Chapter 24: What’s in a Name?

Gemma

I slipped from Ernest’s bed, quiet as a mouse. He rolled onto his side and wrapped his arms around his pillow, barely waking as he moved and quickly fell back to sleep, his eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks.

I reached down and gathered my clothes, clutching them to my naked chest as I searched in vain for my underwear in the darkened room.

The only light was an eerie green glow coming from the windows where rain hammered against the side of the castle. Thunder boomed in the low-lying clouds, the sound strangely comforting as I pulled my shirt over my head and shimmied into my skirt. The storm raging outside the castle walls had covered the sounds of pure ecstasy coming from the Alpha’s quarters, and I felt deliciously exposed as I snuck from the room, carrying my shoes in one hand, my underwear still very much missing,

Oh, I was behaving like an idiot. I was setting myself up for heartbreak. I couldn’t help it. I really couldn’t. Ernest’s hands on my body and his words whispered against my neck had awakened something deep within me. I couldn’t put out the flame now, no matter how hard I tried.

And I had tried.

But I smiled softly to myself as I walked down the corridor, a blush touching my cheeks asi ascended the stairs, and I realized I was walking with a slight

limp.

Oh, what would Maeve say when I told her “Ouch!” I dropped my shoes, bringing my hands to my face as I cradled my nose. I could smell the blood before it began to flow, the wetness rolling from my nostrils over my lips and between my fingers. “Shit, Gemma!” Aaron grabbed me by the shoulder, using his free hand to tilt my head back by my chin. He was soaking wet, the water dripping from his clothes onto the floor. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. I couldn’t-”

“Where are you coming from at this hour?” I said, my voice a nearly inaudible gurgling sound as the blood rolled into my open mouth.

“I went for a.. for a run.”

He was lying

I took my hands from my face, inhaling deeply and then sneezing with force, which caused him to jump backward out of my line of fire. “Is it broken?” he asked, gingerly stepping forward again. “No,” I said, sighing with relief. Luckily I’d found some tissues on a side table to stem the bleeding. “But it hurts. What did I run into?”

“My shoulder. I didn’t see you walking by at all.” His voice was trembling slightly. I narrowed my eyes to peer at him through the dark but could barely even see the outline of his figure.

“Where are you going? Your room is on the fourth floor?”

*** I forgot something.”

“Forgot what?

“It’s nothing.”

He was lying again. I just knew it. I pressed him further.

“It’s obviously something if you’re wandering the castle sopping wet.”.

“I just told you. I was out for a run.”

“Don’t lie to me, Aaron!” I stepped forward, thinking I was closing the distance between us but ended up to the side of him.

“I’m right here, Gem!”

“You don’t get to call me that,” I hissed, turning toward his voice. And I have it on good authority you were seen boarding a train today, the two o’clock train to the Port of Valoria. What were you doing there?

“Ernest sent me

“No, he didn’t. I was with him-“I bit my lip. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. But before I could retract my statement or attempt to deflect, Aaron had me by the shoulders again, steering me across the corridor and into a storage closet

“What the hell – I nearly screamed before his hand flew over my mouth and he pressed me against the wall of the closet, his free hand reaching up to turn on the tiny, flickering lightbulb over our heads.

Chapter 24: What’s in a Name?

“Don’t scream,” he said calmly, his hand still planted firmly against my mouth. He took his hand away, and I inhaled deeply, a shriek erupting from my mouth before he clamped his hand over it again. “No one can hear you over this storm, Gemma. I’m not going to hurt you. I need your help.”

“My help?” i said into the palm of his hand. I gripped his forearm, pinching his skin with my nails until I drew blood and he finally let go.

But he was blocking the door.

“I’ll scream again,” I warned, stepping toward him.copy right hot novel pub