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Chapter 33

Alisha took Christian’s face in her hands and looked at him. Tears were streaming down his hard cheeks and the expression on his face moved her.

-I’m here, wolf, I’m not dead, don’t make that face like you’re going to bury me,” she tried to joke to break the tense atmosphere between them.

The wolf held her wrists and pulled them away, seeking her lips. He kissed her fervently as if it were his last. Alisha despite wanting to pull away from the shock stood there motionless letting him let it all out, she felt she needed it.

-Please don’t leave me,” his voice sounded full of pleading, “I’ll do what you want, I won’t force you again, but don’t leave me,” he said against her lips and Alisha realised that no matter how much she did she couldn’t leave this man’s side, because he would be able to die of loneliness or madness.

-It’s okay, I won’t leave you, calm down,” she shook her hands for him to let go but he only pulled her back to his chest and stole her lips again.

Alisha pulled away with difficulty as it felt a little painful. The skin on her lips felt swollen and tender.

-We’d better get back, Serguei must be worried about you leaving like that without telling him,” Cristián pressed his forehead to hers. He was trying to keep as much contact as possible, “Blaren, we’re going back.

His twin made no comment, only nodded his head.

The beta separated from his mate and returned to his animal form, tapping his nose on his thigh.

-He wants you to get on top of him,” Blaren walked past him and commented as if it were a matter of course.

-But I can walk.

Alisha blinked and as she saw the wolf roll onto his side and show his back, she brought her hand to the thick fur and smiled slightly, remembering the feel of it against her skin, it was soft, fluffy, warm. She also brought her other hand closer and ran it all over his back until the wolf moved closer to her. Hesitating a little, she lifted one leg up and stepped over him, mounting him.

Christian sat up and began to walk, taking care not to knock her down, though she was clinging to the fur on his neck.

-Feel blessed,” Alisha looked at Blaren, “You’re the first person to ride on his back. The stingy fellow never allowed anyone to do so. He said that place was reserved for his mate.

Christian grunted, drawing a smile from both of them.

-I think someone didn’t like that comment,” Alisha laughed.

-Well, if it bothers you, catch me,” Blaren began to run ahead by a good few feet, quickly.

-You’re not going to lose this one, are you,” the girl clenched her fists around his neck and lunged forward.

Christian wagged his tail in pleasure and took off running after his brother always careful not to let his partner fall even though she seemed to be enjoying the strange feud.

Alisha smiled feeling the cool wind on her face and her shoulders a little lighter. It felt good not to always be on the defensive. Opening up gave you a chance of getting hurt but also that you’d replace people who really valued you. She would give them another chance, the last one, in the end it had all been for her and her safety. She would try to understand them, she just hoped that the feeling would be reciprocated.

They arrived at the mansion sooner than they thought and Serguei paced back and forth in the entrance.

Blaren stopped, resting his hands on his knees, panting, while Christian strutted like the winner, raising his head and tail. Alisha, for her part, climbed down with her hair already dry and unrestrained, but happy.

The alpha of the pack walked towards them and grabbed the woman’s shoulders more roughly than he intended.

-Are you all right?

-She tried to back away from the intensity of his gaze.

-When Christian said your heart had stopped, we almost collapsed,” Steicer appeared behind his alpha, his brow beaded with sweat. I’m glad he’s alive,” he let out a loud sigh as if taking a weight off his shoulders.

Alisha looked at the wolves without understanding their frustration.

-They thought it was their fault that you supposedly killed yourself,” Steicer pointed at Dylan.

-I would never forgive myself,” the wolf pushed his alpha away and took his hands, “Really, we’re sorry, excuse me, I, I did it without thinking, I didn’t take into account what you wanted. What can I do to make it up to you?” Frustration was a mask on his face.

-Prepare me a good number of dishes. I haven’t eaten in a while,” he smiled trying to calm them down.

Until that moment he hadn’t realised how much he could influence that pack. Dakota and Mikhail and Louva appeared behind Steicer. He could have sworn that the commander, who was the most serious of the three, had a tense look on his face.

-Serguei, I’m still mad at you,” the alpha’s eyes darkened, “But I want to thank you. All the time you’ve been trying to protect me, in your own way, but protect me.

Christian sat next to her, still in his wolf form, and rubbed against her, giving her his support.

-I appreciate what you have done for me, but I would like you to check with me next time, I promise to be more respectful,” he said.

Serguei was moved by the action of the small young, but strong human.

-As I commanded,” he raised his hand to place it on her head but could not touch. He could only watch as the girl’s eyes rolled back in her head for a moment and her knees buckled.

Christian turned so fast it hurt and grabbed her before her forehead hit the floor. They all stood still, not knowing what to do.

-Blaren broke the silence through gritted teeth.

His body felt tired, old, exhausted. Alisha opened her eyes to see two white paws on the ground moving without her consent. Her whole body was moving without her wanting it to.

-Where are you?” she felt the she-wolf’s thoughts. This was definitely one of many visions, but it was very different from the previous ones. These were not her memories. They were those of the she-wolf inside her.