Free Web NovelChapter 33: _Almost Claimed
Celeste’s POV
*****
4:20pm, Alpha Heirs Haven
"So... Wait," Silas placed a hand in front of my face while I slipped into my pants. "The Dean just summoned you to his office and told you my brother and Atlas would be your... Bodyguards?"
I sighed, swinging my legs. I sat on the desk, wearing nothing but my bra and pants. Hair was a mess after the fun time with Silas.
And my emotions? Still all over the place.
As for Silas, he sat on the chair behind the desk—donned in nothing but his pants. His chest was still bare, toned pecs glistening under the dim light as he poured himself some vodka. frёeωebɳovel.com
"I swear, it doesn’t get crazier than that." I snapped my neck, fingers gripping the cold desk’s edge. "And Luther dared to try getting close to me. The nerves of that bone-headed brother of yours."
Silas chuckled, eyes fleeting between me and the glass of golden vodka in his grip. Then after a few seconds, he brought it close to my chest. "Are you sure you don’t want a little?"
His voice was calm as ever, hazel eyes filled with reassurance. But I hesitated still—
—Until I didn’t.
Grabbing the glass from his hand, I gave him a nod before downing most of it in a gulp.
"Slow down there," he grabbed my wrist while the burn and distinct chocolate taste settled in. "Don’t you have at least one more class today?"
My cheeks flushed from embarrassment. "Sorry. But nah, the only class I have left today is Magi-Wolf Harmonisation theory—one of the hybrid courses I keep flopping."
Just saying that out loud made me feel like taking another large gulp of alcohol.
Curious, I grabbed the bottle off the desk, squinting at the labelling. "Well, damn. Eighteen per cent." A stupid grin curved my lips, gaze falling on Silas again.
He suddenly seemed so much hotter right now.
"We could..." I rubbed my nose, dropping the bottle all the while he stared at me curiously. "We could hang out here more. Willow’s probably rounding up her mandatory test and—"
"What about the others?" He pulled the question so casually.
My lips parted, fingers loosening a bit on my glass. "T–The others?"
"Your mates. Yes."
Silence dropped hard just then. I would’ve never imagined he’d ask about the others. Perhaps because I didn’t want to answer that question at all.
Shakily, I gulped down what was left of my drink, ignoring the scolding light in his eyes. He hastily took the glass off my fingers, shaking his head.
"Remind me not to offer you alcohol when we’re together."
I rolled my eyes, placing a foot on his lap. He flinched, chest shuddering as I rubbed my toes higher and higher up his left thigh. "You want to know what about the other mates?"
A little redness spread on both his cheeks, but he shook it off in a couple of seconds. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I’m doing?"
"Playing a perilous game, love," He grabbed my ankle, not too tight but enough to act as a warning. "If you continue, we’ll be here all night."
Was that supposed to sound threatening or kinky?
Leaning closer, I added more pressure with my foot, enjoying how he visibly struggled to control himself. "And you think I won’t want that? Or enjoy it?"
It didn’t take long for me to notice a visible strain between his legs, bulging and rumpling his pants.
But then—
He got off the chair. Before I could even register what was happening, he held my leg up on the desk, standing over me while his left hand grabbed my shoulder firmly.
"Oh, you’ll definitely enjoy it. I’m certain." He rasped against my neck, lips grazing intimately. "But then I’d feel like claiming you completely. Following my urges and marking you..."
As he spoke, I felt the warm trickle of his saliva on my neck. Flowing down to my collarbone. Making my skin itch with overwhelming need.
Next came his teeth, not nibbling or biting—but lingering. Close enough to let hell loose in less than a millisecond.
"... Would you want that, Celeste?" He questioned, voice low and serious. "Would you want me to leave a permanent mark that’ll let the whole academy know I claimed you before the others?" Pausing for a second, his mouth brushed my earlobe. "Before Azrael?"
Alright, usually I’m a lightweight. Alcohol hits me almost as hard as an average human and probably just as fast.
But those last words? They all but smacked the tipsiness out of my system.
I blinked, gaze darting away from Silas. An odd sense of guilt I couldn’t understand for the life of me pooled in my chest while breathing became a chore.
Fortunately, the Beta noticed. He stepped back, hands withdrawn to himself. "There it is," he whispered knowingly, making my chest tighten.
The chair squeaked when he landed on it again, arms resting on the armrests. Snapping his fingers, he signalled me to look him in the eyes. "Focus on me, love."
I did just that, fists curling.
Where the fuck did this feeling come from?!
"You’ve been forced into corners most of your life," he continued, voice soft. Grounding. "Having four mates? That dynamic? It’s the biggest curveball the goddess could’ve possibly thrown at you."
Taking my hands in his, he pulled closer, placing himself so perfectly between my legs. "You’re allowed to feel. To give yourself time. To... Navigate this madness." A warm smile stretched his lips. "What you’re not allowed to do is bottle your feelings up. Especially not with me."
He yanked my hands closer, bringing our faces inches away from each other. "NEVER with me. Do you hear?"
I found myself nodding. Relief washed through me like a wave.
"I..." My lips pursed, a thin smile lining them up. "I didn’t realise how much I needed to hear that. All of it."
Just when I was about to thank him—he kissed me.
Not with the same hunger as several minutes ago. No. This was tender. Almost as if he was afraid I’d break.
I kissed him back, eyes fluttering shut.
When we finally broke it off, he rubbed his jaw, resting back on his seat. "I’ll never get tired of doing that."
I giggled, about swerving the topic to something else when the most dreaded thing possible sounded.
Yep... You probably guessed right—
—A knock.
Our necks whipped toward the door in unison. Silas got up first while I panicked, covering my chest with my arms. I quickly grabbed my blouse, putting it on clumsily.
By the time I was done—barely—Silas was already standing by the door. About to open it.
Even before he did, an unexplainable feeling sank inside me, making my gaze narrow as I got on my feet.
"Who is it?" Silas asked when the knock came again, already opening the door.
However, the faces on the other side made me feel like jumping into a portal leading to Mars.
No freaking way...
"Celeste..." Atlas murmured first, golden eyes trailing from Silas’ half-naked form to me repeatedly.
Standing beside him was Azrael—wearing those goddamn sunglasses. And although I couldn’t see his eyes to know how he felt... I could FEEL his emotions. Through the bond.
Gods, they were a lot to unpack for a man so stoic.
No one said a word, eyes moving around the room like it was our first time seeing each other. I didn’t know what to say or do.
But on the bright side, at least Luther wasn’t here.
"We believe you need to know about this too," Atlas continued after what felt like aeons of silence. "And since Silas is here let me just say we do not need anyone else knowing."
What the—
