Fie Wright's P. O. V

The slow shivers cascading down my arms as tingles arise on the tips of my fingers. Every inch of where I'm wrapped up in my mate's hold comes to life as I snuggle further into his warmth. The man seems to have no objection as his arms tighten around me further, his one hand leaning my side to trail up over my body till it's gently cupping my cheek. The entire palm swallowing my face as I nuzzle into it, my face nudging him as he slowly starts to stroke the soft skin.

The complete one eighty is evident to both of us but I like how we're simply going with the flow and not questioning things.

At least I'm not.

Another round of thunder has me nearly jumping back but stopping in place as Malleus' arms encircle me fully, a disgruntled growl escaping his lips as thunder flashes all around us.

"We should head back inside." I mumble slowly to which his growl raises in annoyance just a tinge more.

"Okay." He hums before removing me from his warm embrace. I have to physically hold myself back from grabbing ahold of him to resume our previous position but instead I settle for a nearly non existent pout as I step back.

The walk back to the inner folds of the castle is ten times more thrilling than the depressing walk I was traversing on my own back to my pack members. Instead the butterflies in my stomach that I get from being so near my mate causes me to nearly bounce on my toes and skip around like fae through a blooming meadow.

I try my best to ignore the raging desire of clinging onto my mate so that the both of us are at least sharing some sort of skin to skin contact. Sadly, the mere distance of a few inches between us isn't cutting it especially with how my own fingers twitch besides my sides due to the insane pull of our bond wanting us to lay our hands on each other like our lives depended on it.

The walking helps to deter my fidgeting but in the end, my wolf wins my internal battle and I decide to just shoot in the dark.

What's the worst that could happen?

Deciding to give it a go, I sidle closer to him and while still staring ahead, I besides me to wrap a hand around his bulging bicep. The sensation of frenzied tingles spark to life but settle down into a calm buzz. I try my hardest to keep my smile in control but it just about manages to break free and tugs at my lips when his fast paced movements slow down so that we're walking in sync and I can leisurely hold onto his arm without swinging from it like a monkey on a high up tree branch.

The next obstacle I have to face is the certain look in peoples eyes as they all stare at us with both dumbfounded yet intrigued expressions. I'm guessing this is something I should definitely feel used to considering the fact of who my mate is.

Yes I'm going to keep reminding myself that my mate is the King. It's the only thought that keeps evading me and makes all of this seem like a far away dream than it already is. Especially with the added fact that I'm going to be Queen.

Oh my.

That still hasn't settled in properly.

"Where are we going?" I ask him quietly but he doesn't seem to have any problem with hearing what I have to say as he nods his head in the direction of where we're going.

"We'll go back to our room so that you can rest for a few hours. Freshen up," he stops himself mid way as he assesses my state of being covered in that same old grime of travel along with my haystack of a hairstyle due to the roughage and rain my hair has been subjected to. That doesn't seem to deter the man as his hand reaches up to stroke at my cheek, the soothing caress sending me to cloud nine as I have to battle each and every part of myself to not close my eyes at the sensation. "-After that you and your pack members can have dinner and we'll further discuss what will happen." He completes as I nod my head, completely fazed.

That leaves us to walk further on in silence till we finally reach the same room I had stormed out of a little while ago. The entire ordeal causing me to blush a bright red as the embarrassment hits me straight on in the face. My fidgeting sadly doesn't go unnoticed as my hand drops from around my mate's muscle clad bicep and I step further into the room till I'm standing right in front of the threshold.

Malleus visibly hesitates as he eyes the room before taking a tentative step forward. One part of me expects him to reach out and push me back into his hold but that goes without saying as he instead heads further into the sitting room himself. The man not stopping when he reaches the threshold to his own room as he enters it without a further glance back.

I decide to awkwardly move about the room, hesitant to even touch anything as I glide from the windows with the enticing backdrop and then to the grand fireplace and back again. My pacing stops when the door to Malleus' bedroom opens up again, the man striding forward with clothes in his hand as he motions me over to my room with a quick motion of his hands.

I can already tell Malleus is a man of few words and it does worry me since once I'm comfortable with someone, I can chat their ear off.

I guess I'll be doing the talking for the both of us?

The silence is almost unbearable as he walks to the other end of my room and throws the door open, my eyes catching sight of the bathroom before me. The bathroom leaving me stunned even more so than the room what with its tiled and stone interior. The expanse of the area being taken up by a huge soaking tub as the only visible part of it is the steaming water emerging from the depths of the water with steps leading down into it. An equally huge shower attached to the top. To the side is the sink with cabinets under neath it and a railing stack full of towels with the toilet to the side.

