Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 114 - Tension Winds Up As Easily As Down

Chapter 114: Chapter 114 - Tension Winds Up As Easily As Down

While I could see well enough thanks to my... supernatural nature, the only light at all came from occasional lightning flashes through small, grimy windows. And the cracks around the now busted door.

Rusty garden tools hung from pegs on the walls and more stacks of similar crates to the one she is gesturing that I should sit on occupied one corner. The next thunderclap that shook the small structure made me vocalize something too close to a whimper.

I couldn’t suppress my fear and my heart rate spiked. A response to the sudden noise that I couldn’t control - despite knowing exactly what caused the sound, scientifically. Thanks to Helene.

"Not a fan of thunderstorms?"

"It’s just noise. I’m fine."

Kyrie asked me with a nonjudgmental tone, but I answered quickly. Dismissively, defensively, and altogether much too obvious that I am bothered. As I always seem to be around her about something or other.

> Honestly, I feel like I was doing a fine job of trying to drive her away. It doesn’t make sense. How she can just handle my prickly talk so- <

Another strike so close that the air even inside the room seemed to vibrate with it. Like my whole body had been jolted with that same feeling as touching her hand had done. I stiffen and feel like I might fall right over!

Hating the way this body betrayed me with its instinctive fear response, I inhaled sharply and growled. Even while knowing it as much in my soul as anything else. Because Helene was not *this* scared of them.

"I can’t say I like them now, but when I was smaller I also had issues with them."

The woman standing over there offered this information quietly. Staring at me at a distance, I looked back at her skeptically... unsure if she is just trying to distract me or actually admit something true.

"You? I would have thought that the young Alpha to be of the powerful Rimecoat territory would have sincerely reveled in the displays of nature’s dominance from the moment she was out of the womb."

My voice cracked numerous times, but the soft laugh sounding out in the drumming rain was clearly about its content and not delivery... because she waited for the ’punchline’ to come before a dazzling smile.

> Why does she have to keep doing that at me... Vrika, focus! <

"We all have our... less dignified moments. Children should be allowed to have as many of them as they need to grow up."

She moved to the crate she was near and sat on the very corner. Not even on the jacket. Leaving it for me alone, with enough space that I could join her without feeling crowded by her presence.

But I remained standing where I was, arms crossed awkwardly underneath my soaked shirt chest. Being this vulnerable and wanting to be safe, the draw to her is very intense. Easily more than my desire to stay away.

> The truth is, I feel like hiding myself right now so I can’t do something I’ll regret... but it feels more Princess to stand this way instead. And it feels better to hug myself during the lightning than not. <

"When I was seven... my father took our family to watch the demolition of the old Carrington Building... an old pre-war hotel. He was bidding on the redevelopment project and wanted us there for publicity photos."

Her voice quickly took on a storytelling quality. I found myself moving slightly closer. To hear her better over the rain of this storm, I quietly rationalized. But just as much hoping to get closer to the source of that clean, calming scent she produces.

> With her hair damp, it smells different. But as much as it ignites me in all the wrong ways, as much as being closer will risk things, it’s also making me feel safe. Which is probably quite wrong, too. <

"When they set off the charges, the sound was... overwhelming. Like thunder, almost, but magnified tenfold. I couldn’t stop shaking."

Her expression turned just a little self-mocking. For a moment, I had the illusion that I deeply understood even without her saying anything else.

"Not very desired behavior. Even at my age, then. My father made that abundantly clear."

It was the face of someone who had received the pressure of being perfect. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by now, but I hadn’t expected this vulnerability from her - shared so freely, so quickly and easily.

While probably calculated to make me feel better about my own reactions to the thunder, there was a rawness to her voice that is hard to fake. Suggesting a genuine memory rather than convenient fiction that fits the moment.

> I suppose it takes a liar to recognize one. Which also makes us good at detecting the truth, even if we don’t always believe it out of the lips of others. Because we hardly believe ourselves... <

"What did you do back then?"

"My mother noticed, of course. She took me aside, away from my father’s disappointed stare, and just... held me. Pressed my ear close and let me listen to her heartbeat until the shaking stopped."

The shed seemed to come alive with another violent thunderclap one moment - and the next I found myself sitting on the crate beside Kyrie. Maintaining a careful last few inches between us despite my frayed senses, emotions, and just everything!

"For what it’s worth I’m not afraid. Okay? Standing just expends more energy than sitting. Alright?"

"Of course. It’s only practical. That’s why I wanted you to sit down earlier."

Not calling out my lie, even after hearing my voice crack and wobble... we sat quietly. As this storm raged around our fragile, stolen shelter. And probably as other storms, of different make, raged within both of us.

> I know she must want to hold me. To mark me. But she won’t, because of everything I’ve declared before. Why do I actually believe that? <

Dust shook from the rafters with another strike and I flinched so dramatically that I nearly fell off the crate. Kyrie’s hand shot out to steady me with a touch burning warm against my cold, damp skin.

Even though I should have roughly the same internal temperature range and even though Vrika claimed to be doing plenty to keep us healthy... I fail in my choice to pull away from her. What I do instead is just explain what will happen in a tight voice... as I lean closer.

"Just until the storm passes. No marking. No holding. This changes nothing. I’m giving you no permissions."

"I wouldn’t dream of suggesting otherwise, Citra."

Soft and somehow sultry answer given - and another flash of light forcing my hand - I slowly let my head rest against her shoulder. As I inhaled, she remained perfectly still... as if afraid any movement might spook me back into my solitary defiance.

It very well might have. Or worse... made either me or my wolf seek even deeper, fiercer distractions than this.

"Your heart. It’s beating slower than I expected."

"Years of practice. That is, keeping calm while everyone is testing my patience."

I wanted to defend and deny that I was trying anything of the sort, but the rhythm of the sound as it was thumping up close became unexpectedly hypnotic. Powerfully beating away any little thoughts over what she might have meant.

Any thoughts of what I want to do to her. I just keep breathing in pure snow and iron. A combination so distinctly Kyrie Voss... as her body warmth and the relentless pace of the last days catch up with me all at once.

My eyelids grew heavy, each blink lasting longer than the one before. I began to say something, but couldn’t remember what ’put together’ Citra was thinking. If that person even exists.

"Vrika... be a good wolf spirit? Don’t let me just... I should..."

> Stay awake, probably. Maintain... vigilance? Vrika... <

Falling asleep this quickly in the arms of an Alpha werewolf who had designs to make me her mate is the worst. Especially while I had a child inside I needed to stay awake and protect. But my body and brain had other ideas.

My consciousness drifted like it was caught in a whirlpool... I vaguely registered my hand around elastics... pulling my hair down before I slept. The release of tension against my scalp was immediately soothing.

And... I rememberednothing much after that.

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