“Maybe in the future then,” I said, squeezing her hand.
“Maybe.”
She didn’t seem too sure but I had the feeling that in time, she would claim her seat on the council. Cathwulf wasn’t one to give up on her dreams easily. She’d already given up enough to be with Roarke.
I was glad that the payment for having Athena tutor me wasn’t anything too outrageous. My father used to tell me horror stories of packs that made deals and the packs would demand females in return. He’d used those stories to keep me quiet, threatening to volunteer me as a tribute if Alpha Everett ever made such a deal. It took me a few years of living with Cathwulf and her parents before I realised it was an outdated practice and that Everett would never dream of offering any pack females like meat, especially against their will.
Cathwulf’s fumbling for the key brought me out of those memories and I straightened up. Sam’s cottage door creaked open but there was no wave of warmth like there usually was when stepping into it. Without Sam here, the place seemed a lot emptier. I quickly set about lighting the fire while Cathwulf hunched over, making odd noises to try and draw the cat out. I tried not to laugh at her, especially as she groaned when she stood straight again, a hand on her baby bump.
“Mirren must be out hunting.” She pouted before taking a seat on the colourful quilt-covered couch.
“She’ll come back,” I promised with a laugh, finishing with the fire and making a start on some cups of tea.
She nodded absentmindedly, still looking around the room. I wasn’t sure if she’d ever been in here before, especially as I knew Sam was a little private about her home. Cathwulf spoke a little about how much better Nennie was doing now she had help while I made our drinks. She’d started going back to work part-time and Kailum had even managed a trip to the shop. I was proud of them both, and proud of the pack for so willingly doing all that they could. Wolves had brought them cooked meals, helped clean the house, babysit, anything that was needed.
I passed Cathwulf a mug of steaming tea that she took gratefully, her golden eyes focussed on me as I took a seat across from her. I shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny, my gaze dropping to my lap.
“I’m glad they’re both doing better,” I said, and Cathwulf merely hummed in reply.
I chanced a glance up at her and she was still studying me. It was unnerving. “What?”
“Are we going to acknowledge what’s going on between you and Quillan then? Maybe talk about what you’re going to do?” she inquired before taking a sip of her drink.
My cheeks flushed bright red, my head lowering again to let my hair hide me away. “Why should we? Quillan has always been more wolf than the rest of us, it’s no wonder that he was drawn to my being in heat. Despite what you and Roarke seem to have conjured up, there really is nothing going on between us, and nothing ever will. Quillan told me himself that he’d never take a mate and you know as well as I that he only has eyes for you.”
Cathwulf burst out laughing and I rolled my eyes, slumping back against the armchair. Still the sound of her amusement filled the air and I grit my teeth. I had no idea what was so funny and I hated missing out on the joke.
“Really, Oria, for one so alert you really are blind when he’s involved. You and Quillan have been playing cat and mouse with each other for weeks now. Being in the same room with you both is stifling. But perhaps I’m mistaken. It’s not like Quillan wouldn’t demand what he had of Roarke for anyone else…” she trailed off, knowing I would take the bait.
Despite my irritation with her games, I still asked. “What did he demand?”
She smirked, smugness in her features. Her nails clicked against the mug, and the longer she drew it out, the more I wanted to snatch the mug from her. I really had grown a violent streak.
“He asked that only he be assigned to keeping you safe while we deal with finding your father. He had Flidais taken off the job for whatever reason without consulting Roarke yesterday. Surely you’ve noticed his jealousy of your growing relationship with Flidais? And you didn’t find it at all coincidental that Quillan was there as you returned home tonight?”
My mouth opened but no words came out. Of course I’d noticed a tension between Flidais and Quillan but for it to be jealousy was absurd. Flidais was my friend, and if he was going to get possessive over my having friends then he had another thing coming. As for tonight, I hadn’t really had the time to find his sudden appearance odd, I’d simply assumed he’d been out running patrol.
