Chapter 41: Chaotic Seduction

Azura’s POV

The morning sun was already up, shining bright over the pack grounds. But inside the hallway of the Alpha’s house, it felt like it was still midnight.

I stood outside Rhydor’s study, my back pressed against the cold stone wall. My heart was racing so hard I thought it might burst. I looked down at myself and felt like a total fool. I was wearing a big, heavy cloak that covered me from my neck to my toes, but I knew what was hiding underneath. That red silk dress. It was thin, slippery, and made me feel like I was walking around in my skin.

This is a terrible idea, I thought. My hands were shaking. This isn’t seduction, this is suicide. I am walking into the Alpha’s room looking like a gift wrapped in red string.

Genevieve’s voice was stuck in my head: Use the bond, Azura. He is a man. Then I heard Liona’s voice: Don’t trip, don’t stutter, and for Goddess sake don’t let him see you sweat!

I took a deep breath.

In. Out.

I did it over and over. I had to do this for Liona. I reached out, my fingers trembling as I grabbed the heavy iron handle of the study door.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside. The study was swallowed in darkness, even though it was morning outside, the thick, heavy curtains were pulled shut, blocking every bit of light. There was no fire in the hearth. No candles on the desk. It was so dark I could barely see my own hands. I squinted, searching for the shadow of a man behind the desk.

"Rhydor?" I whispered. My voice sounded tiny.

Silence.

Then, I heard a soft sound. A rustle of fabric, and a heavy footstep coming from the corner of the room. My nerves spiked.

He’s here, my brain screamed. He’s waiting in the dark like a predator. Do it now, Azura! Before you lose your nerve!

I didn’t wait. I knew if I stayed still for one more second, I would run away.

I reached for the pin at my neck. I pulled it fast and felt the heavy wool cloak slide off my shoulders. It fell to the stone floor without a sound, bunching up at my feet like a shadow.

I stood there, and the cool air hit my bare skin. I got goosebumps all over my arms. I lifted my chin, pushed my shoulders back, and tried to look brave. I stood perfectly still, letting the darkness hide my shaking, waiting for him to say something.

I waited.

One second.

Two seconds.

Nothing. It was so quiet I could hear my own blood rushing in my ears. Why wasn’t he talking? Was he shocked?

Suddenly, a sharp scritch sound broke the silence.

A tiny spark of fire lit up the dark, and then a candle flame grew bright. I looked at the light, and my heart didn’t just drop. It died.

It wasn’t Rhydor.

Silas was holding the candle, his eyes wide enough to fall out of his head. Next to him, Axel stood with a match in his hand, his mouth wide open. They both just stood there, staring at me, staring at my bare skin and the red silk dress.

"Azura?" Silas squeaked in a high pitch that sounds more feminine.

"I... uh... is that a new dress?" Axel asked, his eyes jumping to the ceiling.

"AHHHHHHH!"

I screamed so loud I probably woke up the whole pack.

I scrambled for the floor, grabbing my cloak like it was a life raft. I wrapped it around me in a messy ball, trying to hide every inch of that red silk.

"WHY ARE YOU HERE?" I shrieked. My face was burning hot. "WHY ARE YOU SITTING IN THE DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING LIKE CREEPS?"

"We weren’t being creeps!" Axel yelled back. He was waving his hands around. "We were working! We didn’t want to waste candles while we were talking, but then it got too dark to see the maps! Why are you... Why are you dressed like a festival dancer at breakfast time?"

"I am not... I was just..." I started, but the words died in my throat.

At that exact moment, the heavy window behind the desk flew open with a bang.

A massive figure jumped inside, landing perfectly on the floor. The bright morning sun flooded in behind him, finally lighting up the whole room. He stood up, his long hair messy from the wind. He turned around, expecting a quiet room, but instead, he found... chaos.

He saw Axel. He saw Silas. He saw me, red-faced and wrapped in a messy bundle of wool.

"What in the hell is happening here?" Rhydor growled.

Everyone spoke at once.

"She walked in and dropped her clothes!" Axel shouted, pointing at me.

"We were just talking about the laws!" Silas added, his voice shaking.

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALONE!" I screamed at Rhydor, wanting to crawl into a hole.

Rhydor looked at Silas, then Axel, then finally at me. He looked at the window he just jumped through, then back at the messy room.

"Why did you come through the window?" Axel asked, looking confused. "It’s morning, Alpha. The door is right there. And why were the curtains closed anyway?"

Rhydor stiffened. He pulled his shoulders back, looking very powerful. "I am the Alpha. If I decide to fly through my own window like a bird, it is none of your concern. Do not question my entrance."

The room went dead quiet. Silas cleared his throat. "Right. Of course. Very... bird-like, Alpha."

