Chapter 27

Earl Walked back to his chambers quietly, he had too much going on in his head. If he was being sincere to himself he had to admit he left the room because Nellie was there and to stay there he had to control his hunger for her, his wolf was either hungry or angry- or maybe both. Usually, his wolf was always hungry for blood but ever since he tasted Nellie's lips he didn't know how to curb the need and desire he was feeling inside, maybe having Nellie on his bed was a bad idea after all.

The Witcher was coming tomorrow, that will mean Nellie will be safe to go back to her room, something he knew she couldn't wait for. Earl sighed, he had to think of a way to make her stay, at least a good sleep is guaranteed if she remained there.

Earl sensed someone behind him and turned around abruptly, he looked around in the dark and found no one. He was about to heighten his senses when he heard the female voice.

"Don't stress, My Lord" Astrid!

She stood there in only her night dress, her breasts pointing at him invitingly, the dress was as transparent as her raven blue eyes and her brown hair flowed down her shoulders gracefully. She was a sight to behold.

"What are you doing out here by this time of the night?" Earl kept his distance from her, he had a lot of temptation already.

"I came out for some air, My Lord" She flashed him a smile.

"That's okay, I was just about going in" Earl made to pass but Astrid held his hands to stop him.

"Just when I thought you will stay with me" she wore a pleading look.

"I can't stay Astrid, I have a lot to do tomorrow and I need to sleep now" Earl made to pass again but she held him back with her two hands hugging his chest.

"You used to come to me before, even when your Luna was here and now that she is no longer here you stopped coming. What changed?" Astrid's hands tightened on his chest, she was not about to let him go.

"I have a lot of things to deal with right now Astrid, I am too busy for such things" Earl kept a straight face and stood unmoving.

"Or is it that I'm no longer attractive enough for you?" Astrid's hands began to move on Earl's chest.

"Astrid you are a very beautiful lady and…"

"Is it the wolf? The new wolf! It's her right? I see the way you look at her, you even let her sleep on your bed" Her voice was beginning to sound very harsh.

"What are you talking about?" Earl was short of words, he couldn't tell Astrid why Nellie was sleeping in his bed because that was one very funny reason.

"But don't worry, I am going to change all of that now" She turned around to face him now.

Before Earl could protest, Astrid placed one hand on his chest and the other circled his back, he had no time to push her away. He spent another minute wondering why he should push her away when his wolf was this hungry? It had been months since he took a woman to bed and Nellie's presence was not helping him, that was one reason he left the room, he couldn't admit it to himself but he had to now.

"What are you doing Astrid? Someone might see us and…"

"Shhh… Ina is no longer around, who else are you scared that will find us? Oh you want it in a hidden place? Let's go to my chambers then"

That offer was very tempting but Earl could not understand why his body was not reacting the way it should, the fire that lighted up when he had kissed Nellie that afternoon was not there, it was almost like he had no desire for a woman at the moment.

Astrid held Earl in place and kissed him fully on the lips, he didn't resist, he didn't urge her to stop or go on. He just stood there, waiting, searching for the flames to engulf him but nothing happened.

He felt nothing, he was about pushing Astrid away when he sensed someone… a familiar scent. Trailing the scent that led his eyes up the steps, Earl was surprised to find Nellie standing there like a lost angel. She was watching him intently, the look on her face went from hurt to pain and for a split second, Earl thought he saw a disappointed look in her eyes but all that was quickly replaced by an apologetic look which had her hurrying up the steps, the sound of her footsteps echoing in his ears.

"Nellie wait…" Earl made to run after her but Astrid held his hands giving him a questioning look.

"Why are you going after her? We were in the middle of something before she came…"

Earl swung his hands free from Astrid's grip and pushed her away from him slightly, she landed on her back and sat there looking up at him in surprise.

"This should be the last time you ever think of coming an inch close to me again! Whatever happened between us before now is in the past, I am no longer interested in that. Keep your distance and do what you are here to do because I won't think twice before sending you out of this castle" With that, Earl hurried up the stairs with a speed he rarely used.

Astrid sat on the floor sulking, Earl had never spoken or treated her like this even when he was still married to Ina, he came to her whenever he needed a break from stress. Astrid shook her head as if to shake away reality, something was definitely wrong, something was going on.

It was obvious now and she knew just what to do.
••••••••••••••

What was happening to her? Nellie kept asking herself as she lay on the bed unmoving. Why didn't she just go back to her room? Why was she angry that Earl had gone out to his mistress? All those shouldn't bother, she kept reminding herself, but hell it did! Why did it bother her that he went out, why did she feel betrayed?

