Yes, Your Highness (18+)

24

•──⋅☾ Scarlet ☽⋅──•

"Scarlet, what are you doing here?" Chase inquired, rising from the floor and stretching his arms high above his head. The muscles in his torso flexed, and I instinctively raised a hand to shield my eyes from the blinding view of his manhood. "First things first, put on some pants, and then I'll tell you," I replied, glancing over at Stephanie, who was attempting to hide her flushed face in the oversized fabric of Chase's shirt. The shirt hung loosely on her petite frame, accentuating the scene that hinted at an intimate encounter between them. But hey, it wasn't my party; I was merely a bystander. A playful grin crept onto my face as I teased Chase, "You know, if you two wanted some alone time, you could have just said so sooner." I could see the heat rise in Stephanie's cheeks.

Holy crap, that worked. The blush looked good on her. My wolf stirred in my subconscious as laughter erupted from my lips. "Come on, it's not every day that I get to know these things. Besides, I can relate," I said, a mischievous sparkle dancing in my eyes. Chase grunted dismissively, irritation etched on his face as he strode toward the laundry room down the hall. The knowledge of Chase's secret lycanthrope nature hung in the air like an unspoken truth, prompting an embarrassed glance from Stephanie. 

"Did you have to say that?" she asked, feigning exasperation while trying to keep a straight face. I let out a resigned sigh. "If you're looking for an apology, I'm sorry if it sounded like I wanted to watch you two getting it on."

"Ew! Gross," Stephanie responded with a laugh, and we both broke into giggles. "No, seriously, I wouldn't intrude on your time together. Plus, my boyfriend would bite my tail if I did," I quipped, playfully batting my eyelashes.

Chase reentered the room, now wearing pants that clung to him perfectly. He always seemed to exude confidence, no matter what he wore. At least his pants didn't threaten to blow away like that one guy from *The Fairly OddParents* who seemed perpetually on the verge of losing his shirt with each flex.

"Better?" Chase asked, and I nodded, replying with a satisfied hum, "Much better." Still, I could feel the tension thickening in the air. After a moment of contemplation, I finally mustered the courage to address the real reason for my visit. "I came over to check on you," I confessed after a hesitant silence.

"You should have stayed with Lukas," Chase retorted, striding into the adjacent kitchen, his voice edged with concern. 

"Oh, come on! Luke is perfectly fine with me checking in on the main deity who brought us all together in the first place," I crossed my arms defiantly. Stephanie, looking perplexed, merely shrugged her shoulders, opting not to interrupt our exchange.

I knew they'd been through a lot, and it felt right to share why I had come. "I wanted to let you know that the wolfpack hunting you down has stopped pursuing for now. They're staying away, primarily because of the blizzard brewing outside." 

"And? What's been going around, huh?" Chase's voice took on a demanding tone, compelling me to answer each question with urgency. "Go on, pup. Tell me." It struck me then; only one beast dared to address me that way and get away with it. "That you kidnapped Stephanie," I blurted out, realizing instantly that this might have been a grave misstep.

"Kidnapped? I did not kidnap her; she chose to come," Chase shot back with indignation.

"That's exactly what she said," chimed in Lukas, appearing in the doorway with a breakfast bar in hand. Chase's frustration exploded, and he took off after him, a ferocious roar escaping his lips. Lukas hastily finished his snack, his eyes wide with mischief, before bolting out the door.

"LUKAS APOLLON, you will not DO THAT in my presence!" Chase's voice echoed as their playful banter faded into the nearby woods, leaving Stephanie and me in a bubble of amusement. We exchanged glances, our laughter bubbling up uncontrollably, as we both quipped in unison, "Boys will be boys."