CHAPTER 265: CHAPTER 265 - RIDING PASSENGER... WITH BENEFITS, PT3

We pulled into my apartment complex’s parking lot as she continued driving. Not acknowledging what I said to her... and I felt a strange pang of disappointment as I finally pulled my hand back.

Kyrie put the SUV in park but didn’t immediately move to get out of take her seatbelt off. She seemed lost in thought. But I couldn’t take the silence to my command any longer.

"I know I affect you. A lot. That the Fated Mate potential means something to you that it does not to me. I’m not going to pretend otherwise or coddle you about it, but I won’t let you endanger yourself."

"Citra."

She said my name quietly right after I stopped talking. But didn’t look at me... just stared at her steering wheel.

"...Yes?"

"I’ve dealt with a lot in my life. Enemies, rivals, problems that won’t go away, problems I thought I solved that come back in a different form."

Raising her gaze to the building in front of us, her contemplative tone grew back some of that pride and confidence. Honestly, it irks me that I felt I could just listen to her talk on and on the more vulnerable way...

"But I’ve been successful. It wasn’t done alone, but... I got it done. With risk. Some decisions I’ve lost on, but I don’t think I was ever really so wrong to go with my instincts."

"You’re wrong on this one. I’m not sure how your relationship with your wolf is like, exactly, but that is beside the point."

Since she apparently has no intention of looking at me, I lean back in my seat and cross my arms. Staring at the wall in front of the parked car all the same.

"The world is dangerous enough for a regular human that does not have werewolf enemies. Stripping yourself of your power is like intentionally dropping your sword and armor on an active battlefield."

"Now you’re the one who is wrong. Or at least, not quite right."

With a complicated expression on my face, I start tapping my foot on the floorboard and hum a note. It’s not that I feel I am always correct. I know I can be ignorant of things.

But it really bothers me when she says it. She bothers me more than anyone about anything...

"Do tell, what part I am wrong about?"

"In your analogy, you ignored the reason I dropped my weapon. I was refusing to take prisoner and conscript an unwilling participant in the fighting. And when I turned my back on them so disarmed and disarmored... they didn’t stab me, did they?"

"Eh? You’re purposely talking around my point, you stupid-"

A hand presses over my mouth as my eyes cut her way. The weakened Alpha shakes her head before letting it slide away... and her finger caught on my lip for a moment, sending a jolting tingle through the spot.

"No. I understood what you meant perfectly. But I don’t think you actually understand what... or why I had to do it."

Still not meeting my eyes, staring instead at her hand as her thumb rubs the same finger that had touched my lip. I have to stop myself from poking my tongue at the spot as I watch her.

"My wolf is silent currently. There is none of its pressure tugging at me over marking you. And still..."

Touching her fingertip to the center of her own lips for just a moment, like she couldn’t forgive herself if she abandoned the chance even if she didn’t savor it... she finally sighs and looks up at me.

"Thank you for putting up with me this evening, Citra. You can message or call me anytime you need anything."

"You realize I do not need your thanks for ’putting up’ with you? If at any point I desired not to be there, I would not have been."

"Fair enough."

Putting her hands carefully on the dashboard above her steering wheel, I watched as she unsealed her spirit. White fur roiling out in anger. Claws extending and scratching the composite surface deeply.

The shift occurred and ended as she fully restrained the beast spirit again in only about ten seconds. Her halter top just a little looser for the trouble... and I realize then that her blazer was left in my Stash!

Well, regardless of whether she did *that* intentionally or was too overwhelmed by what she’d just done for me, it was at least smart of her not to grip the wheel - she might have broken it off.

Vrika, do not repeat that scene of me throwing the tool into the forest again, please? Would you like it if I found one of your unproud moments and kept shoving it in your face?!

Letting out a breath so steamy hot I could see vapor rolling out, she slicks back her sweat damp hair and fixes those dangerously orange eyes on me. For a second, I can’t inhale.

Primal need to stay still - to not provoke the more dangerous predator. But either she somehow reigns it in, or I grow accustomed enough to it to shudder one in and out.

"I don’t think you’d want me to promise dropping everything for you... friend. But if that’s the case, you just shouldn’t ask too many questions when you call, Princess."

"...Don’t you mean if?"

"No. Just like you didn’t, when you assumed I will fail whatever it is you expect me to."

Frowning and looking away, for like half a second in bursts as I keep looking at her stupid sexy face... I see her hand reaching towards my chin like it wants to cup it... but hovering without touching me.

"You’ll call. Or message. I believe that. And I’ll wait for it. One of us will be right."

"Or we both will."

I could very much call her to obtain the benefits of such an arrangement, and she could still meet my cynical expectations. She smiles and lifts her chin, shaking her head as her hand moves back to her side of the vehicle.

Looking down at me with some sort of amusement that makes my hands clench into fists.

"...Wrong again."