Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King novel Chapter 128

Chapter 128: 0128

Kaelen POV

The sharp, suffocating spike in her scent hit me before I even saw her, and it was completely wrong. It wasn’t the sweet, intoxicating scent she carried whenever she let her guard down. This was thick, sour, and soaked with pure, blinding terror.

At first, I thought she was sprinting through the halls just to avoid me, like she always did.

Then she rounded the corner without looking and slammed straight into my chest.

The force of the collision sent her stumbling backward, but I caught her before she could hit the floor. My hands locked around her waist, pulling her firmly back against me.

The panic pouring off her hit me like a punch.

My wolf answered with a low, possessive growl.

Her chest rose and fell in frantic gasps, and her heartbeat was pounding so hard I could feel it through her body.

I didn’t hesitate.

I released my calming pheromones, letting them wrap around her like a protective shield, pushing back against the fear threatening to consume her.

I cupped her pale face between my palms and gently tilted her chin upward until those frightened eyes met mine.

Without saying a word, I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to hers.

At first, she barely responded.

Her breathing was still ragged against my mouth, and her lips were tense with lingering panic. But little by little, my pheromones reached her. The terror clouding her mind began to fade, her rigid body slowly relaxed, and the trembling eased.

Her fingers curled into the front of my shirt, gripping the fabric tightly over my chest as though I was the only thing keeping her grounded.

A second later, almost hesitantly, she leaned into me and kissed me back.

There was nothing demanding about this kiss.

This time, it was quiet and desperate, clinging to the comfort I was giving her.

I stayed exactly where I was, giving her every bit of reassurance my presence and pheromones could offer until the panic gradually loosened its grip on her.

Only when her heartbeat settled into a steady rhythm and her breathing finally evened out did I draw back, resting my forehead lightly against hers as I searched her face for the source of the fear that had shaken her so deeply.

I lifted my head, my gaze shifting past her shoulder until it landed on Darius standing a few feet away in the hallway.

He was watching us.

His expression was unreadable, but I could see the tension beneath it.

I shot my Beta a cold warning look.

I didn’t need to say a word.

He knew exactly what it meant.

Stay out of this.

Without hesitation, I bent down and slipped one arm beneath her knees while the other wrapped around her back before lifting her effortlessly into my arms. Holding her securely against my chest, I turned and headed straight for my bedroom.

She was still too shaken to resist.

We had barely reached my door when she finally started coming back to her senses.

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