Chapter4
1139 Words
Throughout the night, Coco couldn’t sleep. That strange feeling still sat heavily in her gut. Every time she remembered the way Leonard had touched her, gentle, careful, guiding her back to the bed, her stomach twisted into tight knots.
One couldn’t really blame her.
She was a Harmonia, a being free from emotions. Now that she occupied a werewolf’s body, her senses and feelings were foreign, overwhelming. Adjusting to them would take time.
“Vera,” she called softly, as though her inner wolf stood right beside her.
“Yes,” Vera answered almost immediately. “I see you’re having trouble sleeping.”
“Can you tell me my mate’s favorite food?” Coco asked, sighing as she turned from one side of the bed to the other. “I’d like to go to the kitchen and make one for him.”
Even though she had never lived in this world, she knew much about it from observing the globe every day. Her intellect was high, she absorbed information effortlessly.
“Right now?" Vera asked. "But it's late."
"I can’t sleep. I feel this burning sensation, this irresistible need to be near him,” Coco replied, as she gently sat up.
"“I don’t know his favorite food,” Vera replied, answering the question from earlier.
Coco frowned. “I searched through Valerie’s memories. There’s nothing there. And now you don’t know either.”
“We don’t know because Valerie never asked,” Vera explained calmly. “In fact, we never had a proper conversation with him. We were never close.”
Coco nearly screamed in frustration. What kind of mate was Valerie?
She stood up from the bed and made her way to the door.
“Where are you going?” Vera asked.
“I need to see him,” Coco replied, stepping out of her room in nothing but her nightwear. She moved cautiously through the hall, stopping to ask any guards she passed for Leonard’s room.
After the stress of getting lost, knocking on the wrong doors, and finally finding the right one, she paused. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly.
At first, there was no response. But after a few persistent knocks, the door creaked open.
Leonard, looking like he had just woken, narrowed his eyes as he tried to process what he was seeing.
“Valerie” he said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Coco froze, speechless. Her mind raced, but no words came out.
“Are you lost?” he asked.
“No,” she finally replied.
His gaze swept over her from head to toe. Her nightgown was thin, almost revealing too much.
“You wore this all the way here?” he asked, trying to keep his composure. “Looking like this…”
Coco looked down, suddenly aware. He was right, she had been so focused on finding him that she hadn’t even checked herself.
She looked up at him, her face flushed. At that point, she didn’t know what to say or do.
She noticed his gaze linger on her chest, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. Before she could even blink, the door slammed shut in her face.
She sighed, disappointment settling in her chest. She couldn’t blame him, she had come without notice, without a plan, and all she had done was stand there and stare at him like a fool.
Then, suddenly, the door flew open again. Leonard stepped out, tossed his jacket at her, he was so cold toward her.
“Cover yourself and go back to your room,” he said, before slamming the door shut for the second time.
“Oh okay.” She exhaled slowly, wrapping the suit around herself.
What exactly was wrong with him? she thought, disappointment creeping in.
“He’s so cute!” Vera squealed.
“I know, but I don’t think he’ll ever notice me after everything Valerie has done,” Coco replied sadly. She walked slowly down the quiet corridor, heading back to her room.
Suddenly, a hand yanked her backward. She stiffened, instinctively ready to attack. She thought it was a demon
But to her surprise, it was none other than Leonard. He must have been following her the entire time without her noticing.
Her breath hitched as he gently pulled her closer, their bodies brushing. Butterflies exploded in her stomach.
He cupped her face, bringing it close to his, leaving no space between them.
Her heart raced. Anyone could walk by, anyone could see them.
“The walk back to your room is far. You can stay in mine for the night,” he said, letting go of her face. “Besides, I don’t want you wandering around tempting people tonight.”
What? she thought, nearly exploding inside. She had assumed he had leaned in because he wanted to kiss her, but this?
This was what he meant? She felt a rush of disappointment.
He took her hand and led her toward his room. She followed obediently. Once inside, he closed the door behind them
.
“You can sleep on the bed. I’ll take the couch,” he said softly.
Coco sank into the mattress, relishing its softness. His scent lingered, warm and intoxicating. Vera let out a satisfied purr.
Coco tossed aside the jacket and turned to lie on her side, keeping her eyes on Leonard as he settled on the couch. She knew her cleavage was slightly exposed, but she didn’t care.
Leonard kept telling himself that he’d let her into his room because Nagi liked her scent and wanted her nearby. But even if Nagi could only speak through him, that didn’t mean he had to obey. Still, he let himself sink into the lie he’d carefully crafted.
Leonard’s gaze hardened. “Are your plans here to tempt me? Because I don’t understand why you’d take the jacket off and expose yourself like that,” he said, swallowing hard. The desire to claim her flared violently, but he forced himself to look away, to stay in control.
Coco felt a flicker of offense. “I thought it wasn’t appropriate for anyone else to see. Why are you offended when you’re the only one here?”
“Are you deliberately trying to tempt me?” he asked, voice low and firm.
“Is it working?” she teased, tugging the gown up to her hips, letting her bare skin show.
“No.” His eyes gleamed with need, but his tone was cold. “You’re leaving first thing in the morning.” He laid down on the couch, forcing himself to turn away.
Coco exhaled slowly, cheeks tinged with heat. There’s no way he feels anything for her right now. Those moments when he loved her were gone. She knew winning him back will be very difficult.
- Writer
