Chapter 169
Chapter 169:
Her gaze landed on the bed where I’d slept, and a flicker of disappointment crossed her face when she realized it was empty. I smirked despite myself. Maybe she wasn’t as indifferent to me as she tried to act.
“You gonna stand there gawking, or are we going to make this morning count?” Ace teased, urging me forward.
“Patience,” I shot back, stepping into the room.
When her eyes finally swung to me, the air between us shifted. I felt it as surely as I felt the pull of the bond—the electric charge that sparked to life whenever we were near each other. Her blush was instantaneous, painting her cheeks a soft pink that made my wolf howl with satisfaction.
“She’s blushing for us,” Ace purred.
“Down, boy,” I muttered, though my own pulse betrayed me.
I placed the tea on her nightstand, careful not to spill a drop. “I brought you tea,” I said, my voice softer now. The way she stared at me, wide-eyed and flustered, was almost too much.
Her fingers brushed against mine when she reached for the cup, and the spark that shot through me was undeniable. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she felt it too.
She mumbled something about being “warm,” and I raised an eyebrow, biting back a laugh. She was lying, poorly. But I didn’t call her on it. Not yet. Instead, I studied her, letting the silence stretch just enough to make her squirm.
“You’re an interesting one,” I said finally, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
Ace snorted. “Understatement of the century p>
Jasmine groaned, running a hand through her hair, and I couldn’t help but find the gesture endearing. She was trying so hard to keep it together, but the bond was getting to her. Just like it was getting to me. When I stood to leave, I felt her eyes on me. She didn’t say anything, but her gaze lingered, tracing the lines of my chest, my shoulders. Ace practically preened under the attention.
“She’s looking,” he crowed.
I smirked, throwing one last glance over my shoulder as I headed for the door. “Call me if you need anything,” I said, keeping my tone casual even as my pulse thundered in my ears.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․c𝓸𝗆 brings imagination alive
As soon as the door closed behind me, Ace let out a low growl of approval. “She wants us. Did you see the way she looked at us? Smelled us p>
“She’s just figuring things out,” I said, though my lips quirked up despite myself.
Ace huffed. “You keep telling yourself that. But mark my words—she’ll be ours completely. Sooner than you think p>
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “She’s already ours, Ace. We just have to make sure she knows it p>
“Wait, why am I outside? I was meant to watch her drink, right p>
“Poor nervous soul,” Ace teased.
“Poor nervous soul,” Ace teased, his voice dripping with amusement.
I groaned under my breath, pacing outside the door like a fool. “I just… didn’t want to smother her p>
Ace snorted. “Smother her? You walked out before she even took a sip. She probably thinks you’re some awkward pup p>
I rubbed a hand down my face. Maybe I was acting like a lovesick teenager. It wasn’t like me at all. I was an Alpha—a leader, a warrior, a protector. But around Jasmine, I felt unmoored. Like every carefully constructed piece of my identity unraveled the moment she looked at me.
“Go back in,” Ace urged.
“Why not p>