Chapter 158 – Refugees

Ella

“What do you mean, you lost my sister?” I demanded, baring my fangs at Roger. Sinclair held me at the waist, preventing me from lunging at his brother, as my wolf urged.

Roger raised his hands defensively. “She’s probably back at the palace. We were talking, and she got annoyed with me and left.”

“Then why didn’t you follow her? She’s the only human on an entire continent of wolves, and you just let her run off alone?” I hissed, lashing out with my claws. Sinclair purred and took a step back, causing my claws to swipe at air. “She doesn’t know her way around or have any contacts here!”

“You ought to give her more credit. She’s a big girl, Ella,” Roger said with infuriating confidence. “She’s also known about and worked with shifters far longer than you have. She’s used to being the only human in the room.”

“How dare you tell me how to feel about my sister? She’s my sister, not yours. You don’t know the first thing about her,” I accused, my annoyance growing. “Why I oughta—”

“Alright, trouble, why don’t we go back to the palace and make sure Cora’s home safe? If she isn’t, we can go looking, and I’ll even let you beat up Roger. How does that sound?” Sinclair suggested, his lips near my ear.

“I heard that,” Roger informed us, thoroughly exasperated.

“Can I still beat him up, even if she’s back at the palace?” I asked, batting my eyelashes at my mate and ignoring the impudent wolf in front of us.

“Hmm, I’ll think about it,” Sinclair promised, kissing my lips. Besides, Cora isn’t the only one who ran off into the unknown today. I think maybe you’ve been a bad influence on her. He added in my head, his voice sultry.

My jaw dropped at his accusation. I turned to face him, and he immediately pulled me close despite my protest. “That isn’t fair! I haven’t learned to control my wolf yet.”

Sinclair’s dark chuckle echoed in my mind. Don’t pretend like it was an accident, little mate. I know you too well.

“Big bully,” I accused, nibbling his neck and delivering a sharp nip when his emerald eyes met mine.

I knew I was pushing my luck, and I didn’t care. After so much running, playing, and flirting, we both needed a release. As soon as we located Cora, I fully expected Sinclair to confine us to our suite until morning. I was eager and ready for him, and the knowledge that our lovemaking would keep his mind off the war was a bonus. Making Sinclair take a day off required constant effort—and I was more than happy to pay the price.

Luckily, Cora was waiting at the palace when we returned, though she wouldn’t tell me what happened with Roger, no matter how many times I asked. Eventually, Sinclair dragged me away, and thanks to his ravenous wolf, I soon forgot my anger with his brother. In fact, he ravished me so thoroughly that I could barely remember my own name afterward. I lay sprawled across his chest, near comatose, as he stroked my spine and whispered sweet nothings—some more scandalous than others—in my ear.

My eyelids grew heavy, and I tried to push myself up, painfully aware that if I fell asleep, Sinclair would probably go back to work. Sinclair’s arm locked around me, and I whined with annoyance. “Let me up, Dominic.”

“You were projecting your thoughts again, trouble,” Sinclair informed me, encouraging me to stay. “You need your rest, and you’re not going to lose it for my sake.”

Damned bond, I thought bitterly, and his growly laugh wrapped around me like a cozy blanket. “Will you at least nap with me?” I requested, too exhausted to argue or move. If I were as enormous as my mate, lying on top of him might trap him in bed, but that wasn’t the case. Instead, I hoped I could snuggle in so completely that he wouldn’t risk waking me by moving.

Such a mischievous little wolf, Sinclair teased, his deep voice full of praise. I’ll rest for a while, but I can’t promise I’ll stay for the whole nap.

Realizing this was the best I could hope for, I surrendered, falling asleep to the sound of my mate’s purrs.

When I woke, my body was sated and sore, but I was alone in bed. I glanced at the clock and realized I’d napped most of the afternoon. Even so, I knew I’d probably crash again in a few hours. I rubbed my baby bump with a sigh. “I love you, angel. But these constant naps do get in the way of Mommy’s diabolical plans.”

Oh sure, blame the pup, my wolf joked. Never mind the Alpha who pleasures you into a coma every few hours.

She had a point. If I didn’t know better, I might think Sinclair was using sex to exhaust me, but this was always the way with his wolf. He never seemed to get enough of me, and I knew he wouldn’t turn his attention from the war if he could help it. This was pure instinct, and I wasn’t complaining.

I pulled on a robe and wandered into the other room, where I could hear my mate talking with Hugo, Henry, Roger, and Gabriel. Sinclair’s eyes locked onto me the moment I entered, following my movements with total focus. I yawned and stretched, unwittingly emitting a sleepy moan, and I saw Sinclair’s pupils dilate with desire. You’re playing a dangerous game tempting me in front of all these wolves, sweet mate. Flaunting your delectable curves, those sexy little sounds. His wolf was clearly taking over, and I felt a rush of pride at my effect on him.

“I’m just stretching,” my wolf muttered honestly, as I crawled into Sinclair’s lap. He welcomed me with open arms, wrapping me in a tight embrace and kissing me—as if we were the only ones in the room. I could feel his hardness pressing against me, which still stung from my earlier “discipline”—but it was a delightful ache that sent pulses of heat to my core. If we weren’t careful, the entire room might soon know how out of control our libidos had become since we mated. It might not surprise or bother them, but I still had enough human hang-ups to try and avoid it.

Luckily, Sinclair seemed no more interested in putting on a show than I was. “How was your nap?” Sinclair asked, changing the subject.

“Lonely,” I complained. “I fell asleep warm, safe, and satisfied, and then I woke up cold and alone.”

“Poor baby,” Sinclair crooned, caressing my round belly. “You know I would have liked nothing more than to stay and snuggle with you.”

“But more important things came up?” I sniffed, playing up my pitiful tone.

“Nothing is more important to me than you and Rafe,” Sinclair rumbled fiercely, softening his tone as he reluctantly continued. “But there were more pressing things, yes.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. Of course, I knew the war was more pressing, and it wasn’t that I wasn’t heartbroken or worried. I was just pleased that I’d convinced Sinclair to take a break.

“Sweetheart,” he said, pulling my attention from my thoughts. “Refugees from the continent started arriving in Vanara today. Gabriel is working on setting up shelters, but things are escalating quickly. We’ve been discussing plans for me to travel north and meet with the other rulers… to start building alliances and pooling resources.”

“Oh,” I murmured softly. “Are the other rulers likely to be sympathetic to our cause?”

Gabriel spoke first. “I think they will. The noble ones will want to help their fellow wolves. The selfish will fear Damon gaining enough power to expand his empire into Vanara, or at least worry about the strain of taking in a continent’s worth of refugees. I think there’s a very strong chance you’ll be able to garner the backing you require.”

“That’s good,” I assessed, yawning again. “So when do we leave?”

Sinclair’s mouth tightened, and one by one, the other men rose from the table and left the room. I knew this wasn’t a good sign, but I didn’t want to contemplate what it might mean. Of course, that knowledge couldn’t be avoided. Sinclair cupped my face in his hand, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “Ella, it’s clear I have to go… but I’m not sure if I can take you with me.”