#Chapter 116 – Midnight Snack
Bastien
Learning that my cousin may be responsible for all my problems over the last few years has sent me through a loop. I’ve been searching for a motive beyond power and bloodlust since this all began, but it seems I didn’t learn my lesson after my uncle’s coup. Problems don’t disappear after they’ve been exiled, and blood is no guarantee of loyalty.
When I came home tonight I held my mate and pup close, feeling even more protective of them than usual. I think Selene sensed something was wrong, but thankfully she passed out even earlier than Lila did. She’s been tired lately, taking a lot of naps and going to bed so early I have to fight the urge to wake her up for adult playtime when I’m finally ready to go to sleep myself.
Tonight I didn’t have any such problems. Sex was the last thing on my mind, and it was hours before I could relax enough to go to sleep. I lay awake late into the night, staring at the ceiling and wondering how everything could have possibly gotten so mixed up. The worst part of all this is that my family’s past drama may be endangering the life of my wife and child. Selene and Lila had nothing to do with any of this, yet their proximity to me has put them in the line of fire. The guilt could eat me alive.
I comfort myself by wrapping my body around Selene’s so tightly that I know no one could possibly get to her without going through me first. After drifting off in fitful bursts, I wake around three AM, immediately aware I’m alone in bed. I glance at the bathroom door, but it stands ajar and the lights are off. Sliding out of bed, I pad to the bedroom door, tracking my mate’s scent out into the main apartment.
A soft white light emanates from the kitchen, and I follow the gentle glow, rounding the marble island to find Selene standing in front of the open refrigerator. She’s still wearing the silky negligeel wrangled her unconscious limbs into when I put her to bed, and her thick, dark hair is an artfully disheveled mess.
Her back is to m, and I can hear her soft munching noises indicating a late night snack, but I’m so on edge I have to ask, “Baby,” I greet her sleepily, “are you okay?”
Selene jumps half a foot into the hair, spinning around and whipping her hands behind her back with a dismissive shrug. “I missed dinner.”
“I know you did.” I commiserate, eyeing her tense posture. “I’m sorry sweetheart, I would have woken you but you were really out. I thought you must need the rest.”
“It’s okay,” she assures me, “I just woke up hungry.”
“I can imagine. Why don’t you let me make you something.” I suggest, rounding the island and reaching for her.
“No! That’s okay!” She exclaims, shrinking away from me. “I already found something.”
Tilting my head to the side and knitting my brow, I remark, “I’m glad to hear it, would you like to tell me why you’re trying to hide
Appearing very sullen, Selene huffs, “I’m not hiding anything.”
I reach for her again, and again she dances out of my grasp. “What’s going on little wolf, what are you eating?”
“Nothing.” Selene insists defensively.
“Which is it, mate?” I demand, my amusement growing with every minute that passes, “have you found something or are you eating nothing?”
Looking as if she’s admitting a terrible secret, Selene slowly brings her hands forward, revealing a jar of pickles in one hand, and a jar of chocolate spread in the other. Unable to hold back a chuckle, I say, “chocolate covered pickles?”
“It’s good!” Selene exclaims stubbornly.
Alright.” I agree in my most soothing tone, slipping an arm around her while simultaneously extracting the ingredients from her hands. With hesitation, I dip a pickle in the chocolate and sample a bite.
Axel immediately starts making retching noises, and I burst into laughter, “Goddess Selene, that’s revolting.”
Selene moans, her eyes welling with tears and her lower lip quivering dangerously. I can see a storm coming, and guilt immediately washes over me, “Hey, no – it’s okay.”
#Chapter 116 – Midnight Snack
Lv. 1
“N-no i-it’s n-not.” Selene chokes, salty rivulets sliding down her fair cheeks. “Y-you said I w-was revolt-ting!”
“Selene, baby,” I profess, framing her face in my hands, “I said the pickles were revolting, not you!”
“Yeah but I’m eating them, so I’m disgusting!” She cries, breaking down completely.
Absolutely beside myself and baffled about how a midnight snack turned into such a minefield, I pull her into my arms, rocking her as I ask, “Sweetheart where is this coming from?”
“I just wanted a snack!” Selene wails pitifully, sobbing into her pickle.
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