My stomach rumbled loud enough for Ace to hear. He let out a deep chuckle and finally released me from his arms. Everything about him made my body react in ways I didn’t understand yet. I wanted to fight it, to hate it, but I actually enjoyed it. I liked how he made me feel safe and protected. Like nothing could touch me while he was close.
“What do you want to eat?” he asked. “I’ll have the chef make it.
11.10
He walked to the desk and picked up the phone, pressing it to his car while punching in a few numbers. I just sat there, still thinking.
When I didn’t answer, he raised a brow slightly. “Hello, Alpha. What do you want us to make for you?” A male voice answered on the other end, probably the chef.
Ace ignored him, his eyes still on me, waiting for my response.
“Why don’t you place the order for me?” I suggested, I couldn’t really think of anything to eat.
Without looking away from me, he instructed the chef to prepare a warm bowl of chicken broth, soft mashed potatoes, grilled fish with light seasoning, and fresh fruit on the side.
He ended the call and walked back to me, his gaze was soft. “You need to eat,” he said quietly. “I need you strong.”
Within minutes, the food arrived, and Ace insisted on feeding me himself. I didn’t argue. With my right hand bandaged, I wouldn’t have managed properly on my own anyway.
After I finished eating, he stepped outside to take a call. That was when Les returned with Liam.
“Mummy!” Liam screamed as soon as he saw me, running straight to the bed. His tears came fast when his eyes landed on my arm, my red face and neck.
“I don’t like what happened to you,” he cried. “Did some bad man attack you?”
I opened my arms and he hugged me carefully, like he was scared of hurting me. “Let’s go back to London, mummy,” he whispered.
“Why, baby?” I asked gently, cupping his small cheeks and wiping his tears with my thumb. “I thought you said you liked it here?”
He nodded. “I like it here because you’re here. And because I love big Alpha,” he sniffed. “But it looks like you keep getting hurt since we came. We never had trouble back in London.”
I hated to admit it but he was right. Back in London, my life was a simple family, work, routine. No danger or constant fear like this. Maybe it was because our pack in London, the Brimstone pack, was strong and protected. Here, I was in the human world, away from pack borders, and under no pack protection.
He stayed in my room until Ace came to take him out to eat. All the sadness, the crying, and the talk about leaving America vanished the moment he saw Ace. His face lit up like nothing had happened. The way they bonded so easily scared me. It was happening too fast, and it wasn’t something I could control anymore.
Leaving America wasn’t going to be easy on Liam. And Ace, he has his whole life here. His family, his pack. He would move on easily, forget about us like we were just a phase that passed through his life.
“Are you only worried about Liam,” my wolf muttered inside my head, “or about your heart? You let yourself fall when you knew you shouldn’t.”
“You don’t need to rub it in,” I snapped back and she laughed.
1/4
Chapter 43
Did she just laugh? It had been so long since I heard that sound om her, I almost didn’t recognize it
“You should thank Ace,” she said softly, then disappeared again.
*low are
you feeling?” Les asked, settling into the double sofa. And don’t bother telling me who bathed you.” She smirked.
I blushed. “You weren’t around and I badly needed a shower,”
She lifted a hand, stopping me. “Easy, doctor, I wasn’t asking for the full details of what went on in there.” She laughed softly. “But you really should thank Ace.”
Those were the exact words Astra said to me barely a minute ago “Yeah, I will,” I murmured. “He was the one who found me in the bush and brought me back.”
“That’s not even all of it,” she continued, her tone changing to serious. “He refused to let you out of his sight after that. He cried and prayed nonstop for you to wake up.” She took a sharp Breath. “He looked so vulnerable, Char. He dropped everything, his pride, his ego, all the things that make him Ace Varel, he laid them on the ground.”
She shook her head slowly. “He cried so much and begged me to do anything, anything at all, to keep you alive. I’ve never seen anyone like that. He acted like he wouldn’t survive if you didn’t. And honestly, I couldn’t explain it.”
Mixed emotions flooded me with her words. While I was unconscious, I was sure I heard someone praying, begging me to wake up. I remembered that voice, it was low and broken, telling me he couldn’t live without me.
“He almost wanted to take your place and go through the pain for you,” Les continued. “A big part of me believes he has fallen for you, and that scares the shit out of me.” She sighed. “His Luna isn’t someone you want to deal with. You can handle her, yes, but it won’t be easy. She’s the type that’ll go through the ends of the earth to get what she wants,even if it means killing innocent people.” She sighed. “I don’t blame her though, no one would want to lose their place as Ace’s wife, the privileges and respect that comes with just being associated with him, you can only imagine what it’s like being his wife.”
