Alpha King’s Wolfless Mate by Scarlett Higgins

Chapter 16 “Nora POV Blake drank heavily at the reception. I’d never seen him drunk before and it didn’t take long for him to get drunk. He draped his arm around my shoulders and hung off me. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” I asked, pulling his arm away. “I’m just trying to have a good time. It is my wedding day, after all,” Blake chuckled and grabbed another drink. I watched him closely, not only because he was glued to my side, but because he’d changed since we’d had our heart–to- heart outside the castle. I’d hardly seen him since, but he’d been pleasant every time we’d caught a glimpse of each other. “It is getting late, maybe we should call it a night.” I casually tugged his hair. Blake finished his last drink and groaned, leaning more heavily on me. I staggered and tried to keep holding him upright, afraid he’d fall right on his face in front of the wedding guests. I noticed several of them were watching us already. They whispered to each other and a few pointed. I had to get Blake out of here. “Come on, I’ll take you to bed.” I put my arm around him and started guiding him out of the event tent. Blake didn’t fight against me, and for that, I was grateful. At the tent entrance, a couple of guests eyed us strangely. I smirked. “My husband is eager to begin our wedding night.” The couple looked at each other and their faces turned red. They shuffled back inside the tent, muttering softly. “You’re so smart,” Blake said, trying to touch my face. I pulled away. “Let’s just get you to bed.” Staggering from side to side, I got Blake inside the castle. I could support him but he wasn’t walking steady and that meant. every time he stepped sideways, he’d pull me along with him. Most of the servants from the castle were working at the reception so there wasn’t anyone to see us. I brought Blake to his room. Despite having to play the married couple, we’d agreed to live in neighboring rooms instead of the same one. It would have been too awkward and tense if we had to cram into one room every night. “This is my room,” Blake commented when I helped him inside and dropped him on the bed. He groaned and rolled over. He got tangled in the bedcovers. I laughed a little as I helped untangle him. If we’d still been in the Rogue Zone, I would have just left him to figure things out on his own. He’d tried to be nicer to me, so I felt like it was my responsibility to be nicer to him, too. I knelt and started to take his shoes off. If I could get him settled in bed, he’d hopefully fall asleep quickly and sleep off the alcohol. “Why are you helping me?” Blake muttered when I pulled his shoes and socks off. I unbuttoned his slacks and pulled them down next. Quickly, I draped the comforter over his legs to cover his exposed b*dy and underwear. “I am your wifey, aren’t I?” I smiled playfully. “Isn’t this the kind of thing I’m supposed to do, hubby?” “You might be my wife but you can’t stand me.” Blake sighed and draped his arm over his face while I unbuttoned his tuxedo jacket and the shirt underneath. I knelt on the bed, turning him from side to side to get his clothes off, and tossed them in a heap on the floor. “It’s not that I can’t stand you,” I sighed, resting my hands in my lap as I continued to kneel beside him. “You’ve made it clear you loathe me, Nora,” he murmured. I shook my head and touched his arm. “I don’t loathe you. I just… Wouldn’t you be more comfortable under the covers and resting on the pillows?” Blake pulled his arm from his face and looked around. “Oh, yeah,” he said. He pushed the comforter off and I jumped off the bed. “Hey, keep yourself covered,” I argued, shielding my eyes as his n*ked – except for a pair of boxers – b*dy was completely revealed. I couldn’t help but sneak a peak from under my hand. His toned legs and firm buttocks tensed as he pulled the covers downs. I unconsciously bit my lower l*p as I watched him climb into bed. Once the covers were back in place, I uncovered my eyes, Blake had propped himself up on his pillows so that his bare chest was fully exposed. My eyes kept flickering to it, drawn like magnets to his masculine physique. “Is that better?” I asked, trying to distract my attention. I went to his private bathroom and got him a glass of water. He’d need it when he woke up hungover. “Much.” He nodded in thanks as I handed him the water. “You’re being very nice to me.” “I told you, it is my duty as your wife,” I reminded him. Blake shrugged. “You’re going above and beyond.” “You were nearly too drunk to walk and for whatever reason, you just wanted to hang all over me. I wasn’t going to leave you there to  embarrass yourself. You really shouldn’t get so drunk in public.” I crossed my arms and shook my head at him. “It was a wedding reception. You’re probably the only person that wasn’t drunk.” He shrugged and took a sip of water. “And you were afraid I’d embarrass you,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Instead, my man was the embarrassing one.” “Did I embarrass you?” he asked, glancing up at me. “I covered for you,” I assured. Blake sighed, his eyelids drooping. His b*dy might have been in top condition but with how drunk he was, his face was less attractive. His head bobbed and the water glass nearly tipped out of his hands.

