Trapped with the Alpha King (Althea) novel Chapter 78

Freedom

Gavriel frowned, torn between pulling away and staying to give Althea the warmth she sought.

“Please,” she mumbled in her sleep, tugging him closer. Unable to resist, he joined her on the bed, wrapping her gently in his arms.

She pressed her face against his bare chest, murmuring softly, “So warm… I like it.”

Her steady, heavy breathing filled the space.

Gavriel exhaled slowly, a mix of exasperation and disbelief in his voice. He couldn’t believe he was doing this but he had to admit, he liked how his body felt with her nestled against him.

When she stirred slightly, he asked, “How come you’re sick?”

“I used up all my energy a while ago,” she answered sluggishly, her words lazy and half-dreamlike.

“Energy? From… intimacy?” he questioned, frowning. But that didn’t make sense, they had only shared two rounds at most.

Althea tilted her head back lazily, opening one eye to peer at him. “I guess I’m dreaming, huh? There’s no way you’d hug me like this.”

“Why not?” he asked, curiosity laced in his tone.

“You only get close to me like this when you want to… use my body,” she said with a lazy grin. “Since this is just a dream, I’ll answer you while I’m sick…”

Once again, she closed her eyes. “I created a portal to get to Melva and heal her,” she continued, snuggling closer. “It drained almost all my inner energy. My power isn’t fully activated yet, so I can’t push myself too hard. I just need to recharge for a while.”

Gavriel frowned. “A portal?! She can do that?” His body stiffened, and his heart pounded against his chest.

“You!” he growled, fury and fear mingling. If Althea could really do what she claimed, she was far more dangerous than he had realized.

Althea remained calm. “Relax. It’s not like I can just escape anywhere yet. I haven’t learned to create portals to random places. I can only follow people I truly care about—those I have strong connections with. Not to a specific location… at least, not yet.”

“You could easily create a portal to your father!” he snapped, his voice rough with tension.

Althea shook her head slightly. “I can’t…”

“Why can’t you? He’s your father—you share a strong bond with him,” he wondered aloud, his voice tense.

Gavriel’s frown deepened when he felt liquid against his chest. He gently pulled back, only to see tears streaming down Althea’s cheeks, her eyes still closed.

Althea shook her head. Slowly, she opened her eyes and met his intense gaze. Her lips trembling as she muttered, “I haven’t tried… and I don’t want to,” she admitted softly. “I love my father… but he’s not someone I can trust. He’s dangerous, and he’d use my gift for his own schemes. I can’t let him control me—or force me to act against my will.”

Then a faint smile curved her lips. “I want freedom…” she whispered. Closing her eyes once more, she snuggled closer and complained softly, “The Alpha King asked too many questions in my dreams. Ah… let me rest and sleep for now.”

Gavriel froze, instinctively tightening his hold on her. Was she truly dreaming, or was she pretending?

Then she hissed, half-laughing, half-exasperated. “Seriously, I want to sleep in peace, Gavriel. Damn you, beast! You’re not disturbing me to claim my body, but you ask too many questions. Begone from my dreams!”

Gavriel’s jaw tightened at her words, but a flicker of something else crossed his dark eyes—amusement. Part of him wanted to scold her for speaking so boldly in her half-sleep, yet another part couldn’t help but marvel at how… funny she was, even in her drowsy state.

He let out a low, almost grudging chuckle, though it sounded more like a growl. “Funny… very funny, Althea,” he murmured, his tone laced with both irritation and reluctant amusement.

She let out a soft, lazy laugh in response, nuzzling closer into his chest. “Hah… see? I can make even the Alpha King laugh in my dreams,” she teased, her words muffled against him.

Gavriel’s lips twitched in a rare, fleeting smile, though his eyes remained sharp and intense.

He wanted to shake her gently, scold her, maybe even claim her in that moment but he restrained himself, reminding himself she was still weak, still vulnerable.

Instead, he tightened his arms around her, half in exasperation, half in protection. “You’re infuriating… and ridiculous,” he muttered, his voice low. Yet despite the words, the tension in his body softened slightly.

She hummed contentedly, clearly oblivious to the storm she stirred within him. He let out a soft sigh, a mix of frustration and affection.

‘Funny, fearless, and maddening…’ he thought, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head before settling into the quiet, holding her close.

Even as he restrained the deeper desires clawing at him, he couldn’t deny one thing: she had a way of making him feel things he didn’t expect—even when she was half-asleep and teasing him.