Chapter 73: Halt The Thoughts
“Lady Seraphina, this letter is addressed to you.”
I was busy admiring seeing the black-eyed Susan flower when a pack warrior arrived with a letter. “To me?” He nodded and bestowed it on me with his head lowering. I thanked him before I dismissed him.
I went to the hammock and gasped upon seeing where the letter came from… “Nicklaus…?” My jaw dropped upon reading that it came from Nicklaus. I opened it out of curiosity and the context was…
***Greetings, Seraphina!
I know that what happened the last time came a bit short. If you have some time, can we catch up with each other more? I am going to return to the royal palace in three days.
If you wish to see me, too, I am going to the Steamy Espresso Cafe which is located on Morven Street, at nine o’clock. Tomorrow.
Hoping to see you there, Seraphina.
Kindest regards,
N. Romero***
I couldn’t help but smile at his letter. Of course, I would like to catch up with him.
“Mama, what are you reading?”
I turned my head to see Sander who was sweating from training.
Desmond had already commenced his training since… he really was the son of the Alpha. Sander was also the next heir. There was nothing for me to disagree with Desmond since he already made plans for him.
On second thought, I also thought this would be best that Sander was receiving a good education which I couldn’t bestow properly if I was still the one working so hard.
“I received a letter from a friend,” I said as I took the towel from him and wiped his face. “How’s your training, sweetheart? Are your Gamma instructors teaching you properly?”
“Hmm!” He beamed. “Auntie Niscia said that I still need to do the basic training first.” He settled on the grass before he hugged my waist so he could put his ear on my stomach. “What did your friend say, Mama?”
I continued wiping his wet hair. I sniffed him as he smelled like Desmond right now. He must have been with him.
“He wants to meet me in a certain cafe tomorrow. I am planning to go there.”
“He?” He raised his head with his forehead creasing. “A male?” I nodded. “Who? Do I know him, Mama?”
“No, baby. You haven’t met him.”
“Papa knows him?” Hesitant, I nodded. “Oh…” He kept nodding. “Are you going to date him, Mama?”
“What?” I chuckled.
“You said that you are meeting a male friend. Is that a date?”
“A friendly date, Sander.”
He slightly tilted his head. “It is still a date.” His lips twitched into the corner of his lips. I was about to explain again but he smiled. “As long as you are happy, Mama. I am also happy for you.” He hugged me before he kissed my cheek and bid farewell to me when he was being called by his mentors.
The way Sander spoke… Yes, he already knew that Desmond and I had divorced from our marriage. But we told him that his father and I would remain friends.
At first, it was hard for him to accept. We explained to him properly that I was still going to live here with them. He, later on, told us that as long as Desmond and I were happy with our decision, he would also support it.
Since then, Desmond and I never failed to provide him with everything while I was in my one-month and one-week pregnancy.
My eyes darted to the letter. Nicklaus hadn’t returned yet to the royal palace. Perhaps, I should really meet him for the old time’s sake.
“It is better to go than stay here in the manor for the whole day…” I murmured, shaking my head.
I decided to go inside to check the kitchen area to prepare some refreshments and snacks for Desmond since he was the one handling the renovation of the nursery room located in the east hall.
“My lady, let us handle it,” said Aly, one of the maids.
“No need. I can still bring it.” I was talking about the tray.
But Aly insisted and took the tray from me. Sighing, I just let her and went upstairs near the east hall where Desmond’s chamber was located. My chamber had been moved as well to the east hall since he really wanted to watch over my pregnancy. Also, he wanted my chamber to be next to him so he could tend to me as soon as possible.
However, for Sander, he insisted that he wanted to stay in the north hall which Desmond just allowed.
I took the tray from Aly and gestured my head that I could handle it from here. She curtsied before me and left.
As I arrived at the nursery room, I saw Desmond on his topless. His sculpted back was facing in my direction as he was carefully using the adhesive glue so he could glue the wall carpet.
“Hey… I brought you some snacks.” I gathered his attention.
One thing that I was surprised more was that Desmond was handling this renovation alone. He would only ask for help from the butlers and maids when he thought that he couldn’t handle it anymore.
I was expecting that he would complain but I never once saw him ever since he started renovating this chamber for the nursery room of our second pup.
