Chapter 104 Can I Trust You, Soren?
**Sorenâs POV Tonight was a good night. I just didnât know what brought me more joy. The pain I caused Ethan or the care Rosalie showed me?
Either way, it didnât change my good mood.
I knew Ethan wouldnât kill me with Rosalie standing next to me, and I was considering taking her hostage if needed.
It had all worked as I had planned it. Actually, much better than I had planned.
Although, I couldâve done without the awful pain radiating throughout my body.
Just like I knew that my half-brother, no matter how much he hated me and had no problem ripping me into shreds, would never kill me because he was just a coward, I knew that Rosalieâs arrival would make the situation so much more fun for us.
However, I had not expected her to run out of the tunnel and position herself between me and Ethan.
She had fallen for the act I was presenting her with. Except for⦠looking up into her tear-brimmed eyes right now as she sat next to me on the bed, I suddenly wasnât sure whether I was acting any more.
I remembered her tear rolled down her nose and splashed against my cheek earlier. Like the rain refreshes the thirsty ground, I felt renewed, restored. That tear was for me.
However, it bothered me.
I didnât want to see her cry, not over me, not over my dastardly half-brother Ethan, not over anyone.
âBoss, are you alright?â Thomas mindlinked me.
âIâm fine. Confirmed that it was Ethan. Have all of the supplies been moved out?â I replied.
âYes, they have. King Kalâs men should have it in two days,â Thomas replied.
The moment I suspected Ethan was here on the island, I figured his target would be both me and the military suppliers, therefore, I had arranged the supplies to be split up and sent out.
âLet Edgar know that Ethan is not at the frontline right now. This is their best opportunity to attack and push forward.â
âGot it. Arenât you going with King Kal?â Thomas asked.
âNope. I have something important to take care of.â
âLike what?â
Why did he have to be such a busybody? I disconnected from mindlink and switched my focus back to Rosalie.
The only thing left for me to do right now was to take care of the crying beauty.
There was no reason for Rosalie to know that all of her troubles from earlier on the island were because of me.
Of course, I had taken care of those robbers. They hurt Rosalie, and they shall never be seen again.
Nor did she need to know that I was aware that Ethan would act exactly how he just had, that I had lured him to fight so that she could make her choice.
But all of that was in the past now. She didnât need to know.
âRo,â I said, still using the name Iâd been calling her since the day we met. âYou put yourself at risk to save me.â I brushed her long hair over her shoulder. âWhy would you do such a thing? You couldâve been killed.â
Her palm smoothed against my face, the scruffiness of my five oâclock shadow not deterring her.
She shook her head, âI couldnât just stand there and watch Ethan kill you.â
âBut⦠heâs the one you were running away from, isnât he?â I asked, as if this was a new revelation to me.
âYes, he is the one that I was running from,â she admitted. âNever mind that right now. Youâre injured. We need to concentrate on making sure that you get everything that you need.â
âItâs okay,â I said. âIâm better now.â
âNo!â Rosalie protested. âYouâre not well enough for that.â She looked to Seraphine for confirmation, who had just returned from seeing the doctor out.
âHe should be all right now that all of his wounds are bandaged. While there was a lot of blood, itâs true, the wounds were not that serious.â Seraphine paused to think for a moment before looking at Rosalie. âOf course, if you hadnât intervened when you did, this would all be a different story. Youâre very brave.â
Rosalie took a deep breath and let out a gentle sigh. âI just did what I felt I had to do.â
âBut what about the baby?â Seraphine asked. âYou were risking the baby, too.â
Rosalie shook her head. âI knew Ethan wouldnât hurt his own child. If it was just me standing between him and Soren, unfortunately, I donât think he wouldâve had a problem at all plowing right through me on his way to murder his half-brother. But with his child in the mix⦠thatâs why he decided to stand down.â
With those words, Rosalie began to cry again, and I couldnât help but sit up then and comfort her. It hurt, but I managed to push up off of the bed and wrap my arms around her.
She froze, and I could tell she wasnât as comfortable with me as she used to be.
I pulled her to my shoulder and stroked her hair. âItâs all right, Ro,â I told her. âI know he hurt you again, but youâre okay now. Youâre safe. Youâre with your friends.â
Holding her there for a moment, I wasnât sure whether I fully understood her. How could she take the leap to sacrifice herself in order to save me?
Did I mean more to her than I thought?
Regardless of what she thought of me right now, I didnât want to let her go.
I wanted to keep my arms around her, not in the same manner as my dream the other night, but I just wanted to hold her, to comfort her.
The gestures Iâd shown her, the gifts Iâd given her, the time Iâd spent with her⦠all of that had been a ruse. Iâd been intending to use her as a pawn, luring my half-brother out or otherwise using his woman and her child to hurt him.
But⦠breathing in her floral scent, feeling her silky skin against my cheek, smoothing her satiny hair, I realized...
I wanted to comfort her simply because I didnât want her to feel sad.
My grip around her strengthened.
A pretty woman like her shouldnât be hurt by my b*stard brother. How dare he use her the way that he had? How dare he use her as a tool to gain a child and then plan to dispose of her?
All of a sudden, I was furious. Ethan truly was a monster, and I wished I wouldâve had my guards cut him down where he stood.
I used the mindlink to send out a stronger directive. âFind Ethan. Look everywhere. He doesnât leave this island, and he cannot hide from us. He must pay for what heâs done to Rosalie.â
âYes, sir,â the responses came back.
I was angry for all of the pain my half-brother had caused me over the years, too, of course. But this was new. This was fresh, and hearing her cry because of him made me want to shift back into my wolf and hunt him down myself.
The only thing that brought me pleasure was knowing that wherever Ethan was at the moment, he had to be miserable knowing that Rosalie had just chosen me over him.
I was pleased that Ethan was suffering, and I wanted him to live so he could suffer more.
âYou both should get some rest,â Seraphine suggested. âItâs been a long night. It wonât be good for Mr. Sorenâs injuries or for Roâs baby to stay up longer.â
âRosalie,â she whispered, lifting her head from my shoulder. âYou heard Ethan use my real name. You may as well use it, too, unless you donât want to.â
Seraphine smiled at her and reached over to pat her. âYouâll always be Ro to us, dear. Iâll go make the bed in the guest room now. Ro, would you do me a favor and rest as soon as I am done?â
Rosalie nodded and forced a smile upon her face as Seraphine left the room.
I could tell Rosalieâs tears had dried up some, but she was still very emotional.
Using my thumbs I wiped away her tears and looked into her eyes. I knew at that moment that I wanted to kiss her. Not on her cheeks like usual, but on those soft lips.
But I didnât tell her.
I didnât want to overwhelm her. Sheâd been through enough emotional turmoil for one night. I needed to be patient. Good thing was, I had all the time in the world now that she no longer trusted Ethan.
What I needed to know next was, did Rosalie have feelings for me?
Seraphine could help me determine whether or not she did. And if she didnât⦠I would make her.
Because I wasnât planning on letting Ethan take her back.
âRo,â I whispered, cupping her hand and tipping her chin up to look at me. The moonlight illuminated her face through the window, and I could see the sadness reflected in her eyes. âI want you to know, no matter what happens, you will always have a place with me. Always.â
She stared at me for a moment, and the urge to lean in and press my lips to hers was overwhelming.
But I didnât do it. Restraint was so important. I couldnât cause her further damage by rushing the situation.
âThank you, Soren,â she sighed, âWhatâs wrong?â I asked her.
She looked me in the eye. Â âCan I trust you, Soren?â
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