What did nettle me was that Roarke and Cathwulf had been having me followed without saying anything to me. I knew Flidais had been hanging around me because Cathwulf had asked her to at first, and it hadn’t bothered me because nobody had tried to hide it from me. But Quillan had been hiding it. Cathwulf seemed to sense my suddenly souring mood, the smug look falling from her face.
“Flidais is the only one I ordered to look out for you. When your father made it past our borders and attacked Glenn, that’s when things changed. Quillan took that duty upon himself, he’s not let you out of his sight once. Allowing you to be alone with Athena has been killing him,” Cathwulf explained, putting her mug down.
“So it was definitely my father who attacked Glenn then,” I grumbled.
“As if you needed me to confirm that,” Cathwulf retorted, a small growl of warning to her voice. “I’m sure Quillan and Roarke have said as much. I’m sorry you didn’t hear it from me.”
Blue eyes clashed with the golden of hers, my wolf pushing me as I was fuelled by anger, fear. “You were the one that decided to keep it a secret.”
“Oria,” she sighed. “Don’t change the subject because you’re too frightened to face what’s going on with Quillan. And don’t blame me for wanting to keep you safe. You’re my sister, and you have refused multiple times to train and learn to defend yourself, so I must do what it takes to keep you safe, as your Alpha Female.”
She was right, I knew that, but the fact still irritated me. Lifting my chin, allowing the strength of my wolf to flow through me, I was surprised with what I was going to say. “Then I’ll learn to defend myself. I told Athena I would. I don’t want to be followed by guards, and if I’m ever confronted by my father, I want to have the strength needed to keep myself safe. I’m done relying on others, especially Quillan.”
Cathwulf smirked and bowed her head before standing up. “Very well, I’ll talk to Roarke and see if Weylin will be willing to give you some lessons once your heat is done. But sooner or later you need to face what’s happening between you and Quillan. Don’t think it’s only you being told this, Roarke has scolded his Beta plenty of times. If tonight hasn’t proven anything to either of you then I fear what it will take to do so, or what will be lost if you both refuse. Your wolves have a bond, Oria, much like Roarke and I had when we first met. Take it from me, it’s much easier to give in than to fight. We may not have soul mates, not like the Ailill or the Laoch, but sometimes I wonder if our wolves know who they’re meant for.”
She gave me no time to argue before she was donning her jacket again and opening the front door. Mirren ran in from the cold and towards the fire and Cathwulf smiled softly at the small cat. Her smile turned to me next, her eyes holding a sadness to them that hurt to see. “Goodnight, Oria. Make sure to lock the door before you go to sleep, yeah?”
I nodded, my brows furrowed at the idea of her walking home alone in her condition until a gust of wind brought Roarke’s scent to me. I twisted to look out the window, spotting my Alpha walking up the path towards his mate. Those two were eerily in sync with each other. Cathwulf gave me one last glance before she went to her mate and took his hand. Roarke placed a kiss to her forehead with a look filled with such tenderness, I couldn’t help but smile.
Doing as she said and locking the door, I stripped down before curling up on the couch. I was left to ponder over everything Cat had said about me and Quillan. Mirren jumped onto my lap and I stroked her long fur, admiring the orange lightnin
g bolt on her forehead.
“I’m glad you’re here at least, Mirren,” I sighed, almost wishing for a flash of black fur to pass by the window.
The next few days were going to be torture, and somehow I knew my dreams would be plagued by thoughts of a certain male giving me everything I would come to crave because of my heat.
Chapter 11
Claimed
The sun was beginning to rise above the treeline and I’d only managed a few fitful hours of sleep that were full of dreams so real I blushed when I thought about them. As I’d guessed, Quillan had filled them, thoughts of his hands and lips on my body as he eased the urges brought on by my heat. I bit my lip, my thighs pressing together underneath the blanket as my skin flushed. My core ached and throbbed but trying to ease the tension with my fingers, pretending they were his, didn’t help. That wasn’t what my body craved. I’d only managed to frustrate myself more.
