บท 13: A Dance of Desire

(Azaria's Point of View)

"So, I know you're dealing with a lot right now—emotions all over the place, and a few reality-crushing truths just dropped on you—but do you notice anything... off?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual despite the racing of my heart. There was something pivotal about this moment, like the universe had orchestrated it, and I needed to understand what it all meant.

Stephanie hesitated, her brows knitting in thought as if she were unsure whether to speak her mind. Her lips parted, but she hesitated, seemingly battling with herself. "Uh..." she began, but her voice trailed off, unable to find the right words.

I sighed softly, realizing I would have to bridge the gap myself. "Look," I said, cutting to the chase, "I'm asking if I smell funny to you, or if you feel tingles when we touch, or maybe…" I stopped abruptly, catching my breath. Easy there, Azaria, I mentally scolded myself for nearly blurting out what I'd been thinking. You can't just go around talking like this to your aides.

Stephanie's eyes widened slightly, and before I could continue, she finished my sentence in a soft, shaky voice. "I just want to touch and kiss every inch of your being?"

Her words hung in the air, creating a tension between us that crackled like static electricity. She stepped closer, mere inches from my face, her intense green eyes locking onto mine as if she were searching for answers neither of us had dared to ask aloud. Her hand reached up, trembling slightly as she touched the side of my face, her fingers feather-light against my skin. "There's this funny thought in the back of my mind," she whispered, barely more than a breath. "I keep hearing... my mate."

I stared at her, my pulse quickening, my mind racing to process her words. "Oh, and why's that?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside me.

"Well," she began, her cheeks flushing a soft pink, "you smell delicious—like honey, with something else I can't quite place. But I like it. And... the tingles. Every time we touch." She shifted slightly, a hint of nervous excitement in her expression. "Oh, and Mira keeps trying to shift and... mate you."

Her words struck me like a bolt of lightning, and I couldn't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation. The shock must have shown on my face because she giggled softly, her laughter breaking the tension between us.

We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, wrapped in a blanket of silence and unspoken emotions. The air was thick with tension, a heady mix of confusion and desire swirling around us. I could feel the pull between us, an invisible force drawing us closer together, and I knew she felt it too.

Just then, a knock at the door shattered the moment, bringing us crashing back to reality. "Luna, you are late for dinner. Is everything okay?" Gamma Theo's voice called from the other side of the door.

Stephanie quickly took a few steps back, dropping her gaze to the floor, as if embarrassed by what had just transpired between us. I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice as I called out, "Got caught up, I'll be down soon." And with that, it was just us again, the heavy silence hanging in the air like a thick fog.

I reached out a hand towards her, my fingers brushing against her arm in a gesture of reassurance. "Would you like to sit with me at the head table?" I asked, my voice gentle.

Stephanie nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she followed me out of the room and down to the dining hall. In the private dining room, there were four tables reserved for high-ranking members. The Alpha, Beta, and Gamma usually occupied the table at the head of the room, with a few extra seats for guests or unmated high-ranking wolves.

I led Stephanie to the seat on my left, the spot where the Gamma's mate would traditionally sit, right between Theo and myself. It was a bold move, but I needed to make Ethan feel comfortable, to keep him complacent. I couldn't afford for him to grow suspicious or develop a conscience at this point.

Dinner was a tense affair, the air filled with a mixture of confusion and curiosity as pack members tried to make sense of Stephanie's presence at the head table. Ethan, however, seemed more relaxed than I'd seen him in days, probably because he felt he had won me over once again. He didn't suspect that I was playing a different game entirely, one where he was just another piece on the board.

As we ate, I could see the other wolves sneaking glances at Stephanie and me, their eyes filled with questions they didn't dare ask aloud. I kept my face impassive, maintaining the mask of the dutiful Luna while internally calculating my next move. I had to play this carefully; one wrong step and everything could come crashing down around me.

