Page 10 of A Mate for the King
“I do?” Cora gaped in shock.
“You’re practically sinful.”
“Oh.”
Cora licked her lips. This time her hand defied the logical part of her brain, and with her hindbrain in full control, darted down to her thighs. Her fingers had just begun to skirt the tops of her thighs when Zehr sucked in a breath and he turned his face away with a jerk as he went stiff against her. His once cradling arms now felt like stone around her and Cora felt her breath catch at the sudden shift in the alpha's demeanor. He was no longer warm and comforting, but cold, and she could nearly feel the distance he was forcing between them.
“I didn’t know. I’m sor—” Cora began. She would never forgive herself if he thought she was trying to tempt him into bonding her while she was on the cusp of her heat.
“And now you do know,” he said gruffly, cutting Cora’s apology off. He sped up his stride and Cora said nothing as she watched the open expression on Zehr’s face vanish like mist in the sunlight. The shift in the atmosphere between them had changed from aroused to cold and Cora forced herself to stay as still as she could while Zehr brought them back to camp.
Not another word passed between them, though she wondered how she could make amends and, more importantly, how she could convince him to take her as a heat partner. But she stayed silent not daring to speak.
He was her better. Her king. And it was not her place to ask such things. An alpha like him would offer if he so chose, but Zehr made no such overtures as they walked on in heavy silence.
Her wolf was inconsolable.
But it too would learn just as Cora had that life did not always give one what one wanted.
