Chapter 84

Noah

In the quiet realm of Noah's heart, a tempest of emotions brewed since the day of the exhibition. The vivid hues of art seemed to pale in comparison to the colors that Almara brought into his world. Her presence, once a fleeting glance, now filled every corner of his thoughts.

It was a force he could neither ignore nor deny - an inexorable pull drawing him closer to her with each passing moment. As their paths intertwined, Noah grappled with a torrent of emotions, yearning to bridge the chasm between friendship and something more profound.

Almara's visits to Noah's house became more than casual encounters; they were threads binding their souls together. In her laughter, he found solace, and in her gaze, he glimpsed a world of unspoken understanding.

Their conversations wove tales of shared dreams and aspirations, painting a future that seemed incomplete without the other. Noah's heart quickened at the sound of her footsteps approaching, and time seemed to stretch, willing them to linger in each other's company.

Within the confines of Noah's house, a dance of shadows and light unfolded, mirroring the ebb and flow of their emotions. The air hummed with an unspoken tension, a palpable energy that defied articulation.

Almara's presence was a symphony of sensations, a melody that resonated deep within Noah's soul. With each passing day, the boundaries of propriety blurred, and Noah found himself teetering on the precipice of a truth he dared not name.

In the quiet moments, when words hung suspended in the air, Noah and Almara found solace in the symphony of silence. Their gazes held secrets that danced between them, untold stories that whispered in the spaces between heartbeats.

It was a language only they understood, a connection that transcended the realm of mere mortals. In those stolen moments, time seemed to hold its breath, as if aware of the fragile beauty that hung in the balance.

Noah's longing unfurled like a canvas, each stroke of emotion vivid and alive. The walls of his heart, once guarded, now echoed with the resonance of a burgeoning desire. Almara's essence permeated every inch of his being, an intoxicating fragrance that intoxicated his senses.

He yearned to etch his love into the very fabric of the universe, to declare to the world that she was his, and he was hers. Somewhere deep inside, Noah knew that these feelings weren’t normal. They were borderline delusional. But that part of him was always quickly silenced whenever he became aware of it.

Yet, amid the whirlwind of emotions, Noah grappled with the weight of his desires. He treaded the fine line between longing and respect, aware that love was a delicate tapestry that required patience and tenderness.

The fire within him burned fiercely, but so did the desire to protect what they had forged. Each day, he fought against the impulse to lay his heart bare, to risk the fragile equilibrium they had achieved.

Noah wanted her. He wanted her now. His fangs descended every time she was near him, the pulse in her throat calling to him. He was practically salivating at the thought of tasting her blood once again.

The fact that he had to wait until her pregnancy was one-hundred percent viable was almost torture. He didn’t want to wait anymore. The bond between her and Arthur was growing stronger day by day.

And every day, Noah had to resist tearing out the alpha’s neck every time he dropped Almara off at the house. Every touch that they shared stoked the fire of hate and envy within him. How dare that wolf touch what was rightfully his?

The vampire council weren’t helping matters, either. They sent several envoys to see how things were progressing. It pissed Noah off to no end. Why couldn’t they just leave him alone? He would deliver on his promise. Sort of.

The council still didn’t suspect that Noah was going to whisk Almara and the child away as soon as he could. He wouldn’t share her. Not with anyone. Not even the council. She was his. She was his alone.

As the days passed, he found himself pacing throughout the dark halls of his home. Back and forth. Back and forth. He was surprised he hadn’t made a hole with all of his pacing. The little comfort he had was when she came to work in the mornings.

Even though the hours that she was there were maddening. Noah could see from the way she looked at him that she wanted him too. That she felt trapped in her marriage with the alpha. He could save her.

The part of Noah that was still a bit stable yelled that wasn’t how Almara felt. She had chosen Arthur time and again. She would never willingly leave Arthur. But the more dominant part of Noah wouldn’t hear it.

These weren’t delusions. How could they be? Not when the bond between them was so strong. It had always been strong. If Noah had bet Almara before Arthur, everything would be different. Almara would already be his.

He might not even have had to involve the council. He would have made her just like him. He wouldn’t have to be alone anymore. He wouldn’t have to spend endless days with only paint for company.

No. Wherever they ended up, their home would be filled with the sound of a child’s laughter and the smell of fresh paint. And when the child was old enough, he would turn her too and they would be a family forever.

While he was at it, he might even take his rightful place back. After all, why only stop at a family. He would need to protect his family and in order to do that, he would need power. The council was only formed due to his absence, after all.

They wouldn’t willingly give up the power that they had. Noah knew that. But he would kill them all for Almara and their child. He would burn the whole world for them.

But first he had to tell Almara everything. And he planned on doing that tomorrow when she came to work. Her pregnancy was far enough along that the baby would survive if they performed a c-section.

Noah just didn’t want the official start of their relationship built on lies. Almara deserved to know the truth. About who he really was, what he really was. Once he explained everything to her, Noah was sure she would be on board. She had to be. They were meant to be together.

He had already prepared the room she would be staying in. He had imbued it with strong magic. Even Arthur wouldn’t be able to find her there. The magic would dampen the mate bond. All Arthur would be able to feel would be that she was alive.

Once she was a vampire, the mate bond would be severed permanently. And Almara would be free to love him openly. Noah was sure that she would be thrilled.

Noah had thought of everything. There would be no last minute disturbances. After tomorrow, Almara would be his and she would be immortal. Noah licked his lips, his fangs popping out as he thought about it. He couldn’t wait.