Breathlessly, I manage to mumble, 'It's not meant to feel this good.'
‘Oh?’ he says. His nose now glides across my cheek. ‘So, you don’t loathe it when I do this?’ With a swift motion, he seizes my hands, that clutch his hair, and firmly pins them above my head. His free hand glides across the lower curve of my abdomen, igniting a searing heat that surges through my body.
'No,' I whisper, my voice heavy with longing, as my back arches involuntarily.
'Tell me you lied. Tell me you love it, that you crave these sensations. That you want to remain this way, a wolf, with me, forever,' he demands, his eyes penetrating mine.
'No, I can't,' I reply, feeling our hearts against each other's chests, beating with an undeniable connection.
Releasing my hands, Warrick slides his arms under my back and lifts me onto his lap. Instinctively, my legs wrap around his waist, our gazes never breaking as we lock into an intimate gaze.
'Say it,' he whispers, his lips inching closer.
With a slow shake of my head, I deny his plea, even as our breath mingles and anticipation swells between us. My mind momentarily flashes to memories of my mother, home, and the academy—Brad's face flickers across my thoughts. 'I-I can't,' I stammer, hastily disentangling myself from his embrace.
‘Rose,’ he says, trying to grab my hand, but I’m too quick.
As Warrick stands, he looks over my shoulder. I turn around to see Mister Kal lying over Janie’s shoulder with Xander by her side on his stag. Then Orelious and Imogen on their stag, with mine beside them. Frantically, I ran my fingers through my hair, attempting to tame any signs of disarray before they catch on to the passionate moment that had transpired between Warrick and me.
'Rose,' Imogen's joyous smirk stretches across her face. 'We kind of saw everything,' she teases, biting her lip to suppress a smile.
Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I stammer, ‘You didn’t see anything,’ I tell her.
Xander's disapproving gaze sweeps over me. His voice laced with admonishment. 'You should put on your cloak and conceal your tail and ears now that we're approaching Sunfire Plains,' he advises, casting a wary glance at Warrick.
'I might as well travel with you to Arcanewood since you'll be passing through there on your way home. I can deal with the mystic council after I've handled Windall,' Warrick proposes.
Xander fixes a stern look upon Warrick. ‘It might cause a commotion having a rogue wolf walking around, and I do not want anyone knowing that I’m associating with you, even if it is temporary. So, enter Sunfire Plains at your own risk, but don’t hover around us,’ Xander warns him.
'Fine, don't fret about me treading on your shadow,' Warrick retorts, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 'I'll go ahead and arrive first. I'd rather not be seen associating with a warlock either,' he adds with a sly grin.
Warrick swiftly transforms into his wolf form and dashes toward the village. I don my cloak, concealing my ears, and we follow at a discreet distance.
As witches soar on brooms and warlocks, engage in duels, fae, elves, and bear folk halt in their tracks. Wagons, pull-carts, and baskets of food stand forgotten as they all turn to witness the lone werewolf approaching.
'Rogue!' someone shouts in alarm.
I pass the reins of my stag to Imogen, 'I have to go with Warrick to assure them he's not a rogue.' Imogen nods, taking the reins from me.
Closing the distance, I catch up to Warrick, witnessing his frustration as a crowd gathers. His eyes turn black, and he bares his teeth, prompting some to shriek and scatter while others prepare defensive magic.
'No!' I cry out, pushing past them. 'Warrick doesn't mean any harm. Warrick is with me. Please, return to what you were doing,' I plead, attempting to defuse the tension.
Warrick stares at me, surprise flickering across his features as I’ve come to his defence. He grabs my hand and nods, entering the tavern with me.
Amidst the lively atmosphere of Felderians dancing, feasting, and seeking companionship, my focus remains fixed on our entwined hands as Warrick guides us to a secluded corner. Warrick sits beside me, sliding along the long bench seat, his hand still clasping mine. I know I should let go, but the electric sparks and magnetic pull between us has only become stronger. Despite the allure of this magical bond, I recognise the danger in indulging these feelings—a recipe for two hearts destined to break, exacerbating the burden I already carried.
Reluctantly, I withdraw my hand and fix my gaze forward as Xander, Imogen, Janie, Orelious, and Mister Kal casually enter the tavern, settling at a table far across from us. Though I could feel Warrick's eyes on me, I resolutely ignored him.
My ears twitch as I catch a glimpse of worry on Imogen and Janie's faces, their gazes briefly flickering toward us. A sense of unease creeps over me, and Imogen voices her concerns, her tone tinged with anxiety. 'Shouldn't we at least tell Rose?' she asks the others.
Janie chimes in. 'How can we when Warrick is practically attached to her hip?'
I raise my eyes to Warrick, realizing that he, too, is eavesdropping on their conversation. 'Is there something you're not telling me?' I ask him. ‘I know there’s plenty you’re not telling me. I have plenty of things I want to tell you, but you don’t want to hear it to get to know me,’ he says.
I flinch and feel guilty. He’s right. I’ve purposely not been wanting to know much about him, but I’ve been doing it to protect myself.
Xander takes Janie’s hand. ‘Rose doesn’t need to know he’s here. It’s for the best. She shouldn’t be developing strong friendships before returning to her world anyway. They will never see her again, and she will never see them again,’ Xander says, looking at his menu.
A sense of sadness overwhelms me at the thought of never seeing the friends I’ve made here again.
‘Who are they talking about? Who’s here?’ Warrick asks me.
‘I honestly don't know who they're referring to,’ I confess truthfully.
Imogen's voice drifts over, laden with regret. 'He's so adorable. It's a shame Rose can't know Windall is here visiting his sister in the stables,' she laments.
My face drains of colour, and Warrick abruptly rises from his seat, causing the entire tavern to fall into a hushed silence. Their eyes trained on us.