Augustin’s POV
I held Berry against my chest. Her tears had finally stopped, leaving her cheeks stained and her eyes red. The knowledge that someone had deliberately. destroyed her family, her marriage, her happiness, her future for their own political gain had broken something inside me. I’d never seen her cry like that before. Not even when she’d first arrived at the manor as a tribute.
My arms tightened around her as she finally drifted into restless sleep. The rage inside me.
We will make them pay, I promised my wolf, stroking Berty’s hair as she slept. Every last one of them.
She whimpered in her sleep, and I pressed my lips to her forehead, trying to chase away her nightmares. Eventually, my own exhaustion claimed me, and I sank into darkness beside her.
I woke to an empty bed and the faint sound of footsteps. It was barely past six. Blinking away sleep, I pushed myself up against the headboard, immediately spotting Berry pacing by the window.
My eyes were drawn to the small swell of her stomach. Our child. A rush of warmth filled my chest, replacing the cold rage of last night.
I’d never expected this. Not Berry, not a child, not this fierce, protective love that consumed me every time I looked at her. She’d brought joy back into my life when I thought it was lost forever. I needed to resolve these troubles quickly, to ensure her safety and happiness.
Our wedding was scheduled for three weeks from now. It felt like an eternity.
Silently, I slipped from the bed and crossed the room, coming up behind her. I wrapped my arms around her waist, my hands settling on her stomach. She startled for a second before melting against me.
“Sorry, I murmured, nuzzling her neck and inhaling her scent, richer undertone since the pregnancy. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Her hair was tousled from sleep, falling in messy waves around her shoulders. I loved seeing her like this–natural, unguarded, mine. I brushed the hair away from her neck and pressed my lips to her skin, feeling her pulse quicken beneath my touch.
My hand splayed across her slightly rounded belly, and Fenris howled reverently in my mind. The thought of our child growing inside her still amazed me.
“Why are you up so early?” I asked, sensing the anxiety she was trying to suppress. “What’s wrong?”
Berry placed her hand over mine on her stomach. “Nothing important.”
“Is it about Matthew?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral. “About what happened between you?”
She turned in my arms, her eyes meeting mine. “No, Augustin. I’ve made my peace with that.” She placed her palms against my chest. “In a strange way, I’m grateful for what happened. It led me to you.”
I believed her. Whatever she’d felt for Matthew belonged to her past. She was mine now, completely and utterly mine, and I trusted that. Just as I trusted her enough to know that Matthew would always be part of her life and that didn’t threaten me.
“Good,” I said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because I’d never stand in the way of your friendship with him. He’s part of who you are, Berry.”
Her eyes softened, and she rose on her tiptoes to kiss me. I held her close, my body responding immediately to her nearness. It was then that I noticed exactly what she was wearing–a short, transparent nightgown that left little to the imagination. Her nipples were hard against the thin fabric, and the sight of her made my mouth go dry.
Fenris stirred restlessly within me. Mine. Ours.
Calm down, I told him, though I wasn’t doing much better myself.
Berry’s gaze dropped, noticing my reaction/ A small smile tugged at her lips.
‘Let me take care of that for you,‘ she whispered, sinking to her knees before I could respond.
1/2
Chapter 247
She tugged at my boxers, freeing me, and then her mouth was on me, hot and wet. I groaned, see hand tangling in her hair while the other braced against the wall behind her. The sight of her on her knees, taking me into her mouth, was almost too much to bear.
Fenris went wild inside me, demanding mare, demanding everything. I struggled to maintain control as she worked me with her tongue and list, her movements growing more confident with each response she drew from me.
*Berry, I warned, my voice strained as I felt myself nearing the edge. “I’m close.”
She looked up at me, eyes darkened with desire, and I gently pulled her away before I lost control completely. In one swift motion, I lifted her into my arma and carried her to the bed.
I laid her down, positioning myself between her thighs, and slid into her welcoming heat. We both gasped at the sensation. No matter how many times we did this, it always felt like coming home.
I set a steady rhythm, not too fast, not too slow, watching her face for sighs of pleasure. Her hands gripped my shoulders, nails digging into my skin as her breathing quickened.
“That’s it, I murmured, maintaining my pace even as she began to tighten around me. “Come for me, Berry.”
Her back arched as she reached her peak, her nails leaving crescent marks in my skin. The sight of her pleasure was enough to push me over the edge, and I buried myself deep inside her as I came, filling her with my seed.
We lay together afterward, catching our breath. I pressed a kiss to her forehead, feeling utterly content.
“Thank you,” I said, a hint of playfulness in my voice.
She laughed softly. “Anytime, my king.”
After a few minutes of recovery, we made our way to the bathroom to start our morning routine. Berry stepped into the shower first, and I followed, appreciating the sight of water cascading down her naked body.
“Any news about Helena’s computer?” she asked as she reached for the shampoo.
I tensed, suddenly understanding the source of her anxiety this morning. “Is that what’s bothering you?”
She turned to face me, water streaming down her face. “There’s a problem, but I don’t want you to panic.”
“What is it?” I asked, already feeling my heart rate increase.
She took a deep breath. “Someone has Helena’s computer and can access her emails.”
I froze, the words hitting me.
Chapter Comments
LIKE