Desmond turned his head in my direction. I gulped when he was covered in sweat and wiped them with the towel I brought just for him. “Thank you, Seraphina. I am really famished right now,” he said and didn’t hesitate to eat.
I took the towel from him since he didn’t wipe his sweat properly. “Let me.”
His eyes widened. “No need!” He panicked and suddenly looked shy at me.
I looked at him in disbelief. Wait… Desmond was looking shy? A tyrant Alpha was looking shy at me? Was I seeing this for real right now?
“Just continue to eat and let me do this for you.” I put down his hand and wiped his sweat again. I even started from his hair. “Are you certain that you are not going to patrol right now?” I asked. “I mean you have Alpha duties…”
Desmond shrugged. “It’s fine. For where else I took two Betas as second-in-command, Seraphina. They wouldn’t be called for second-in-command for that reason, no?” He had a look of amusement when our eyes met.
I sealed my mouth after that. Ah, yes. Indeed. How could I ever forget that I had been once a Luna here in his pack? The pack could run as long as the Beta handles it well by following the instruction of their Alpha.
“Sorry, I forgot.” I continued wiping his shoulders down to his back.
“I also want to focus more here. I really want to finish renovating the nursery room. Then I shall renovate my study room.”
I snapped back when he mentioned his study room. “Why would you renovate it?” I arched my eyebrow when he gawked at me.
“For a change.” That did not make me want to believe his words. I was expecting that he would say more about it but he stayed silent and continued eating his snack.
Sighing, I just let him and wiped the sweat on his chest. “If you say so then.”
Having myself closer to Desmond was like a trap. It felt… intoxicating. And my wolf was making me think some wild thoughts seeing his half-naked body. I suddenly remembered how his body used to be on top of mine after our lovemaking.
I flinched when Desmond halted my hand that was near to his stomach as he growled at me. “What the hell are you thinking and I can smell your arousal, Seraphina?”
I held my breath when Desmond drew me near to him causing me to widen my eyes in shock. “N-Nothing,” I lied.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.
In an instant, I was already in his lap. I panicked when he locked me in his arms and drew his face closer to me. It gave me a moment to smell his intoxicating, alluring scent as my mate.
“Are you lusting over me, Seraphina?” he asked in a sensual tone. His hand on my flank sent a thousand sensations through my whole body.
“No!” I said defensively. I tried to get away from him but I felt like I had grown too weak right now. “Desmond!”
Desmond was making my knees wobble all of a sudden. I didn’t have the heart to stand up. His amber eyes were staring at me as if he could read me.
His other free hand reached for my neck and choked me. There was a guttural sound released from my mouth as I looked at him with droopy eyes. It was what made me want to obey him all of a sudden.
His lips drew closer to my ear. “Why are you acting like that as if you want me to do something with you, Seraphina? I thought we were just friends, hmm?”
“We are friends…” I bit my lower lip when his lips were slowly trailing down to my earlobe. “Desmond… We cannot do this, you know that…” I slowly closed my eyes, feeling aroused right now.
I heard his low chuckle. “Alright. You know that I am not going to take advantage of you unless…” I peeled my eyes open when I felt him distancing a little. His hand reached for my cheek. “If you take advantage of me, you know that there shall be no way that I can be halted.” His thumb brushed my lower lip. “I suggest that you must distance yourself from me, Seraphina. You know that our wolves are going to entice us if one of us is going to give in to their temptation, do you understand me?” I stared into his eyes. His eyes were glowing in lust right now.
My eyes lowered down to his lips. It has been a long while since I last kissed them. How I long to have them again. But I knew that was truly impossible.
“Your answer?” I snapped back hearing his frigid, husky tone.
I licked my lips before I nodded. “Yes… I understand, cinnamon.”
What I said made both of us gasp in unison, especially since I called him on my endearment to him before. Desmond couldn’t believe that I uttered that so I immediately stood up in embarrassment.
“I-It’s an automatic response… I… I…” I was suddenly lost in words as I panicked right now. I just didn’t expect that I would respond like that.
Desmond used his domineering tone which was why I had an automatic response when he asked me that. He must have not expected based on the surprising expression he expressed on his face.
“I-I must take my leave,” I said immediately and didn’t wait for his response as I left the nursery room with the greatest humiliation I ever had.