He was tired of pretending like she wasn't the only thing keeping him sane. He stomped out of the room and ever so gently, he knocked at her door. There was no reply and as the seconds passed, Cedric felt his patience waning. After knocking for a while and getting no response, Cedric considered just breaking down the door, now more agitated than anything, but just then, Sophia passed by, giving him a knowing look.
"Where's she?" He growled a fleeting thought that his brother and his mate might've had a hand in her disappearance passing his mind.
Sophia flinched slightly before replying, "Last time I saw her, she was heading to the training ground-"
Cedric doesn't wait for her to complete her sentence before bolting off in the direction of the training ground.
He let out a relieved sigh when he got there just in time to see Marisol bidding farewell to Lily and her friends. She looked fine and well, fortunately, and it looked like he'd worried for no reason. She was safe. Now in a more relaxed headspace, he studied his surroundings a little better and found irritation bubbling beneath his skin on sighting Ryan. His wolf did not like the male at all because it noticed a flicker of interest in his eyes. However, he dismissed the feelings in favor of keeping his full attention on Marisol.
As they parted ways, he expected Marisol to head back to the pack house, but to his utter surprise, she headed towards the forest. Alone. A growl rumbled within him as he resumed trailing her.
As she walked deeper and deeper into the woods, his annoyance multiplied. In the shadowy depths of the forest, Cedric moved with the stealth of a predator, his senses honed to the slightest disturbance in the air. He trailed Marisol from a safe distance, his gaze never wavering from her form as she moved gracefully through the underbrush. It was a familiar routine, one he had grown accustomed to in recent days, as he silently shadowed her every step.
He was seconds from revealing himself and barking some sense into her when she didn't seem to be stopping despite being well away from the pack grounds now when he noticed movements from a corner of his eyes.
He paused. His senses sharpened at the realization that danger was lurking under the cover of the night. Rogues. They'd somehow managed to slither their way into Redwood, and they were all under Guinevere's influence.
Marisol seemed to have noticed the danger after Cedric had zoned out too and looked to have been retracing her steps when they began to filter out of their hiding spaces, surrounding her.
He tensed instinctively, his muscles coiling with anticipation as he prepared for whatever threat might lie ahead. And then, without warning, they attacked.
A group of rogue wolves, aligned with Guinevere and her coven, emerged from the shadows, their snarls echoing through the night as they lunged at Marisol. Cedric only watched for no less than a second before he sprang into action, launching himself into the fray to protect her.
Marisol, however, was no damsel in distress. She met the attackers head-on, her movements fluid and precise as she danced through the chaos with a deadly grace. Cedric couldn't help but be impressed by her skill and prowess in combat.
She fought with a ferocity and determination that left him in an almost distracting awe, each strike delivered with unerring accuracy as she defended herself against the onslaught of foes.
She proved to be a formidable adversary in her own right. Despite being outnumbered and outmatched, she refused to back down, her eyes blazing with a fiery resolve that matched Cedric's own. With every strike and parry, she demonstrated a mastery of the martial arts that left Cedric more in awe.
Together, they were a formidable team, their movements synchronized as they battled the rogue wolves with unmatched efficiency. Cedric tore through their ranks with brute force, his muscles rippling with power as he dispatched one adversary after another. Meanwhile, Marisol moved with a finesse and agility that belied her strength, her blows landing with devastating precision as she struck down her foes with ruthless efficiency.
Cedric's claws went through flesh and bone with savage ferocity, while Marisol's fists flew like lightning, delivering punishing blows that left their foes reeling in agony.
Despite the chaos and carnage that surrounded them, Cedric couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration coursing through his veins. There was something primal and intoxicating about the heat of battle, a raw intensity that bonded them together in ways words could never express.
As the last of the rogue wolves fell beneath their combined onslaught, Cedric and Marisol stood victorious amidst the wreckage, their chests heaving with exertion and adrenaline coursing through their veins. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the unspoken connection between them pulsating with undeniable intensity.
At that moment, Cedric knew that he would do anything to protect Marisol, to keep her safe from harm for as long as he drew breath. He silently vowed to never let her go, to stand by her side through whatever trials and tribulations lay ahead.
And then, without a word, Cedric reached out to her, his hand extended in silent invitation. Marisol looked hesitant for a moment, her gaze locked with his in a silent exchange of understanding and acceptance. And then, with a nod of her head, she took his hand, allowing him to pull her close in a fierce embrace.
He pulled away just a little to look at her, his beautiful mate with her hazel blue eyes and unmatched strength. She'd fought better than any wolf in the whole of Redwood. And he knew that skills like that could only come from years of training.
As Cedric gazed at Marisol, his eyes alight with pride and admiration, he couldn't help but let his feelings spill forth. "Marisol," he began, still a little breathless, "I've never seen anyone fight like that before. You were incredible out there. Like a true queen."