Chapter 30

Arthur

Arthur was tired. Today had been a particularly grueling day full of mind-numbing tasks and endless meetings. It hadn’t felt like a Saturday at all. All he wanted now was to bury his face in between Almara’s legs and hear her cries of pleasure that only he could give her.

A feral smile crossed his lips. Perhaps tonight could be the night that they finally crossed that line. It wasn’t her fertile period, but he didn’t care. He wanted to bury himself as deep as he could go and feel her break around him.

Ever since he had met her on that cruise, ever since their first night together, he’d wanted her in his bed again. Her scent drew him and his wolf in. It completely overrode the bond he had with Sofia.

Arthur had immediately put his scholars to work to see if there had ever been another case of that happening. But so far they hadn’t come up with anything concrete.

As he climbed the steps to the front door, it opened and the she-wolf he had assigned to be Almara’s bodyguard came running out. By the grim look on her face, he could tell that whatever it was wasn’t going to be good.

“Alpha, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since this morning. I’m afraid I’ve lost your fiance,” she said and Arthur gave her a measured look.

“I’ve had my phone off all day. What do you mean you’ve lost her?”

“She somehow gave me the slip. One second she was in the library talking to your nephew and the next they were gone. I don’t know how they got past me,” Kaylee answered and he had to admire her for her honesty. Not many would admit to their shortcomings.

“It’s not your fault. William grew up here as much as I did. There are passages hidden within those walls that only immediate family know about. Don’t beat yourself up too much about it. Have you heard from them?”

Kaylee straightened her posture, relief evident in her face that she wasn’t going to be punished for her failure, but it was quickly overshadowed by a new worry. “No, I haven’t, Alpha. Nobody has.”

Arthur took out his cell phone and called Almara. It went straight to voicemail. He gritted his teeth. This wasn’t like her. What had William said to her that caused her to leave the house like that? Was his nephew trying to steal her from him too?

He marched straight to his office, the staff scurrying to get out of his way. He briefly wondered what his face looked like to make them run like that. Arthur knew it mustn’t have been pretty.

When he got to his desk, he noticed a hastily scribbled note that he instantly recognized as Almara’s handwriting. He snatched it up.

Dear Arthur,

William is taking me out for the day. Don’t worry. I’ll be home soon.

• Almara

Arthur flipped it over, but there was nothing else. That was all. It didn’t say where they were going or how long they would be gone. What if they were already supposed to be back by now? Did something happen to them?

Arthur pulled his phone back out and dialed William’s number. Straight to voicemail. He crumpled the note in his hand and tossed it into the fireplace.

For the next hour, he rotated between pacing up and down the length of his office and calling their cell phones. The threat his father had made was ringing in his ears. He hadn’t actually thought his father would do something which is why he hadn’t gone to see Sofia. Had he made the wrong choice?

You need to calm down. I’m sure she’s fine. William wouldn’t hurt her or let anything happen to her, Caleb said, trying to reassure him.

I don’t want to hear about calming down from you. You’re the one who lost control last time, Arthur snapped and he ran a hand over his face. His temper was fraying. He wouldn’t admit it to himself, but he was worried.

Besides, the whelp can barely protect himself. He’s too wet behind the ears to offer her any kind of protection, Arthur added, causing Caleb to whine. Caleb knew he was right. William had been born into a life of luxury. He had never had to fight any sort of battles.

“Sir, they’re pulling into the driveway now,” Kaylee informed him, poking her head through the doorway. Arthur wasted no time getting out of the house to go out and meet them.

William had a satisfied smirk on his face that had Arthur’s own face twisting with rage.

“Where the hell have you been?” Arthur demanded as we stepped out. He went to Almara first, checking her over, making sure she wasn’t hurt. He was also taking subtle sniffs here and there to see how intermingled their scents were. Luckily, he found nothing too worrying.

“Relax, Uncle. I just took Almara out on her day off. She’s perfectly safe. We even left you a note,” William said nonchalantly and Arthur turned his gaze on him. Caleb snarled at the utter disrespect that he was showing.

“A note? You think a note was sufficient? You left her bodyguard behind. How could you be so selfish? If you weren’t my nephew…”Arthur let the threat hang open ended, but it was clear what he meant.

“I wasn’t being selfish. I just wanted to give her a fun day. It was all for her,” William told him, like it should be obvious. But Arthur knew better.

Arthur scoffed. “Right. And you had no ulterior motive. I can smell you from here, Nephew. You reek of desire.”

Arthur felt a gentle tug on his arm and he turned his attention back to Almara, effectively dismissing William.

“Let’s just go inside. It’s over now,” she whispered and something in him snapped. She was worried about the whelp when she should have been worried about him.

“It most certainly isn’t over, little wolf. Your punishment hasn’t even begun yet.”

Arthur scooped her up, carrying her bridal style into their bedroom. He was intending to give her so much pleasure that she wouldn’t even need to look at another guy. He was going to make her his in every conceivable way, even if that meant marking her.

Not that I would mind, but if you mark her, there’s no going back. You’d be giving up Sofia and the fated mate bond with her, Caleb chimed in, but Arthur ignored him. He knew what it would mean and he wasn’t sure he cared.

The thought of going back to Sofia made his skin crawl. He had loved her, but she’d broken his heart way too many times. He didn’t think he wanted the mate bond anymore.

Arthur tossed Almara on the bed and smiled when she let out a yelp of surprise. “I’ve been a patient man, little wolf, and that is not part of my nature. It seems you need a reminder of just exactly who I am.”

Almara gazed up at him with fear and Arthur worried maybe he had gone too far this time. But then her expression changed to something more akin to desire and anticipation. Arthur breathed in her scent and it went straight to his groin. Oh yes. He was going to punish her.