Word Count: 1918
~Hunter
I lean against the wall, trying not to throw up.
Kaan must be having the same experience but for an entirely different reason...
I just spent an unreasonable amount of time trekking back here to the castle with him. He's drunk enough to be a nuisance, swaying back and forth as we walk, even worse than me.
Because of his state, I had to grit my teeth and fight through the pain to make it back. We collectively collapsed about six times between us.
I would be mortified if I wasn't sure Kaan will forget this by tomorrow.
"I can't believe I'm helping you, I'm meant to be the injured one," I remind him for the tenth time tonight, rubbing at a dirt stain on my pants.
He stares me down with a lazy smirk, his deep brown hair slightly damp, hanging down over his eyes.
"Say the word, and I'll carry you."
I roll my eyes, pushing off the wall. "You are barely even capable of keeping your head up. Now go into your room."
His bedroom door is open, dousing the hallway with light. I haven't looked in there...it seems too intimate.
"Come in with me," he encourages playfully.
"No way," I snap, folding my arms. His inhibitions are far too low, and I'm seeing a side to him that I honestly didn't think existed.
Alpha's joking around. That couldn't be possible...
He keeps his eyes on me as he backs down the hall half into his room. I should return to my room, but I feel the pressing need to make sure he gets into bed and doesn't choke on his own vomit.
"I need help with something in here," he murmurs roughly, gazing flickering before he vanishes into the room.
I take a moment to tip my head back and let out an irritated groan. I wish I was a bad person.
Stalking to the threshold of the room, I peer in.
Shockingly, the room isn't anything like what I expected. There is nothing distinguishing about this, with a large bed in the centre, covered in crisp white linen. The bedside tables, the dress, and a single chair in the corner of the room are the only glimpse of him, as it's clear from the rich wood and clean edges that he made them himself.
"Your manipulation tactics won't work on me," I tell him, leaning my shoulder against the doorframe.
He sits on the edge of the bed, smiling wickedly. "What if I said please?"
"Drink some water, Kaan," I instruct, pointing to the glass already full sitting on his bedside table.
His stare devours me. "I love the way my name sounds coming out of your mouth."
I sigh. "Drink."
He finally obliges me, taking a long drink from the glass. He forces so much down at once that some spills out down his chin, falling onto his shirt and pants.
"Woah." He laughs a little, pulling his partially wet shirt away from his skin.
"Kaan!" I scold, rushing forward to snatch the glass from his hands, setting back down on his bedside table.
"I'm sorry."
"Come on, you have to undress," I grit out, motioning down to the wet spots on his clothes. I should just let him sleep like this as punishment for being a pain.
"Can you undress me?" He asks, wiggling his brows mischievously. I narrow my eyes, contemplating what kind of punishment I would get in training if I flicked him right between those brows.
I take a step back, deciding that some distance between us might be a good idea.
"You're an adult, you do it," I instruct.
"No, I can hardly move my arms." He lifts them up and let's them fall limply as to cement his point.
I close my eyes, drawing in a deep breath. My sister used to get hideously drunk and I had to cover for her. How she got her hands on the alcohol, I have no idea, but I never asked questions, and always made sure my mother never caught her.
I really should leave him, but for some reason I feel the need to help him, like I can see the anguish that caused him to get so drunk in the first place.
It's a dark, cold feeling that I can relate to.
"Fine, but don't you dare mention this to anyone ever again," I warn him.
He remains still as I grab at the fabric of his shirt, pulling it up. I've seen him shirtless countless times by now, but in such proximity, it feels different.
Keeping my breath in check, I lift the shirt over his head, tossing it onto the bed.
"My pants are wet too." His voice has dropped to such a deep, sultry tone that I almost wouldn't recognise it as his voice if he weren't right in front of me.
I shake my head. "Not my problem."
"Hunter..."
I sigh. "All I'm doing is unbuttoning them, and then I'm walking from this room."
He falls silent as I reach for his belt, trying not to pay much attention to his groin. Thankfully I should be out of this place soon, so this whole embarrassing night will be behind me.
"You don't actually hate me, do you?" He asks softly.
He must be recovering quickly because his words aren't slurring anymore, and he's staring at me with fresh green eyes.
"I definitely do," I mutter. Maybe the alcohol chased away the memory of him shooting me in the back, injuring me to the point that I haven't been able to escape here yet.