Rhydor’s eyes flicked to me. He saw how I was clutching the cloak, and he saw the bit of red silk peeking out. He didn’t say anything, but his jaw tightened.

He walked over to a big wooden chest, pulled out a heavy, fur-lined coat, and walked back to me.

I expected him to be nice, but no. He just threw it at me.

The heavy leather and fur hit me square in the face, swallowing me whole. I struggled with the weight of it, poking my head out from the collar. The coat was massive and smelled of him intensely.

"Could you at least try to be a gentleman?" I grumbled.

Rhydor sat down in his chair and leaned back. "Joke’s on you, pumpkin. I’m never gentle." ℯℯ𝘭.

Pumpkin? What the...

Silas made a funny noise in his throat, trying not to laugh.

Silas looked at me, his eyes full of mischief. "So... Azura. Just a question. Were you by any chance trying to seduce him in the middle of the morning?"

I felt like I was choking. "No! What? No! I... I was just cold! I wanted to show him the... the quality of the fabric! It’s an ancient style!"

Axel tilted his head. "Then why are you dressed like you’re looking for a mate at the Great Moon Gathering?"

"Why are you two hiding in the dark like thieves when the sun is out?" I shot back. "If you wanted to talk about ’laws,’ you could have done it in the dining hall!"

Axel and Silas shared a look. Axel looked a bit shy. "Well... we were actually doing something for you."

I froze. "For me?"

Silas nodded."Yeah, we’re fixing the laws and putting one person in charge of both orphanages."

Axel stepped in."And we want that person to be you. After what you did... it just makes sense. The job is yours."

I felt my anger melt away. I was so shocked I forgot I was wearing a coat three sizes too big. "You’re serious? You’re giving me the orphanages?"

I looked at Rhydor. He wasn’t looking at me, but he gave a sharp, decisive nod. "Fine. Let her handle it. Maybe it will keep her from breaking into my study."

"You’re serious?" I whispered. I felt a spark of real joy. "I will be handling both orphanages? I get to be in charge?

"You can do whatever you want," Silas said with a smile. "You’ll do well, Azura."

I was about to thank them when Axel leaned in closer to Rhydor’s desk. He squinted at Rhydor’s face and narrowed his eyes.

"Alpha," he said, his voice dropping to a stage whisper that carried across the silent room. "You’ve got a... uh... a red smudge. Right under your ear. Is that... blood?"

The room went silent. I felt like I couldn’t breathe as I looked to see it.

There, just under Rhydor’s ear, was a faint, red smudge. A lip mark. A lady’s lip mark.

My stomach did a violent flip. Isadora. She had been with him this morning. While I was worrying about Liona, while I was trying to be "brave" for him, he had already been with her.

Axel realized his mistake. He saw my face, and he saw the look on Rhydor.

"Oh!" Axel yelled, jumping back. "I just... I just remembered! Huge problem! Big, massive pack problem! Silas, we need to go! Now!"

"What problem?" Silas asked.

"THE PROBLEM!" Axel grabbed Silas by the arm and started dragging him to the door. "We’re being mind-linked! Can’t you hear it? It’s... It’s a very loud emergency!"

They ran out the door so fast I thought they might leave a hole in the wall.

The door slammed shut. I was alone with him.

The silence wasn’t funny anymore. It was cold. I looked at that red mark on his neck, and I felt a wave of jealousy that hurt like a physical blow.

Of course, I thought. He has Isadora for that. I’m just the girl he’s stuck with.

I stood up, pulling his big coat tight around me. I felt like a fool.

"I’m going," I said. My voice sounded flat and dead.

I turned toward the door. I didn’t want to hear his excuses.

"Drop my coat before you leave," Rhydor said.

I stopped. I unbuttoned the coat with shaky fingers. I let the heavy fur fall onto a chair. I stood there in that red dress, my back to him. I started to walk away.

"Stop."

It wasn’t a growl, but a command that made my feet freeze. I turned back slowly.

This time, he wasn’t looking at his papers. He was looking at me. Really looking. His eyes went from my head down to my toes, staying on the curves the dress didn’t hide. The morning light made his eyes look like burning gold. He didn’t look cold at all, he looked... hungry.

My jealousy turned into hot, stinging anger.

"If you like what you see so much," I snapped, my voice shaking because I was so mad, "go tell your woman to dress better for you. I’m sure Isadora would be happy to give you a private show."

I didn’t wait for his response. I turned and ran out of the room. I was so mad. I was so embarrassed. And I hated... I really, really hated that I cared that another woman had been kissing him.

I reached my room and slammed the door shut. No, I wasn’t going to his stupid room tonight.

Well that’s just how much I despise him.

And I hated that for a split second, I actually wanted him to look at me the way he had before.