145 Duty comes first…
Ramsey
I leaned against the wall outside of Miriam’s room, trying to hide the tent in my pants…the only thing that had stopped me from taking Lyla right there and now was because of Miriam. If we had been alone.
Lax growled with need within me, and I blocked him off. He’d make things worse. Sighing, I pushed myself away from the wall, adjusting my clothing to hide my bulge, hoping I’d walk out the rest. I was going to go see my grandfather and inform him of the victory today, but I needed to take care of a few things in my den.
So, I headed there instead.
I hurried into my office, shutting the door behind me with a soft sigh. My mind was still buzzing with the thoughts of Lyla–the way her breast had felt against my chest, how soft and pliant she had been in my arms. The scent of her hair nuzzled my senses, sending another warm electric thrill through my body.
“She belongs to another man…” I muttered under my breath. “She belongs to someone else.”
“Ramsey!”
A voice called out, startling me and interrupting my thoughts. My eyes flew open only to see Cassidy at the window, her lithe frame silhouetted against the soft afternoon light. I pulled myself to i
my full height, feeling the warm satisfaction from helping save the Southern border and Lyla’s warm hug dissolved.
I plastered a polite smile on my face as I nodded. “Cass, what are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming?”
“Am I supposed to inform my mate that I’m coming to visit him?” she retorted, approaching me. “Are you worried that I’m going to find you stuck in between another woman’s legs?”
“Not this, Cass!” I sighed, moving away from her to my desk. I still had the bulge. “I literally just. came back from a fight.
“Then why am I smelling her on you?”
I arched a brow.
“Lyla!” she pointed out. “I can smell her on you and I heard you spent almost thirty minutes with her locked up in this den. Guess what, when I came here, her scent was everywhere, meaning it was not a lie.
I sighed. “I don’t know why you always feel the need to watch me. Yes, Lyla was in my office for a while, but it was for a different reason and not what you think. Didn’t we talk about using the pack staff to spy on me? I don’t like it.
“I wouldn’t have to do that if you gave me reasons to trust you. she folded her arms and tilted. her head, her dark hair catching the light. “Why was she here, Ramsey? Tell me the truth, I swear I won’t get mad. I’ve seen worse with you.
ΤΗΝ
mmer meeting smell the imitation growing inside me. She was here like I metanet, but I want for whatever reason you think it is. She saw–a powerful vision about there a weed the pack members at the Southern border of our pack because of that.
Thou had to get an nag of her for die vision to be clear?” she leaned closer and sniffed me.
Thecause her act is all over you Can wou explain that?
Tesorts, plecase’l dat want to do this night now?
promed to be
ountable, Hipha Kincaid. You promised you’d be kind to me, or you’d
mattter (nel your grandlater or the elders that…”
76 windle agent 1) internet he was in Miriam’s–that’s her Nanny’s room to check on her and I got exciteit, and we huggert Fer Nanny was right there, so nothing happened. She had felt faint ather the sent ( per vannet to make sure she was doing good.”
Sue scufied taking a step dinner and narrowing her eyes. “You always seem to be ‘making sure sheria skan? Diretti won nk it’s time someone else took that responsibility?”
sem ber since she arrived here and today there was a viable reason for that. She’s the Wantsinger Cass., we’ll cross pattis more often and in the future. It’s nothing more than duty.”
“Duty” She spat. “are always so full of noble excuses, aren’t you? Until our Joining Ceremony.
GOTT WRITT see you around her. Fshe has something so urgent to say to you, she can go
For peare no regnanted and rose to my feet glad that all the talking had calmed me down. I
Fine but let’s not fer about it. Okay? How about we plan something for later?”
Treaty wear on a dare with your this week she rolled her eyes.
Tanta picnic by the lake, just you and me? No distractions, no interruptions. I promise.”
de studed me he a moment before the frown cleared from her face and sighed, entering my
The dead at though her voice still held a note of reluctance. “Everything has been stung well for a while and want it to remain that way. Can you not just have anything to do with
I
Try Cass, but it’s almost impossible. I’ll try. Once she recovers fully, she’ll leave and would dener came here again exege for something official”
ever
“That’s better the murmured. Then stood on her toes to kiss me when someone barged in,
a
“Three’s done the reason she groaned, turning to see who the visitor was.
twenty and he had a stack of paper in his hands.
To sorry Canity I didnt know you were here. I need Ramsey to look at something real quick.”
Sheened from me glaring at Lenny before prancing out of the office. As soon as the
one that get in retet
146 Duty comes first…
“Thank you! That was fast.”
“You were lucky. I was in the pack house already to see you. But you can’t keep dodging her forever and if you’re set to get married to her, kissing and sex need to happen at some point.”
“If we get married!” I dropped into my chair. “The Moon Priest clearly says he didn’t us getting married, so I’m going to hold on to that. Besides, she’s looking for a way to trap me. I told you about how I caught her putting something in my drink and the conversation with her mother afterwards. Heaven knows what she might have rubbed on her lips or in her mouth. I’m not taking chances.
“Ah… the things women do. Well, marriage and relationships are not for everyone,” Lenny chuckled.
“You’ll have to find a mate, eventually. Anyway, have they sent the relief materials to the Southern border? Lasked, changing the topic.
“Yes!” he nodded. “I just need you to sign this authorization form so the storage unit can give us what we want and I also brought this: he handed me the stack of papers in his hand.
“The latest situation report about today’s attack for tomorrow’s morning assembly. We’ve also increased patrols as you ordered, and so far, we’ve had no further sightings.”
“Good.” I said, flipping through the documents quickly. “Anything else?”
“Just one question, Lenny said, leaning closer as he whispered. “Are you planning to attend Lyla’s cleansing tonight?”
I paused, glancing up at him. “No, I don’t think so. If they need me, you’ll go in my place.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Really? Not going to support her? I thought you said you’d try to win her
over?”
“I gave up on that, a while ago, that darned Nathan warned me yet again, I know this is funny but he scares the shit out of me, I chuckled, “In a good way though… so much that it makes me jealous. He says for Lyla… he’s ready to fight me without a second thought, even though he knows the odds will be in my favour and that he might likely die.”
“You could put him in his place once and for all, Lenny frowned “You keep enabling him.”
“Over a woman? I laughed. “C’mon, I have other things to do with my strength and I’m not a brute.
“Still, go for the cleansing, Lenny insisted.
I wanted to, but I shrugged, trying to keep my voice casual. “I’ve got other plans tonight. Cassidy and I are having a picnic.
“At night?” he scoffed. “Should I assume you’re beginning to fall in love with her now? These days, it seems she has you wrapped around her pinky.”
“That’s the only way I can keep Lyla safe, I laughed softly, leaning back in my chair. “It’s not love either. I’m just doing my duties”
“Duties? To who? Her or yourself?”
145 Duty comes first…
finally.”
He didn’t press further. He gave a curt nod, took the paper I’d signed and handed back, and then
left the room.
Alone. I stared out of the window, my thoughts turning back to Lyla. This was the right thing to do. Keeping my distance.
My life was a delicate balance and Lyla… she tipped the scales in ways I didn’t know existed.
Yet, as much as I tried to convince myself that I could live without her, her lingering scent and the way my heart fills with joy whenever she’s near–it is all becoming harder to ignore.
But duty… Duty comes first.
