Chapter 76: He saw her
The door closed with a dull thud behind her. On the outside, Yuki appeared calm and composed. Inside, she was a complete wreck. Her body ached badly to be touched. A deep, insistent need pulsed between her legs with every step she took. Her fist clenched tightly at her side as she forced herself to walk on steady feet down the long corridor. The cool air of the pack house brushed against her heated skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her.
Luckily, there were no maids nearby. Killian had sent them away earlier. Yuki rushed down the hallway toward her room. She did not want anyone to see her in this state. Her hair was slightly damp with water and the fabric of her dress clung uncomfortably to her body, especially her soaked underwear.
Earlier, Yuki had been completely drawn by the intoxicating scent of Killian’s rut. She had failed to realise just how far his wing was located. If not for her heightened sense of smell, thanks to her wolf, she would have long gotten lost in this maze of a mansion.
The entire wing reeked of Killian’s potent scent. That did not help her aching nipples in the slightest. After what felt like forever, Yuki eventually found her way back from the southernmost wing where Killian’s quarters were located.
Before she could release a breath of relief upon reaching a more familiar area, a cold voice stopped her in her tracks. "Where are you coming from?"
Her head snapped up, and her stomach instantly dropped to the floor once she saw Kaden’s cold, piercing gaze.
She instinctively backed away, her fists clenched tightly by her sides. She had run into Kaden at a crosswalk. He seemed to be heading right while she was walking straight ahead.
"What does my movement have to do with you, Kaden?" she sneered, trying to walk past him.
Kaden’s nose twitched. He caught a subtle scent that others might have missed, but his heightened senses picked it up clearly. A bitter feeling crawled up his throat. Something close to jealousy crossed his heart, but he would never admit it.
His hand shot out and grabbed her wrist in a grip as tight as a clamp. Sparks erupted violently from the contact. Kaden did not even flinch. He was used to the sparks by now, and honestly, he could not care less about them at this moment.
Yuki’s heart raced wildly. Her eyes widened with shock, and her lips parted, ready to snap at him. Kaden did not give her the chance. He yanked her forward, almost slamming her against his broad chest. He bent down, his nose brushing against her damp hair. He had to be certain he had caught the scent right.
The soft, sweet scent of her arousal rushed through his nostrils and went straight to his cock. His length twitched in recognition. "Why are you aroused, Snow?" he drawled. The coy, sweet scent of her arousal was impossible to ignore. After all, she was technically his mate, and his biological instincts urged him to satisfy her needs.
That was if they were regular mates.
Yuki’s stomach flipped at his words. Her legs instinctively pressed together as she tried to yank her hand free from his iron grip. "I am a fucking adult, Kaden. You are in no place to police my sex life," she hissed at him, but Kaden’s grip did not budge.
"What were you up to?" Kaden demanded. "For starters, that is not the way to your quarters." He knew exactly who stayed in that direction. Only Killian’s quarters were located there. But he refused to imagine that Killian and Yuki could have anything to do with each other.
His nose could catch the subtle hints of Killian’s scent, but that did not necessarily mean they had come into direct contact. Yuki’s mind was racing, desperately trying to come up with an excuse. She could not tell him the truth. It was a secret deal between her and Killian, after all.
Kaden noticed her nervous expression and his mind settled on the most bizarre conclusion. "Never imagined you could be so desperate," Kaden sneered.
Yuki’s brows pulled together in genuine confusion. She had no idea what he meant by calling her desperate.
Kaden’s next words left her absolutely speechless. "You wanted to be touched so badly that you snuck into Killian’s quarters just to get close to his scent."
Her face froze. She did not understand where he had gotten such a bizarre assumption from, but that simple reaction was all Kaden needed to conclude she was guilty.
His grip tightened painfully on her wrist. "You enjoy touching yourself that badly. It is pathetic, honestly," he spat with clear disgust.
Yuki finally understood what he was implying. He assumed she had been masturbating using Killian’s personal belongings. It was truly amusing. He would never believe that his brother had been begging her to stroke his cock just minutes ago. Her hand itched to slap him, but it was not worth it.
It did not matter what they thought of her. Yuki remained silent, waiting for Kaden to finish. Her gaze stayed calm and steady, and that calm expression only set him off further. She appeared completely unbothered, having no idea of the internal storm raging inside him from sensing her arousal.
"Do you not have anything to say?" he barked.
Yuki smirked at him. "Does it matter?" she asked. "I do not care what you think of me. It has nothing to do with me. So if you are done talking, let go of my hand, Kaden," she drawled. Her calm demeanour felt like an open challenge to him.
Kaden’s jaw clenched. He had nothing left to say. Yuki scoffed. "In that case, let go." She yanked her hand back, and this time it worked. Kaden’s grip loosened, and she broke free. Yuki did not waste another second on him. She turned around and continued on her way.
Kaden stared at her departing back. His jaw tightened with complex emotions he did not fully understand surging through him.
********
Night came.;The full moon still hung brightly in the sky. The night was silent despite the storm quietly brewing beneath the surface.
Yuki sat at the back of the car, her gaze locked on the passing scenery as the vehicle drew closer to the Obsidian Hall. Aevia sat quietly beside her, holding her hand in quiet support.
The closer they got to the palace, the sicker Yuki felt. The trial loomed over her like a dark cloud. This was her chance to clear her name, but a silent worry still gnawed at her.
What if something went wrong?
What if witchcraft really was involved, even if she was not the one behind it?