Comfort
2453 Words
Enzo was silent as we continued our journey.
We had left the man unconscious and tied up in the middle of the woods. Who knew when anyone would find him?
“I’ve never seen Enzo so shaken,” Grey whispered to me. “He’s usually so composed, but that really threw him.”
“He’s just scared I think,” I breathed. “He doesn’t want to lose to Alpha Rafe.”
“Seems deeper than that. It’s that he doesn’t want to lose you.”
“Well, he and I are good friends, it makes sense right?”
“Yeah, I guess.” Grey muttered.
In front of us, it seemed Mira was trying to get Enzo to talk but he refused. I almost wanted to warn her that Enzo didn’t like to be pushed but I didn’t want to involve myself in their relationship.
I also noticed Mira kept glancing back at me. I wondered why.
When it got dark, we stopped for camp.
I realized everyone was going to be sharing a tent and I didn’t have a buddy yet.
“Hey, Mira, can I sleep in your tent?” I asked.
“It might be a little cramped. Enzo will be with me, you know, cuz he’s my boyfriend.” Mira stated.
“Right. Guess I’ll ask someone else.”
“You should ask Grey. I’m sure he’d share with you.”
“Wouldn’t that be a little…inappropriate? You know cuz we’re not like together.”
“But you like each other right?” Mira asked. I nodded. “Then I’m sure it’s fine. Maybe you two can get to know each other a little better?”
“I would like that,” I smiled. “Okay, I’ll ask him.”
“Good, I’m glad. I’m gonna go check on Enzo.”
She turned and hurried over to Enzo who was standing alone, deep in thought.
“Grey!” I called. “So, I hear we’re pairing up for tents…can I sleep in yours?”
Grey grinned. “Really? Um, yeah of course. Just a second.” He turned around. “Hey Luc, sorry, I got a new tent buddy.”
“Celine?” Luc asked. “You’re gonna sleep in Grey’s tent?”
“I am!” I nodded. “I’m very excited.”
Luc ran his fingers through his hair and swore.
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked.
“He likes you and wants you in his tent.” Grey informed me hesitantly.
“Oh, I see.”
“Do you want to sleep in his tent with him?”
“No. Enzo says I’m not allowed to date or sleep with Luc, so I don’t.”
“Why is he telling you who you can and can’t date?” Grey frowned.
Oh how the heaven am I going to get out of this one?
“Um…he’s the Alpha. I have to listen to him, right?” I asked.
“Yeah, I guess. I just don’t see why he’s so concerned with who you date.”
“Enzo is…protective of me. I think that’s it. I mean you said yourself that Luc was kind of skeezy.”
“True enough…he hasn’t said anything about us right?” Grey whispered. “That we can’t go on a date?”
“Nope.” I smiled.
“So…what if he does?”
“I’ll handle him, don’t worry,” I rubbed his arm. “We will go on a date.”
Grey smiled and kissed my cheek. “I can’t wait.”
“Enzo, just talk to me!” Mira exclaimed.
I looked over to see Enzo stomping away from Mira.
Poor Enzo was going through such a hard time. I would try to talk to him later.
After Luc, Enzo, Dominic and Paz went to hunt for food we all sat around the fireplace eating. Mostly there was cheerful banter, but Enzo was incredibly quiet. He didn’t laugh or smile with the rest of us.
Mira was trying to hold his hand and get him involved in the conversation, but he wouldn’t allow it. At some point Enzo got up and walked off. I decided to go after him.
“I’ll be right back.” I whispered to Grey before hurrying after Enzo.
“Enzo! Come back!”
“Leave me alone, Celine.” He called over his shoulder.
The tingle didn’t appear, so I knew he didn’t mean it.
“Come on, Enzo, just talk to me!” I urged.
“No.”
“Lorenzo Renaldo Laguardio!” I stomped my foot.
Enzo whipped around to face me. “How dare you, Celine, you know I hate being called Lorenzo!”
“It’s the only way you’ll listen to me!”
“What do you want?” Enzo asked.
“For you to talk to me!” I cried. “What’s going on with you?”
“I’m f*****g scared Celine! Alpha Rafe is going to hurt you and I feel like there’s nothing I can do about that. What do I do?”
“Look…we’ll be at the Bonepikes in like a day and we can find Sela and everything will be okay. I will be fine.”
“I can’t lose you Celine…you…you know me better than anyone else.” He whispered.
“No I don't. I still have no clue what happened with Alpha Rafe and why you hate each other so much. I barely understand what happened with your parents. I don’t know you, Enzo.”
Confusion came across Enzo’s face. “You know the important things about me. When I need to be alone and when I need to talk. You know when I mean what I say and how I like my breakfast in the morning. You know me, Celine.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
“And I know you too.”
“Yeah?” I challenged. “What do you know?”
“You like hugs and glitter. You think sunsets are beautiful and the earth is so much prettier than you ever imagined. You have a surprisingly good right hook and you like making other people smile. It’s really sweet.” Enzo whispered.
“I guess those are some important things about me.”
“See? We’re like…best friends right?” Enzo asked.
“If we are, I need you to open up to me, Enzo. Tell me about Alpha Rafe. Don’t I deserve to know about the man who wants to take me?”
“He’s not going to hurt you, I swear.”
“He’s hurting you and that’s enough to hurt me. I care about you and I’m supposed to look after you. I can’t do that if I don’t know what I’m protecting you from!” I hissed. “Just tell me, Enzo.”
Enzo reached out and hugged me tightly. I rested my head on his firm chest. I could hear his heart beating rapidly. I was now realizing how scared and nervous he was. I never knew Enzo to be like this.
“I thought you didn’t like hugs,” I murmured.
