Chapter 26

Nellie knew it was useless persuading Earl to let her go to her room but she tried anyway, not like she wanted to go back there either but after what happened between them that afternoon Nellie thought it would be awkward for them to sleep on the same bed.

"You know that's a very ridiculous thing to do. I mean you are an Alpha, a married man and I am a lady!"

"I never knew I was married, and what has all that gotten to do with this?" Earl raised a questioning brow and wore a very confused look.

"Everything! It's totally unladylike for a lady to sleep on the same bed with a man she is not married to" Nellie tried to bring her voice down.

"And when did you ever consider yourself a lady? I mean it's not like this is the first time you will be sleeping with me" Earl said the last part with a teasing smile.

"Sleeping with…" Now Nellie you really have to leave this jerk. "Don't say it like that! That is a totally different context, I have never slept with you, I have only slept on the same bed with you, once!"

"Once..." Earl appeared thoughtful for a while, "you meant thrice, the last two days you have been in that bed, I could have done anything I pleased with you, you know" One of his eyes winked at her to make sure she understood what he meant

Nellie flushed with embarrassment on realizing what he just said, she had not thought about that earlier. She had been sleeping on the same bed with this jerk for two days! On his bed! Did he…?

"To be very clear, the first day was out of fear and the last two days I was unconscious, surely you did not take advantage of me?" Nellie's face flushed again.

Earl bursted into a very long laugh, he didn't stop laughing even when he saw Nellie's fists tighten like she was going to punch him, she changed her mind and loosened her fists.

"Relax, I wouldn't take advantage of an unconscious woman, although it was quite tempting. '' He licked his lips again and winked just to annoy Nellie. "But thinking about it now, you just clenched your fists to hit me- that is unladylike. You were an Alpha- that is unladylike, I saw you kill a Rogue the other day with just your claws- that is very unladylike"

Nellie's cheek was burning red by now.

"Surely doing one more unladylike thing will not change your name, will it?"

"You are a so unbelievable"

"I know" He moved closer to where she stood and looked at her, his eyes piercing through her soul.

"Look Nellie, I only want you safe. I don't want those Rogues coming back for you and there is every possibility that they might capture or kill you this time. You are safe in here, with me and that is why I want you here, I won't do anything you don't want, I promise"

Earl's voice was gentle and soothing this time, Nellie only nodded in utter surrender and headed towards the bathroom. There was no point arguing with Earl, he actually made sense with what he just said, maybe she was just overthinking it. She sighed when she reached the bathroom door, turning to Earl who still stood by the window she asked;

"Can I atleast get a change of clothes?"

"Ofcourse, I'll have the maids bring it up. You might need help with your hair, should I help?" Earl taunted.

Nellie ignored him and rang for a maid. She was hoping to see Ariel but she was disappointed when the door opened and a young maid appeared,

"My Lord, My Lady" The maid bowed.

"Where is Ariel?"

"I have not seen her My Lady"

"Please get me a few clothes I can change into clothes from my room" Nellie thought of asking Earl if she could go with the maid to pick what she needed but she decided against it, he was not going to agree. She wished Ariel was here, where was she? "That will be all.

"Okay My Lady" The maid bowed and left.

Nellie went into the bathroom as soon as the maid left, she was tired. After making sure the bathroom door was properly locked, she lay in the bathtub naked, allowing the cold water to soothe her skin. She needed the coolness.

What was Earl doing to her? He was the most arrogant and bold man she'd ever met. Piere dare not talk to her in such a manner as Earl, with Piere she was always in control. Piere respected her decisions and he treated her like a lady, they had never spent a night on the same bed before, the farthest they could go in their relationship was kiss and it was always like a duty, something she started as an experiment when they were betrothed- as a teenager she wanted to explore, and she knew her limits.

Nellie never thought there were any special feelings or pleasure attached to kissing but it was totally different with Earl, that one kiss they shared… she couldn't forget it. How was she going to cope with sleeping on the same bed with this man?

It was not until thirty minutes later that Nellie came out of the bathroom, looking around the room she could tell Earl was not in. She sighed in relief, he'd probably gone out to take care of something. She quickly slipped into a gown the maid had brought before drying her skin, she sat in front of the dressing mirror and combed her hair to dry it.

She waited for a while to see if Earl would return from wherever he was, but when he did not show up several minutes later, she climbed the bed and in no time she was in a deep sleep.
••••••••••••••

Charlie could barely eat, he didn't know what was wrong with him but his mood was awfully bad. He had been happy a few hours ago but sitting in his room right now he felt like something was missing… he couldn't place what but he felt empty. ..

