Chapter 165

165 Affection

Before Everard even realized it, he was already standing very close to Ruby. He closed his eyes and didn’t hesitate even once before rubbing his forehead against Ruby’s.

“I’m here,” he repeated again.

Though he didn’t speak, Ruby was able to hear Everard’s voice in her head, just like how she had heard his plea a while ago, even before she had completely turned into a wolf.

After listening to his voice in her head, she had felt extreme anguish and frustration deep down in her heart. His initial plea had bothered her so much that she couldn’t help but think that Everard was in trouble somewhere.

Although Everard had said that he would come to her, she felt as if something was terribly wrong with him.

She wanted to escape and find him, and if needed, rescue him. But she couldn’t do that since she was chained in some cold dungeon. That had motivated her to make her transformation process quicker. She used every bit of willpower and courage to embrace the pain and eventually, embrace her new identity.

However, by the time she transformed, she had exhausted every bit of energy in her. She couldn’t even move for a few good minutes.

“Eve...” that was when she had whispered his name in her mind.

And that was when she was consumed by such an overwhelming sensation that she had felt as though she would die if she didn’t see Everard sooner. She was sweating and squirming on the floor while trying her best to suppress that agonizingly ticklish feeling deep down in her heart.

.....

When that feeling didn’t fade away, she had tried and tried to get out of her chains, however, all her efforts were in vain.

Before she could break herself out of those chains, Everard was standing right in front of her in his captivating wolf form. An overwhelming sense of relief and satisfaction washed over her heart. Her amber eyes glistened with tears upon seeing Everard, and she automatically exclaimed, “You’re here!”

When he looked into her eyes with relief and appreciation, she couldn’t be any happier. And what more? He even walked up to her and started showing his affection by rubbing his forehead with hers.

‘Affection...’ she thought to herself. And suddenly, a question arose in her heart, ‘Is he showing his affection, or is he simply relieved that I didn’t die while transforming?’

She didn’t know how to separate her thoughts and how to telepathically communicate with Everard yet. Until a while ago, she had no idea that telepathy was even possible.

Due to the lack of practice to separate those two, she had accidentally voiced those questions out loud to Everard.

She was startled when Everard’s voice echoed in her mind, “Both.”

Ruby sharply breathed in and turned into a statue with embarrassment.

Thankfully, or not so thankfully, her face was saved when a bunch of wolves as well as guards came rushing down to the dungeon.

Everard quickly turned his glare toward the cell’s door while also giving a low growl.

His one look was enough of a warning to them and make everyone stop right outside the door. No one dared to enter the cell. They were also not in a hurry to catch Everard because he was already inside a cell now, and they all were standing at the only exit.

Everard kept on glaring at them and tried to give them an order to leave him alone. Now that he was with Ruby, he didn’t want anyone of them to stand there and be an eyesore.

‘I am in full control of my wolf form. You all may leave,’ Everard ordered those guards who were cautiously looking at him and Ruby.

However, none of them moved an inch.

Everard then turned his glare to the wolf who had tried to jump him earlier. He tried communicating with that wolf thinking that he wasn’t able to use telepathy with those who were in their human form. Still, there was no reply from that wolf as well.

‘Ugh! What the hell is this? Are you all deliberately not following my order or are you all deaf?’ Everard screamed in his mind.

Not one of them moved a hair or took one step back.

Everard then sighed in his mind and simply turned around with the intention of ignoring them until they left.

He was a little startled when his eyes fell on Ruby though. She was curling on the floor while burying her head under her fluffy tail and was also softly whimpering.

“Ruby, are you alright?” he asked her. Seeing her in distress, he even comforted her, “Don’t worry, they won’t do anything to you when I am standing right here.”

Ruby gently lifted her head and looked at the black wolf who was standing not too far away from her. Then she revealed what was actually bothering her, “I am not yet used to hearing your voice in my head. So, I was a bit startled when you screamed.”

“Oh dear lord!” Everard drooped his head low when he found out that it was him who was giving headache to her. “I am really sorry. I didn’t realize that.”

Everard suddenly felt like sitting down beside Ruby and cuddling with her. Her fur looked really warm, soft, and... inviting.

He looked at the door again. Everyone was still standing right there as if they all had suddenly turned into marble statues. He rolled his eyes and without caring about what they would think of him, he went and made himself comfortable beside Ruby.

“Your Majesty?” Ruby abruptly lifted her head and tried to give space for the Crown Prince.

“No, stay,” he whispered.

His whisper resonated in her head so softly that she felt as though he was directing whispering to her ears. She felt goosebumps running down her body, and it also stirred up something dormant in her heart.

She was, however, wary of all the people watching them. “But they all are-”

“No buts. I want to sleep. I am tired,” Everard quickly shut her down so that she wouldn’t try to skid further away from him.

Ruby gulped and quickly buried her face under her fluffy tail again. She couldn’t disobey him.

The Crown Prince smiled inwardly and didn’t shy away from shifting closer to Ruby.

Those who were quietly watching the Crown Prince until now quickly turned their heads away. Some cleared their throats and walked away from the door, while some of those who were standing at the front hastily shut the broken door.

One of them even picked up the piece of wood that had fallen out of the door and then tried his best to put it back temporarily.

Everard was finally happy that they all were out of his sight.

He was, however, serious about cuddling with Ruby. But he wasn’t quite able to find a comfortable position and kept on shifting here and there around Ruby.

While he was doing that, Ruby was holding her breath and trying not to let her heart explode due to extreme excitement.

Everard finally made himself comfortable by spooning with her from behind and resting his head on her shoulder.

“Let me sleep for a while,” he whispered again.

Ruby could only hold her breath and slightly nod her head in approval.