Smoke

Killian’s POV
Aunty Lilly’s face was expressionless.
“We need to talk about your fiance.”
She looked me straight in the face as she spoke. Her eyes gleaming in the sunlight. She still looked twenty years younger than her actual age which I honestly couldn’t recall anymore because it would be baffling even for a wolf with ultra slow aging.
“I’m listening.” I was curious.
“I came here not long ago to talk to you about the benefit of having a noble as a wife and in no time I hear that you are already engaged. To an omega, no less.” She cocked her perfectly carved brows at me.
I sighed. I probably should have seen this one coming.
“Aunty Lily. If you heard that I was engaged, as you said, then you must also know that my fiance was selected from the princess trials and not handpicked by anybody… anyone other than the goddess herself.” I shrugged, playing it cool to see where this would lead.
She scoffed.
“That damned competition was abhorred for a reason, my dear. I have no idea why the priesthood would bring it out or even how a little omega managed to get into such a competition.”
“Aunty…” I started but she cut me off.
“Don’t aunty me. You could have chosen to reject your mate like your soft brother did his. Although the fact he rejected the daughter of that pest called Arthur did make me laugh, but it wasn’t the political thing to do.”
I said nothing, knowing she wasn’t finished.
She continued, “This is more reason why you should be the one at the throne, the one to rule. Your brother cares too much about love, that is a weakness.
Yeah. He cared too much about love, that’s still the same reason why the people listened to him, why they looked up to him, why Rosalind looks…
I stopped myself right there. What the fuck was that?
“I don’t need to mate with a noble to seal my place.” I said firmly. A little too firmly but I didn’t care for now.
She shot me a glance then smiled and slapped my head softly.
“You just have to think forward all the time. I know it can get difficult.”
I smiled back, a bit surprised by the sudden change in attitude. Aunty Lily was full of surprises.
“She’s not a bore at least. A bit feisty even.” Aunty Lily chuckled and walked towards the stream
“Hmm. Does that mean you don’t totally despise her?” I asked, following her pace.
“She might not be a bore but she’s still a nobody from absolutely nowhere. She literally doesn’t even have a last name.” She laughed.
“Now you’re engaged.”
“Was that why you and Aunty Celia decided to come down here together? To see the nameless peasant.” I looked straight at her face to see if she would hint anything.
Nothing. Obviously… Classic Aunty Lily, cryptic as always.
“I didn’t come here with anybody, you should know better than that.” She frowned, looking at me like I just said something incredibly foolish.
“We just happened to arrive at the same time.” She said with sting in her tone.
She didn’t want it to look like things were peaceful between them. They weren’t.
“And it just so happened that none of you informed any of us that you were coming either. I just told Cillian that Aunty Celia wanted to see him and he was visibly surprised… strange.”
“I can come here whenever I want, son. Unless you don’t want me here. ” She eyed me.
I wanted to say something but she simply waved it off with a hand and changed the topic.
“I heard Sonia is back from her tour abroad.” She said, trying to sound casual.
Aunty Lily was always one step ahead, putting plans in motion to get to her goal. Now I knew why she visited.
Sonia was my ex who also happened to be a model, hence the tours. We were together for a while and aunty Lily adored her. When I broke up with her, I had a feeling aunty Lily never fully forgave me. Knowing my aunt, she must have already put her plans in motion. I wasn’t surprised, just impressed.
I opened my mouth to protest but she saw it coming.
“She’s just passing through the Southern Paw pack so I asked if she could drop by. Just treat her like a guest till she leaves, okay?” She said, pinching my cheek.
“Maybe you both can catch up for time lost.
“Aunty Lily…” I groaned.
“Killian!” A voice called from behind. It was too familiar.
I turned to see Sonia waving from the gardens with her travelling bag.
speak of the devil.
CILLIAN’S POV
I stood frozen by the door of my chambers.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Adelyn?” I sat as her oiled up body gleaned from the bed.
“Oh Cillian,” She whispered, sitting upright and letting her full perky breasts bounce on her chest.
“I want you to have me, all of me.” She spread her legs open, revealing her smoothly shaved, oiled up mold.
Then she put her palms over her breasts and squeezed. Moaning as she touched herself.
I was unable to look away at this point.
Adelyn’s slender fingers moved down her body, between her legs and she slid a finger in and whimpered, rubbing herself while keeping eye contact.
The scent of her arousal filled the room, ambushing my nostrils.
I shut my eyes tight and tried to focus.
I pictured Rosalind in my mind. Her face and her scent and that broke the spell.
“What is the meaning of this, Adelyn?” I could feel my temper rising as I realized what exactly she was trying to do.
Adelyn gasped at my tone, perhaps somewhat shocked that I could resist what I saw. Which was a whole lot.
She hopped off the bed and walked to me.
“Do you not want this, my prince.” She took my palm and placed it on her breasts.
I could feel the heat on her, the speed of her heartbeat, the scent of arousal. The quiver of her puckering nipples.
“You can have me right here, right now.” She said, closing the door behind us.
She reached down and grabbed my crotch in her hand.
That was it. I palmed her away from me and resisted the urge to slap her face.
“I will not do this.” I said, even though I was rock hard.
She saw this and tried coming forward again but then I let out a menacing roar. Warning her not to move another inch.
She froze, dropping to the floor in fear.
I fled the room.
That was the only solution. The longer I stayed in that place with her, the weaker my walls became.
I ran towards the forest, a thousand things going through my head.
Adelyn was so desperate to be with me, to be queen that she would go that far. But I couldn’t, I didn’t love her. I loved Rosalind, my heart beat for her and her alone.
But she wasn’t mine to have and she probably never would after being engaged to my brother.
I roared heavily in the thick bushes, sending all the beds into a scramble.
I let loose, feeling myself turn primal.
My bones spread, my razor-sharp fangs stretched out and my claws extended. I let my wolf take control.
I kept running. To nowhere in particular. Anywhere but there.
I thought about Rosalind’s kisses and her touch on my chest. Her scent and the taste of her.
What would I do if she mated with Killian?
My thoughts came to an abrupt stop when I was at the heart of the forest.
Something was wrong, I could sense it.
I closed my eyes, trying to push all the thoughts out of my mind, to see if I could sense what was happening.
North
I heard my wolf growl the words softly in my head.
I opened my eyes and dashed in that direction. There were a lot of bushes and trees. I was in the thickest part of the forest, but I pushed through them. Determined to make sure everything was alright.
I could sense the ominous feeling in my gut and I hated it.
Left
I turned accordingly. It had been a long time since I navigated on just the sense of my wolf but it didn’t happen for no reason.
I charged forward and soon I started to catch a scent.
Smoke.
I increased my speed, going as fast as I could. There were a thousand scents in that forest but I focused only on the scent of burning smoke and soon, it started getting stronger.
Right
I turned right and started up a hill, now I could see the thick cloud of smoke from a village in the northern area. I galloped more till I saw it.
About three buildings were on fire, there was a lot of smoke and I could hear the cries and wails of people around. The fire was growing by the minute and from the looks of things, people were still inside.
I glanced around, using my sight to look for the shortest way to get down there. I knew there was no time.
There were two options; either follow the hill path and run all the way downward towards the village, or jump right off the cliff to the village grounds. I was about a hundred feet above.
It was a no brainer.
I took two steps back and jumped with all my strength. There was no time to waste when it came to saving my people.