Chapter 74
~ ROWAN
I was in the middle of a project when the door to the meeting room slammed open.
I raised a brow when I saw Eric rush in, his chest rising and falling rapidly as if he’d just returned from a run and his clothes askew as if he’d put them on in a hurry.
No one spoke, not because they didn’t have the words, but from shock.
It was unheard of for someone to storm into a meeting like this, especially not a simple guard.
If it were anyone else, I would’ve had their fucking badge, but he was Nyssa’s guard, and Nyssa was nowhere to be seen.
“There better be a good fucking reason for your interruption,” I said slowly. “Where is Nyssa p>
“With your sister,” he managed out, his voice coming out in pants. “I was sent to get you p>
My brows rose. “Is Nyssa hurt p>
He shook his head.
“Is Aria p>
“No, but p>
“Then why the hell did you interrupt a very important meeting with p>
“She’s in heat p>
It took a moment for his words to settle and the moment they did, I cursed, rushing to my feet.
“The meeting is over p>
The generals and councilmen whispered between themselves, shock and confusion on their faces. A few of them dared to ask their questions aloud but I ignored them all.
I should have known something was wrong last night when we ran. Her scent was stronger, and it took everything for me to not pin her to the ground but I’d assumed it was just my lycan being a bitch.
“Where is she?” I ground out.
“Aria said she took her to the cabin p>
“When was that p>
“Maybe half an hour ago p>
I cursed loudly. “Why didn’t you mind link me? I could have been there earlier p>
“I tried, but your wall was up p>
Fuck
My wall was always up.
To be honest, I couldn’t remember a time where I’d kept it down.
The only person who had unhindered access to my mind was Aria, and she rarely ever mind-linked me.
I turned to the guard. “Thank you p>
Despite knowing I’d get there faster if I shifted, I opted for a car. I couldn’t trust that my lycan wouldn’t take over once I smelled her.
I’d heard stories of how painful it was to go through heat alone. I heard it was a thousand times worse than the pain of shifting from the first time.
I was many things, but a bastard was not one of them. There was no way in hell I’d let her go through that alone, not when I was here and could help.
“Help how?” my lycan asked. “The only way you can make it stop is by fucking her. Are you prepared for that p>
I knew exactly what I was walking to, and I also knew that Nyssa was in no way ready for me to fuck her.
“I’ll handle that when I get there p>
He laughed cruelly. “You overestimate yourself p>
I didn’t bother responding.
He was right.
The cottage belonged to my mother. It was her version of a vacation home.
She brought Aria and I here whenever she was tired of life in the palace. Neither of us had been able to use it since she died.
I had no idea why Aria brought her here of all places. We had multiple homes around the pack for women who went into heat.
However, upon opening the door, I was grateful that she did.
Nyssa’s scent hit me like a freight train. It was like nothing I’d ever smelled before.
It was soft with hints of jasmine, but there was an intoxicating edge to it; worse than the best alcohol. The very scent sang to me and I knew that I’d beg on my knees for just a taste.
I cursed low, gripping the doorway hard to keep my control as my lycan threatened to push through my rapidly fraying control.
“No,” I ground out to him. “Stay back p>
“Mate p>
I slammed the wall between us down hard.
It gave me a little reprieve but I knew it wouldn’t hold for long. He was slamming against it, trying to break through and get to her.
I slammed the door a bit harder than intended before following her scent down the hall until I got to the bedroom.
As if it couldn’t get any worse.
I saw Aria first. She stood in the bathroom doorway, blocking Nyssa from my line of sight. I stepped forward but she held up a hand to stop me.
A low growl left my lips.
“I know better than to keep you from your mate, Rowan,” she said softly. “I just… be gentle with her p>
I tried to keep my breathing even as I spoke. She was my sister after all. “Aria… move p>
“I will, I just… don’t hurt her, okay? She seems confused and I don’t think she knows much about how this works despite claiming to. There’s ice in the freezer if you need any. I asked for it to be brought before we got here p>
With a soft smile, she walked past me, the door shutting quietly behind her.
I knew if I listened intently I’d hear the front door as well but I didn’t care to listen. I headed straight for the bathroom, stopping short when I saw Nyssa in the shower.
Her eyes were wide with terror and anticipation as she sat on the floor, water trailing down her… fuck.
I forced my eyes up to the ceiling, murmuring a small prayer to the goddess. She was in her fucking underwear and it was soaked through. I could see every inch of her skin through the soaked fabric.
“Rowan p>
“Please don’t say my name p>
I exhaled deeply, trying to force the tension out of me as I turned my attention back to her.
It took a considerable amount of energy to keep my eyes on her face and not her perk nipples.
“Let’s get you out of there, okay p>