“Ahh.” I grabbed the glass and set it on the table beside his bed. “That will be there for you in the morning.” “Thanks.” Blake whispered. “I wish Kelly could see you now. You look kind of ugly now that you’re drunk. I don’t know why she even likes you.” Blake leaned back on his pillows. He looked relaxed and he was quiet for so long that I thought he had fallen asleep. Right as I was about to leave, he spoke. “It isn’t me she likes. It is my crown and my status,” he explained. “She’s a very conniving, scheming person.” “Well, I could have told you that last part,” I said, turning toward him again. “Kelly belonged to my uncle’s group. She was loyal to him and I don’t doubt that she has intentions that coincide with his ambitions. That is the only reason she’s pursuing me.” Horrible workaholic, his mind seemed to be suddenly clear when talking about work. “I see what you mean about people always using you. How can you ever trust that someone is pursuing you because they like you?” I whispered. “It is my cross to bear.” Blake sighed and sank further down on the pillows. His eyes were closed now and his breathing deeper. The alcohol was finally getting to him. “Well, have a good night,” I said. I turned to leave for a second time. My foot got stuck in the pile of clothes on the floor. Grunting, I stepped back and tried to shake the clothes off my foot, but instead, I stood on the train of my dress and lost my footing. “Ahh!” I cried as I fell back. Thump. I landed on the bed, right across Blake’s lap. With a snort, Blake opened his eyes halfway. He grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. “B–Blake, what are you doing?” I gasped as he pinned me against his chest. My cheek rested on his warm skin and I could hear his heart thudding in his chest. Blake’s hands ran up and down my sides, the satin of my dress sliding pleasantly against my skin. “Hey!” I warned as he moved his hands to my hips and then around to my butt. With a soft moan, Blake grabbed my butt and pulled me even harder against him. “What are you doing!?” I cried. I tried to push at his chest but his arms were like steel cables around me. “You’re so warm and soft,” he murmured, nuzzling his nose into my hair. “You smell so good.” I lifted my head, trying to put distance between us. The lace covering on my dress bunched up around his hands. A shudder ran through me. I didn’t want him touching me like that, it was too intimate, but I couldn’t deny that it made me feel good. “So pretty. So sweet,” he whispered in my ear, his nose nuzzling at my n*eck. “Blake, let me go. You’re drunk and I should get to bed before you do something…” Blake’s mouth crashed down on mine. “Mmmm!” I pushed against his chest, my eyes popping out of my head. His arms tightened around me and his l*ps pressed harder to mine. I tried to wiggle away from him but his arms were too tight.  As quickly as the k*ss had started, it was over. Blake’s mouth no longer covered mine and his arms released me. I pulled away from him and stood again. I straightened out my dress and whipped around to yell at Blake, my heart racing in my chest and my hands shaking. He’d crossed a line this time. I wasn’t going to keep letting him do whatever he wanted with me. Glaring, I put my hands on my hips, admonishments rising in my throat and dying before they left my l*ps. I sighed and threw my head back. Blake was slumped over, chin to his chest, snoring. Typical. I took another moment to straighten my dress and left Blake’s room. When I got to my room. I locked the door. Not that I thought he’d find his way in, but I needed to be completely alone. As I sat at my vanity and took the little flowers out of my hair, my l*ps stung. I tried to push the memory of the k*ss away but I couldn’t. The anger I’d felt before didn’t burn in my blood this time. He’d touched me and held me like any real lover. That wasn’t what we were, though. I slammed my brush down and groaned. With any luck. Blake would be too drunk to remember what had happened. Sighing. I looked down at my wedding dress. This wasn’t how my real wedding night was supposed to be. Thoughts of Jeremy crept into my mind and how I’d thought our wedding night would have been. Jeremy was chased out, suddenly, by thoughts of Blake’s mouth covering mine. Absently, I traced a finger over my l*ps. That k*ss was stained in my memory.