Chapter 332
Chapter 332
16 – Ben
Her fingers curled tightly around mine, and without hesitation, I found myself trailing behind her, utterly captivated and yet conflicted. My heart pounded so fiercely it felt as though it might burst from my chest, a wild mix of affection and frustration swirling inside me. Every inch of me seemed to be under her spell. I shook my head slightly, attempting to free my hand without causing a scene, especially with so many familiar faces still watching us closely.
“Just come with me,” she whispered sharply, her voice low and urgent. “This is the only way anyone will let us walk away unhindered. Everyone in my pack knows we’re mates—it’s the worst kept secret-and if we appear to be working with the bond, they’ll back off. Then we can search the way we need to p>
“Elara, stop. This isn’t safe,” I insisted, trying again to pull my hand free. We should be far enough away by now, I thought. But she held on tight, leading me deeper into the dense forest. “Elara, wait. Please, wait!” I said more forcefully, planting my feet stubbornly and retracting my arm until she stumbled back against me. “We need backup. This isn’t something we can handle alone p>
“What we really need,” she replied, her voice trembling with urgency, “is to find out what’s inside that cave. Since you all arrived, no one’s been attacked, but how long will that last? I can’t count on you being here forever to keep threats at bay. What happens when you leave? Jeremiah and Rayna will need your full attention soon enough.” Her words tumbled out quickly, her breath hitching as she tried once more to pull me forward. “Please. Don’t fight me on this. Help me get answers so we can get out of here fast. I’m not trying to argue.” She tugged harder on my hand, refusing to let go. “Please,” she repeated, using the mate bond to her advantage, her voice softer but insistent. “I’m not running away or hiding anything from you.” Her grip tightened, and my wolf surrendered, allowing my legs to follow her lead. “I’ve done everything you asked for my own safety. Help me keep my pack safe p>
This time, I stopped resisting and let her guide me forward. I thought that once she realized I was coming willingly, she’d release my hand, but instead, she intertwined our fingers, and the pulse of the bond thrummed strongly between us.
“What did you mean when you said, ‘Jer and Rayna will need me one hundred percent soon’?” I asked quietly, turning her words over in my mind.
“My wolf and I sensed that Rayna might be pregnant when they were here last. It was faint, which means she’s just barely started, but her scent has definitely shifted. Once Jeremiah finds out, he’ll lock her away for sure.” She giggled, the sound light and infectious, sending a warm rush of pleasure through me. “You and your alpha have something in common-locking away what you care about to keep it safe p>
“I’ve never tried to lock you away, Alpha. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t,” I said, a teasing smile tugging at my lips.
She smirked. “I seem to recall being stuck in the house for a whole week with you as my guard p>
“You broke your leg! What was I supposed to do? You wouldn’t rest properly to heal. Even Dev obeyed the rest order and was up in two days. It took us threatening you for two days straight just to keep you in bed, and even then, we bribed you with hourly updates of ‘still walking in the woods p>
“Speaking of,” she interrupted, steering us back to the matter at hand, “we’re close. I’ve got four of the five scent trails right out here.” We were roughly half a mile from the waterfront now. The scents were faint, but her alpha senses were sharp. I could detect them too, now that I was focusing.
“Whatever you do, don’t split up. I want you in my sight at all times. Understand?” I warned, locking eyes with her. I caught a flicker of excitement in her gaze at my command. She loves control, but sometimes I sense she wouldn’t mind handing it over to me for a little while.
“Understood,” she replied firmly.
We pressed onward, descending the slope toward the cliff face. The scents grew stronger but followed a straight line, which was unusual. I had never known a wolf in the forest to move in such a direct path, let alone five moving side-by-side.
“Got it!” she exclaimed suddenly.
“What?” I asked, quickening my pace to catch up.
“Only one of these scents is real. The others are masking it p>
“How can you tell?” I asked, intrigued as I watched her work. I knew this was the moment she would focus all her senses, tuning out everything else around us. That was my role-to watch and protect.
“This one here,” she said, pointing subtly, “has a natural undertone. It’s a female scent, but the others are perfectly flanking her. That’s unnatural. Plus, they have a chemical undertone. The scent has been preserved very well and is being released near her to make it seem like a group is moving through here, but it’s just her p>