Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 361

Chapter 361 A Little Nervous

Natalie’s POV:

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Walking back to the hotel on the ancient stone bricks of the Ancient Wolf Sanctum, I felt like I was floating. The exact date for the ceremony was still being decided, but just the thought of a global live stream already made me nervous.

Leonardo sensed my mix of excitement and anxiety. He just held my hand tighter and quietly soothed me, suggesting I get some rest to be rested for the next day.

But how could I possibly sleep? I put on a sleep mask and forced myself to try. Hours passed, but sleep wouldn’t come. I wanted to hug Leonardo. He was always so warm, and it helped me sleep. But when I rolled over, his side of the bed was empty.

I took off the mask. The bedroom door was slightly open, and a faint sound of running water came from the bathroom. Hadn’t he already showered?

I got up and went to the bathroom door, calling softly, “Leonardo?”

The water stopped inside. Just as I was about to push the door, it opened from within. I stumbled forward, falling into a cool, firm embrace.

Leonardo caught me steadily. His pajama collar was slightly open. “Still can’t sleep?” His voice was tender, giving nothing away, as his arms naturally encircled me.

I relaxed, my hands climbing his broad back. “Yeah. What about you? Are you feeling okay?” His embrace was as strong as ever, but his body temperature felt a little lower than usual.

“No, I’m fine. I just… wanted you, so I took a cold shower.” His voice dropped low, his warm breath brushing my ear on purpose, making my heart skip.

“Even a top-notch Alpha with your energy needs to… take it easy,” I mumbled, squirming out of his arms, embarrassed. But I immediately grabbed his hand and held it tighter.

The moment I touched it, I froze. “Your hand is freezing!”

I finally looked up at him properly. In the dim light, his complexion seemed a little pale.

“The cold water,” he explained.

“You’re not…” My expression changed. I immediately went into full alert mode, pulling him back to the bed. I wrapped him tightly in the warm comforter, climbed in myself to hug him close, and turned up the AC temperature.

“You’re so cold! You’ll get sick! Good thing I brought medicine. Warm up first, then you can take

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Chapter 361 A Little Nervous

something preventative.”

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Frowning, I pressed his long, slender hands to my own warmth, rubbing them, breathing on them, wishing I could transfer all my heat to him right then.

Leonardo watched me fuss quietly. In the darkness, his eyes were deep. After a while, he suddenly shifted, flipping me over and pulling me firmly against him.

“Natalie,” he said, his voice low and firm, “I’ll be fine. I’ll always be here with you, protecting you.”

I paused, then a smile spread across my face as I snuggled closer. “Of course you will.”

Feeling content, I kissed his brow and the bridge of his nose. Leonardo always smelled wonderful-not like cologne, but a clean, steady, faint scent.

At first, it was crisp and cool, like cedar. But after a while, it felt warm and peaceful, like the earth in early spring. It was just like him-outwardly aloof, but inside blazing.

Just before dawn, sleepiness finally overcame me, and I drifted off in his arms.

I almost overslept the next day. When I woke up, I realized I was an hour past the scheduled time. I shot up in bed. Leonardo’s side was empty.

I hurriedly got up and heard his low voice from the living room, on the phone. I couldn’t make out the words. He walked in with his phone and saw I was awake.

Then he quickly ended the call, came over, and hugged and kissed me. There wasn’t a trace of urgency on his face. “You had trouble sleeping. Why not rest more?”

I could have cried, and I was so apologetic. “I overslept! Are the elders furious?”

“It’s fine,” he said softly, gently pinching my cheek. “I spoke with them this morning. We moved the shoot to the afternoon. If the light isn’t ideal, then we’ll push it back a day at most. We’ll cover any delays.”

“That’s not good. It’s my fault.” I felt terrible. This was a shoot at the Ancient Wolf Sanctum!

“I didn’t wake you. I turned off the alarm,” he said, his thumb stroking my earlobe. “The morning slot was for the dawn light, but insomnia is a special circumstance. The Sanctum team also wants their subjects well-rested, not forcing themselves.”

His words effectively eased my anxiety. I nodded, then looked at him again. “But how did you get up so early? We fell asleep together.”

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