Whatever happened next with the West Pack, Adele didnāt care. She dragged her mate back to the pack house, determined to get him somewhere safe. Micah had sacrificed enough for them already. They should be grateful he was still breathing.
Because deep down, Adele knew if anything had happened to Micah, none of them would have cared. They would have probably muttered, "Good riddance," relieved that the demon son of Angus was finally gone.
Adele couldnāt even blame them. She had once seen him through that same lens until the goddess tied their souls together. Her mate wasnāt what they painted him to be. Sure, he could be a menace when he wanted to be, but she knew Micahās heart.
He was goodness and light, whether the world deserved him or not. And right now,
she feared the day he would break himself trying to prove that to people who might never stop stereotyping him until the day he was gone
As soon as they stepped inside the packhouse, Nancy King was the first to approach them.
"Your Highness," she said, bowing slightly, pride warming her features. "Thank you. If it hadnāt been for your help, we would have lost far more wolves tonight. You ended the war before it even began."
The sincerity in her tone took Adele aback.
Maybe there was hope. Maybe, with time, the Goddessā hand would help them see Micah for who he truly was.
Micah puffed his chest a little. "Well, thank you. I did what any broā" he nearly slipped, catching himself, "āfriend would do. Violet is dear to me, and Asher is the rightful heir to the West Pack, no matter what anyone says."
Nancy nodded gratefully before turning to Adele. "The Goddess was kind enough to bless you with him. Rest. Iāll ensure no one disturbs either of you tonight." Her voice carried layered meaning that Adele caught every thread of it.
Adele nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Nancy gave a subtle wink and moved on.
Micah immediately grinned so wide she was surprised his jaw didnāt snap.
"What?" Adele arched a brow when he wouldnāt stop giving her that stupid, smug look.
"āResting up?ā Micah said with a suggestive tone, "Is that what weāre going to do?"
"Shut up and lead the way, Micah." She tried to sound annoyed, but the tiny smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.
"I should warn you," he said cockily, "Iām actually so drained it might take me hours to recharge to a hundred percent, honey."
Adele stopped and pinned him with a hard stare. "Lead. The. Way. Micah."
His smirk deepened. "I like it when you boss me around, honey."
Adele scoffed, completely done with him.
"Come on," Micah chuckled, reached for her hand, and intertwined their fingers. "Letās go."
And together, they disappeared down the corridor.
As soon as they entered his room, Adele paused, scanning the space with a critical eye.
"At least they know how to treat you well," she said sarcastically, taking in the spacious layout.
The room was large enough with soft light warming the dark interior. The massive bed with thick furs, and velvet pillows rested against the far side. A wardrobe stood in the corner and the fireplace was lit, filling the air with heat. It was luxurious enough for royalty.
When Adele turned back, Micah was standing there, still in his bloodied, ripped clothes, looking at her with that annoyingly expectant expression.
"What?" she asked, feigning innocence. "You should wash up. You smell like blood and gore."
"Really?" Micah drawled, smug as always.
He grabbed the hem of his shirt and peeled it off in one clean motion, tossing it to the ground. Then he pointed at his bare torso like he was presenting a prized artifact.
"You really donāt want a piece of this?"
Adele followed the motionāand sweet goddess.
Her mate was sexy as hell. The hard lines of his abs, the flex of his muscle with every breath, the taper of his waist, and that deep V leading downward, vanishing beneath his pants was enough to ruin even the purest of maidens. His skin was warm bronze, glowing in the firelight, taut over strength that came from both his incubus and werewolf heritage.
Her gaze reached his face, and Micah was already smirking, eyes glittering with amusement. Yes, he knew exactly how sinful he looked. He was an incubus after all. Everything about him was built to seduce.
"Yes. I donāt want a piece of it," she said flatly.
Micahās jaw literally fell.
"In fact..." Adele threw herself onto the bed and stretched dramatically, "...I think I prefer this bed. Considering I traveled across territories to rescue my mate only to find some other womanās hands on him."
She ended it with a hiss.
Oh. It dawned on Micah. So that was the problem. His mate was jealous.
"Come on, Adele, she was just helping."
"Yes, Iām sure," she snapped. "I might not be a succubus, but even I could smell the lust rolling off that woman. And you... " she jabbed a finger, "... are an incubus, Micah. Do you know what that does?"
Micah held up both hands. "Fine. Iām sorry. It was stupid of me not to stop the horny Alexa fromā" he shifted his position, "āhelping me. And if it comforts you, she barely even touched me."
He sat slowly on the edge of the bed as Adele eyed him with a tight jaw and dark gaze.
He swallowed. Damn, he really had a possessive mate. Not that he minded.
Having never been chosen by anyone in his life, having a woman ready to claw someoneās eyes out for touching him?
Yeah. He could love her for the rest of his damn life for that alone.
"You didnāt even ask me to come with you," Adele grumbled. "If I was there, no one else wouldāve laid a hand on you."
Micah softened. "I just didnāt want you to get hurt. Youāre still under hospital surveillance, remember?"
"Iām not weak," she snapped.
"Fine," Micah acknowledged, surrendering at last. "Youāre not weak. Next time, even if itās a journey straight into hell, Iāll take you with me. And Iāll make sure not even the succubi down there look at me."
"Good." Adele nodded firmly.
"Okay, so now that weāre past that part, can we move onā"
He leaned forward, but before he could get anywhere near her, Adeleās leg slid up and pressed firmly against his chest, stopping him in place.
Micah froze at first, right before a slow, wicked smirk curved his lips.
"Well," Micah purred, eyes glued to the long line of her leg, "guess whoās got a foot kink? Moi. Obviously."