Blood Legacy Chapter 54: 54. Nathan

"Couldn't you at least think about bringing some fucking pants or something?"

"Oh, or I don't know like, use a fucking car instead?" He heard her comment with annoyance from the backseat as they drove in tensed silence, his gaze meeting hers in the rearview mirror as he calmly explained,

"It's easier for us to track you down in wolf form,"

"And excuse us for being too worried for your wellbeing to even think about that," He added with a hint of sarcasm, his gaze shifting as he noticed that guilty look now marring the little runt's features as she uncomfortably sat next to his mate, still refusing to even risk a glance in David's direction.

*Poor bastard.* He thought as he shifted his gaze to throw him a glance as well, noticing that tormented look on his face as he absently kept his eyes on the road, no doubt having a million thoughts running through his mind by now as he quietly sat there, having yet to utter a single word ever since they found the girls.

"Yeah, and now you're dangling your freaking wieners in her car," His attention abruptly shifted back to his mate as he heard her say that a little louder than intended, hearing his beta's mate letting out a stifled giggle from right next to her when she suddenly started singing out of nowhere,

"Wiener, wiener wiener, wiener party, wiener wiener..."

*Mother of heavens...* He almost felt like bashing his head against that steering wheel as he listened to her sing those idiotic words over and over again, moaning with annoyance before noticing that his beta was actually struggling to contain his amusement, the little runt not faring any better as she slipped out laugh after laugh like a little kid doing something dumb.

"Kids. You're all kids!" He uttered out with aggravation, unintentionally managing to burst that bubble as both David and Jess erupted into a fit of hysterical laughter, filling out the car with that noise whilst his mate continued to sing those stupid words, loud and with boldness.

**

His swore that his temples were about to explode by the time they'd arrived to his apartment building after all that crap and the generally shitty day he'd had, blowing out a tired sigh as he waited for the garage door to open.

He drove inside and parked as close as possible to the elevator, his face falling as he lastly turned around in his seat and noticed that his mate had actually fallen asleep throughout all that dumb singing.

*Great. Just fucking great.* Now he had to also carry her whilst trying to avoid having himself seen in this state by other people who lived in the same building with him.

*Fucking wonderful.*

He blew out another sigh and got out of the car, going around to open her door and take her into his arms as she soundly slept throughout all that, obviously not giving a single flying fuck about what was happening around her.

Once he had her secured in his embrace, he let his beta and his mate close the doors and lock the car as he closely looked around the parking lot for any prying eyes, relatively satisfied once he'd made himself sure that there was no one else around.

He then briskly walked to the elevator with his beta and the little runt in tow, hurrying to be over with this stupid shit-show already as they all got inside and he pressed the button for the last floor where his apartment was.

He quietly watched as once again the little runt had situated herself as far as possible in that relatively generous cube they all shared for the moment, choosing to stand at his side rather than his beta's and keep her eyes trained on her sleeping friend in his arms whilst his beta stood against the opposite wall, watching his own mate with nothing but sorrow and longing in his eyes.

He was utterly despondent. He craved for her yet she refused to offer him a single ounce of attention. And all that simply because of who he was and where he was coming from. He was the soon-to-be Beta from the royal pack and commander of a great army whereas she was just a fragile little lone wolf, born with freedom in her spirit and set to lead a simple life, not one as dutiful and complicated as the mate of a beta would be forced to have.

*Mysterious are the ways of the Goddess...* He mused with thoughtfulness, lowering his gaze to the stubborn little creature soundlessly sleeping in his arms, her delicate face so incredibly adorable as she mildly frowned and snuggled herself even deeper in his chest, blowing out a long and soft sigh through her nose.

His situation wasn't any better than David's, if he had to admit. It wasn't like Carina had accepted any of this either. But at least she was not running away from him, or avoiding to having to touch or speak to him altogether.

He unconsciously squeezed her a little tighter against him at the thought of that, refusing to even dare imagine what it would be like...without her touch or mere gaze on him.

*Pure Hell.*

That soft ding abruptly dragged him back to reality, fooling him into thinking that they had arrived to his floor when the elevator doors suddenly pulled open, revealing an elderly lady.

But faster than he could react, Jess suddenly grabbed David's arm and pulled him closer, making them face each other as she turned her back to the open doors and shielded their manly bits with her body as best as she could, her eyelids screwed shut with agitation as she froze like that, struggling not to actually look or touch anything.

"You...you vile perverts!" He heard the old lady yell with outrage, mere moments before the doors closed back again, providing them that much needed privacy.

Jess was once again standing as far as possible away from them the moment those doors closed shut, David however still reeling from the shock of having himself actually touched by his mate, his eyelids fluttering with astonishment as he dumbly stared back at him.

"Get your naked ass away from my mate," He lowly seethed, suddenly feeling so very bothered by his closeness against Carina, much less in his state. Naked and reeking of mating pheromones.

He didn't waste a single second and stumbled back with confusion, nervously glancing between him and Jess when the elevator doors suddenly pulled themselves open again, this time thankfully revealing the vastness of his penthouse apartment that was actually composed out of two stories.

He immediately walked inside and went to the couch, gently placing his sleeping mate on it and offering her a small kiss on the forehead before he straightened back up and sauntered towards the staircase leading up to his bedroom, hearing his beta's hurried footsteps trailing right behind him.

Neither of them said anything as they both headed for the walk-in closet, him choosing to simply drag on a pair of shorts as he was planning to take a shower later anyway whilst David quickly helped himself to a pair of sweatpants and a random t-shirt. It was a common occurrence, either one of them casually finding themselves in dire need of clothing after an impromptu shift so they didn't mind borrowing clothes from one another. In fact, they were pretty much used to it so it kinda went without asking.

Once they were dressed and decent enough they went back downstairs where Jess was still waiting by herself, finding her seated right next to Carina's peacefully sleeping form as she gently caressed the side of her head and swept those rebel strands away from her face with the utmost care.

However, she quickly got up from her spot as soon as she noticed them entering the living room, consciously avoiding to look directly at his beta as she risked a glance in their direction.

"Hey, I'll talk to Andrea and let her know that she's safe, here with me," He calmly said as he approached her, watching as she bashfully lowered her gaze but nodded in understanding.

"You can go home if you want to. He'll drive you," Her gaze quickly went back up at the sound of that, making him notice that visible panic and terror glinting in her dark blue eyes as she widely stared between his for a moment, almost like begging him not to send her away all alone with his beta.

"I only have this small couch available at the moment and you'll have to share it with him if you stay. He can't exactly run back home in wolf form through the town," He explained with a hint of uneasiness, apologetically looking between her dark blue eyes as she continued to stare up at him, that panic in her gaze swiftly replaced by utter dejection.

She didn't say anything in reply and wordlessly turned around, silently accepting what was about to come as she dragged her feet straight towards those elevator doors, not even bothering to look back and check if David was following her or not.

But she surprised him as she abruptly turned back around as if she'd just remembered something, offering him a kind smile as she quietly said,

"Thank you,"

His brows immediately furrowed, failing to understand what was that all about even as those elevator doors had already closed, once again finding himself all alone with his mate in the comforting silence of his home.