SWNOVELS Chapter 5
5. A Hot Brew
YILEYNA The rain continued to beat down upon us, washing away most of the mud that had splashed in my face. He reached
up, brushing my dirty hair back from my face, my eyes fluttered shut under his touch, a touch that I welcomed... A wave of relief
washed over me. Theon was many things; mocking, aloof, cold and arrogant, but he was not a monster. “It seems you can’t stay
out of trouble for even a moment.” He murmured quietly before his eyes sharply snapped to the two men who stood a mere few
feet away. “You should leave, don’t interfere where it’s not your business.” Nikolai’s cocky voice came from behind. The gold
flash in Theon’s eyes made my heart skip a beat, even if the rest of his face remained emotionless, the anger I saw in those
eyes... for me. My stomach fluttered, before Theon moved me behind him. “As warriors of the pack, it’s a nice example to
set.” “This has nothing to do with you. Leave. You saw nothing.” Kyson added coldly. I stared at the back of Theon’s head as I
crossed my arms over my breasts, hugging myself. “I saw enough to take this back to the Alpha.” Theon stepped forward and
both men tensed. I frowned as realisation hit me. They weren’t scared of Theon, but the fact that he may be the future Beta...
How rank made you everything or nothing... The two exchanged looks, mind linking before they glared at me coldly. The silent
promise that this was not over was clear in their eyes. Both men walked past us, only for Theon to grab Nikolai by the collar and
punch him across the jaw. “What the actual fuck?!” Nikolai hissed, clutching his face as he stumbled back. “Touch her again, and
I will kill you.” Theon replied, his voice dangerous and cold. Both men walked off but Theon turned towards me. I suddenly felt
very bare, despite having paraded in front of him only yesterday... Today was different, I suddenly felt dirty and used, the sheer
weight of what could have happened crashing down on me. I turned my back on him, not wanting him to see the vulnerable state
I was in. The fear that rattled me, my entire body was beyond the point of exhaustion. I gasped when I felt his fingers brush my
upper back. I bit my lip when he tugs a lint of wool from me. The silence between us was loud, but I had nothing to say today. My
heart thudded when I felt the warmth of his jacket being placed around my shoulders, his scent invading my senses, I closed my
eyes. Despite the intensity of the comfort it brought me, the sheer reality that I was now a no one... pretty much alone in this
world, hit me hard. My parents were dead... I couldn’t uphold the De’Lacor name and I had no one... You have Charlene and
Theon... I tried to tell myself, but did I? “Let’s get out of here.” His voice came and I nodded, clutching the jacket around me
tightly as he turned away. To my surprise, he took hold of my wrist, glancing at my bruised hands, a frown creasing his brow as
he led me away. I looked at his large hand wrapped around the sleeve of his leather jacket, my heart skipping a beat. He had
saved me... ‘Theon may become Beta...’ I glanced up at him sharply, wondering how true that was. Did he know? I was so lost
in thought that I didn’t even realise we had come to a stop. He pushed open the door to the small cabin. “Where are we?” I
asked, “My place.” I raised an eyebrow. “You live at the castle...” “I have a room at the castle, but this is mine.” He corrected,
looking over at me. I realised that I had actually never been here... But how much did I really know about Theon? Not much, he
didn’t really share, nor did I bother to ask. “Are you planning on letting the rain continue to flood the place?” I blinked and quickly
stepped out of the doorway, about to shut it when he leaned over me, snapping it shut. My heart skipped a beat as he flipped the
light on and I took a good look around me. It was simple and clean, with a small kitchen area and a table with two chairs was
standing to one side. On the other side a two-seater sofa was opposite the fireplace, with a coffee table before it and two large
bookshelves on either side of the fireplace. Two doors led off the room, most likely to the bedroom and bathroom. Theon walked
across the room and through one of the doors, I peered inside, seeing the edge of a bed from where I stood. I turned away,
glancing up at the ceiling with the wooden beams and the iron filigree light shades, I had to admit the place looked very cosy. His
scent lingered in the air, I wonder how much time he spent here? I looked down at the mud we had stained the ground with, and
slowly stepped out of my boots, not wanting to spread the mud and water everywhere. I clutched Theon’s jacket around
me. Must I give it back? “Go shower.” I looked up as Theon stepped out of his room, holding a shirt and some sweatpants. His
clothes. “Thanks,” I replied, walking over to him. I took the clothes gingerly, careful not to dirty them. “Wear the shirt back to front,
I’ll check your back over.” He said just when I turned away, making me freeze. Check my back? He was going to check it? “I
don’t need-” “It’s that or we go to the royal healer, take your pick.” He cut in coldly. I frowned. What happened wasn’t something I
wanted others to know, it wasn’t going to help my case in any way and the rumours would spread fast. I entered the bathroom,
shutting the door behind me and hung the clean clothes up on the peg behind the door, before I took his jacket off, mud-covered
the lining and I felt guilty. I’ll rinse them off once I had rinsed the mud off myself I decided. I turned the showerhead on and
placed my hand under it, waiting for the water to warm and quickly stripped out of my clothes, carefully placing my panties aside.