My wolf paced in my head, impatient and irritated. Horny. Built-up energy had my body buzzing and I wanted nothing more than to run through the woods until I wore myself out but that brought dangers I didn’t want to face. Males would be able to smell me for miles and I’d noticed the few wolves that sometimes circled the house. They were no doubt sent by either Cathwulf or my Alpha to make sure I wasn’t disturbed by any chance-taking wolves that had caught scent of my hormones, unable to help themselves. I huffed in annoyance, raking my fingers through my hair.
Mirren hissed angrily from where she lay near my feet and jumped to the floor as my tossing and turning on the couch continued, disturbing her sleep. For two days now I’d struggled to rest as my heat flared to its highest and strongest point. I’d hardly eaten and Athena must have been told of my being in season as she’d not arrived to distract me with more lessons. I was in no mind to take anything she said in anyway, and I was grateful for the solitude so nobody could hear my moans at night.
Scratching at my arm, I kicked the light blanket to the floor and sighed heavily, knowing there would be no more escape using sleep for me today. My skin was damp with sweat and the cold cloth I had placed on my forehead was as warm as I was now. A frustrated growl tore past my lips and I tossed the cloth to the floor as well before sitting up. I rubbed my face, trying to think past the heat that coursed through my body and amped up my arousal. How much more of this would I have to suffer through?
Standing slowly, I took a deep breath, but even the air around me seemed hot and humid, bringing no comfort. I marched to the window and pushed it wide open, closing my eyes as icy air blew against me. It was a welcome feeling after having to put the fire on last night so poor Mirren wouldn’t freeze along with Sam’s water supply. Despite feeling too hot, foggy headed, and queasy, it was the ache between my thighs that was causing the most of my stress. My body was screaming at me, instincts telling me I was ready to carry a pup, to find a male, a mate, to start my own little pack. I wanted to fuck and rut like a wild animal in a way I never had before and these new feelings terrified me.
I leaned further out the window, craving as much cool air against my skin as possible without actually stepping outside, hoping the wind would carry away those urges that built inside me.
“Careful, if you lean much further you’ll fall out!”
I laughed as Flidais appeared by the window with shopping bags in hand and a grin on her face. Her cropped brown hair was styled messily today, her hazel eyes lined in dark kohl and again she wasn’t dressed appropriately for the weather with her destroyed jeans that showed more tanned skin than it covered. Her eyes roamed over me, her tongue flicking out to wet her lips and I blushed a bright red, quickly grabbing the throw from the couch to hide my half naked body. I’d stripped down to my underwear last night after I’d almost ripped my shirt from being so irritated by the feel of itchy fabric on my skin.
She smirked, leaning against the wall. “Are you going to let me in? I have ice cream, chocolate, DVDs…”
“It’s a little early, is it not?” I laughed, moving from the window to unlock the door and let my friend in, the first to visit me since Cathwulf had brought me here.
Flidais gave me a shrug as she stepped inside. “I knew you wouldn’t have had the best sleep the last few days so I ran to the shop as soon as it opened.”
And I was glad she did. Sam didn’t have any food in her fridge now that I’d eaten the little she’d had left and ice cream was a godsend for one struggling through being in heat, as was the distraction of movies if I could find a TV in her home. Flidais dropped the bags on the table and kicked the pile of clothes on the floor in amusement.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, unpacking the food and drink she’d brought, alongside a small leather pouch.
I shrugged, picking up my clothes to put on, despite how it almost stung as the fabric brushed against me. “It’s the worst I’ve been through, even asleep it still seems to get to me. Normally sleep is a good escape. A cold bath might be in order later.”
“That’s why I brought this too,” Flidais said, nodding to the leather pouch. “It will help you sleep a little better and if you add lavender to your bath it helps with the tight skin feeling.”
I smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”
She grinned and picked up the other bag, pulling out her laptop. “I wasn’t sure if Sam had a TV that wasn’t made before DVDs came out so I brought this. You grab spoons and glasses, and I’ll set up the movie. Any preference?”
