MALIA’S POV
I gave her a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “Penelope, the next time you mention anything about my sex life I am going to have your head.”
She gasped dramatically. “Oooh. How feral. That’s your wolf speaking right there.”
I turned my head so she wouldn’t see my smile and she giggled.
“Am I at least allowed to go for a walk?” I’m bored.”
“We could watch some television instead,” she suggested.
I scowled at her. “I’m not a prisoner, am I? Let’s go out and do something interesting.
My eyes brightened as I thought of something and she shook her head. “I already know that whatever you are about to suggest is a bad idea,” she said.
“Come on. It’s not. I was just thinking we could go to the forest together. I haven’t explored it before. And I also want to meet your wolf.”
She shook her head in disagreement.
“I’ll ask one of Ryder’s guards to go with us if that will make you feel any better.”
She was silent for a moment and I knew that she was considering it.
“We are not going to be out for too long. I’m not going to argue with you concerning whatever time you decide for us to return.”
She inhaled deeply. “You had better be ready to take all the blame in case the Alpha gets mad. And as you can see, the sun is already setting so we are not going to spend more than an hour in the forest. Do we have a deal?”
I nodded with enthusiasm and got to my feet. She rolled her eyes and muttered something about me acting like a puppy.
I stuffed some of the sliced apples into my mouth before we left the room. Thankfully, there was a guard at the entrance of Ryder’s chambers.
“We’re off to the forest and I’d like you to accompany us,” I said to him.
He gave me a deep bow before speaking. “The Alpha has appointed me to be your bodyguard which means that I’m supposed to be where you are at all times.”
I scoffed. “But I do not need a bodyguard. Besides, he should have asked me first.”
“Malia, you can discuss this with the Alpha when he returns. Let’s just leave now,” Penelope said.
I exhaled sharply. “You’re right. Let’s go.”
As we made our way downstairs, I thought of how I needed to set things straight. He couldn’t just do things that concerned me without letting me know first.
“My grandmother told me that one gets wrinkles really fast if they scowl too much,” Penelope said as we passed the entrance of the palace.
“Whatever,” I murmured.
By the time we got to the forest, the sun had completely set but the full moon provided illumination.
“Please remember what we agreed on,” she began.
“Yeah yeah. We’re going to spend just an hour,” I finished. “Bodyguard here is going to help us keep track of time. But the hour starts when you change into your wolf.”
“Here?” she queried. “I was thinking of doing that when we get to the riverbank.”
“Alright. It starts now then. Let’s proceed into the forest of horrors.”
“Very funny,” she murmured and I thought I saw the guard smirk.
The walk to the river was uneventful until the moment when we encountered a pack of wolves.
“Wolves meeting wolves,” I said with a grin, feeling quite daring. I stepped forward as they bared their teeth at us and my bodyguard blocked my path.
“They are just frightened. We have to assure them that we are not going to hurt them,” he said.
I scoffed. “I didn’t know guards were also trained to communicate with animals. I must ask Lucien to teach me.”
He ignored me and slowly approached them. I looked at Penelope and saw the intrigue in her expression.
After what seemed to be a staring contest between my bodyguard and the pack of wolves, they headed towards the other direction.
“We can proceed now,” he said and I gasped in surprise.
“That was awesome,” Penelope murmured, looking at him with an adoration I was sure Damien wasn’t going to approve of.
He smiled at her and turned to lead us deeper into the forest.
We finally got to the river that flowed through the forest and I gasped at how beautifully it shimmered under the moonlight. I wondered why I hadn’t thought of going there before.
I looked at Penelope expectantly. “This is where you shift,” I said.
I noticed that her attention was focused on something behind me so I turned to see what it was.
Of course, my bodyguard was staring at us, or staring at Penelope rather.
I cleared my throat and gave him a pointed look. He smirked before turning to face the other side, giving us some privacy.
“He’s a creep,” I mouthed to Penelope who was already taking off her clothes.
“Be nice,” she murmured with a smile on her face.
She stood naked under the moonlight and I turned to ensure that my creep of a bodyguard wasn’t trying to get a peek.
Penelope giggled.
I turned to face her again and couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful she was.
“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” I murmured.
She gave me a coy smile and twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. “Are you considering leaving the Alpha for me?” she asked in a sultry voice.
I smirked. “I’m going to consider it if your wolf is just as beautiful.”
“Get ready to be blown away then,” she replied with a smug smile.
I watched as she slowly but surely shifted from a human into a beautiful silver wolf. I gasped and slowly moved forward to touch her fur. She whined and moved closer to brush herself against my legs. I buried my hands deeper into her fur, emboldened by her actions.
I gently touched her until I felt the vibration coming from her. I took a step backwards and watched in fascination as she shifted into her human form.
