The next day, the clan held a council meeting.
"That concludes the full report on the border garrison."
Blake's serious voice echoed through the spacious council chamber.
Once he finished, however, the elders began arguing over trivial matters.
I rested my chin on my hand.
Whenever that happened, I tended to fidget with whatever was in my hands as I considered things.
The seal Blake had given me was perfect for that.
But the moment my hand settled over it, Blake, who stood at my side, gasped quietly.
I stopped and looked up.
"What was that sound?"
At my question, everyone pricked up their wolf ears and listened carefully.
But the sound had already vanished, so I motioned for them to continue their discussion.
The seal turned once in my hand.
A muffled groan sounded behind me, followed by the rustle of fabric.
I glanced to the side and saw Blake clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His back curved into a fragile arc.
He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit.
Now, an embarrassing bulge strained against the front of his trousers.
"Lieutenant Wainscott?" The head elder frowned at him. "You look awful."
"I'm fine."
Blake forced out the words through gritted teeth, his voice rough.
"My blood sugar is just a little low."
I lifted an eyebrow in surprise.
The seal in my hand seemed to share sensations with "little Blake".
I decided to test it again.
I brought the seal to my lips, as if I were about to kiss it.
Blake's pupils dilated.
He staggered half a step forward and only managed to steady himself by gripping the table.
"Alpha, please focus on the meeting."
He truly knew how to play the considerate aide.
Since he had asked me to focus, I decided to take the meeting more seriously.
I slowly moved the seal away from my lips and lightly tapped it against the table.
Thunk.
Blake's knees gave out. He dropped onto the soft carpet.
His long silver-white hair fell forward, concealing half of his flushed, overwhelmed face.
The outline between the legs of his dark gray trousers had drawn taut, as though it couldn't endure much more.
"It seems Lieutenant Wainscott is not feeling well today. Let us end the meeting early."
After quickly assigning several important tasks, I dismissed the others.
Soon, only Blake and I remained in the vast council chamber.
I turned to face him.
"Lieutenant Wainscott, are you still not getting up? Or are you so practiced at kneeling that you secretly enjoy it?"
For a moment, he couldn't speak. Then he looked away and protested softly.
"I don't."
"Is that so?"
I raised the seal in my hand.
"Then perhaps you should explain this to me."
A sheen of moisture clouded his normally calm, restrained eyes.
"Alpha, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
He was very good at pretending.
The naughty ones always need to be taught a proper lesson.
Holding the seal, I rose from my chair and slowly walked toward him.
Then I closed my fingers tightly around it.
Blake let out a wolfish cry and collapsed straight into my arms.
I caught him by his firm waist. His warm, unsteady breaths brushed against my neck.
"Your body seems far more honest than your mouth."
I deliberately drew out the words to tease him.
"Alpha..."
His voice broke as it trembled.
"I don't know... I don't know why we can feel each other through it. But please, be gentler."