Page 33 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf
"I'll keep you warm," he promises, his voice a low rumble against my ear. "Try to get some rest. Who knows how long we'll be down here."
We settle together against the stone wall, my back to his chest as he cradles me flush to his body. His arms form a protective circle around me and gradually my shivers subside.
Long minutes stretch into what feels like hours. The rhythmic rise and fall of his breathing lulls me into a drowsy state. My eyelids grow heavy, and I let them.
"Adrian?" I murmur, already half-asleep.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
His arms tighten fractionally around me, and I feel his chin rest gently on the top of my head.
As the world fades around me, my last conscious thought is how perfectly safe I feel, nestled against him.
Even locked down in a cellar.
Chapter 10
Adrian
Thescrapeofmetalagainst metal jerks me awake. My body tenses instantly, arms tightening around Julia who remains nestled against my chest, fast asleep. We've been down here for what feels like half a day, the cold seeping into our bones despite my werewolf heat. Julia's skin has grown colder everywhere it doesn’t touch mine, her occasional shivers becoming more frequent even as she sleeps fitfully against my chest. Her face is pale, lips slightly blue at the edges, a concerning sign I can't ignore. I've tried to shelter her with my body, but the damp chill of the cellar is relentless and neither of us are wearing enough clothing.
I hear footsteps above us, then hushed voices. My muscles tense immediately, arms tightening around Julia who remains silently nestled against me. She stirs at my movement, eyes fluttering open with confusion. I press a finger to my lips, then gently shift her behind me as I rise to my feet, positioning myself between her and whatever might come through that door.
The scrape of metal against metal comes again and I’m now fully alert, my claws extending reflexively. My wolf rises close to the surface, ready to protect her.
The heavy oak door creaks open, flooding the dim cellar with harsh light from the stairwell.
I squint against the sudden brightness as two figures appear in the doorway.
"Adrian! Thank the gods we found you!" Percy's voice echoes through the cavernous space. He stands there looking nothing like his usually immaculate self. His jacket is dusted with what looks like ash, hair disheveled. Beside him, Seraphina Draak clutches his arm, her designer outfit wrinkled and her face pinched with concern.
Relief washes through me, tempered immediately by wariness.
"Took you long enough," I growl, helping Julia to her feet. Her limbs are stiff from the cold and hours sitting on stone. She sways slightly, and I keep my arm firmly around her waist.
"We've been searching for hours," Percy explains, rushing down the last few steps. "The entire estate is in an uproar."
Julia attempts to straighten her crumpled dress, finger-combing her hair with trembling hands.
"We followed someone suspicious down here," she says, her voice thin but steady. "They locked us in."
"Someone locked you in?" Seraphina's eyes widen. "On purpose?"
"Definitely not an accident," I confirm, watching as Julia rebuilds her professional facade despite her obvious exhaustion. Her face is pale, hands trembling slightly, the usual bright alertness in her eyes dimmed. My wolf rumbles with concern.
"The entire security team has been searching every inch of the estate," Percy says. "It’s a mess."
"Did anyone see who might have done this?" I ask, still supporting Julia who's trying very hard to stand on her own.
“We’ve got nothing.” Percy shakes his head. “When the security team tried to review the footage from the hallway, they found it wiped clean.”
"That can't be a coincidence," Julia says, her analytical mind working despite her exhaustion. "The person who locked us in here has to be the thief."
Seraphina steps forward, touching Julia's arm lightly.
"Are you alright? You look frozen."