Alpha King’s Wolfless Mate by Scarlett Higgins

Chapter 10 Nora POV When I woke up in the morning, I felt like I was trapped in a vice. Something heavy was draped around me, squeezing tightly. “Wh–what?” I whispered, trying to shift and see what was going on. Behind me, someone groaned and I froze. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and looked down and saw Blake’s arms wrapped tightly around me. I recognized a scar on his arm. “Blake,” I whispered, shifting again. Again, he groaned and tightened his arms around me. I coughed a little, feeling like my lungs and ribs were going to get crushed. I twisted in his grasp, hoping to loosen his arms enough to get free. I pushed at his cable–like arms but they wouldn’t budge. “No,” Blake mumbled, holding my tighter. I had turned just enough that when he tightened his grip, my chest was crushed against his. His firm muscles were like a solid wall against me. “Blake, please let me go,” I coaxed. I tried to push against his chest but there was hardly any space between us and my arms were completely pinned between our bodies. “Shh,” he muttered in his sleep. I poked him on the cheek, seemed like the strange happening misguided my mind. I didn’t think he was really sleeping if he was responding to me but I couldn’t tell. His eyes were still closed. “Shhh,” he mumbled again, dipping his head. Next second. Blake pressed his l*ps to mine and I froze again. He moved his l*ps on my mouth in a passionate k*ss and I couldn’t push. against him or speak anymore. Maybe that was what he wanted, to keep me quiet. My heart pounded, thud, thud thud. Blood raced in my ears with a loud rushing sound. Blake’s arms loosened around me and he rolled on top of me, forcing me onto my back. His weight pressed me into the mattress and I couldn’t escape. It was like having a ton of bricks piled on top of me. His hands ran up and down my sides, sending a shiver down my spine as my skin heated and my stomach fluttered with a million bursting butterflies. New sensations coursed through me, causing my thighs to clentch and warmth to sink into my abdomen. I let out a soft moan that got muffled against Blake’s l*ps. What was he doing? When Blake’s tongue pried my l*ps open and inserted itself into my mouth, I let out a little cry of alarm. His warm, wet tongue tasted the inside of my mouth, rolling over my tongue and my cheeks. Suddenly, Blake stopped groping me. He pulled his mouth from mine. I opened my eyes and looked into his face. Blinked. “Good morning,” he said. “Um… good morning?” I asked. Blake chuckled and rolled off of me. I took a big, deep breath. My lungs expanding and it was like I’d never been able to breathe before. He’d practically crushed me! “I’ve got to get going. There’s still a lot to do,” Blake said. His voice was gruff and I got the feeling he was talking more to  himself. I kept lying on the bed waiting for him to leave the room. I still wasn’t sure if he’d done that on purpose or if he’d been. asleep. He didn’t say anything about his actions and I didn’t want to bring it up. “Okay,” I responded softly. When Blake left the bedroom, I let out a deep sigh of relief. Again, I felt like a million tons had been taken off my chest. I sat up and shook my head, quickly straightening my clothes. Blake had ruffled them and my shirt was halfway up my torso. My stomach still squirmed with the memory of his hands on my b*dy. There was a part of me, a part I was desperate to ignore, that wanted to feel his hands on me again. When I went downstairs for breakfast, Blake was still there. He was in the entryway giving Charles some instructions. As soon as he saw me, he smiled and motioned me over. Charles shuffled off and Blake and I were alone again. “I’d like to apologize for my behavior this morning,” he said with a sly, unapologetic smile. “Thank you,” I said, nodding. Blake chuckled. “I’d like to but I’m not going to,” he added . “In fact, as husband in wife, I think it is customary to receive a k*ss before I depart for the day,” he stooped slightly. I creased my brow. What happened to this grumpy moody wolf? He seemed to have switched to a different person since this morning. Was he serious about trying to make this a real relationship now? Then again, he had opened up to me a little last night. I had to keep playing the game if I was going to get him to let his guard down.