“We do not have much time left,” she said and dove into the river without giving me the chance to say a word.
I checked to ensure that the guard wasn’t looking before taking off my clothes.
I took a deep breath before diving into the water to join Penelope who was swimming with alarming speed to a destination I didn’t know.
I tried to catch up with her and was nearly able to touch the heel of her foot when she turned and started to swim towards the direction she had come from.
I mentally rolled my eyes as I followed her, wondering why she was behaving strangely.
We swam a little bit more in silence before the guard whistled to let us know that the time was up.
Penelope got out of the water first before giving me a hand.
I felt her detachment as we got dressed and it bothered me.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she replied. I could tell that she was keeping something from me but I chose not to press at that moment.
The walk back to the palace was painfully silent and very uneventful. We didn’t even see rodents.
Penelope walked me to Ryder’s chambers before bidding me goodnight.
I gave her a hug and when I released her, I was relieved to see the twinkle in her eyes.
Ryder was sitting cross-legged on one of the sofas, reading a book. I blinked in surprise. It was my first time seeing him with a book.
“Did you enjoy your time in the forest?” he queried without looking up from his book.
“Yes, I did,” I answered with mild irritation, remembering the bodyguard he had appointed to follow me everywhere without my permission.
He sighed and put the book down. “Let’s hear it, Malia. You obviously have something to say to me.”
“Why did you employ a bodyguard to follow me around without even bothering to ask me first?” I queried.
He sighed and patted the space beside him, motioning for me to come sit.
I scoffed and didn’t move.
“Please,” he murmured. I rolled my eyes and plopped down beside me.
He took my hand and I resisted the urge to yank it out of his.
“You must pardon me, Malia. I was wrong for not telling you first but I was only thinking about your safety. I feel you are in a vulnerable state and you’re going to need all the protection that you can get.
I’d have loved to do it myself but there’s no way I’d be able to. My position as the Alpha wouldn’t permit me to be where you are at all times. Please understand me. You’re the only family I have now who loves me and I don’t want to lose you. Don’t be mad at me, please.”
I nodded and gave him a smile. “It’s okay. Just let me know about something like this beforehand next time.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t be making a mistake like that again. I can’t stand it when you’re upset at me. Except when I’m teasing you. It’s something I particularly enjoy doing.”
I grinned and smacked him playfully on the arm.
“I cannot wait to meet your wolf,” he said.
“Neither can I,” I replied.
“You must be hungry by now. Let’s go feed you.”
He got up and bent to lift me into his arms. I wrapped my hands around his throat and playfully squeezed.
“Are you trying to tell me that you want me to choke you like that the next time we have sex?”
“Maybe,” I whispered.
He smirked and set me gently on my feet. “I definitely won’t forget,” he said, pulling out a chair for me.
“I haven’t said thank you for what you did for me. It’s the greatest gift I have ever received.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Malia. You deserved it. Besides, it’s not fair that the innocent should suffer for what they know nothing about.”
I looked into his eyes and felt my heart melt even more. “Your kids would be so lucky to have you as their father.”
“Our kids,” he corrected and I nodded with a broad smile on my face.
The food was served a few minutes after and we made small talk during the meal.
When I told him about Damien’s suggestion of soundproof doors, he burst out laughing and said it was worth considering.
“So when is your sister coming to live with us?” I queried. We were already done with our meal and were savouring our glasses of wine.
He took a sip of his wine before speaking. “My aunt will bring her here tomorrow,” he replied.
“I can’t wait to see her,” I said.
I wanted to ask what he was going to do if she asked about Ronan’s whereabouts but thought better of it.
I noticed that his countenance had dulled a bit when I asked about his sister. There was no need to spoil his mood even more by reminding him of the brother who had tried to kill him.
We went straight to bed when we were done with our drink.
He slept before me this time and I listened to the strong beating of his heart until I fell asleep.
Ryder was on a call and pacing the bedroom when I woke up. He seemed kind of agitated.
“What about the baby?” I heard him ask whoever it was he was speaking with and I was filled with curiosity.
He turned and saw that I was awake. “I’ll give you a call later,” he said and moved the phone from his ear.
“Hey, Love. Did you sleep well?” he asked and bent to kiss my forehead.
I nodded. “Who was that on the phone?”
He turned away from me as he answered. “It was just one of my pregnant cousins who has some issues with her husband.”
I frowned. “She can come live here with us,” I suggested.
He grinned. “My sweet Malia. You’re just too kind. I believe she’d want to stay with her mother instead.”
“Would you like me to tell the maids to bring your breakfast?” He asked and my gaze went to the clock.
“Shit,” I murmured and slid out of bed.