"If you did, you wouldn't care about the state I'm in," he notes, watching as I drag the belt from his pant loops, dropping it onto the floor.
"I don't care. I just don't want you to punish me in training later on," I tell him, concentrating on his buttons, rather than his face.
The air between us is thick with tension, something shifting.
"There are plenty of punishments I have in mind for you. None you would hate," he murmurs lowly.
I raise my brows, fighting away my surprise. This isn't the real Kaan. He's drunk and I'm the first person in front of him that he may be able to convince into bed with him.
It could be anyone. It has nothing to do with me.
"You are an interesting drunk. What drove you to drink so much?" I question, straightening from my crouch in front of him.
He holds my gaze. "My parents. I hate them."
I've gathered that much already. Tay seems to be the only one who can mildly stand them, and even she seems to think she could do better without them.
"Why?"
He shakes his head at me, sifting a hand through his hair. "I'm not that drunk."
"Get in bed and get some sleep," I demand, pointing at it.
Kaan shakes his head, reaching for me. I manage to dodge his hand before he can grab my arm and yank me onto the bed with him.
"Stay with me, in bed I mean."
"Absolutely not," I exclaim, glaring at him.
He stands in a movement that is far too graceful for his drunken state. I instinctively step back.
"There are so many thoughts in my head that need chasing away. Distract me," he whispers, following me back with a vulnerability in his eyes that stuns me even more than what he is proposing.
"I have no desire to sleep with you," I tell him, stumbling over my words.
I don't care how attractive he is, I can't stand him, and I'm definitely not going to let him seduce me.
Suddenly my back bumps against the wall, right near the door. I could slip from the room, but all too quickly he's right in front of me, pressing both his hands on the wall next to my head, trapping me in.
He leans in close, his breath brushing against my skin. "Liar."
"I'm not lying," I force out, wanting to avert my eyes from his, but the intensity traps me in as effectively as his arms do.
"I'd be gentle with you, until you're fully healed," he breathes, shifting his mouth to my ear, brushing my hair back away from my face.
My eyes drift downward, noting his shirtless state and unbuttoned pants. A deep ache settles in my stomach that I desperately try not to acknowledge.
"Kaan, you're only saying this because you're drunk," I remind him, pressing the back of my head against the wall as if I can make more space between us.
His brows draw together. "Trust me, I think this when I'm sober too."
"You hardly know me," I remind him, trying to find any excuse to get out of this before I make a mistake. Temptation is breaking down my resolve, even though it's wrong.
I mean, I don't want him...I don't want his hands on me, drawing his fingers across my skin, his mouth...
"I know enough to know you feel this way too," he insists.
I shake my head, trying to think about the fact that I'm leaving soon, and that he's an Alpha who could find out my secret at any moment.
"You are severely misled," I exclaim. I could be pushing him away, telling him to stop. Instead, I'm letting him stand so close, letting my heart flutter wildly.
"Let me show you why it's pointless to deny this." He shifts down to his knees, holding my gaze. He settles his hands on my thighs, the pressure sending jolts of anticipation straight to my core.
"Kaan, get up," I encourage breathlessly, although there is nothing convincing about my tone.
Because there is some screwed up, overtired part of me that actually wants this.
"If you don't want this, say no," he murmurs, gently unbuttoning my pants, giving me time to refuse.
I open my mouth and then I close it again. His fingers are so close to the centre of me, and he hasn't even taken my pants off yet. I want his mouth on me, I want him to make me forget as badly as he wants to forget, and then I want to leave this place and never think about him again.
"I...Kaan." I never knew I was so weak, but desire burns so deep in me and Kaan is the only one that is going to chase it away.
He smiles softly. "Good girl."
My breath quickens as he hooks his fingers around the waistband of my pants and tugs them down a little.
Just as he reaches for my panties, something hits the ground upstairs, causing Kaan to flinch. It gives me enough of a fright to break the trance.
Kaan stands, backing away as I quickly pull my pants back up, hoping he didn't see too much of me as embarrassment flushes my skin.
"You do want me," he states, sweeping a hand through his hair.
I shake my head, sliding across the wall and to the doorway. "You better be drunk enough to forget that happened."
"Hunter," he calls before I can make it through the door. "There is no chance I'm forgetting this."
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