Page 43 of The Raven's Alpha
Unsurprisingly, the closeness is beginning to trigger my heat and I fear we won’t make it home in time before I shamelessly beg my alpha to knot me and flood my guts.
I yearn for that intensity, but I'm not willing to surrender to my desires in my alpha's family cabin. I crave the freedom to ride out this moment alongside Eddy, without the scrutiny of his family's watchful eyes.
We’re sitting alone with his parents in the kitchen, we linger over our farewells to Millie and Henry, the silence between us thickening like the air. I sense his parents' knowing glances, their unspoken understanding of the tension building between us. I'm torn between polite niceties and my own simmering frustration, which threatens to boil over if we don't escape this stifling atmosphere soon
I reach out to my alpha and dig my fingernails in his upper thigh, he hisses and it causes Lucy to stand up and start the goodbye process. “Alright, you kids get out of here. Be safe on your journey home and please send us a message when you arrive back in one piece... if you can,” she ends with a giggle.
I'm too wired to muster even a hint of embarrassment, and instead, I find myself giggling uncontrollably along with her.
Norman's voice is strained as he tries to hide his discomfort, "Ah, yes, be careful on your way home."
My alpha awkwardly chimes in with a weak cough. The tension between them is palpable as they both studiously avoid eye contact with each other. "Give me a call if you need anything," his father tells us, but when Lucy lets out another giggle, Norman's embarrassment boils over. "I mean, at the border crossing, not with... well you know what I mean," he adds hastily.
The room falls silent as Eddy's words hang in the air. "We're leaving," he says, his voice low and even.
He walks over to his mother and scoops her into his arms. Their bodies swaying together, their faces inches apart, as he lifts her off the ground and holds her against his chest. A faint whispered, "I love you," escapes his lips, and she responds with a soft, "I love you too.”
My alpha's is face set in a determined expression when he hugs his father, his grip tight with a mix of sadness and gratitude. He whispers something in his ear, but the words are lost in the quiet room.
Lucy wraps her arms around me, her warmth and scent envelop me in a comforting embrace. The softness of her hair against my cheek is almost palpable, and I feel a sense of belonging wash over me. She pulls back, her eyes shining with kindness, and I'm struck by the genuine warmth behind them, “Welcome to the family, Darcy.”
Norman's hesitation is plain on his face as he considers what to do with me. He looks like a man who's never been in this situation before, unsure how to react. His smile is strained, but he manages to muster up an air high-five, and I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
When we settle into Eddy's truck, I find myself squirming in my seat, trying to escape my suffocating heat. The air conditioning struggles to keep up, and I can feel my clothes clinging to my skin like a damp shroud. Eddy reaches into his bag and pulls out a couple of his dirty t-shirts, wrapping them around my body with a gentle touch. The scent of stale air and old fabric envelops me, a familiar comfort that's both soothing and warm.
"It shouldn't take too long to get back home, considering the late hour. Maybe try sleeping and hopefully when you wake up, we'll be almost there.” As I cling to my alphas words of comfort, my eyes begin to droop and I force myself to relax. But even as I let go and let sleep take over, a nagging sense of unease remains, making me wonder what lies ahead.
Chapter Seventeen
Eddy Elwood
The night is dark and silent as I drive us away from Grizzly-Fields, leaving the memories of my childhood home behind. My nerves are stretched taut with the fear of putting my mate through this again, of subjecting him to the same pain and uncertainty we've already faced. The thought of it makes my heart race and my palms sweat.
We've had a wonderful time visiting my family, but despite the joy, a nagging worry has been growing inside me with the thought of travelling through non-neutral lands once more. I just hope they'll grant us safe passage without incident.
I occasionally glance over at my sleeping mate, expecting to see the calm, serene expression that usually accompanies his rest. But tonight, his face tells a different story. His eyebrows are furrowed, his brow creased with worry, and his features seem to be working through some unseen problem even as he sleeps.
The scent of Darcy's upcoming heat is strong and alluring, but it's tempered by an undercurrent of anxiety that adds a pungent note to the sweetness. The mixture is intoxicating and unnerving at the same time.
In just a couple of hours, we’ll be safety back at the cabin. Everything is going to be ok.
Whenever his snores grow louder, I step on it, surging forward as if propelled by my own impatience. The rush of speed is a balm to my frazzled nerves, and I focus on the road ahead, eager to get back home.
When we’re just half a mile from the border, I take a final precaution: I double-check that all the doors are locked and windows are fully raised. When The scent of Darcy's heat wafts back to me, I grasp the gravity of our situation: if I can smell him, that means they’ll be able to smell him too. Panic sets in as I frantically rummage for my phone, all while keeping a white-knuckled grip on the wheel, guiding the truck down the straightaway.