought forward his most innocent scribe who would willingly work as a spy. However, considering her age, he knew that she had to be inexperienced. So, why had she come to the palace that night? And how did she enter? He needed answers, but now wasn't the time.

"Alpha Eltanin," she pleaded. "Can I please go to see my master?" She was desperate to leave and never be seen again. "I will ask a servant to show me my quarters." She thought this would be the last meeting between him and her and that someone else would handle the arcana books from Prince Rigel's side.

Hearing her melodious voice was so refined and sensuous like a physical caress and he fought control for not drooping his eyelids, for not pinning her to the ground with her hands above her head and then taking her in as many ways as he could. He was never going to allow her to leave again. "This is a secret mission. Didn't you know?" he said, actually trying to scare her so that she didn't leave him. "You can't just stay anywhere in the palace."

"So, can I not go and see him?" she asked, her doe-like eyes going wide as she stared at him, blinking.

"You have to stay hidden. And only I can know of your whereabouts." The cunning wolf was using every possible way to stop her from leaving.

Tania went stiff and nodded. King's words felt like a permanent seal of her fate.

"Come here," he gestured with his index finger to come closer. She took a timid step towards him as if he was about to whisper to her, but what came next wasn't something she had anticipated at all. King Eltanin immediately wrapped his large, muscular, arms around her shoulders. He placed his large hand at the back of her head and pulled it against him, her cheek pressing his chest.

Eltanin had been dying for some kind of contact with her and he used the first opportunity to hold her, savor her. And now with her in his embrace, Eltanin's whole body thrummed with pleasure so intense that he thought his heart would explode.

Tania stilled, her eyes going wide at the physical contact. This couldn't be part of the secret mission that she was supposed to carry out for Prince Rigel? And she was shivering like a terrified lamb heading to the slaughter. She had never been embraced like this before, never felt the warmth of human touch. She found herself slightly lost in his brine and mist scent that was surrounding her and flooding her senses. She couldn't remember her life she had with her parents—only sporadic dreams and nightmares that she thought were something she imagined.

Standing afoot shorter than him, she was the loveliest, frailest, and most submissive wolf he had ever seen. Over the past few days, he hadn't had a wink of sleep. And now with her in his arms, he felt at peace. Even his wolf agreed, and that was rare in cases of women. He tucked her head beneath his chin as his wolf cartwheeled inside him.

Ours!

Tania tried to pull away from him, but the man's grip was strong like a bull. She wriggled a little in his grip and felt like it was a futile effort. "Your Highness," she squeaked. "Can I please go see my master before he leaves?"

Her words snapped him out of his out of body experience. He stared down at her with his onyx eyes and said, "I will accompany you. You do not know your way around." Now that he had found her, he was not going to let her out of his sight. Impossible. His mind was conjuring up all sorts of ways in which to keep her close to him.

"I can find my own way out," she replied, her voice accompanied by the sound of her stomach growling. Embarrassed that the sound was so loud, she flushed.

Gods. She was starving? How could he forget that? "No, like I said, you can't roam around the premises on your own because you are actually going to work for Prince Rigel in my palace. Can you imagine the importance of how secretive you have to be? You have to stay hidden from my people. So, it is of utmost importance that it'll be me who will take care of all your needs from now on!" Turning to the table, he grabbed two pastries and gave them to her. "Eat."

"But I have to go see him!" she argued, feeling utterly helpless and desperate now.

"Eat and then we both will go," he commanded in that mulish way.

Tania gritted her teeth and gobbled up the two pastries, crumbles dusted all around her lips, chin and cheeks. Eltanin took his thumb there to wipe them off. Tania jerked her head back feeling utterly awkward, but the king couldn't stop himself. He wiped them off her cheeks and chin softly with the pad of his thumb.

"Your Highness?" Tania mumbled, her eyes going wide like an owl.