Standing and studying the pile of movies she’d brought, the newest Avengers film stood out straight away and Flidais gave me a nod of approval when I held it up. Leaving her to set up the laptop, I grabbed two spoons and glasses, resisting the urge to hold the cool glass to my cheek. I would definitely run a cold bath when she left and add the herbs she’d brought.
I took my spot on the couch, curling my legs beneath me next to Flidais, who was fighting with the lid of a tub of Ben and Jerry’s. I tried my best to focus on the movie, to get lost in the action of superheroes and gods, but as a wave of heat flooded my core, making me press my thighs together, I realised it might be harder to ignore. When Flidais finally managed to open the ice cream, my spoon was the first to dig in and scoop up more than I really needed. The cool, sweet flavour was a welcome relief that soothed the burning from the inside out. Flidais laughed as I quickly scooped some more up but I barely blushed in response. I relaxed back against the couch, happy with the chocolate and caramel goodness as Thor wielded his hammer.
Flidais shifted a little closer, lifting the blanket so she could slip under. I raised an eyebrow in curiosity and she shrugged. “You have the windows open and it’s the middle of winter.”
I accepted her excuse with an absentminded nod, my attention going back to the movie. For a while we sat in comfortable silence, both of us engrossed in the film and I didn’t mind as Flidais shifted a little closer until her leg brushed against mine. I stiffened as her hand fell to my knee and she inhaled close to my neck. Suddenly alarm bells were going off in my head, even as my body reacted to her touch. Our eyes met and I could read clearly the hunger in them. Butterflies erupted in my stomach, the sway of arousal telling me to move in, and perhaps if I wasn’t so caught up in a certain male despite knowing I could never have him, I would have.
“Flidais, I—”
My words were cut off by the press of her lips against mine. I was too shocked to react, even as her hand lifted to cup my cheek and her body pinned mine to the couch. Panic flared at being trapped but just as I was about to push her away, the front door flew open and a thunderous growl rocked through the room. Flidais sprang away, growling back at whoever had entered while I lay trying to steady my breathing. The ghost of my father’s hands pinning me down were hard to push away, memories flashing in my head that had my throat constricting.
“You had no right!”
Blinking, fears flew away because I would know that voice anywhere. When I finally managed to push myself up, it was to see Quillan’s massive form blocking the
door. His eyes were dark and angry, his gaze focussed on Flidais, who struggled under the power that beat against her. Her shoulders were shaking, her head ducked down.
“Quillan, it’s okay. It was a misunderstanding,” I sputtered, worried for my friend.
He didn’t acknowledge what I’d said, his attention was still on Flidais, whose eyes were narrowed as she managed to look up at him. The air fizzled between them both, the power of their wolves filling the air as Quillan took her posturing for a challenge.
“She isn’t yours, Quillan. You need to understand that. If you won’t claim her, someone else will. You needed to see,” Flidais stated, standing taller.
My jaw clenched but it wasn’t anger that filled me, it was an aching hurt. Flidais was one of the few females that I had placed trust in and her betrayal was too much. I pushed myself to my feet, forgetting all about being timid and submissive.
“You knew he was watching! So what, you thought you’d kiss me in front of him and stake your claim without my thoughts or feelings about it?” I accused, shaking my head in dismay. “I’m in heat, you took advantage of that.”
“I thought I could prove that I could look after you just as well as he could, better in fact. I care about you, Oria, and I’m a far better wolf for you than Quillan,” Flidais argued, stepping towards me with a pleading look.
A growl of my own tumbled from my chest, stopping her approach. How dare she assume to know what was best for me! I was tired of other people thinking I was too weak to know what I wanted or needed. Considering she knew a little about my past, I was angry that she’d touched me the way she had. Her eyes searched mine with desperation, she knew she’d gone too far. When she tried to reach for me again, the strength of my wolf flooded through me and I forgot all about Quillan watching from the door.
“Please leave,” I grit out, straightening up to my full height.
“Oria, please—”
Way Of The Wolf: Endeavour (The Wulvers Series Book 3) Page 13