They weren’t as wet as the rest of my clothes and I needed to wear them. I stepped into the tub and under the water, welcoming
the warmth of the hot water, letting it soothe my aching bones. Once I had soaped myself clean and realised that I smelt a little
like Theon thanks to his body wash, I stepped out of the shower and grabbed one of his towels. I dried myself quickly and then
walked over to my muddy clothes, dumping them into the tub I had just gotten out of and quickly felt inside of Theon’s jacket
pockets. Taking out a few explosive enchantments and two small daggers, I placed them aside and dumped his jacket into the
bath too. Scanning the bathroom, I looked in the drawer under the washbasin but didn’t find any washing powder. I guess he
took his clothes to the castle to have washed, Omegas or the human staff would usually do all the chores like this and someone
of Theon’s status would have one or two Omegas attending to him personally, that I was sure of. Remembering what Nikolai said
made a pang of jealousy flood inside of me. Theon was a young man, one who would obviously have needs... did he have
Omegas for his sexual desires? Or maybe he visited The White Dove. A deep frown settled on my face as my thoughts got
darker and darker. After wringing out the clothes, I draped them over the edge of the tub and towelled myself dry before slipping
my panties on. My body was screaming with exhaustion and the urge to just curl up into a ball and go to sleep threatened to
consume me. I examined the pants before pulling them on, tying them tightly by the drawstring at my waist. Last of all the shirt, I
slip it on backwards, flinching slightly as I reached behind and closed one button. I looked at my bruised hands and sighed,
picking out a few splinters before I clutched the towel and stepped out of the bathroom. I looked around, noticing the curtains
were drawn, the lights were switched on, the floor was clean from all the mud and water, and both our shoes stood by the front
door, clean. The hearth was lit with a blazing fire that warmed the entire room up. I looked over at Theon who was pouring what
smelt like coffee into two mugs. I couldn’t resist a small smile from crossing my lips, I don’t think I had ever seen Theon do
anything so... ordinary? I wasn’t sure if it was the right word, but he still looked far too handsome whilst doing something like
that. He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow and I shook my head quickly, turning away, trying not to blush. I went over to the sofa
and took a seat staring at the shelves. Most looked like history books, although there were some training ones and others on
other subjects. “Don’t be nosy.” He remarked, placing the two mugs on the table, and I took a moment to drink up his muscular
biceps. Oh Goddess this man is made to sin... May I be the subject of that sin? I frowned at the thought, remembering the
incident with Nikolai. “Drink it whilst it’s warm.” He said, taking a seat on the sofa, and I suddenly became very aware that this
was the first time we were in a private place, alone. I reached for the mug, my arms screaming with agony, when he grabbed
hold of my wrist, pulling me back. “Are you simply stupid, or incredibly reckless?” He raised an eyebrow, giving me a cold gaze.
My heart skipped a beat when he took my hand in his, using the other hand to feel my bones, cricking a few as he went. I bit my
lip at one point, trying not to pay attention to the tingles that danced up my hand and arm at his touch. He dropped my hand,
taking the other and picked out a few pieces of wood that my body hadn’t automatically rejected. “Ouch.” I winced when he
pulled out a thin piece of splinter that was embedded in my finger. He glanced up at me, before he let go of my hand. “You didn’t
answer that question.” “I didn’t realise it was a question.” I replied. Reaching over I grabbed the mug, the shirt I was wearing slid
off my shoulder, and I placed my free hand on my chest, moving back slowly. I inhaled the milky coffee, relishing the smell before
I took a sip. Theon had made coffee. For me... Oh, I couldn’t wait to tell Charlene, wait can I tell her this? No, if she knew what
happened she wouldn’t be happy... I sipped the coffee, enjoying the silence as Theon picked up his own mug and downed it in a
few gulps making my eyes widen. “Wasn’t that hot?” I asked in surprise. He raised an eyebrow. “Not for me. I can handle the
heat; we aren’t all babies.” His mocking arrogant tone made me narrow my eyes. “I am not a baby...” “No... maybe not... Want
to share exactly how stuff went down that path?” He asked, the mood darkening instantly. I shook my head. I didn’t know what to
say. How do you tell someone you didn’t even do anything wrong or anything to instigate that? Nikolai’s words were spinning in
my head, only adding to the exhaustion I was feeling. ‘...Aren’t even Beta Williams’s own blood... Theon might be taking the
Beta title...’ “Turn around.” His command pulled me from my thoughts, and I glanced down at the white shirt that was covering
me, before staring into his eyes. A glint of something I couldn’t make out flickered in them, but his gaze didn’t falter, as if
challenging me to refuse. I clutched the shirt tightly and slowly turned my back towards him, holding my mug steadily with both
hands now. I bit my lip, trying to ignore my hammering heart that I knew he could hear too. I stared down at my mug as I felt him
tug on the shirt slightly as he undid the button. His eyes were burning into me and my stomach fluttered as the shirt fell open,
revealing my back to him. His heart was steady, and I wondered why he had such an effect on me? I hissed when he pulled the
first of the splinters from my back. “You have a few, and you’ve begun healing, embedding them into your skin.” “Great.” “Hold
still.” I rolled my eyes, I was still! My eyes flew open when his hand went to my waist, gripping it tightly, sending a strong jolt of
pleasure through me. Goddess, don’t let him hear my heartbeat. He pulled out another splinter, making me flinch as a sharp stab
of pain shot up my back. “That one was deep.” I nodded, unable to focus with his hand still gripping my waist. Goddess... His
touch was like a drug, intoxicating and dangerous yet so so... tempting and made me feel all lightheaded. I felt a trickle of fresh
blood drip down my back and Theon’s thumb brush it up, igniting a trail of sparks in his wake. “Perfect.” I turned just in time to
see him lick the blood off his thumb, making my stomach flip and my core throb with a desire that he alone could ignite. His gaze
flickered to mine and those intense amber eyes fell to my lips and then I heard it, the slight change to the beat of his heart...