“I’m not holding my breath, and I don’t plan on getting together with Ace,” I inserted quickly. “It doesn’t matter what I feel right now. Everything will go back to normal once we return to London.” I was trying harder to convince myself than I was convincing Les.
We heard his footsteps, Les stood up immediately. “You can keep lying to yourself, doc,” she said lightly before walking out. She gave Ace a small bow as she passed him.
He took the sofa Les had just left. I stood up and walked toward him, meaning to sit beside him, but before I could, he pulled me onto his lap. A gasp slipped out of me.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For finding me in the woods, and for taking care of me.”
His thumb brushed my cheek softly, like a caress. “No,” he said.” should thank you for fighting so hard, for staying alive.” His eyes stayed on mine. “I’d go to the ends of the earth for you. No one gets to hurt you, no one gets to touch you.”
The way he said it made my chest tighten. His voice was possessive, like he was already claiming me, acting as if I belong to
him.
“Why do you care so much about what happens to me?” I asked quietly. “It’s really not your business if I’m alive or dead.” I tried to move, but his big hand closed around my lap, holding me in place, telling me without words that he wasn’t letting
me go.
“Because you belong to me.” His voice dropped so low and deep, it sent a shiver through me. I felt like I could get lost in it.
“What is that? Do you like me?” I barely got the words out when he growled.
He cocked his head, giving me a look. “Then I must be doing a very bad job if you’re only just finding that out.” His eyes stayed on mine. “I don’t just like you, Graves. It’s more than that
2/4
Tue, 1AD 10
Chapter 18
He smirked as he und op ling me with him like I weighed ning “And since I’ve clearly done a terrible job letting you know how I feel, I guess I need to step up my game He shook his head slowly like he still cubin’t believe I’d asked. I can’t believe you even said that this wire dropped Girl, if you give the the chance. I’ll mark and claim your right now. On this
Tik eve darkened as he some down gently on the bed. The lay side me, resting his head on my stomach, staring up at me. like I was something precious and dangerous at the same time. You’re moving in with me,” he said, like it was already decided.
Liried to sit up, but he pinned me down easily, “Of course not,” said. “I’m not living with you in your pack.
He frowned slightly: “Why do you always think it’s my pack or my pack house? Though I would have preferred my pack because my eyes would be on you every twenty four hours” He rugged, “I have houses scattered all over the world.”
I scoffed. “Are you bragging right now, Alpha?” He answered with his signature cocky grin.
“Is it working?” he breathed. “I have a mansion right here in Manhattan, and I want you to live there. With Les and Liam.” His hand tightened slightly on me.
“That way I know you’re all safe. I won’t be able to concentrate at work or anything if I’m constantly worried about where you are or if something has happened to you.” His jaw clenched. I’m bringing my men back, and I’m not taking no for an answer this time.”
At this point I wouldn’t even try to fight him if he wanted to bring his men in again. If I hadn’t been so stubborn and asked him to pull his men away in the first place, they would have been around when the attack happened. They would have caught those animals. Maybe none of this would’ve happened.
“Besides,” he continued, “your house is in complete ruins. I can’t have you going back there with Liam. It’s dangerous.” His voice dropped. “What if they planted something there, waiting for you to return?” And again, he was right.
“I can call my dad,” I said quietly. “He’ll help us get another place Or I could rent somewhere else. I’m not staying here for long anyway. We’ll be heading back to London in about five months, once we’re done here.”
His eyes changed immediately. He didn’t even try to hide it. He didn’t like what I said.
“You don’t need to bother your dad with this,” he replied. “He’ll get worried. He’ll want to fly down here and see you himself.” His tone softened just a little. “You can tell him later, when you’ve fully recovered.”
I nodded slowly. “I’ll tell Les about it.”
Even as I said it, I knew this wasn’t just about safety anymore. It was about him wanting me close, where he could see me, protect me, and make sure nothing ever touched me again.
He turned his head to the side, and that was when I saw something on his neck that I’d hadn’t seen before. I’d seen him shirtless more times than I could count. I was observant, I noticed things. If it had been there before, I would’ve seen it.
But this was new. It was the shape of a full moon, carved neatly into his skin. Liam had one too, his was a half moon but Ace’s was whole. How did that suddenly appear on his neck? Had it always been there and I somehow missed it? Or had it just shown up now?
“Did you always have that on your neck?” I asked.
“What?” He frowned, looking confused. “What are you talking about?”
“The full moon mark sitting on your neck.
“What are you talking about, I don’t have any full moon mark.” He went to the mirror and gasped as his eyes saw what I had
seen.
3/4
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
