The Crown's Entrapment

Back at Keen Manor, Silver Crescent Pack, Clara didn't know what to say to Gilas's request. On one hand, she really didn't want to accept such a blatant way of asking for her time. On the other, however…

[Why are you still being this stubborn?] Sheba cackled in the back of her mind. [You already know that you like him. You also said before that you've accepted him fully as your mate, and yet you still hesitate this hard with just simple displays of affection?!]

She inwardly gritted her teeth at her wolf's constant teasing. So what if she was being stubborn? She knew that, and she was willingly choosing not to answer right away exactly because she knew that. After all, just because she already accepted him doesn't mean that she'll be that easy.

[Really… Is this about your pride again?] Sheba sighed.

[Of course, it is,] Clara scoffed. [Darius won me over with his sheer presence and personality. I might've accepted Gilas to be my husband, but he still has a ways to go to fully earn that title in my mind.]

[Seriously?! Why?! Just mate with him and get it over with!] Sheba demanded.

[That's still a no from me, and that's final,] Clara firmly declared. [I'll be the one to decide when it happens.]

With a grumble, Sheba retreated from Clara's mind, leaving her thoughts alone once more as her focus returned to the man still waiting for an answer in front of her. She wasn't that stupid. She had a feeling about what he was playing at, and she was going to milk this for all it was worth.

Maybe even… It could be some kind of test for him? Besides, if it helped Lady Shila, then who was she to decline?

"I'm… fine with that," Clara hesitantly replied. At least, her tone said she was hesitating. "If it'll help Mother recover quicker, then I won't turn down such a method."

Gilas beamed, and she could already tell that he was feeling himself from hearing her answer. Maybe he really was trying something to woo her even more onto his side.

"Excellent," he nodded in satisfaction. "Then we can go and have dinner with Mother right now."

What?

Before Clara could even ask what time it was, Gilas had already pulled her along with him. His bare hand yanked against her bare wrist, and the action alone immediately sent chills throughout her body as she fought against the forming blush on her cheeks.

'T-This isn't what I had in mind!' she inwardly yelped.

[What? Did you think you're so smart that you figured out his game?] Sheba scoffed. [He knows what he's doing, and I wholeheartedly approve of his game plan!]

[What game plan?!] Clara demanded.

[Why should I tell you?] Sheba haughtily chuckled. [I'm sure you can figure it out later.]

For the first time in a long time, Clara inwardly cursed as she felt her wolf retreat once more, leaving her alone with her thoughts as Gilas took her down towards the dining room. All the while, she couldn't help but turn her attention to the place where their skin was touching. His palm felt like it burned through her skin, and she couldn't help but like the sensation as the constant feedback of emotions coming off him started to affect her more than she would've liked.

But just as she was starting to get used to the contact, Gilas suddenly let her go. They finally reached the dining area, and Clara barely had the time to compose herself before she bowed at Lady Shila's presence.

"M-Mother," she greeted. "Again, thank you for giving me some time to rest."

"It's no problem, my dear," Lady Shila beamed, the older woman already seated by her usual spot on the dining room table. "You've done more than enough to help us sort through this mess."

She smiled at her mother-in-law's praise. But, again, just as she was about to respond, Gilas's arm snaked itself around her shoulder, pulling her close to him without so much as a warning.

'W-What is he doing?!' she inwardly gasped.

"I'm glad you and Clara are getting along quite well," Gilas praised in relief, his grip around her shoulder tightening as he pulled her along with him. "Truly, I have such a splendid wife for her to be this proactive."

Clara's face burned as she heard the way that Gilas called her his wife. He sounded so sure of himself already as if it was already a foregone conclusion even though she hadn't even completed the Mate Bond with him yet.

[Again, didn't you just say that you've already accepted him as your-]

[Shut your trap!] Clara quickly snapped at her smug wolf. [I don't need you making things more difficult for me!]

[You're the only one making things difficult on yourself,] Sheba quickly pointed out, her smug tone only getting stronger with each word. [If you just went along with it, you wouldn't be this conflicted about this.]

Clara inwardly clicked her tongue even as she did her best to keep up appearances to her new family. She really didn't want them to know just how deep she was in her own head right now, especially to Gilas who would probably even use it to his advantage to get her onto his side even further.

[As if you aren't already there to begin with,] Sheba scoffed.

[Shut up…]

"Right, let's get started with dinner, shall we?" Lady Shila excitedly suggested. "I've made some of these myself to commemorate the occasion."

"The day when we cleaned out the manor, hmm," Gilas chuckled. "I can see that being a cause for celebration."

"I agree. Now, we can finally move on with our lives," Clara agreed. "Without Nasser's influence, you two will now be free to do whatever you wanted."

"Which also includes taking a wife as my own," Gilas cheekily remarked. "And based on what I'm seeing, I'm already halfway there."

Clara almost choked on her own spit. Looking at Gilas, she couldn't help but feel like her cheeks were about to come off with how much she was blushing. Seriously, did he really have to tell it like that?