~The Warmth Of His Breath~

EIRA

The noise from the hall faded behind us as Elrich closed the heavy doors to his chambers. My chest loosened at the sudden silence. The laughter, the music, the clinking of glasses, it all felt far away now, like it was in another world.

Here, the air was softer, darker, though no less charged. My pulse refused to calm down.

Elrich didn’t rush me. He just stood there for a moment, studying me the way he always does, like he was lost in my face but he was trying so hard to not make me uncomfortable.

“You held yourself well tonight,” he said finally, “They look at you and they see strength. That matters.” he added.

I wanted to scoff, to brush it off, but my wolf hummed at the praise. I hated that part of me, the one that leaned toward him when I was trying so hard to lean away. One thing about Elrich made me feel very comfortable, it’s the fact that he doesn't impose, rather he wants me beside him as a partner and not just a woman he should control.

He walked closer, but not too close. Just close enough to take my hand. His fingers were warm against mine, and they felt safe in a way that made my chest ache. I let him guide me further into the room. I let my eyes roam round the room, at least it helped me keep them off him.

The room was large, but not as cold as I expected. A fire burned in the hearth, giving a reflection over a carved wooden bed and shelves of books. It smelled faintly of pine and smoke. This felt more like a home, not just a chamber. That surprised me.

Elrich didn’t let go of my hand as he reached for the clasp of the necklace I wore. “May I?” he asked. I hesitated a little, then nodded in response. His touch was careful as he unfastened the chain and laid it on the table. One by one, he removed the rings, the bracelets, the small weight of jewels that marked me as his bride.

He wasn’t stripping me bare for his claim he was helping me open up in a different way, peeling away the mask I’d built all night. It looked like he wanted more of my trust than my body. When his fingers brushed my neck, my skin tingled. My wolf leaned into him before I could stop her. I swallowed hard and forced my body to stay still.

He moved behind me and reached for the pins in my hair. “You must be tired of carrying all this.”

I wanted to tell him no, that I was fine. But the truth was, my scalp ached from the weight. So I said nothing. One by one, the pins slid free, and my hair tumbled down around my shoulders. His fingers lingered for just a breath too long before he stepped away.

When I turned to face him, his eyes weren’t hungry, not in the way I feared. They were calm. Watchful. Something in my chest softened against my will. Was he feeling the same way I was feeling?

“Wine?” he asked, already pouring a glass.

I accepted it, though my hands trembled a little. The drink calmed my nerves as I sipped, but his presence warmed me more.

We started talking in bits, and we were talking about different things and I didn't realize how much I was smiling. It was as if we were avoiding conversations about us—not fully—but about everything else.

He told me more of his people, the rogues who had made their home outside the laws of the larger packs. “We’ve survived because we’ve learned to be unseen,” he said, his eyes on the fire. “But I don’t want us hidden forever. With you beside me, we can be more. Stronger.”

I caught the edge in his tone—the politics, the strategy, but there was truth beneath it too. He wanted strength, yes, but he also wanted me to be safe. I couldn’t ignore the sincerity in his voice.

I set the glass down and forced myself to meet his gaze. “You’re asking me to choose more than just you.”

“I know,” he said softly. “But I won’t take what you’re not ready to give. Not tonight.”

The words should have been a relief. Instead, they twisted inside me, heavy with a strange disappointment I didn’t understand. My wolf pressed closer, restless and curious.

Elrich moved closer to me, close enough that I could feel the heat of him. He brushed a strand of hair from my face. His thumb lingered near my jaw, and I swear it sent a tingling sensation down my spine.

“I’ll wait,” he murmured.

My heart pounded, though my lips stayed silent. I didn’t know if I believed him or if I believed myself.

Elrich’s voice was steady, but there was something sharp beneath it. Figuratively, it felt like a challenge wrapped in silk. “So… are we going to talk about what happened at the altar?”

I arched a brow, pretending to be at ease even though my heart tripped in my chest. “What about it?”

“That kiss.” His eyes lingered on me too long, too intently.

I smirked, hoping it would cover the way my stomach clenched. “It was only a formality.” I replied, trying to sound like I meant it.

He didn’t look away. Instead, he stepped closer, the air between us tightening. My pulse hammered in my throat.

“It didn’t feel like one,” he said softly.

I almost forgot how to breathe. He was so close now, I could catch the fragrance of his cologne, the warmth radiating off him. My wolf shifted restlessly beneath my skin, urging me to lean into him, to surrender and give him all of me.

“Elrich…” My voice cracked on his name.

His hand brushed against my waist, feather-light, enough to set my nerves alight. My breath quickened despite my best efforts to stay composed. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and for a heartbeat, I thought I’d let him close that last, dangerous inch.

But then I moved. I stepped back, forcing space between us like a drowning woman clawing for air. “We shouldn’t,” I whispered, more to myself than him.

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.The silence stretched, thick and it soon became awkward. Eventually, we went to the bed we were meant to share, the absurdity of the situation pressing down on me. Marriage without intimacy. A bond we both felt but refused to claim.

I lay stiffly on my side, the sheets felt cool against my skin, Elrich’s warmth was only inches away. Too close. Not close enough. I could hear every shift of his breathing, every creak of the mattress. My mind replayed the almost-moment, his words circling like vultures.

Sleep refused to come. I stared at the ceiling, trying to force my mind to calm down. My wolf snarled at my restraint, angry that I’d denied her what she craved.

And then his voice broke the silence, “I’ll wait for you…” and then he paused. “…but not forever. I want you that much and I hope a time will come when you’ll want me too.”

Was that a promise, threat or warning? I could not make out which one it was and I didn't want to ask either. To save myself the stress, I decided to shut my eyes. He was patient, yes—but patience has its limits.

And if I pushed him past them… what then?

I laid awake long after his breathing deepened beside me, haunted by the possibility of me falling hard for him.