Tangled

Chapter Thirty-seven
Faelen’s POV
I hesitated for a few seconds, the weight of my indecision pressing down on me, making it harder to breathe.
I wanted more than anything to stay with Hunter, to fall back into his arms and just let the world outside disappear.
But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t afford to be careless. Not when so many eyes were watching me, waiting for any excuse to confirm what they already suspected.
They’d already begun whispering, the girls in the kitchen, the servants in the entire estate. I couldn’t give them more reason to believe their rumors.
Still, I knew it was only a matter of time. They would find out eventually. I just prayed it wasn’t too soon.
I needed more time, enough to gather the information I had promised to my pack.
It was supposed to be straightforward… get close to him, learn his plans, and bring it back to the others.
But this… whatever it was that had grown between us… was never part of the plan.
My eyes drifted back to Hunter, who had returned to his seat.
His bare chest still distracted me, the way the light caught the hard lines of his muscles, the tight tension beneath his skin.
He was glancing over the papers and maps sprawled across his desk, his brow furrowed in thought.
I could still feel the heat radiating off his body even though he was no longer touching me, and the silence between us had grown thick with unspoken words.
I told myself to leave, to pull away from him before I lost myself again. But instead, I moved closer. Slowly, and cautiously, like I was testing to see.
I stood just inches away from him, my breath catching in my throat as I felt his presence so close to me.
The pull to him was too strong, and it terrified me how little strength I had left to resist it.
My eyes then fell to the maps and papers that had captured his attention.
I recognized some of the markings from my previous search for information… the lines and circles indicating territories and boarder routes.
I could have spoken to ask about them, pressed him for details that could help my pack. But that wasn’t why I wanted to speak.
I needed to break the silence, to distract myself from the magnetic pull I felt toward him. The tension between us was unbearable, and I was desperate for anything that could ease it.
“What are you working on?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if I didn’t want to disturb the fragile balance in the air between us.
Hunter didn’t look up at first, his focus still on the papers in front of him. But then, slowly, he turned his gaze to me, his dark eyes studying my face.
I felt exposed under his gaze every time, as though he could see everything I was trying to keep within… the confusion, my desire, and the guilt.
“Strategizing,” he said simply, his voice low and calm. “There are some things in the pack that need to be… dealt with.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay composed. I didn’t know if he was referring to the problem with the Steeprock pack or something else, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
Not when my mind was so clouded with everything else.
I should have asked more, pressed for details, but all I could think about was the way his voice sent shivers through my body, and the way his eyes lingered on mine just a second too long.
I had come here for answers and information too, but standing this close to him, all my resolve was crumbling fast within me.
Hunter leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a small, almost a teasing smile, as he watched me.
“You’re still thinking about leaving,” he said finally, his voice soft but laced with that same possessive edge he had.
He was right, of course. I was still thinking about what was happening outside his chambers, but somehow I didn’t want to leave.
I never wanted to leave when I was with him. But I couldn’t afford to stay, not if I wanted to keep my cover intact.
“I… I need to get back,” I muttered, though my voice lacked confidence. “If I stay too long, people will start to wonder…”
Hunter’s gaze darkened, the teasing smile fading from his face. “Let them wonder,” he said, his tone firm, almost challenging. “You’re with me. No one will question it.”
I stared at him, torn between the desire to stay and the fear of what would happen if I did.
I wanted to believe him and trust that being with him would somehow make everything else disappear. But deep down, I felt it wasn’t that simple.
“I can’t,” I whispered, though it felt like I was trying to convince myself more than him.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was the soft rustle of the papers on his desk.
Hunter didn’t say anything, just watched me, his eyes filled with something like looked like disappointment… which made my heart ache.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally tore my gaze away from his, stepping back, though every part of me screamed to stay.
“I have to go,” I said, my voice trembling as I turned and made my way toward the door, my mind and body still fighting the urge to run back into his arms.
I tugged at the hem of my maid uniform, smoothing the wrinkles that had formed overnight, and adjusted the apron tied securely around my waist.
I had hurriedly put it back on this morning, hoping it would make it seem like I had only just come into Hunter’s chambers.
I prayed silently that no one had noticed my absence throughout the night, or that no one sees me leaving his chambers so early.
As open the door and closed it behind me when I stepped out, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone would know.
I paused, the door softly clicking shut behind me, and for a moment, I felt a sense of guilt inside.
Hunter had watched me leave, and though he didn’t say anything, I sensed a sadness in him. But I had to go.
I wasn’t ready for the questions, the stares, the inevitable drama that would come if people realized I was spending the night with the Alpha.
It was one thing for them to suspect us, but another thing for them to have proof of it. And I wasn’t ready to face that. Not yet at least.
There was too much at stake.
As I walked through the hallway and descended down the stairs, my footsteps quiet on the stone, my mind raced on.
I had come here for one purpose… which was to gather information for my pack. But now, tangled in this web with Hunter, things had grown more complicated for me.
I had the information I needed, at least some of it. But getting it out? That had proved even harder than I had imagined.
I had tried to find a phone, but the one I’d managed to get my hands on was practically useless… it was monitored, they all were I was sure.
However, every time I thought I had a moment to send a message, someone or something always interfered. Time was running out, and I needed to get the information out soon.
The only way, it seemed, was to leave in person. To slip out of the pack’s territory and meet with one of my own. But that would be nearly impossible.
Hunter’s territory was guarded too well, and sneaking out without raising suspicion would take more than a quick escape plan. Yet, I had no choice. I had to find a way.
The hallways were empty, but I felt eyes on me with every step. I glanced around as I reached the bottom of the stairs, checking to see if anyone had noticed me.
So far, it seemed I was alone. Still, I just couldn’t shake the sense of being watched. “I have to be more careful.” I told myself.
I had to.
I couldn’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment, but Hunter… every time I was with him, the mission felt distant, less relevant.
The pull between us was powerful, and I couldn’t help the way I felt when he looked at me, when he touched me… how my heart ached at the thought of leaving him or when I finally did.
But I knew when the time came, I would have to leave, no matter how much it hurt. For now, I had to focus.
My pack was counting on me, and I couldn’t fail them. Even if it meant betraying the man I had grown closer to than I had ever expected.
I took a deep breath and straightened my apron once more, preparing myself for the day ahead. There was no one around, but I needed to appear ready.