The Crown's Entrapment

"My bed is big enough," Gilas insisted. "Don't you trust me? I told you I won't do a thing to you unless you let me."

It was painful. Gilas was hurt by how distant Clara was acting to him… Yes, she was within his reach, but she still felt so far away from actually being within his grasp.

Clara bit her lower lip, and Gilas immediately stopped himself from groaning at the sight of her. He found himself wishing that he could also make her bite her lower lip for a different reason just to punish her for making him suffer like this.

"It's not that I don't trust you, Gilas. It's just that I don't trust my instincts," Clara explained. "I can feel the Mate Pull through your touch, and all of this is just so new to me. I don't think I'm ready for it..."

She then raised her head to meet his eyes as she added, "I know we'll eventually have to mate to complete the Mate Bond… But I need more time before I'm actually fine with doing it. I'm not ready for that just yet."

"I know," Gilas let out another sigh as he firmly nodded. "Still, please stop worrying. I won't join you on the bed. If you're that worried about getting touched, then I can sleep in any corner of the room if you want. Please just make yourself comfortable in my bed."

Clara was about to reply when there was a sudden knock echoed from the door.

"Who's that?" Gilas asked, startled.

"Lord Gilas, I brought you two some snacks as instructed by your father…" the servant answered from behind the door.

Gilas frowned at the answer he received. Still, he let the servant enter, a trolley of food and drink being wheeled in and prepared on the table as soon as she was allowed to do so. Then Gilas dismissed her as soon as she was done.

[Wow… Looks like Nasser wants you and Clara to get drunk and mate,] Ham scoffed.

Turning to Clara, he watched her walk to the table and grab the nearest bottle of wine. She then poured herself a drink on a goblet just beside her.

"You're going to drink?" Gilas unknowingly voiced out.

"Why not? Might as well accommodate Nasser's gesture to celebrate the Ritual of Marking," Clara answered as she started drinking.

Despite her behavior, Gilas could sense that Clara was still a bit nervous. This was probably her way to try and get herself to relax.This was probably because she could feel the Mate Pull through his touch.

'Do I make her feel anxious?' Gilas worriedly thought to himself.

[No, you don't. She's just new to the Mate Pull,] Ham reminded him. [It's quite different when her ability to smell you isn't present. Honestly, this would've been a lot easier if she still has her sense of smell…] Ham explained.

His wolf sighed as he added, [With the way the Mate Pull works, you will smell good and addicting to her, and it'll be so hard for her to act unaffected so long as you're around. For now, however, she will have to subtly use her instincts. Try touching her whenever you can. Act like you're doing it by accident. That's the plan, correct? Just don't make it look intentional.]

Right, that was his plan, but wasn't that also torturous on his part? It was the reason why he was hesitating in the first place, especially on the part of him holding himself back until he was sure that Clara's heart had fully trusted and accepted him.

Taking a drink of his own, the two of them shared a drink in silence. There was a terse pause, and Gilas broke the peace as he asked, "Do you think he'll succeed against Nasser?"

"He will…" Clara firmly stated.

Gilas almost flinched as he felt the confidence in Clara's answer. It was clear that she trusted Darius and his capabilities with all of her heart.

[Stop being envious. Clara is already yours,] Ham reminded him, his wolf having felt his emotions despite him keeping quiet. [You just need to work hard in capturing her heart. With your mark already on her, she won't be forever in love with Darius. You already have the power over her present and future. She will be with us from now on no matter what happens. That is all that matters…]

Time passed, and Gilas couldn't manage to keep track of how long they had been drinking. Still, based on the empty bottles on the table, he and Clara had surely drank a lot of what the servants had brought them.

"Let's have more," Clara giggled.

Gilas held his breath as he watched his mate sway in her seat. She was obviously drunk, and he was thankful that he was still sober enough in the sense that he still knew what was going on.

Standing up, Gilas pulled Clara up and out of her seat. "That's enough. Go to bed and rest," he murmured. "Come here…"

Despite his efforts, however, Clara refused to get out of her chair. So instead, he resolved the issue by carrying her into his arms.

Surprised, Clara suddenly wrapped her arms around her neck, burying her face in his chest as she murmured, "Your body feels nice..."

'This isn't good!' Gilas thought in alarm as warning signs appeared in all the corners of his head. Moving quickly, he immediately put Clara down on the bed. But before he could turn and leave, Clara grabbed onto him, refusing to let him go as she pulled him in with her onto the bed.

"Where are you going? Let's sleep together…" Clara murmured. And as if she hadn't had enough, she even put her leg on top of him.

Gilas groaned hard at the offending leg, her movements making her brush against him in a way that she shouldn't do.

"Mhm… Not so fluffy, but this will do," Clara murmured into his ear as she snuggled up some more against the crook of his neck.

"Clara, let me go," Gilas weakly insisted as he tried to move away from her grasp. Unfortunately for him, Clara's hold on him was tight and firm, preventing him from leaving.

"But I feel weird, Gilas. I don't want to let you go just yet," she murmured against his skin. "I even want you closer to me…"

Gilas groaned at the pleasure that her warm breath against his skin was giving him. Turning to face her, their lips suddenly collided, making his sense go haywire.

[For the first time, I find myself appreciating Nasser's gesture to congratulate you,] Ham cheered.

Gilas answered him with a grunt, telling his wolf to shut up and keep quiet. This was something that he never expected to happen, but he was still aware enough to know that Clara wasn't sober at the moment. He had no intentions of taking advantage of the situation… Even if his feral instincts wanted so badly to do just that.

It took him all of his self-control to break away from that hungry kiss as he quickly jumped off the bed and whispered, "Good night, Clara. I'll see you tomorrow…"

He then rushed out of the bedchamber. There was no way that he'll be sleeping in the same room as her tonight.