The Alpha and his Beta rode for hours nonstop, passing through towns and villages, through forests and cities.
Kendra was exhausted, but she had lost so many hours because of the storm and she wanted to gain those hours back, meaning she just had to endure.
And there was also the fact that she thought she could lose Killian somewhere along the way.
But who was she kidding?
He was always right behind her… if he wasn’t beside her, that is.
Kendra had been ignoring him since the journey started, but from what she had observed, he seemed not to mind so much.
The observation infuriated her so, but she tried not to think about it very much, thinking that if she managed to ignore him long enough, he’d leave her alone.
And now she was hungry.
They had just arrived in QYEPOE and it was already night time. Too late to do anything but check into an inn and get some very much needed rest.
But unfortunately for them, all the inns they tried were filled to overflowing, courtesy of the annual Lupercalia festival which for Kendra was just another pagan festival to encourage a long week filled with immorality and sin.
Now, the female-beta was in no way religious, but she knew a little bit about this festival in particular, thanks to her almost obsessive love for reading, and even she found it hypocritical that on one hand, humans were celebrating wolves and everything related to them in the hopes of receiving fertility and other blessings, when on the other hand, they were hunting down and completely annihilating their human manifestations.
Kendra and Killian had been going round and round, trying to find a place just to spend the night, with Kendra being the spokesperson and Killian playing the part of a sexy, broody bodyguard… or husband even.
But all their search proved futile.
In her frustration, Kendra decided to try the taverns, because at that point, any option was better than spending another night outdoors.
“Yer and yer husband can try Désirée’s tavern… I’m very sure she can find yer somethin’.” A barmaid proclaimed after they had approached her with regards to their problem.
“Alright, thank you so much for your help… but he’s not my husband anyway,” The she-wolf felt the need to point out to the chubby woman with the brownest set of teeth she had ever seen.
The look on the woman’s face quickly turned conspiratorial, as though she believed that there was something more going on between the two attractive people and in a way she was right. She had spent too many years in this godforsaken tavern not to recognise the little things anyway. “If yer say so, ma’am. Désirée’s just on yer right, follow the curb, third buildin’ right over there, tis not hard to miss.” She directed.
In about ten minutes, the duo had arrived at Désirée’s tavern. Though not neat according to normal standards, the place seemed better compared to all the other places they had been to.
“Désirée’s tavern, how may I help yer?”
“Can we get two rooms, just for the night?” Kendra started what was already starting to feel like a catchphrase to her.
“Tis not an inn, ma’am, this place,” The stocky, potbellied man threw at her disdainfully, but before Kendra could open her mouth, Killian had already piped in, “You find us a room, you get 30 pieces of silver… the choice is yours.” He was absolutely calm, but there was just something about his relaxed stance and his broody gaze that the tavern keeper found extremely threatening. “Yes milord. I’ll see if I can find yer something,” He scurried off at that.
“I didn’t ask for your help,” Kendra hissed at the Alpha in annoyance, “I totally had it under control.”
“Yeah, right.” Killian snorted. He had noticed how she had been trying to ignore him since they started the journey, and he had also noticed how much his not caring that she was ignoring him was riling her up.
For some reason, the observation pleased him even more.
“And one room! What in the hell are we going to do with one room? I wonder where you’re going to sleep.”
This time Killian chuckled, shooting her a look of disbelief. “I’ll be sleeping in that same room of course, so if you have a problem with that, you can find another place for yourself.”
“Hah. Fine, I can easily do that.” Kendra agreed.
“Though I’ll suggest you think carefully before you take that step. For some reason, it seems like you still haven’t figured out why no one is exactly in a hurry to do your bidding. You forget that we’re in human territory, and that over here, you’re just a woman. Besides, take a look at your clothes,” Killian took the opportunity to blatantly check her out, suddenly wanting nothing more than to rip that damned tunic and the breeches shielding her from him, “Your voice may carry authority, Ken… but you sure as hell aren’t dressed as a woman of authority, and you know what that means, don’t you? Nobody’s going to give a fuck about what you say or what you do.”
Kendra bit her lip so hard, she could taste blood.
She hated the taunting way Killian said it, but she knew he was right. Women were disregarded until they had power and authority, and until they looked it.
“Stop doing that,” Killian growled softly, reaching out to pull her bottom lip away from her vicious teeth. Suddenly, it seemed as though they were the only ones in the room. Time seemed to stand still as Killian’s calloused fingers oh so slowly drew out the pattern of her lips. Kendra could feel the distance closing between them, there was no denying it this time… he was going to kiss her,
Hell, she fucking wanted him to.
“Yer room is ready, milord,” The tavern keeper boomed out loudly, ruining the moment, Killian was so frustrated that he almost shifted right there and then.
But this wasn’t the time nor the place to do that,
And so he willed his body under control with all he had, and instead said, “Alright, lead the way.”
The room wasn’t too shabby, but there was only one bed, a tiny bed that would be a tight fit if the two of them were to share it.
Kendra was already dripping as erotic thoughts tried to consume her. “Uh, listen… can we get like another bed in here?” She asked the tavern keeper who only shot her that same disdainful look and continued his conversation with Killian.
At this point, she had just about had enough.
The female-Beta was behind him in a flash, her sharp silver dagger pressing so close to his neck, that she drew a few beads of blood, she had been so swift that the man had definitely not seen her coming, “Now, I’ll ask my question again… can we get another bed in here?” She hissed as the man trembled under her hold, “I’m sorry ma’am, no more beds, please don’t kill me,” He begged, voice completely hysterical. Kendra let go of him, a look of disgust gracing her features as Killian observed the whole exchange proudly.
“Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” She smirked proudly, grabbing a rag to clean the small stain of blood on her dagger.
“You can leave,” Killian said to the man, “But bring some food and have them bring us warm water for a bath.” He ordered tossing a pouch of coins in the man’s direction. He greedily caught it. “Yes milord, ma’am.” He bowed slightly at them, and then he was gone.
“Your temper’s gonna get you into trouble, Ken. Your wolf isn’t exactly around to keep you safe,” The Alpha chuckled, even though there was a hint of worry in his tone.
Kendra groaned, “Ugh, don’t remind me. Besides, he had it coming.” She muttered under her breath.
Taking a final glance at the small room, the female-beta sighed, mentally preparing herself for the arguments that were about to ensue. “Now that that's settled, let’s discuss sleeping arrangements.”