Chapter 49 - You’re disgusting her

HADRIAN

Nero is ecstatic when Emma recognizes him. He moves closer and presses our nose against her cheek. For a second I worry that Emma is going to be afraid, but she laughs. The sound is like crystal bells chiming in the air. Everything sounds more pure in our wolf form. For better or worse.

“I can’t believe you're his wolf.”

*“I don’t want to believe it either.”* Nero barks at her.

She doesn’t understand him but chuckles anyway.

I grumble to my wolf, but he ignores me.

Emma runs her fingers through our fur. “You saved me in the woods and the city. That was all you?”

*“Sure was.”* Nero sits up proud and puffs out his chest.

*“She means us both,”* I grumble.

Emma scratches her nails behind our ear and it has Nero roll his eyes back and his paw stamping on the grass.

Nero licks her cheeks and Emma squeals. “Ew, gross!”

I regret letting Emma meet Nero officially. I promised to let him have the reins for a few minutes. *“You’re disgusting her.”* I gripe.

Emma sinks down on the grass and Nero rests his head on her lap. Emma continues to run her fingers through our fur.

Nero hums and his eyes close. *"Like you, when you showed off your erect dick. You know that’s against the law right?”*

*“I wasn’t showing off. It does that when I’m around her.”* I grumble.

*“And she wasn’t disgusted.”*

*“I think that you’re just a little jealous.”* Nero chuckles and it moves through his chest. *“And salty that you can’t stick your dick in her.”*

*“Shut up,”* I growl.

*“How many times have you jerked off today?”*

*“I said shut up.”*

Nero snickers.

“What’s so funny?” Emma asks. Nero shakes his head and I’m surprised that Emma picked up on his amusement.

The sun has descended for the night and the moon starts to rise. I feel the energy in our body and it urges us to move. There is a reason why I picked today to go to Septentrion instead of waiting until after the festival and taking Emma with me.

The energy in my body needs to get out. I won’t be able to stay around the palace. I fear losing control. Better put it to use and run all the way to Septentrion.

*“We should go,”* I tell Nero.

He wines and I get it. Her presence and scent are so soothing. Every morning is an agony to get up and leave her sleeping, while I push my body through exhaustion and discomfort on the training field.

But Nero has a lot of pride and a strong sense of duty. We are similar that way. Nero stands up and takes a step back.

“Do you really need to go alone?” Emma asks when she gets up from the ground.

Nero nods and pushes her with his nose back to the palace.

“All right, I get it.” She turns to the palace and freezes. “Wait, do I get it? Do you really want me to climb back alone?”

The steps are big enough for my feet and hers are tiny. Honestly, the way down is harder than up. It doesn’t seem so bad to me, but maybe I’m underestimating what it’s like for a human.

Still, we push her to the wall and help her get back up. We carefully monitor her steps. If she does fall, then we’ll be here to catch her. She won’t hit the ground.

I hear a guard in the far distance. I don’t want anyone to find out that I’m going to Septentrion tonight, it might raise unwanted attention on us.

Emma staggers a step when she steps on the ledge. Our whole body wires taut.

*“This was a mistake,”* Nero growls.

*“I know.”*

*“You put our mate in unnecessary danger.”*

Nero is right. I shouldn’t have suggested taking the ledge. It seems harmless when I’m up there myself or when I’m holding her hand to guide her. But I’m now standing down here, helplessly watching. I feel stupid and see a hundred new dangers that I’ve never seen before.

My heart is racing a thousand beats a minute and I sigh in relief when she gets hold of the window frame. Emma moves inside and casts a glance our way. I hold her eyes for a moment and then turn to the forest before the guard finds me.

———————

I heave two deep breaths and slow down the pace. I ran all through the night. The sun warms up the ground beneath my paws. Septentrion is a lot colder than Sanguinem. There are fewer trees here and the environment is frigid. Most of the land is covered in snow and snowflakes fall from the sky. The snowflakes land in our fur and I shake them off.

The houses of the Snow Moon pack come into view. I shift and put on the clothes that I’ve brought with me.

There are not many people walking the streets. Many houses are old and in need of restoration. Every pack within the kingdom is eligible for funds for the upkeep of the living environment for its citizens.

Or so I thought.

