Page 23 of Arranged Wolf's Nanny
He turned around, forcing his wolf down at the sight of the terrified girl shaking in front of him. “Then what?”
She swallowed, barely able to get the words out. “Th-then…our marriage? Won’t it be… be…”
“If it’s your father’s wishes you speak of, you needn’t concern yourself. I willnotbe forced into taking you against your will.”
“It isn’t against my will,” she rushed, stepping forwards, “I want to please you, I want…I want…”
She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
Rick raised a hand automatically, ready to reach out, to touch her, tocomforther, but he snatched it back with a growl.
“Let me make one thing painfully clear, Rosalia. I will not touch you without your explicit consent. Nor will I use our lack of intimacy against you. To the world, we are now married, and we shall remain so.”
“Y-you…you won’t?” she hiccupped, the blatant hope in her eyes squeezing something he had long thought dead within him.
“I will not,” he repeated. “It’s been a long day. You should sleep. I will see you tomorrow.”
She nodded, her whole body seeming to relax despite the trembles that still racked her shoulders. Fear, thick and acrid, still clouded her, mingling with her exhaustion.
With a snarl, he strode towards the door, intent on escape.
But something stopped him. He turned back, just for a moment, just long enough to see Rosalia wiping furiously at her cheeks.
He inhaled, opening his mouth to speak…
But what could he possibly say?
He shut the door behind him.
Fuck.
He needed a drink.
***
The others didn’t seem surprised when he strode through the door, a thunderous scowl on his face.
Wordlessly, Nicolas handed him a crystal tumbler of amber liquid. Rick knocked it back in one, relishing the sharp burn down his throat, holding it out for another. Nicolas was more generous with the second glass.
“Where’s Evangeline?” he growled, scenting the air for his daughter.
“She’s in the den with the other kids,” Daisy said gently. “They’re all half-asleep watching Disney films.”
He grunted in affirmation, already nearly done with his second drink, his fist tight enough around it that he wouldn’t be surprised if it shattered in his hand.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Dane adjust slightly, moving subtly in front of Lola, who sat with a steaming mug of tea balanced on her swollen stomach. Blocking her from sight.
Normally, something like that would have pissed him off.
Tonight, he could understand. After everything that had happened…he didn’t entirely trust himself to be rational right now.
Ironically enough, it was Cassie who finally broke the tension, despite the fact that she had the most reason to fear him after that incident in the woods before she and Felix mated. She had always been braver than most.
“I think it’s pretty safe to assume you’re not doing so good, hey Rick?”
He glared at her. “What do you think?”
Felix growled softly in warning.
