Revenge to the Alpha Mate novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222: Chapter 222

Jacob’s Perspective

The campfire crackled, its strength fading until only deep red embers remained, breathing softly in the darkness. Celena had curled up beside the dying fire and fallen asleep. Moonlight washed over her face, tracing impossibly soft lines. Her long lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks, and a few strands of brown hair clung to her slightly parted lips. God, she was so beautiful it made my heart ache. I wished I could stay right here, like this, shielding her from all the storms and trouble forever.

Exhaustion finally claimed us both. In the dead of night, the temperature plummeted, the raw chill of the wilderness seeping into our bones. Driven by some wolf-instinct, or maybe just our bodies unconsciously seeking familiar warmth and comfort—when I felt a warm form press against me in my half-asleep state, my arms opened almost on their own. She settled into the space I offered, her head pillowed on my chest, her arm curling naturally around my waist.

We clung to each other like two cubs huddling for warmth in a bitter winter, breathing in each other’s comforting scents—her faint lilac mixed with woodsmoke, my own lingering aroma of forest and motor oil—and sank into a deep, dreamless sleep. It was the most restful sleep I’d had in a very long time.

The next morning, I was awakened by a sensation that was a confusing mix of pure bliss and acute physical tension. I opened my eyes to find Celena sleeping peacefully on my chest. She was wrapped around me like a koala, her cheek pressed over my heartbeat, her breathing even and deep. Our tightly entwined position, combined with the natural morning physiology, made me freeze instantly. It felt like all my blood was rushing south.

And then, to make it infinitely worse, she shifted in her sleep, nuzzling lightly against me to find a more comfortable spot.

The last thread of my sanity snapped.

Acting on pure instinct, I lowered my head and pressed my lips to her forehead. The kiss was feather-light, filled with all the pent-up longing and love I’d been carrying.

The moment my lips touched her skin, her body flinched. Her eyes flew open. Those grey eyes were first clouded with confusion, then swiftly flooded with shock and blazing anger.

"Jacob!" She jerked away from me as if scalded, her cheeks flushing a deep red, her gaze sharp enough to draw blood. "What are you doing?! Who said you could kiss me?!"

Damn it. I was such a fucking idiot.

"I’m sorry, Celena," I said immediately, raising my hands, my voice rough with regret and lingering desire. "I... I lost control for a second. Seeing you asleep like that... I’m sorry. Truly."

She glared at me, her chest heaving, but beneath the fury, I thought I caught a flicker of... panic? Or maybe not entirely disgust? She turned her back to me, fussing with her clothes and hair, her tone brittle. "Don’t let it happen again. We’re... we’re not there yet."

"I know," I murmured, drowning in a wave of crushing disappointment and self-loathing. A perfect moment, a morning that could have broken the ice between us, and I’d ruined it. The slight progress we’d made, the fact she could talk to me normally, felt nullified. That invisible wall was firmly back in place. I wanted to punch myself.

Celena’s Perspective

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before flashing lights appeared in the rearview mirror. One car, then two... converging from different directions like sharks scenting blood.

"Dammit," Jacob cursed under his breath. "They must have flagged our plates and details across the network."

With several police cars tightly boxing us in and blaring stern commands over their loudspeakers, we had no choice but to pull over slowly. The doors were wrenched open. A cold, sharp order hit us: "Hands on your heads! Get out!"

We were hauled roughly from the vehicle, our arms wrenched behind our backs. With two sharp, metallic clicks, cold, hard handcuffs locked around our wrists. We were then shoved into the separate back seats of different patrol cars and driven to the police station of the nearest human town—one whose name I didn’t even catch.

The interrogation room was blindingly bright under harsh fluorescent lights. Two officers with severe expressions and hawk-like eyes sat across from us. One of them kept his hand resting on his holstered weapon, his fingers curled loosely, the threat unmistakable even though the barrel wasn’t raised.

"Names. And pack," the one on the left said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "State your business here. Unregistered wolves aren’t welcome in human territory." His pause before the last word was heavy with undisguised scrutiny.

My heart sank. They knew more than we’d hoped.