"The water is warm. Take a shower and then come back outside to the sitting room." Is all he says before leaving me to my business.

I don't need to be told twice as I strip immediately, feeling slightly perturbed at the sight of me as I catch sight of myself in the huge mirror above the sink. I can't believe my mate saw me for the first time looking like a piece of crap.

I hope 'first impression is the last impression' doesn't abide by him because I do not need him remembering me like that at all.

The next seconds consist of me trying to hold back groans as I descend the steps and into the blissfully hot water. The steam coupled with the warmth has my knotted muscles undoing themselves as the unknown aches make themselves known only to be taken away as I relax further into the water. My lips are clamped shut so as to not let a moan slip passed them, already knowing Malleus might get mixed ideas as to what I'm doing in the bathroom.

Luckily the products I need to wash myself are stacked up to the side and I find myself going through all the nicely scented washes and shampoos till I find the one I appeal to the most. My frizzy curls don't seem to like the shampoo and I already know it's going to be a hassle to get the products I need to relax my hair in a completely different realm.

I don't waste any more time as I finally get out of the bath, feeling a bit confused since I'm sure there's no plug or anything I can pull the plug off too, the shower also still running from the top causing me to frown in worry. Getting off the stairs, I glance around the bathroom for any indication but when I turn back around the water has already stopped running and is being drained out from who knows where.

That's not weird at all, I think to myself with that same frown before shrugging it off and grabbing a towel from the heating rack and drying myself off before finding my backpack sitting atop the close toilet. Taking out a pair of clean undergarments, I ignore all my dirty clothes already noting the pile of clothes lying to the side that Malleus was carrying. Glancing further, I notice it's a pair of shorts and a short sleeved grey v neck t shirt which is smothered in his scent.

My wolf nearly jumps out of me as I don the clothes, nearly rolling about in his scent and comfy clothes on the floor but stopping myself as I put the towels into a hamper and exit the bathroom. My eyes immediately latching onto Malleus who is sitting on one of the sofas with files stacked in front of him.

The man's own eyes snap to me as I make my way over to him, my movements slightly sluggish as all I want to do is curl up into a nice soft bed and sleep away the rest of the day. Malleus doesn't seem to appreciate the state I come out in as he stands up, placing the file in his hand to the side and telling me to sit where he was before heading back in the direction I came from. Just as my backside hits the cushion of the couch, the man comes striding back out with a towel in hand and the same ever lasting frown. I don't even get a chance to question his motives as he sits directly behind me and starts to run the warm towel through the strands of my damp hair.

He can't obviously see my raised eyebrows in question but nonetheless must catch the hint as I hear him speak up, "You'll catch a cold walking around here with wet hair."

My facial expression turns to one of confusion as he continues to rub the towel through my hair, taking time over the dripping ends.

I don't mention the fact that I have to air dry my hair since it frizzes up even more but instead say something else, "We're werewolves. We don't get sick as easily."

"There is still that limited chance. I don't want you sick." He quips back while I mentally shrug, giving up the argument. It's not like I mind him attending to me. It's actually quite pleasant.

I'm glad I manage to ignore the snarky part of me who scoffs at being treated like a child since a much larger part loves and thrives in the attention I'm getting.

Once he's done and satisfied, the man gets up and goes to the bathroom presumably to put the towel in the hamper as he comes back within a few seconds.

"What were you doing?" I can't help but to ask as he takes the place he was sitting in before, the file in his hand as he leans back into the comfort of the chair.

"Reading up on some issues. You can go to your room and rest till dinner or would you like to do something else?" He questions as his gaze remains focused on the words written in the file. Chewing on my lip, I debate on what to do since I did want to lay down and take a quick nap in that overly large bed of mine but I already know my wolf will be grumbling at me the entire time. Instead I find myself curling up besides him but with enough space between us so that I don't look clingy. Relaxing into the sofa, I lean my head back against it before speaking up.

"I'll just sit here for a bit." Apparently I severely misjudge the exhaustion I'm feeling since it barely even takes me a minute before my eyes are closing on their own accord and I'm being pulled into a deep sleep. Nothing jolting me from it as the only thing I remember is being pulled into something warm as my head falls to the side and nuzzles into something that weirdly nuzzles me back. Of course I'm too tired to even question it as sleep consumes me.

"Fie."

"Fie."

"Fie!" The voice grows louder and louder as I scrunch my features up in annoyance, turning my back towards the source of the noise so as for it to not disturb me further. Instead warm arms wrap around me as a leg slips off of the furniture I'm lying on. This only causing me to be disturbed even further in my sleep. Coming back to my senses, I peel open my eyes with all the strength I possess only to come face to face with blue eyes that I recognise immediately.

