Chronically in love

Chapter Six (Arthur)

I am a fool, a fool, a stupid dumb fool. I hadn't even considered the laws my father had imposed—the same father who despised humans, treating them like pests. When I asked Zoe why she hadn't pursued a career as a scientist, it was out of genuine curiosity. But her anger—the blame in her eyes—stunned me. I hadn't expected it, and it was my fault. I had forgotten about those laws when I was crowned, I was too busy with other affairs.

When she stormed out, her anger was like a physical force, crackling in the air. I had stood up out of my chair to follow after her, but Nalia stopped me with a firm voice. "No. Let her be. Let her cool off. Julian will take her swimming—that should help. She's upset, you hit a sore spot."

Julian's glare at me was sharp, a silent rebuke for upsetting his Luna. The tension in the room was thick with worry; her distress had unsettled everyone, sending our wolves into a restless state. The scent of her anger hung in the air, making it hard for any of us to relax.

My wolf was restless, desperate to comfort her, to go to her and soothe her with a gentle nuzzle or a lick to her cheek. He swore it would help and nearly convinced me to go regardless of what Nalia said until I remembered—she didn't like wolves.

 Instead, I paced outside her door, waiting for her to return. When she finally appeared, I seized the opportunity to apologize and ask for her assistance in revising the laws. With her helping me I was introducing her to basic laws and at the same time training her for her Luna position and righting the wrongs I created. It was also a good idea to have a human's perspective, she would have a better understanding of what they would need than me.

But then I noticed her attire—a swimsuit and a towel that taunted me with a view of her long legs. My wolf reacted intensely, yelling at me to mark her, ordering me to shove her against the wall and mate her until all she could say was our name. Overwhelmed, I had fled to avoid losing control. I shifted into my wolf form and ran for hours, fighting my urges to go claim my mate. I stopped briefly to ask Julian to deliver a note, requesting that she meet with me the next morning. As dawn broke, I returned to the castle and shifted back to my human form.

Daniel picked up on my agitation and sniffed the air suggestively, wiggling his eyebrows. I growled at him, my patience thin and my mood dark. Now, I waited outside her room, arriving thirty minutes early, to wait until she was ready to begin.

 I heard Zoe stirring in her room—clothing rustling, a soft groan as her alarm went off. I could hear every sound but chose to block out her space. It didn't feel right to listen in while she was unaware of my presence. Leaning against the wall, I waited patiently. About fifteen minutes later, the door swung open and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw me standing there.

She was dressed in her usual attire—yoga pants and a sweatshirt, her hair pulled back into a long braid. The faint scent of lilies wafted towards me, and I tried to pull that scent into my lungs without making it obvious. I couldn't help but smile, and my heart leapt a bit when she returned my smile with a gentle grin. "Shall we go?" I asked, trying to make my voice warm and inviting and gentle. Be gentle and sweet, Arthur.

I led the way to my office, a large, sunlit room lined with bookshelves stacked with my favorite volumes. A hefty wooden desk dominated the center, flanked by two sleek black office chairs. I gestured to one of the chairs, offering her a seat. "Please, make yourself comfortable."

She thanked me and settled into the chair, her gaze flitting around the room with evident curiosity. Her eyes lingered on the bookshelves, and I could see her interest piqued by the collection. Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted our quiet moment. A maid entered, carrying a platter laden with apple slices, assorted fruit, a glass of apple juice, and a muffin.