I smiled and nodded. I leaned in and gave him a quick k*ss on the l*ps. “Just a goodbye k*ss,” I said when he looked a little disappointed. Blake grinned. “Then I will hope to return to a hello k*ss‘ tonight,” he said, winking at me. I bit my l*p and my cheeks got hot. I looked away from Blake’s deep, penetrating eyes. He chuckled again and left the house. This was getting dangerous. If I didn’t leave now, I’d be in too deep. It seemed like Blake was already getting attached, and he did have an affect on me. I needed to leave and find my wolf and my redemption. I didn’t need Blake’s help. I raced to my room while Charles was cooking breakfast and threw the few belongings I had into a backpack. I listened to Charles humming to himself and took that as my chance to escape. He was too old and slow to come after me. By the time Blake got home, my trail would be long gone. I ran in the opposite direction of the rogue village. Too many rogues there knew me now. They also knew I was Blake’s wife, based on the ring I was wearing. I didn’t want any of them to report back to him where I was. He seemed to have some kind of power over the others. I figured that if I headed in the opposite direction. I’d make my way into the wild woods and be less likely to encounter rogues that knew Blake, were influenced by him, or who would care that I was his wife. By the time the sun was setting behind the trees, I’d made it miles from Blake’s home. He probably hadn’t even gotten home from his ‘work‘ yet, and I was downwind. That would make tracking me even harder. He wouldn’t be able to easily follow my scent. I stopped running to set up camp for myself. I’d squirreled away some survival gear when Charles wasn’t looking when I first realized I’d have to escape. I put up a little shelter to sleep in and made myself a fire. It wasn’t much but it would be enough for one night. Sitting by the fire, I thought about Blake and his secrets. There was so much I didn’t know about him. I’d barely learned anything in the time we’d lived together. My thoughts were broken when I heard a snapping twig. I looked around and saw some glowing eyes through the trees, surrounding my little camp. Swallowing hard, I counted six pairs of eyes. I still hadn’t recovered Clara and I would be no match for any band of rogues that wanted to attack. “H–hi there,” I said, waving with my left hand. Someone snarled in the darkness. “Her ring!” he sneered. All six of the rogues moved into the clearing together, growling and showing their teeth. Their eyes gleamed and they were all inches away from shifting. I hid my hand quickly, my heart racing in my chest as they approached. “So, you’re Blake’s little wife, are you?” the one who had noticed my ring, the leader, said as he walked across my campsite. A dangerous chuckle rippled through the other rogues. “I…” I should have taken that ring off! “Wait… Hey, I know you,” one of the rogues said, cocking his head to the side. “You’re Nora, the stealer. You’ve become particularly famous for your crimes.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snarled, lifting my chin in the air. “You better stay away from me.”   “Haha,” the leader laughed, gripping his chest as he threw his head back. The others mimicked him. “Cunning, no wonder Luna Helen wants this little head. You guys are a perfect match, huh? Clumsy intruder and clever stealer.” I was not going to let these rogues intimidate me. I was going to stand my ground and defend myself. Without Blake here to protect me as he claimed he would, I had no choice but to protect myself. The leader of the group of rogues snarled as he shifted, followed by the others. With my heart thumping harshly in my chest. I took a defensive stand, ready to fight them off. The leader leaps into the air and attempts to bite my n*eck, but I managed to push him away just as another went for my legs. Trying to fend off the six rogues felt like a never ending feat as I continued to protect myself. I managed to punch one of them between the eyes, making them scamper away. As I continued to fight for my life, my b*dy began to grow tired and exhausted, my limbs burning with each punch and kick I receive or dish out. But since I’m still human and no longer have Clara to help, I was no match for them. The leader knocked me to the ground and sharp pain shot up my leg and side as he hovered over me, ready to deliver the final blow. My eyes snapped shut, waiting for the searing pain and eventual darkness that would come along with the bite. But it never came. A new howl sounded in the woods, something further away. The wolf behind me whimpered and I heard him back away. I scrambled around to see what was happening. That was someone I was familiar with. Blake was standing there, holding one of the rogue wolves by the n*eck, keeping him off the ground. He clawed at Blake’s arm. but Blake just stared into his eyes and snarled. An unknown voice cut through me like a knife. “You dare go after the Lycan King’s wife?”