When dinner finally ended, I rose from my seat, signaling to Stephanie to follow me. "Would you like to join me to discuss the last of the work for today?" I asked, keeping my tone casual, as if this were just another routine task.

She smiled, nodding eagerly as she fell into step beside me. We made our way back upstairs, bypassing my office in favor of my private quarters. Once inside, we settled down to finish up the remaining paperwork, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words.

As we worked, I found myself stealing glances at Stephanie, watching the way her brows furrowed in concentration as she filled out each form. There was something captivating about her, something that drew me in despite myself. I knew I should keep my distance, but every time she looked at me, I felt my resolve weakening.

When the last form was finally signed, I leaned back in my chair, studying her intently. "So, what are you planning to do?" I asked, my voice soft but laced with curiosity.

Stephanie looked up, her expression confused. "What do you mean?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.

I smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Well, you are in quite a predicament. You are my aide, so just avoiding the bond won't work for now. And you have yet to reject me… plus you have your relationship with the Alpha. Such a sought-after woman you are." I giggled, trying to lighten the mood, though the weight of the situation hung heavily between us.

"I-I don't know," she stammered, looking overwhelmed. "I mean, I can't just request to stop seeing the Alpha… but I don't want to reject you either…" She looked like she was drowning in a sea of thoughts, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape.

Unable to resist the urge to comfort her, I quickly pulled her into a hug, holding her close as I sighed softly. "Don't worry too much. You still have a few days before I need an answer. But you will have to choose eventually."

She stared up at me, stunned by my words, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of fear and longing. "Okay," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible as she looked into my eyes.

We stood there for a moment, our faces inches apart, the air around us charged with anticipation. Then, without warning, Stephanie shifted her weight onto her tiptoes, closing the distance between us as she pressed her lips to mine. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if testing the waters, but it quickly deepened, transforming into something intense and passionate.

I lost myself in the sensation, forgetting about everything else as my hands slid from around her waist to under her thighs, lifting her effortlessly as I carried her to the bed. I laid her down gently, my lips trailing down the side of her neck, savoring the taste of her skin as she gasped and moaned beneath my touch.

As I unbuttoned her shirt, I claimed her lips once more, nipping at her bottom lip to gain access to her mouth. Our tongues tangled together in a heated dance, each of us vying for dominance. I won, of course, breaking away only when my lungs burned for air.

We both giggled softly, the sound filled with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I leaned in to kiss her again, more gently this time, before continuing my journey down her neck to her chest. I took my time, kissing and sucking on each nipple as she whimpered and squirmed beneath me, her hands tangling in my hair.

Just the sounds coming from her were enough to make me wet, and I could feel my own desire building with each passing moment. I continued my descent, kissing down her stomach and stopping at her navel. She sat up on her elbows, watching me with hooded eyes, her breathing heavy and ragged.

I slowly licked down her left leg, then up her right, making sure to lightly bite both thighs. She squirmed the whole time, her body trembling with anticipation. When I finally stopped, she tilted her head in confusion, her eyes questioning. "Why did you stop?"

I smirked, looking up at her with a mischievous glint in my eyes. "Last chance to back out," I warned, my voice low and husky. "If I go any further, I won't be able to stop myself."

I really hoped she wouldn't back out, but I needed to be sure she was ready. I couldn't look back and feel like I had taken advantage of her. It wouldn't be fair to her, or to myself.

Stephanie's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mixture of determination and desire. "I want to, Azaria," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly but carrying a weight of certainty. The way she said my name sent a shiver down my spine, my wolf stirring within me at the sound.

A soft growl of approval escaped my lips before I leaned back down, pressing a tender kiss against her mound. As I let my tongue explore her most intimate parts, a surge of satisfaction rushed through me at her reaction. Her back arched, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly as she let out a series of gasps and moans that were music to my ears.

I continued my ministrations, my fingers slipping inside her, coaxing out more cries of pleasure. Each movement was deliberate, calculated, as I sought to bring her to the edge. Her body responded to my every touch, her hips bucking against me, desperate for more.