He rang for a maid to come clear the plates and a maid appeared,

"My Lord" The redhead girl bowed.

"Where is Ariel?" He found himself asking before he could stop himself, why was he asking after her?

"I have not seen her, My Lord," The maid answered.

Charlie motioned for her to take the plates and leave, if Ariel decided not to disturb him today that was certainly very good. But for some reason he couldn't even understand he had hoped he would find her in his room when he came.

Was it the heat? She had ignited a fire in him that needed to consume something or someone, Ariel only reminded him that he had not taken a woman to bed in a long time. He thought about what he had told Earl earlier, he was going to get himself a woman to satisfy his needs, his wolf was hungry.

He clumsily fell on the bed and lay there for a while hoping he could at least get some sleep. If Ariel decides not to bother him tonight then it was actually very good, he tried to ignore the little voice in his head that protested. Should he have taken her when she offered herself? She is just a maid and he was a Beta! Whatever gave her the silly theory that they were destined to be? Not even as husband and wife but mate? She was really reaching for the stars.

After lying in bed for what seemed like eternity with no trace of sleep or peace, Charlie stood up and picked his sword, he was going to go out for a walk to calm his nerves at least, a walk in the moonlight.

Charlie left the room and walked down the hall. He decided to get a drink before deciding where to go. His mind never leaving Ariel, how was he supposed to concentrate on any other thing apart from Ariel? She occupied his mind so much that it pissed him off.

Charlie poured himself wine from a bottle in the dining room, he gulped the first glass and was about to gulp the second one when he heard footsteps, he listened again but when he heard nothing he continued drinking.

After the third glass he decided to go outside the castle for some fresh air, he went around the castle and stood there staring at the half moon in the sky, it was getting to full moon… a time when his senses were always very sharp, his wolf was always more hungry when the full moon was approaching, be it for blood or sex. At the thought of that Charlie scoffed at himself when he realized that Ariel came to his mind, what should he do to get her out of his mind?

Maybe he should visit his mother's house one of these days? He hated going there, the air around the house had never been the same after his father's death… His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the footsteps again, someone was definitely out here.

He rounded the corner and followed his senses, the heartbeat led him to the garden. There Earl stood hands on his back, his black hair flying with the wing. He didn't seem to notice Charlie, he appeared to be in deep thought.

"Trouble in paradise?" Charlie asked, standing beside him.

"I do have a paradise, but there is no trouble in it" Earl replied with indifference.

"I didn't know the castle has now become a paradise, I wish I could say the same for myself"

Earl shrugged, he didn't even know which part of the palace he was referring to as a paradise, maybe the party where Nellie was lying in his bed?

"Why are you out here by this time?" Earl asked, trying to divert the question.

"I couldn't sleep, I have a lot in my head"

"I figured. What could be bothering you?" It was rare to find Charlie in this mood, things rarely got to him so this was a new occurrence.

"I'll figure it out, it's nothing serious" Charlie did not know how to bring up the topic of Ariel to Earl.

"I think I know what your problem is"

Charlie hoped Earl had not read his thoughts, "what is my problem?"

"I think you need to get laid. '' Earl's voice was daunting as ever.

"That's not entirely a lie, I'll consider it"

"You see? I have the perfect solutions" Earl flashed himself a smile.

"And you, why are you out here? Nightmares?" It was his turn to taunt Earl.

"Not when Nellie is on my bed"

"What? How did you get her to agree to that?"

Earl smiled to himself, simple logic he thought. To Charlie, he said nothing.

"Now I know what your problem is, I know why you are out here" Charlie whispered in a frantic voice.

"Do you? Tell me about it" Earl was looking at him now.

"You are actually having a hard time keeping your hands to yourself and don't even try to deny it, I figured out that stunt you pulled earlier, you just wanted Nellie's attention"

Earl quickly looked away from Charlie and sucked in air, "You are just being silly"

"I know what I'm saying Earl, I think you are beginning to…"

"Don't say it!" Earl barked

"Then how do you explain what is happening?"

"I only want her in my bed because I don't have nightmares when I sleep with…I mean when she sleeps in my bed" Earl stuttered.

"Hmm" was all Charlie said to that.

"Don't attach too much to it," Earl quickly added.

"I see, then why are you out here instead of being in bed with your dream god?"

"I came out for air" Earl was trying to keep his voice low.

"You bet" Charlie smiled knowingly.

"I'm going back in, you should too"

Charlie watched Earl leave, he stood there for another minute smiling knowing to himself.