“Your hugs are different.” Enzo gently stroked my hair.
“Enzo?” Mira’s voice broke us apart.
“Hey, babe.” He said.
“What are you doing?”
“Celine was just comforting me I guess.”
“You mean the thing I was trying to do earlier that you wouldn’t let me?”
“She’s very insistent you know?” Enzo forced a laugh.
“I really am,” I offered. “I’ve been known to give hugs out like candy.”
“I see,” Mira nodded. “Um, do you mind if I talk to my boyfriend alone?”
“Not at all. I’m sure Grey is wondering where I am.” I smiled. “We’ll talk later, right, Enzo?”
“Of course.”
I walked back to the campsite and sat next to Grey.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, it will be.”
--
I had never slept in a tent before.
We had covers and sleeping bags.
“Um, I’ll take the side closer to the opening just in case something happens and I can protect you.” Grey offered.
“That’s nice of you…um I have to change.”
“I’ll turn around.”
I quickly got into my nightgown. “Done.”
Grey stripped off his shirt and pushed his pants down to reveal his briefs.
“Oh!” I covered my eyes.
“Celine, I just…this is how I sleep, is that okay?” Grey asked.
“Sure, of course.” I quickly slipped into the sleeping bag.
Grey clicked off the lantern and climbed into the sleeping bag with me.
“This is cozy,” I whispered.
“Very,” Grey chuckled. “Is it okay if we…cuddle?”
“I’ve um…never been cuddled.”
“Allow me to be the first one to do it.”
Grey wrapped his strong arms around me.
My body immediately melted into his. I felt safe and warm and a little aroused I think.
“Is this okay?” Grey breathed in my ear.
“It’s perfect.” I sighed.
Sleep came to me quite easily.
He smiled at me today.
Ever since I heard my parents talking, I have accepted my fate of being locked in the castle, but I’ve found something to make me smile.
Lev.
He was new to the castle. He worked with Eric.
Lev served my meals now. His eyes always lingered on me for longer than anyone else. I wondered if he liked me too. If he felt what I did.
I would see.
I wandered the castle one night where the servants quarters’ were, hoping to find Lev. I was lucky that night.
“Duchess Sela?” Lev’s deep voice asked. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t sleep,” I smiled. “Just out for a walk.”
“You’re not supposed to be alone, right?”
“I’m not.”
“Let me accompany you.” He said.
“Okay.” I whispered.
We walked in silence at first.
“Duchess-”
“You can just call me Sela. Everyone else does.”
“Sela…I just wanted you to know that you’re beautiful.” Lev smiled, his brown eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
“I think you’re very handsome.” I admitted.
“I noticed you staring and I hoped that’s how you felt.”
“You stare too,” I pointed out.
“How can I not?”
“You don’t think my powers are…weird do you?” I breathed.
“They’re incredible. I heard you saved Eric’s life. You should be proud.”
“I don’t want to be proud, I want to be free! I want to walk in the woods, swim in the lake…fall in love.”
Lev stared at me with a smile on his face. “You can fall in love right here, you know?”
I snorted. “Yeah, with who?”
He lifted my chin before pressing his lips against mine. I had never been kissed before and my body and mind were sent into overdrive. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him harder.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you,” Lev whispered against my lips. “I know your parents would have my head for this but-”
“I won’t tell…if you don’t,” I smiled.
“I can keep a secret.”
Lev kissed me again under the moonlight. Suddenly a life in the castle didn’t seem so bad. I could fall in love right here on these grounds I was bound to. I could find adventure in Lev’s kisses and freedom in his touch.
Maybe misery wasn’t the only thing on the horizon for me.
I pulled out of the kiss again. “I should get back to my room before the guards notice that I’m gone.”
“I want to see you again…like this.” Lev said.
“Tomorrow night, same time.”
I kissed Lev again before hurrying off.
Suddenly this castle didn’t seem so bad.
--
I woke suddenly.
It was still dark out and the effects of my dream were still with me. At least for now Sela was happy and falling in love. That would keep her at the castle until we could find her.
I could feel Grey’s arm around me and his light snoring in my ear. It was almost comforting. As I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I heard noises.
Was something happening out there?
Slowly I slipped from under Grey’s arms, without waking him. I climbed over his body and unzipped the tent, determined to find out what the noises were.
“Oh god!” A voice whispered.
That sounded like trouble.
I noticed that there was a tent that was still lit up. I think the sounds were coming from there. I walked closer and realized I recognized Mira’s voice.
“Yes, Enzo! Right there!”
In return I heard Enzo grunting in a way I recognized. A s****l way.
I could see their shadows. He was on top of Mira, thrusting into her as she moaned over and over again. They were having s*x.
I had specifically told them to wait. It was much too soon! Why would they go against what I said when all I wanted to do was help them?
“Oh f**k…I’m close!” Enzo warned.
I knew I should go back to my tent, but I was frozen, listening to them pleasure each other. I couldn't describe the feeling racing through my body and blood. I wasn’t happy with what I was witnessing but I couldn't figure out why.
Maybe Enzo would tell Mira he loved her after this and my mission would be complete. That should thrill me to no end. I had no business being on this journey anyways. I wasn’t strong or brave like everyone else here.
I stepped back and my foot crushed a twig.
“Shh, someone’s awake!” Enzo whispered. “We have to be quieter.”
“But it feels so good.” Mira moaned before I watched her shadow kiss Enzo’s.
This was too much and none of my business.
I went back to my tent and slipped back into the sleeping bag.
Grey stirred. “Where do you go, Celine? I missed you.”
“The bathroom,” I lied. “But don’t worry, I won’t leave this tent again until morning.”
- Writer