"Azaria," she whimpered, my name falling from her lips like a prayer. It spurred me on, urging me to push her further, to make her forget about everything else. I could feel her walls clenching around my fingers, her release building as I quickened my pace.

I whispered sweet nothings to her, my voice low and soothing, grounding her as she rode out her pleasure. "That's it, Stephanie. Let go for me." My words seemed to have the desired effect as her cries reached a crescendo, her body shaking with the force of her climax.

As she came down from her high, I leaned back, licking my fingers clean with a satisfied grin. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed at me with a mixture of awe and disbelief, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

She reached for my shirt, a playful smile on her lips as she seductively asked, "It's my turn, isn't it?"

I stopped her hands, pressing a gentle kiss to each one before capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. Breaking away, I murmured against her lips, "Not just yet. We wouldn't want to seal the bond if you're not ready."

Her brows furrowed in confusion, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind as she tried to make sense of my words. With us being females, I wasn't entirely sure how far we would have to go to fully mate, but I wasn't taking any chances. There was too much at stake, and I needed to be careful.

"But I just want you to feel as good as you made me feel," she protested, her voice filled with a longing that tugged at my heart.

I kissed her again, this time more gently, before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "Who said I didn't?" I replied, guiding her hand up my skirt to feel the dampness of my underwear. "I just want to be careful. Next time, it's all you, my love."

The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I mentally kicked myself for the slip. My love? Where had that come from? Sure, we were fated, but I couldn't afford to get distracted. Not now, not when I was so close to my goal.

Stephanie let out a soft sigh, her expression torn between desire and understanding. "Okay, but promise I get to please you next time?"

"I promise," I assured her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Now, let's go get cleaned up."

I led her to the bathroom, and we showered together, the warm water washing away the remnants of our earlier activities. I lent her a pair of my silk pastel pink pajamas, immediately regretting it when I saw how tempting she looked in them. The fabric clung to her curves in all the right places, making it hard to keep my hands to myself.

I sighed, trying to rein in my desires as I lay down on the bed. She walked over and curled up next to me, resting her head on my chest. "I-I can't stay long," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret.

I looked down at her, her eyes glossy once again, and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I know. He'll be looking for you. Make sure to go to your room and change into one of your PJ sets. He knows all of mine. Don't worry about the pain either; I've got it handled."

She nodded, her head dipping slightly, but not before I caught a glimpse of the tear that slipped down her cheek. My heart ached for her, for the impossible situation she found herself in. She was torn between duty and desire, and it was clear that the decision was weighing heavily on her.

This must be hard for her, I thought, watching her closely as she tried to mask her emotions. I promise I will help her lessen her burden when the time comes, one way or another. It's not like I want her to suffer; I just want my freedom, and she is my only chance. As much as I would love to tell her the plans and take her with me, it wouldn't be fair, and I would feel as if she only came because of the bond.

"Azaria," Stephanie whispered, her voice breaking through my thoughts. "Thank you… for everything."

I smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "No need to thank me," I replied, my voice gentle. "Just remember, you're not alone in this. We'll figure it out together."

She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips as she snuggled closer to me. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as I felt her breathing even out, signaling that she had fallen asleep. I stared up at the ceiling, my mind racing with a million thoughts and questions.

What had I gotten myself into? This was more complicated than anything I had ever faced before, but somehow, I knew that with Stephanie by my side, we could overcome any obstacle. She was my fated mate, after all, and together, we would find a way to break free from the chains that bound us.

As I lay there, listening to the sound of her steady breathing, I couldn't help but feel a spark of hope ignite within me. For the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe, just maybe, things would be okay. We had a long road ahead of us, but at least now, I wasn't walking it alone.

With that thought in mind, I closed my eyes, allowing sleep to claim me, comforted by the warmth of Stephanie's presence beside me.