Chapter 7 What The Fuck Am I Doing?

• Alpha Aric Darkclaw
• I still didn't believe it, but, I had accepted.
• I was going to marry that elven princess.
• When I told her to spend the night here, I asked the servants to tidy up her room so that she could settle down and rest.
• If she made a trip to your city at that time, it could be dangerous.
• It would be better if it was in the morning.
• I didn't understand why I'd done that. But well, since we were under threat, she could be an easy target at night, with few guards.
• I shook my head, stopping thinking about it.
• Now it was done; we were going to get married soon; it had been made obvious to her.
• I was sitting in my armchair, my eyes fixed on the contract in my hands.
• The contract was ready. The parchment in my hands was the key to sealing an alliance that would change the course of the war.
• We would no longer suffer these threats—that much I knew for sure.
• I rolled my eyes at the words neatly written by my beta and felt a discreet smile appear on my lips. Tomorrow, Elowen and I will sign, and the new phase of our struggle will begin.
• ''Finally, tomorrow this will be settled,” said, handing the contract back to my beta.
• ''You'll get what you want,” my beta replied. ''You'll finally be able to avenge those who have fallen.''
• I just nodded.
• This war had already taken too much, my parents, my people... And now, to win it, I needed this alliance, even if it meant marrying an elven woman. The idea still irritated me, but it was necessary.
• ''Well, tomorrow's a new day. I'm going to rest now. Lock the gates.'' I declared to him, standing up.
• He just bowed in respect, and I started walking, slowly, up the stairs.
• As I walked down the corridor, I noticed the silence around. My servants had already left, and the princess had certainly gone to sleep.
• I walked a little further and reached my chambers.
• I opened the door and locked it, then started to take off my clothes, walked to the bathroom, and noticed that my bathtub was ready, as usual. It had a pleasant herbal smell that calmed my body.
• The water must have been warm, very nice, which made a smile appear on my lips.
• I needed a bath.
• Entering the bathroom, I approached the tub and put my feet in it, feeling a wonderful sensation.
• I plunged into the tub, closed my eyes then.
• The water was beating on my neck, at that moment I just wanted to rest a little. I needed it. But my mind wouldn’t let me.
• Images began to appear in my head.
• Elowen’s eyes appeared in my mint again. The silvery threads and pink tips, his delicate face, his pink mouth... I did not understand why my mind insisted on bringing up his image.
• His voice, firm and sweet at the same time, sounded in my ear as if it were there.
• Hell. I grit my teeth.
• I closed my eyes tightly, sinking my hands in the hot water. My jaw closed. The princess was different; despite her shyness, she wasn’t afraid to challenge me.
• Definitely, it irritated me. I took my hands out of the water and ran my fingers through my hair, throwing it back.
• ''Damn…'' I muttered, opening my eyes.
• I sank my head into the water, covering it completely. I stayed there for a few seconds, as if the warm water could clear my mind. Then I got out of the bath, rubbed my face with my hands, and sniffled loudly.
• I grabbed a towel and dried off quickly. Then I dried my hair. Walking over, I went to the closet and pulled out some clothes and put them on. It was a light outfit. Light, long pants, a button-down blouse, and a blanket on top.
• When I'd finished dressing and combed my hair, I let out a heavy breath.
• ''Don't think about her anymore,'' I said to myself in a firm voice.
• I need to drink some wine; it will help me.
• I left the room and started down the stairs.
• Maybe the alcohol would help me dispel these thoughts.
• As I descended the last step and walked into the living room, I saw a figure… I immediately found the person I wanted to run away from.
• It was unbelievable.
• Elowen was there.
• Sitting on one of the sofas, the elf held a book in her hands, with a calm expression focused on reading it. A few lamps lit up the room. My eyes focused on her face, her fair skin, slightly rosy cheeks and lips of the same color. My eyes went down and stared at his hair, which fell like a silver cascade on his shoulders, reflecting a subtle glow in the light. She looked like an angel.
• I couldn’t move. My breathing became heavy, and I focused only on her soft breath and her sweet scent. It reminded me of the smell of flowers.
• For a moment, I forgot about the wine, the war, and the forced marriage and just watched her.
• She was… charming.
• Beautiful was too little for the beauty that the elven princess possessed, she was more than that.
• I started to feel something strange, my heart began to accelerate, my breathing was fast, and I felt my face boiling, I felt very hot. I couldn't feel anything for her; she had purposes, a life mapped out. This marriage was strategic, nothing more.
• But then, why was I so hypnotized?
• I straightened my posture and sniffled, breaking the silence. Elowen noticed my presence and then turned his eyes away from the book and looked at me. His eyes stared at mine, and my heartbeat accelerated. And that made my expression more serious. I was not liking what I was feeling.
• I couldn’t keep looking at her like that.
• Getting attracted to her was out of the question!
• What the fuck am I doing?
• I blinked a few times, and then I looked away from Elowen.