My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 139

We reached the southern forests just before sundown. We were going to camp there for the night and enter the Scarlet Valley Pack's territory at dawn. The vans were carefully masked, and the whole group marched deep into the forest, carrying our backpacks.

This was the first time I had to set the tent, and thank God, Ian was there to help me, saving me from embarrassment. At that time, Draven was busy securing the area and talking about the details of the attack over the phone with other group leaders. Coordinating so many people spread across the huge southern territory must have been difficult, yet Draven seemed composed and strict the entire time. His commands were firm and unquestionable. I had to admit that he looked sexy as hell with his leader's demeanor. As soon as he finished the hundredth phone call, he walked towards Ian, me, and my almost-set tent, and pulled me into a surprising, warm hug.

"All that talking exhausted me. I need to recharge." He placed his forehead in the crook of my neck with a deep exhale.

Ian cautiously stepped away from us, giving us as much privacy as we could have in that situation. I shot him an awkward smile, uncertain how to react. I stood still for a while, then my arms traveled slowly through his waist, roaming through his hard-muscled back. As my arms closed around him, he let out a soft chuckle.

"I feel better already," he purred, sending a vibration through my body.

"Maybe you should lay down…?" I suggested hesitantly.

He lifted his head and smiled at me. His hand moved up to the back of my head, delicately leading me to press my cheek against his firm chest.

"I'm still waiting for a few reports from the intelligence squad. I need to be on my feet until I get them and check if there's a need to correct our plan for tomorrow," he sighed while entangling his fingers in my loose hair.

The way he pressed my head to his chest, I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, while he took another deep breath into his lungs. It was soothing. His warmth cooled my anxieties. I shifted in his embrace, burying my face in him more comfortably.

"You can sleep in my tent if you want to," he said, a hint of a smile in his voice. "The nights get cold out here, and I can keep you warm."

I knew that he didn't mean it to be strictly a sexual proposal. A werewolf's body was as warm as a human's during a high fever. Nonetheless, I'd rather be cold than sleep next to Draven in his tent, because I had a feeling there wouldn't be much "sleep" that night. I surely didn't trust Draven in that department, and I didn't trust myself either. I was getting used to his touch, and my body reacted to him in a similar way to how it used to react to Sariel. With my mind disturbed and my heart healing slowly, I craved physicality as if it could fix me.

"That's definitely not a good idea," I chuckled nervously, pulling myself away from his chest.

"I won't force you," he grinned, his eyes eating me from head to toe.

With a deep exhale that was supposed to calm me down, I turned around to finish setting up my tent. I knew that Draven stood right behind me, watching my every move, and his presence was greatly increasing my clumsiness.

"Should I help you with that?" he smiled mischievously, picking up a peg I had just dropped beneath his feet.

"No thanks," I hissed, abruptly turning back to snatch the peg from his hand.

"Or you could just leave it and go sleep in my tent. I'm sure that you'll fit into my sleeping bag with me if we spoon."

Unlike me, he seemed to be good at ignoring that there were over twenty people who could hear him. They were enjoying the show and barely held their laughter. I truly wanted to kiss Ari when he came to his Alpha with reports from the intelligence squad, taking him away from me. Suddenly, I was able to finish setting up the tent in less than a minute. Once I placed my backpack inside and unfolded my sleeping bag, I closed the tent and called Martha.

"You're not fighting yet, aren't you?" she asked right away.

"No," I laughed, "We're camping in the woods. The siege is begging tomorrow."

"Promise me that you will be safe there," she demanded, her voice sounding worried.

"Martha," I sighed, "You know, I cannot promise you that, but I won't get myself killed easily," I chuckled.

"Don't say it so lightly! Don't even use the "k" word!" she exclaimed over the phone.

"Hey, you were the one who suggested I should participate in this campaign," I reminded her.

"I did…" she confirmed, nearly sobbing, "but I just don't want you to get hurt."