Three werewolves approach me from behind and I turn to face them. In the middle stands an older man with a white beard and his hands resting on a wooden cane. He’s flanked by two younger men closer to my age. They have bulky frames and breathe in to expand their chest.

“What are you doing here, stranger?” The man with the cane asks. There are deep lines in his face and his gray hair reaches to his shoulders. The man must be over a hundred years old.

They must not recognize me and I’m not surprised by it. I’ve rarely visited any packs outside of Sanguinem. I want to keep my anonymity for as long as I’m here. That also means, keeping myself from shifting.

“Just passing through.” I look around the crumbling town. “Do you have a place to eat?”

“We don’t get many visitors these days.” The man looks me up and down. I’m dressed casually and I have my aura firmly tucked in.

The man gestures for me to follow him. “You can join us for breakfast in the pack house.”

I nod and follow the old man through the town. The two other men throw me looks filled with suspicion, wariness and hostility. The two men let me pass and walk behind me. Their eyes bore into my back. I ignore the looming threat as it runs over my spine and makes the hairs stand up.

The pack house is withered. The white paint is peeling off from the brick walls. The front door creaks when the old man opens it. The smell of oats and milk surrounds us when we walk through the door.

There are two women in the kitchen. An older woman with gray hair tied up in a knot and a younger girl in her early twenties. The girl has brown hair that almost looks black and has gray eyes.

Her eyes are not deep and stormy like Emma's. The girl flushes when I greet them and it reminds me even more of my mate at home. The longing to go back aches in my core. Is she still sleeping? Is she cold? Does she miss me as badly as I miss her?

“Where are you from?” The old man asks and sits down at the head of the table.

I turn my attention back to the man. “Sanguinem.” I take a seat next to him.

The man eyes me warily and he interlaces his weathered fingers. “Hmm, you’re far from home.”

“I’m visiting family in the Spirit Moon pack.”

The girl places food on the table and pours me some tea. I thank her and she bats her eyelashes at me.

“Does she have something in her eye?” Nero asks.

I grit my teeth. “No, she doesn’t.” My body repels the attention of another female. There once was a time when I engaged in all the attention given to me. I’m not proud of it, but it was a way for me to feel in control. To feel appreciated and valued, even if it was just for the performance of my dick.

I turn my attention back to the old man. “Are you the Alpha of the pack?” I already know that he isn’t. I already know that this town has no Alpha.

“My brother, but he recently passed away.”

“My condolences.”

The pack house starts to fill up with more burly men. They take their seats around the table. Their eyes never leave me as they eat the food that is served to them by the girl.

Their reticule ignites fire in my chest and pumps the adrenaline to my muscles. I squeeze my hand and take a deep breath to suppress the urge to fight. The coming moon is affecting me hard now even in the daytime. I can feel the energy in the air. I need to keep my cool. I’ve lost it too many times during the Blood Moon to know what happens if I don’t.

It’s not a pretty sight.

I realize that the town has hardly any females around. The logs must be true then.

I take a bite of the tasteless porridge and keep my face even. “What about your Luna?”

“You ask a lot of questions, Stranger.” One of the burly men says before he takes a large bite of porridge.

Several men around him nod in agreement. I take that they see him as some kind of a leader. The man is closer to middle-aged. His hair is thinner at the top. I hold his gaze and notice that he has bluish-gray eyes.

“She died eight years ago together with many other women in the town.” The girl eventually says. Her voice is soft and harmonious.

“Only women?” I turn to ask the girl. She looks away from my gaze and nods. The flush on her face increases.

I hear the cracking of knuckles around me and I wonder if somebody already laid their claim on her. If only they knew how little interest I hold for the girl.

“Was there another connection between their deaths?” I ask the girl.

She has a tight grip on the can of water in her hands and peers at the men around the table.

“I think it’s time for you to leave.” The burly man stands up and six more guys appear at the doorway.

I look at the old man, but he’s shrinking in his seat. “We don’t want any trouble, Your Highness.” There is a tremble in his voice.

They recognize me and it’s clear that the old man holds no authority around here. I take in my surroundings and count fifteen men.

“I see that I’m not welcome here.”

Nero is growling and on edge. The men enclose me from all sides. This is going to be a dirty fight.

I take a deep breath and let the curse of my bloodline fill my veins.