The Crown's Entrapment

Clara shivered when she felt Gilas's warm breath land on her skin. Once more, she felt that strong pull coming from him just from him touching her like this. The sensation was foreign, and yet it still sent a pleasurable feeling running through her spine. She bit her lower lip when she felt his wet tongue licking her skin, hovering over the spot where he was going to sink his fangs into her.

​ "Clara…" he whispered, trailing off as if waiting for her to give him the signal.

"Go on," she firmly replied, stopping herself from moaning from how he was lovingly kissing her shoulder blades.

A beat passed, and Clara soon felt the sharp pain of his fangs piercing her into her skin. Her hands grabbed onto his shoulders tightly, steadying herself through the process. She couldn't explain the sensation she was feeling, but it wasn't all purely just pain. It stung at first, but then she felt something pleasurable mix in with the pain. Every part of her body was reacting, and she didn't know how to respond.

"It's done," Gilas whispered, but he didn't let her go as he held her in place.

Hearing him speak, Clara instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, her body still tingling all over as if that pleasurable sensation was wholly covering her.

"I feel weird…" she mumbled to Gilas. She wanted to do something… but she didn't know what.

[You want to mate with him… It's natural,] Sheba explained. [Just to let go, Clara. Do it with our mate.]

At her wolf's encouragement, Clara unknowingly whispered, "No."

"Don't worry, Clara. I'll keep my vow," Gilas remarked, speaking as if he understood what she was currently going through. I won't force myself onto you…"

Taking a small breath, Clara gently pushed him away, her gaze quick to look into him more closely while her hand went to touch the mark now emblazoned on her neck.

"I'll take you back to your home…" Gilas offered.

"No. Let's head back inside," Clara firmly denied. "I want Nasser to know that you already marked me."

In truth, she didn't really want to do it, but doing so would serve as a decent distraction for her fraying nerves. In the back of her mind, Sheba was craving to have more of what Gilas could give her, and she really didn't want to let her instincts take over her right now.

She didn't wait for Gilas to respond as she quickly moved ahead and headed back inside. Walking back to the dining hall, she paused when she saw Gilas's mother crying to herself.

"What's going on?" she hissed at Nasser.

Gilas's mother raised her head and murmured, "I thought you and Gilas had already left. No… It's nothing…"

The older lady immediately wiped away her tears while Clara turned her gaze back to Nasser with furrowed brows. Leveling her gaze at the man, the Elder was expressionless as he visibly stared at her exposed neck.

"I see that my son has already marked you," the Elder nonchalantly stated before he stood up. "Welcome to the family, Clara."

[Gilas's family is so twisted,] Sheba commented in the back of her mind as she watched the Elder leave.

[And here I thought you were busy thinking about how to convince me to mate with him,] Clara inwardly mocked even as she moved to Lady Shila's side. [Just great…]

[Can you even blame me, Clara?] Sheba scoffed. [It's in my nature…]

"Mother," Gilas whispered behind her, making her turn to him.

"Clara, it's already late. Please stay here for the night with Gilas," Gilas's mother suddenly spoke, making Clara turn her head once more.

"The two of you can travel tomorrow morning before sunrise. Come now. I'll walk you two to Gilas's bedchamber. And please don't say no. It's been a while since my son slept here. Besides, it's your first night together as an official couple since he already marked you…"

Clara unknowingly blushed at the older woman's words.

Lady Shila smiled as she gently touched her cheek. "I'm sorry about the suddenness of it all. I'm sure my son will-"

"It's alright, Lady Shila. We're not in a hurry," Clara interrupted the older woman with a reassuring tone. "There's still a lot of things that Gilas and I should do here first before we left anyway."

"She's right, Mother. I still have to formally introduce Clara to the pack," Gilas quickly seconded. "I will also have to hold a banquet for the occasion as soon as the tournament is finished. Right now, there are still a lot of important things to do before we can leave."

"Alright, I understand," his mother nodded in understanding. "Now come you two. Let me at least walk with you both to the bedchamber." She then turned to Clara and said, "Also, please call me Mother from now on."

Clara simply nodded with a smile she also decided to stop rejecting the offer of sleeping in their mansion knowing how the older woman would feel sad if she refused. Letting the woman lead her to Gilas's bedchamber, Gilas himself followed just behind them where he remained pensive and quiet.

[That's weird… How come I can't feel his emotions?] Clara inwardly voiced out to Sheba. [He's putting up a wall then…]

[Of course, he would. Still, he wouldn't be able to do that to you once you mark him as well,] Sheba excitedly commented. [So if you're that curious about what he's thinking, why don't you mark him so that the two of you can no longer hide each other's feelings?]

She inwardly scoffed at her wolf's constant insistence. Still, she had almost forgotten that particular piece of information regarding the Mate Bond between two werewolves. It was more profound compared to humans or any other creature.

As of now, they were already bound to each other despite only having the male half of a werewolf's mark on the female. Once she marked him back, their bond would become strong enough that they would no longer be able to hide anything from each other by putting up a mental wall on their emotions.

Knowing this, some female werewolves chose not to do it depending on their sole discretion. Some preferred some privacy, while others didn't want to hide anything from their partners…

[Tsk, the Mate Bond isn't even complete since you two haven't mated yet. You're just marked for the others to see that you're already taken.] Sheba scoffed.

Just from Sheba's tone, Clara could tell that her wolf's dissatisfaction on the matter was only beginning. As werewolves, mating was the only thing that mattered to their inner wolves. Mating would strengthen the Mate Bond, and it would also do the same to their inner wolves.

Mating… The word alone somehow sent shivers down her spine. She couldn't help but wonder if she would be ready for it, knowing full well that she was bound to do it in one way or another. Still, she was honestly grateful that Gilas was considerate enough to mention that he wouldn't force her to do it with him.

After a bit of quiet walking, they soon arrived at the bedchamber. Gilas's mother quickly left them in front of the door with a wide smile on her face, and Clara gulped as she heard the door closing behind her as soon as she walked in. She looked at Gilas, his mate keenly staring at her with a thoughtful gaze.

"I'll be sleeping on the couch," she awkwardly murmured as she hurriedly walked to Gilas's couch and quietly laid there.

[I just want to strangle you right now,] Sheba scorned.

Clara ignored her wolf, simply deciding to close her eyes as she tried to focus on getting some sleep.

Gilas sighed as he looked at Clara's back. He didn't know what she was thinking, but he didn't want her sleeping on the couch.

"Clara…" he called to her as he walked towards her. "Sleep on the bed, please. I'm not comfortable letting you sleep on the couch like this."

Hearing him, Clara moved. Sitting up to face him, her gaze turned to the couch before landing back on him. "But you won't fit here…" she murmured.

"My bed is big enough," Gilas insisted. "Don't you trust me? I told you I won't do a thing to you unless you let me."