I mean how could I not recognise my literal other half?

"What happened?" I mumble through bleary eyes as I rub at them so that I can take in what's happening exactly. Lowering my hands, I jerk up instantly as my face starts to turn a bright red when I catch sight of how I was positioned. It was a mere innocent act of me falling asleep on his shoulder which led to my mate pulling me into his lap where my head had lain.

Of course my eyes immediately zeroed in on where my head was directly lying on before I glance away and up into his eyes instead.

"You fell asleep." Is all he says while I nod my head.

Yeah. You don't say.

"It's time for dinner. I want you to eat something and then you can go back to sleep if you wish." I nod my head as I sit up further, stretching slightly to get more relaxed. However, my stretching gets cut off short when the door to the sitting room flies open and smacks against the wall causing me to wince and Malleus to let out a resounding growl. That in itself causes the perpetrator to shuffle awkwardly over the threshold as they debate whether to come in or not.

"You can't do anything right, can you? I question a sheepish looking Ezra who finally decides on stepping inside and mumbling a quick apology to the man besides me.

"Sorry about that. I used more strength than necessary. Anyways, they called us to dinner and I was wondering if you both would join us?" I turn towards Malleus who simply stares at Ezra with a blank look on his face.

"Erm. My King?" Ezra asks awkwardly as I stand up myself, ignoring the numb sensation in my leg as I hobble over to the nervous man who sidles closer to me. Acting like I'll protect him from the big bad wolf. Quite literally.

"You two are cousins." Is all Malleus says. The words supposedly being a question but coming out in a mix between nonchalance and a growl.

I can't help but to roll my eyes at his words since I've already told him multiple times I'm related to this big idiot besides me but apparently my mate is a bigger one since he needs such a simple fact to be drilled into his head even more.

"Yes, my King. Fie's father is my mother's brother. We're practically siblings." Ezra answers obediently causing Malleus to nod while I try my best to not roll my eyes even further for fear of them being stuck like that forever.

"Malleus just mentioned dinner so I guess we'll be having it together." I speak up and motion for him to exit the room as I follow behind him. Leaving it up to Malleus if he wants to trod along or not. The man doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as me since he, instead, grabs my arm gently till I'm turning towards him. Raising my eyes from off of his chest, I connect them with his own as I try to decipher what exactly he's got swirling on in that complicated brain of his.

"You sure there is nothing going on with that boy." His question and tone screams innocent curiosity while my groan already alerts him to the fact I know what he's trying play at while I simultaneously try to stop myself from gagging.

"That boy is my cousin. It's disgusting what you're implying." I say, this time letting my irritation and repugnance show fully.

Malleus shrugs in a surprisingly nonchalant manner as he leads me to follow a hurrying Ezra who doesn't even notice the huge distance between us.

"I know very well how some Packs in the other realm feel towards attraction among family. As abhorrent and against nature as it may be, some wolves do not have a problem with intermingling and in breeding." My face scrunches up in disgust at the thought while I shake my head.

"I don't think I'm hungry anymore." I comment but stop when I catch his eyes.

"You'll eat." Is all I get in answer while I nod in defeat. Already knowing my growling stomach won't take no for an answer. Even if it wasn't growling, I still wouldn't take no for an answer.

We all head in to a huge room that's lit with candles, adding to the somber glow as the rain continues to patter on outside heavily. The rest of our pack seems to be casually laying about but immediately stand to attention when they catch sight of Malleus causing my eyebrows to raise. Maybe I'm lacking a bit in the respect department because I definitely have not been reacting to him like that.

"Food is being served in the room adjacent to this. Please make your way there." Malleus instructs as Ezra rushes by me with a quick friendly tap to the shoulder. I nearly lunge at him since I know he's inadvertently riling my mate up. Before I can do anything, however, he's already rushing into the opposite room with the others while I slowly follow behind with my mate.

"Ignore that. He just likes messing about." I mumble, hoping he doesn't think too much of it. Instead of a mere answer, I get turned around till I'm staring at dark blue eyes.

"I don't care about him now, Fie. Just remember that you're mine, wolf." With that, he heads towards where the other's disappeared to while I shift uneasily in my spot before giving myself and my wolf a good mental shake.

Here I thought I'd finally gotten a control over my hormones.

———————

AN: The writers block was real with this chapter. It just wasn't flowing at all and I'm so sorry! Let me know if you think it's a bit off. Also do you think the book is running a bit slow? Should I pick up the pace? I'd love some constructive criticism!

Question: Would you rather change sex every time you sneeze or never be able to tell the difference between a muffin and a baby?

^Don't question that question lol.

Please remember to:

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