Surely just the one kiss they had shared could not have gotten into her head like that? If she had known, she wouldn't have gone out! Why did she go out to look for him? Of Course as an Alpha he was entitled to have as many mistresses as he could and marry as many wives as he wanted, the only thing he could only have once was a mate, and not many wolves were lucky enough to find their mates or not even all of them had one.

His Luna was probably his mate and Astrid must be his mistress, that explains a lot, that explains why Astrid hates her so much. Why hasn't she figured it out since? Earl knew Astrid hated her and that was why he kept her in his room when she was unconscious… so Astrid doesn't kill her just yet. He had told her that if she was going to die someday then it was definitely going to be by his hands, he was probably just saving her for that day.

But what was he waiting for? To have his way with her? Was that why he was trying to seduce her with words? She had been stupid enough to kiss him earlier and here she was lying in his bed. She thought of leaving his room and going back to her chambers. She was about to leave the bed when she heard his footsteps approaching from outside.

Nellie lay back down quietly, she lay quietly still facing her side of the bed and shutting her eyes tightly. She heard him come in and after what seemed like an eternity, his weight landed on the bed, she heard him groan as if I'm frustration before she felt his gaze on her back, she shut her eyes even tighter.

"Nellie." He said it almost like a whisper.

Nellie said nothing.

"I don't know what you saw earlier but I can explain…" Earl raised one hand as if to touch Nellie, his face was peeking at her face which was covered by her hair.

Nellie waited for him to continue but she heard nothing, he probably changed his mind about telling her, who was she anyway? He owes her no explanation for his actions.

Nellie hoped he would continue but when she waited for a few minutes without hearing his voice or any movement from his part of the bed she was forced to turn around and check what was happening.

Earl lay there, sleeping very peacefully.
•••••••••••••••••

"Why did you send the Rogues after the lady?" Tony asked again.

Ina regarded him for a few more seconds before replying,

"To kill her of course."

"Why would you want her dead?" Tony's eyes were dark now, he was probably very angry.

"Because she should be" was all Ina replied.

"Why should she be?" Tony asked again.

"Because I want her to be" Ina was having a difficult time controlling her temper now.

"Not because you still love Earl so much that you can't stand the thought of seeing him in another woman's hands?" Tony's eyes held hers now.

"That is not true, I just want him miserable" Her anger was rising now.

"Do you? You sent my men after that woman without even informing me, why? For your own selfish interest, if you love Earl so much then why did you come with me?"Tony's face was red with anger

"Tony…" She tried a softer tone now "I came here with you willingly, I left Earl to be with you even when I knew I stood a greater chance of happiness with him than I stand with you, do you know why? It's because I love you, I want to be with you no matter what and not even Earl can change that"

Tony's eyes softened, "Then why did you send the men without informing me" His voice was more calm now.

"We both have a goal here, and that is to see Earl miserable, I just thought I could help and I wanted it to be a surprise news for you when you find out his new plaything is dead- by my hands" It was working, Tony's face was completely calm now and there was no trace of anger in him.

"I thought you wanted her dead because you want him to be with you alone," he reached out to caress her face with his hands "Ina, you know the kind of battle we are fighting. The Blood pack is a very powerful pack, Earl himself is very powerful, if anything, his Beta will never allow anything happen to him, we have to think very critically before attacking them"

Earl gave him one of those baby faces that made his knees weak, she looked like she was going to cry. "I just wanted him to feel all kinds of misery, I want to help you. I don't want to be here as a liability,I want to help you get the revenge you want so we can live together in harmony"

Even as she said it, Ina wondered if that will ever be possible, Tony was a insatiable man, both for power and women, she wanted a man that she could have all to herself and not one she would share with everyone, but even with that, she loved him and she was going to change him, she will mold him into what she wanted him to be.

"I totally understand, My Lady. And I appreciate every little effort you make. But we have to think before acting, we just lost five of our men to a situation that would have been totally avoidable. I value my men and I don't want any of them to go missing because I'll need them for the battle ahead"

Ina was sniffing now, she knew just how to get him- her tears, it was every man's weakness.

"Shhh… don't cry. The new play thing in question was the Alpha of the Moon pack and they want her dead. That is exactly why I haven't made a move on her yet, I am convinced that her pack would come for her soon because she is now considered a betrayer, so let's just relax and plan on the bigger price ahead"

"I hope that happens very soon" Ina tried to sound very flat.

"I bet it will" Tony pulled her in for a hug.

"I learnt she is now sleeping in his bed- in his chambers" She swallowed the hurt she felt and because Tony was now looking down at her questioningly, with one hand on her cheek, she added, "Incase you ever think of paying them a surprise visit"

He smiled to the last part and the look on his face was replaced with a genuine smile, "Now how did you get that very vital information, surely not from the Rogue that returned?"

Ina returned his gaze with a matching smile, with one hand on his head ready to pull him in for a kiss.

"No. I have my own sources"