Chapter 154 - This is our way into the city
HADRIAN
We leave the soldiers behind and tie them with the belts of their uniform. They can break free if they want, but I tell them to stay like an owner would tell their dog. We leave them behind in the forest and take the car to Sanguinem. It won’t take long for Zeno to find out that one particular car is missing, but I’m hoping that it will take long enough for me to get Emma to safety.
The steering wheel beneath my palms is smooth and responsive. The engine roars in the forest and I’m torn between driving as fast as possible and going at a snail's pace. When Emma unbuckles her seat belt, my foot lifts from the gas and our pace turns to the latter.
“What are you doing?” I ask. I’m torn between watching the road ahead and what my mate is doing.
Emma climbs to the back and the front seat digs into her stomach. My fingers grip hard around the steering wheel and my heart beats faster than any moment that I stared death in the eyes. One thought goes around into a loop in my mind.
*Our pup.*
“I just want to check something.” Emma says as she groans and she makes the climb.
“Could you sit down, please?” I try to get her to sit back down by holding her hip, but Emma swatches my hand.
I pull my hand away at her rejection of my touch. I know that she doesn’t mean it like a rejection, but still, I feel like howling like a pathetic wolf. I place both hands back on the wheel and sulk in silence.
I look into the rearview mirror and the little mirror is filled with her perfect round backside. Her body is hanging over the back seats as she rummages in the trunk.
I wipe perspiration from my face and mutter a string of expletives. My breath is erratic and I try to calm myself down. This woman is going to give me high blood pressure.
“I found it.” Emma says and I see her holding a bottle in her hand. Dark green, milky glass is labeled and adorned with black ink.
“What’s that?”
Emma huffs and puffs as she makes her way back to the front seat. "Sansevieria extract.” She says on an exhale and falls back in her seat.
Emma opens the bottle and a strong bitter scent comes from it. She pours a little on her fingers and rubs it onto her skin.
“And?” I ask and grind my teeth when she doesn’t put her seat belt on. I reach over her for the black belt above her right shoulder. When I lean in, I notice that something is very wrong.
I hold my arm over her chest as I bring the car to a full stop. Panic surges through my veins and the hairs on my neck rise.
I take another deep breath when I don’t perceive her scent. Nero’s senses go on high alert and we both put more fuel to the panic. “What did you do?”
Emma is there in her seat watching me in confusion. I can see her with my eyes. I can feel her when I pull her body towards me. Her body exudes a warmth and I hold on to her.
I bury my nose in her neck and bring myself directly to the source of her scent. My heartbeat starts to slow down and the strain in my muscle starts to loosen when I find her vanilla, custard and lemongrass scent.
Her scent was the first thing that drew me to her. Even when my mind and eyes didn’t recognize our mate. Having it gone for even a second is terrifying.
“It camouflages my scent.” Emma says and her words end in a wheeze as I pull her tight against me.
I shackle my arms tight around her ribcage. “I don’t like this.” I move my nose around and her hair tickles my skin. Her soft hands come to my chest.
Emma tries to push herself away from me, but I don’t let her. “You don’t have to like this.” She says with a groan.
She huffs in defeat and the force of her push diminishes. She stays still for a moment, but then hugs me back. “The important thing is that they cannot follow us.”
I know that she’s trying to make me understand and I do, but I can’t shake this panic. There’s a new layer to my protectiveness and it’s consuming me.
“Zeno probably figured out by now what happened. They’re probably already following the trail of the car.” Emma continues. “It’s only a matter of time before they catch up to us.”
The fear, anger and protectiveness gain more and more strength like a snowball getting bigger and bigger as it descends from a mountain. There’s no stopping it and the weight of it will become my downfall.
I try to listen to what Emma is saying to prevent myself from turning back around and ripping off the heads of every single soldier who even dares to think about touching my mate. *Mine.* The darkness growls in the back of my mind.
I need to get Emma somewhere safe and there’s only one place I can think of. One person who I can put my trust in. *Gaius.*
My father must be aware by now of our capture and escape. The chance that more troops will search for us is inevitable. My command overrules the commands of the General, but will it overrule the orders of the Alpha king?
“You’re right.” I say as I ponder through the plan in my head.
“What’s that?” She says and I look around us for something that I might’ve missed.
There’s nothing out of place and I turn my confusion to her. “What is?”
Emma is watching me with victorious eyes and a satisfied smirk. “What you just said.”
“That you are…” I narrow my eyes on my mate when I realize what she’s doing. “Don’t be so greedy, little one.”
Emma giggles and the sound is music to my ears. Nero also perks up at the melodic bell that fills the car. Her smile stretches and it makes my heartbeat pick up once more.
I kiss the lines of her smile and move down her jaw. Her smile fizzles out and turns into a moan when I suck on the spot below her ear.
I pull away before things get more heated. “I know where we can go.”
—————————
We leave the car behind in the forest and take a few supplies with us. I put my trust in my mate and use the Sansevieria extract to conceal my scent. I keep a constant touch on my mate. Even though my eyes perceive her before me, I still feel anxious without her scent lingering around me.
I bring her to a spot in the forest miles from the border of Sanguinem. I sniff around for the faint scent of rusty metal.
“What’s this?” Emma asks when she steps off my back.
I shift back to my human form and reveal the hidden entrance under a pile of branches and leaves. “This is our way into the city.”
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