Chapter 125 - The time of waiting is over

HADRIAN

There’s an unease settling over me. The factory has a chill to it that shouldn’t affect me. Nero is on edge as well. He has been ever since we arrived at the factory. I had the same when I first saw and all the hazardous traps.

It’s that time of the week again when Dex wants to measure Emma’s progress. Last week she was a lot faster than the week before and her progress excited the whole group.

I know, however, that it was the day after I marked her. We’ve both been getting stronger ever since. I’ve been itching to shift and run loops around Aldea.

Being around Emma charges me to a new level of strength. This has been the same for her and it has been evident in her training.

She left together with Dex a few hours ago and I’ve been on edge ever since.

“This is taking too long,” I complain to Carter.

“They’re not going to be here for at least another thirty minutes.” Carter scribbles down the times of Alex and Kelsey.

“They’re back,” Alex calls from where she is resting in the grass together with Kelsey. They’ve only been back a short while and the fatigue has not yet recovered.

“Or not,” Carter says confused and peers down at the papers in his hands.

Emma runs over the makeshift finish line. “What’s the time?” Her face is flushed and sweat covers her skin. The exhaustion is clear, but there is also eagerness and excitement in her eyes.

“You’re thirty-four minutes faster than last time,” Carter says with a frown. He leaves through the papers back and forth. The progress she’s making is unnatural and it’s starting to show.

“Whoo!” Emma cheers with contagious laughter. Her smile is bright and overrules any fatigue.

“That was amazing.” Dex cheers and spins her around in a tight hug. Her feet lift from the ground as he completes a full circle around them.

*"Kill him.”* Nero barks. Murderous intent surges through me. *“Make him regret touching our mate.”*

The possessive intensity that I normally feel is doubled with the discernment of my wolf. The alignment is hard to overcome and claws grow from my hands. My skin burns with the preparation to shift. My muscles swell and stretch within the confinement of my clothes.

I turn away from the group fast. I walk into the factory before anyone notices me losing restraint.

I grab hold of one of the steel pillars and my fingers dig into the metal like it's made of butter. I take a calming breath while Nero howls in my mind.

The scent of gunpowder is lingering in the air and singes my nostrils. I use the distraction. I move closer to the source and walk further into the hall. The mix of sulfur and carbon is overwhelming when I turn into a secluded part of the factory.

The scent comes from a storage room filled with boxes. I open one of them that is stacked against a wall and it’s filled to the brim with gunpowder. I run a hand through the black powder and it stains my fingers.

Footsteps echo and become louder when they come closer.

“There you are, dude,” Dex says as he comes up behind me. “We’re leaving.”

“There’s gunpowder here.” I dust my hand off and close the box.

“It’s from the mine. They used it to dig up metals.” Dex explains it like the knowledge is common sense.

I turn to Dex with a scowl. My anger has not yet dimmed. “This is a dangerously large amount.”

Dex nods as he takes in the room. “I agree, could probably blow up the whole town with it.”

His shoulders are relaxed as he rests his hands in his pockets. His posture is laid back even if concern creates a grimace on his face. “But there’s no better place to keep it than here. I don’t want this stuff near the town.”

It makes sense, even if I don’t like Emma to be in the proximity of all this. There are so many dangers here already. This doesn’t help with the anxious feeling in my gut.

I follow Dex to the rest of the group. Dex slows down his pace and takes his time to get back. “Can I get your advice on something?”

“Sure,” I say even if it's the last thing I want to do.

His easy-going nature has been replaced by the seriousness that shines through every now and then when he steps up as the leader. “Emma is making great progress lately and I think we should capitalize on that.”

I watch how the group comes into view in the distance. Emma is lying on the grass as she recovers from the exercise. The rise and fall from her chest is more rapid than usual. The swell of her breasts strains against the fabric of her shirt. Her skin has a shine from perspiration and it makes her glow in the sunlight.

“I've been thinking about going ahead with our mission the day after the wedding.”

I turn to Dex and find that he has his gaze directed at Emma too. I take a deep breath to calm the fury and I take a step to block his view. “That’s in three days.”

“There is never going to be a good moment to do this.” Dex pulls his cigarettes from his pocket when we exit the building. “We cannot wait for too long. There have been more sightings of soldiers lately. I fear that they might find the town.”

If the army finds the town, then there's going to be a bloodbath. Making hard decisions is what makes a good leader. Dex provides for the town and its inhabitants. I only ever have seen him focused on his goals, never seen him slacking. I sometimes wish he would. It would be easier to hate him. I can’t fault Dex for being a leader to his people.

“Why would you ask me?” There is just a mere tolerance between us. And that is only in times where he isn't salivating after my mate. It’s not like we’re friends. He should discuss this with Carter or Alex.

“You don’t have the same attachment to the town yet. I know the others might want to postpone.”

It seems too soon. Is there ever going to be a good time? No. I would never want Emma to put herself in any danger. But does this war need to end? Yes.

Now that I have my wolf back and find more strength every day. I think it’s time that I face my father.

“I think you’re right. The time of waiting is over.”

———————

The ring feels heavy in my pocket as I take a seat in the car. My thoughts wander to finding the right moment to give it to her. I’ve been thinking about this for a few days now.

Emma slides into the car next to me. I’m surprised because she usually sits next to someone else to not draw any attention to us. She pulls off the extra layer that she was wearing and her ponytail swings in my direction.

Her hair graces my chest and her scent hits me in a wave. There is a saltiness to her scent and it mixes with her sweetness. It triggers memories of her sweaty body beneath mine at the end of the night.

“Sorry about that,” Emma says with a wink. The flirtatious action makes me shift in my seat.

We’re not alone in the car. More people fill the confined space under whom Dex, Carter and Ben. It has been like that. We pretend during the day and come together during the night.

*What game is she playing here?*

“It’s fine,” I grumble.

Emma is squirming in her seat. She has a surprising amount of energy left. Her skin is flushed and she fans her face with her hands.

“God, I’m so thirsty,” Emma whines and the desperation borders a fabricated moan. Even if it’s fake, it still stirs my dick awake.

“I bet.” Alex says as she looks up in the rearview mirror with a smirk.

I reach for a bottle of water from the back of the car, but Emma covers her hand over mine. “Don’t worry, I can get it.”

Emma places a hand on my thigh as she twists her body to reach for the bottles of water in the back of the car. The pressure of her touch shoots to my dick and I grit my teeth.

The moment she slides her hand higher has me nearly growling. I have to bite my tongue to prevent drawing any attention to me. My dick swells to its full potential at her touch. It’s a natural response that cannot be stopped. My erection strains against my zipper and waits in anticipation. But Emma pulls her hand away when she sits back down.

Frustration builds in my chest when she doesn’t proceed. My hands twitch with the need to teach her a lesson. I’m rock-hard and I cannot do anything about it.

Emma drinks the water from the bottle and a few drops escape from her mouth. They fall down her neck and chest.

*Fucking hell.*

Things get seriously problematic when I can’t take my eyes off her. She not so subtly runs her fingers over her skin. The heat of her arousal emanates from her in heady clouds.

This little one has not yet learned what will happen when she provokes a wolf.