The Crown's Entrapment

Clara took a deep breath as she made her way to the dining room for an earlier-than-usual dinner. It had been a disaster on her part to expose herself to Gilas like that earlier, but what was done was already done. She did say that they should be used to being naked in each other's presence already, but that was just her trying to put up a brave front against the burning embarrassment running through her veins.

[As if you didn't want him yourself.]

She shook her head as she ignored more of Sheba's usual teasing. She would just have to take things one step at a time. Sure, it was getting harder for her to resist his presence, but she would remain steadfast if only for her principles.

[You and your principles…] her wolf scoffed at her. [How many more reasons will you create before you just go through with it?]

[As many times as it takes until it all feels natural,] Clara inwardly chuckled. [It just… doesn't feel right, alright?]

[And when would that happen, hmm? When you're already pregnant with his kid?]

Clara felt her cheeks redden at the thought her wolf gave to her. The idea that she would have to carry Gilas's child within her in the future… Possibly in the near future as well…

[See? You even want it to happen already.]

Once more, Clara shook her head. She refused to let the Mate Pull dictate things for her. She wanted it all to happen rationally and with proper procedure. Whether or not it happens like that, however, that didn't matter.

[You just contradicted yourself, moron,] Sheba cackled.

Clicking her tongue, the conflicted woman simply rolled her eyes before opening the door to the dining room. Like usual, Gilas and Lady Shila were already inside, sharing a bit of small talk between them before they both turned to greet her.

"Ah, Clara. You've finally arrived."

"Sorry for taking a while," Clara warmly apologized to Shila. "I had a lot of things on my mind. The current status of my former pack still lingers despite having already left them in capable hands."

"I can only imagine," Shila nodded in understanding. "Well then, let's all have a good meal. We still have a lot of things to do tomorrow, yes?"

Clara blinked as she nodded in turn. They were supposed to start their journey tomorrow to attend Gideon and Freya's Ritual of Marking at the Black Claw Pack Territory, and they would have to leave early in the morning. It was one of the reasons why they were having an early dinner in the first place. It was so that they could turn in early for the day ahead.

Wordlessly, Clara took her seat beside Gilas, the two of them inching closer to each other as they took on their respective places. As with last time, her mate was being much more daring to her whenever they were in Shila's presence. She didn't mind all of the extra attention, of course. In fact, she was even starting to warm up to the constant affection that Gilas was giving her.

[And yet you're still-]

[I know already, Sheba,] Clara cut her wolf off. [Just let me have this…]

"Clara?"

She blinked at Gilas as her attention was turned back to the scene in front of him. Taking a bite out of her meal, she gave him a small smile. "What is it, Gilas?"

"You're distracted," he noted, his eyes giving away a hint of his worry.

Raising an eyebrow, Clara gave him a look that told him her amusement. "I did say earlier that I still have my old pack in my mind."

"Oh, that's good then," he sighed in relief. "I thought for sure that-"

"What? That I was distracted by your handsome face?" she cheekily remarked with a smirk. "I can give you that, sure, but there are still bigger things that we have to worry about, no?"

She let out a confident smile as she took another bite in front of him. Truth be told, it was fun to act like this, especially since she could see just how happy Shila was whenever they were acting like a sweet and loving couple. And not that they were far from that kind of status anyway, what with her own feelings starting to come around no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

[You're a bundle of conflicting emotions,] Sheba knowingly scoffed. [Again and again, you constantly try to justify your acting coy like this.]

"I'm flattered then," Gilas smiled at her after a bit of a pause. "I'll take the fact that you called me handsome and running away with it, so to speak."

"Hmm?"

"That means that I can do this."

Clara opened her mouth to reply, but before her words came out, a small morsel of food suddenly entered her lips. She blinked in surprise. Somehow, Gilas had spoonfed her without her knowing, and she had already closed her mouth before she could even think of a proper response.

"There. I just proved that I'm handsome enough to be distracting to you."

Clara's cheeks burned red as she leveled her gaze with Gilas's her thoughts running wild as a dozen implications suddenly came into her mind. But out of all of them, one thing stood out…

She just had an indirect kiss with Gilas through his spoon, and she could feel her desire for him rising with each passing second the more she thought about the fact that some of his saliva is now currently in her mouth.

[And you can even taste some of it too!] Sheba laughed.

She couldn't help but shiver at the sensation of it. It was like the Mate Pull, but it was even more intense than usual! Surely, it was the Mate Pull doing this… She wasn't imagining things and her instincts were what was causing her body to burn up like this.

"C-Consider your point proven," Clara stuttered.

Shaking her head, she let out a small smile as they went on with their dinner. It was nice to see that Shila at least enjoyed her embarrassment. And she liked it too if she was being honest.

It was only a matter of time before she gave in anyway. At the very least, she wanted to at least think that she put up a defense against something that fate had given to her.