Claimed by the Mad Lycan King

Seara woke up with a start when Zade entered the room. Fear gripped her chest, and she was in a panic when she saw him, which confused Zade.

”I am sorry, did I wake you up?” He went to the other side of the bed, but Seara moved away from him. ”Seara, what happened?”

Zade didn’t move; his first thought was that Seara was on the verge of spiraling again. She was so tense when she looked at him, so he didn’t make any advances and stood two steps away from the bed.

On the other hand, Seara stared at Zade as if this were the first time she saw him. ”Zade?”

”Yes, Love. This is me. What happened?”

Seara shook her head; her hazel eyes opened widely as she observed the man before her. She felt that dreadful feeling, but somehow it was slightly different. That feeling didn’t come from Zade, but it lingered around him.

It was as if he were wearing someone else’s perfume, and she was upset by the scent.

”Zade?” Seara stretched out her hand hesitantly, and Zade came closer to take it. ”Why? What...” What was she supposed to ask? She didn’t know how to ask. She wanted to know why he felt different. But how could she ask and phrase the words without sounding crazy?

”What is it? Do you feel something?” Zade asked. He moved closer toward her, and Seara visibly flinched with their proximity.

”You feel... not like usual.” Seara furrowed her brows. She was afraid to say more because she didn’t want Zade to think she was crazy, but she couldn’t ignore this feeling. Therefore, she tried to explain as much as possible how his presence now made her feel.

”How is it like?” Zade sat down on the edge of the bed, while Seara sat on the other edge. There was a distance between them, though their hands were intertwined.

Zade noticed that Seara’s reaction was different from when she was scared of him after he lost control a few nights ago. Moreover, her fear toward him, for that matter, didn’t last for long. She had become comfortable with him almost right away.

”It’s like... you were wearing a flower print shirt that didn’t suit you at all.” Seara furrowed her brows, trying to find a better analogy. ”As if you were wearing a woman’s perfume with an upsetting scent. But your scent is still the same.” Seara leaned over to sniff him.

Everything was fine with Zade. It was him, but somehow, something still bothered her about him.

And because Zade didn’t say anything, Seara tried to explain more. She talked so fast to get the right words out, but it came out as a jumbled mess.

”It’s okay, I understand. Something about me upset you, but you don’t know what it is, right?”

Seara nodded. ”But I am not upset with you. I still like you.”

Zade laughed at that. ”Thank you; I am happy that you still like me. I will take a shower; the dust from the burned buildings may upset you. Get back to sleep.”

And after saying that, Zade stood up to go to the bathroom to clean himself. He seemed to get the picture of what Seara was trying to say, though she had difficulty elaborating it properly.

After all, she didn’t know what actually happened, yet it was already unexpected that she managed to catch it.

”Zade?” Seara called him before he went to the bathroom.

”Yes?” Zade stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Seara. His mate stared at him with her beautiful hazel eyes, looking conflicted. ”What is it, Love?” His voice was gentle like a breeze.

”Why... why didn’t you kiss me?”

Seara had gotten used to the way Zade treated her; she was a little bit sensitive when things didn’t go as usual.

The first thing that came to her mind was that she must have done something wrong; that’s why Zade treated her differently. Probably, he was disappointed with her for hurting Leia. She felt like a family to him, and she had hurt her.

Seara was stressed out by anything that was not usual: a slightly different tone, a slightly different treatment, or something that was not supposed to be there. She could feel it when it happened, and it left her anxious.

”Are you... angry with me?”

”Of course not. How can I be angry with you?” Zade then went to the bed and sat down next to her. She flinched because she still felt the dark aura around him from his meeting with the demon, but obviously, it was difficult for her to comprehend it.

”I am sorry for hurting Leia...”

”She is fine.” Zade put his finger under her chin and lifted her head slightly. ”No one blames you for that. Leia is not angry; she is worried about you.”

”Okay.”

”Look at me, Seara.”

And Seara did. She looked upset, not to him, but to herself.

”Heaven, Seara.” Zade leaned his forehead against hers. ”I didn’t kiss you because I am dirty. I don’t want you to get the dirt, and if it is up to me, I will kiss you senseless until you forget your name. That’s how much I want you. So, don’t doubt my desire for you.”

Seara blushed so hard when she heard that; she didn’t expect Zade to talk so bluntly.

Since they were discussing this topic, she steeled her heart and closed her eyes as she asked the one question that had been bothering her mind.

Jane always said the importance of her saying what she felt truthfully so others could understand her better.

”But... the kiss... your kiss...” Seara bit her tongue. She could feel her face turning red, but then she heard Zade chuckle and she opened her eyes.

Zade had moved slightly away from her so she could see the mirth in those blue eyes. ”Why am I holding back?”

He knew what she wanted to ask.