NOVPUB
Chapter 111: _ Look At Me
I moved closer to this breathtaking figure basking in the glory of this beautiful scenery. Every step I took was hesitant, half expecting myself to wake up back in the chaos of the fight.
But, holy moly - nothing of such happened.
As I drew closer, the man turned as if he could sense me too. The moment our eyes collided, the air whooshed out of my lungs in a surprised gasp.
Gamma Rhett.
I knew it. My wolf which had been dormant during the fight was no more dormant. She jolted fully awake, howling for her wolf. She wanted his touch on her while the breeze did its magic on them.
But me. What do I want?
B–but this didn’t make any sense. Gamma Rhett was supposed to be on the battlefield, fighting. Not here.
Yet, he seemed as real as ever facing me now. It was Gamma Rhett, alright, but this Rhett was different. This Rhett was relaxed. This Rhett had a carefree smile playing on his lips.
Gamma Rhett wouldn’t carefreely smile as such.
What in the fuck was going on?
"Good morning, Isleen," he greeted, his voice devoid of its usual gruffness.
Was that Gamma Rhett for reals?
"I didn’t mean to wake you. You seemed to be enjoying your sleep." He said and my jaw dropped.
"Where – what...?" My words jumbled in my head. "This isn’t real, is it?"
He raised an eyebrow and seemed genuinely confused. "What makes you say that?"
"The attack. The vampires... Liam..." The words tumbled out of my mouth as the terror of the previous night flooded back. "We are under attack, Gamma Rhett! You saved me and then, Kylo and Lupe..."
A frown creased his brow, replacing the earlier amusement. "Attack? What attack?"
My head spun.
Was I going crazy?
This couldn’t be real. Yet, everything around me felt so vivid – the warmth of the sun, the smell of salt air, the gentle rocking of the boat on the sea...
Frustration bubbled up within me. "We really shouldn’t be here, Gamma Rhett! We were just attacked by vampires! Kylo and Lupe are hurt!"
But before I could continue, he was already walking closer to me. The words died right in my throat as his scent got closer, drying up every ounce of fluids in my mouth.
The moment he got to me, he was pulling me close. His warm palm cupped my cheek. My breath caught and seized immediately.
This was so unexpected, so unlike the stoic Gamma Rhett I knew.
"The only attack you should be worried about," he murmured against my ear, "...is the one I’m about to unleash on your senses."
I was about to stammer out a "W–what?" When something happens.
He dipped his head to meet my height, and before I could react, his lips were on mine. The kiss was unexpected, yet undeniably electrifying.
A jolt of exuberance coursed through me, awakening something deep within that I had been trying hard to bury.
It had chased away the remaining pain and fear from the attacks. All thoughts of the battle, of Kylo and Lupe, faded away.
Oh, Father forgive me for I have sinned.
At that moment, there was only him. His touch ignited a dormant fire within me. A fire I hadn’t even known existed.
Or... maybe I did know but was too scared to admit it.
My wolf which had been dormant during the attack, stirred within me, responding to the passion in his touch.
She seemed to be awakened by Rhett and Rhett alone now. Her primal instincts surged to the forefront, draining every control in me.
My hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. I felt a primal urge to sink my teeth into his neck.
What the hell was that?
But a glimmer of reason held me back. This wasn’t the Rhett I knew. This carefree beach persona felt... out of place.
Pulling away abruptly, I gasped for air, my chest heaving. Shame washed over me. Here I was, injured and in the middle of a crisis, acting on sensual urges with a figment of my unconscious.
Was I so into Gamma Rhett that I thought him into my unconsciousness?
Gamma Rhett frowned at the abrupt break of our passionate kiss. I saw a trace of disappointment crossing his features.
"Isleen?" He called.
"This isn’t real, is it?" I asked, shaking my head.
My gaze darted around the pristine beach, searching for some sign of the disarray I knew awaited me.
He sighed and I saw a hint of his usual stoicism returning to his face. "No, Isleen. It isn’t. You’re unconscious, recovering from your injuries."
I knew it.
Geez. Of everything I could have seen in my unconsciousness, it was my boyfriend’s dad?
Or maybe my ex-boyfriend’s.
Panic clawed at me. "The others? Kylo, Lupe, Cullen? Are they alright?"
Wait.
How would he know?
"Rest, Isleen," he said gently. "They are being treated. You need to focus on healing."
I shook my head. "Or maybe I need to go back. The houses are still burning. The vampires are still striking. What if Liam is attacked right now, and I’m here, kissing..." I hit my forehead in shame.
"Hm. See? This is why you’re being punished." I heard Gamma Rhett say next and I gazed up at him with questioning brows.
My jaw clenched. "Punished? Punished for what? Being attacked by vampires?"
He shrugged with a smirk playing on his lips. "Perhaps for denying your desires for so long, Isleen. It seems your wolf has a mind of its own, especially when it comes to me."
My cheeks burned. Was he toying with me, even in this bizarre dream state? It seemed all he ever did was torment me, taunt me, and tease me.
"This isn’t funny, Gamma Rhett. We don’t even—"
"Don’t we what, Isleen?" he interrupted with a husky voice as he leaned closer. The warmth of his breath tickled my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
"Don’t we share a connection? A pull that transcends words?"
Oh, here we go again.
The intensity in his gaze felt so real, so unlike the stoic Gamma Rhett I knew. Yet, there was something undeniably alluring about this relaxed, carefree version of him.
"This – this is a dream," I stammered. "It has to be."
"Perhaps," he admitted, his hand trailing down my arm and sending a jolt of electricity through me. "But even dreams can hold truth, Isleen. They can show you desires you’ve buried deep within. Look at me." He commanded but when I looked, Gamma Rhett wasn’t Gamma Rhett anymore.
I stumbled flat on the floor.
