Chapter 36: Possessive intensity

Caroline leaned against the car bonnet for support as she ended the call.

"I lied," she admitted.

Andrew placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It’s the only way we can find Emmett."

Earlier, Miller had called Andrew and informed him that Emmett had left the pack along with his family. In fact, Emmett had gone as far as changing his identity because his records had suddenly disappeared from the central pack’s system.

"Now Victor will do everything he can to find another way to prove his innocence," Caroline remarked angrily.

"Let him be like that for a few days. By then, we’ll have enough time to find Emmett," Andrew replied.

"But why would Emmett run away and disappear like this?" Caroline asked. "We can’t wait for days, either. Victor will start suspecting us if we don’t return to the palace with Emmett."

"Maybe he knew Victor would eventually try to kill him." Andrew thought for a moment before continuing. "I’ll make an announcement tonight that we’ve gone on our honeymoon. In the meantime, Miller and Jeremy will search for Emmett while keeping a close eye on Victor’s activities."

"Why should we lie about going to the honeymoon?" Caroline asked, confused.

"It won’t be a lie," Andrew replied with a small grin. ℴ

"What?" Caroline stared at him, momentarily speechless.

"You need a break from everything that’s happening here. I know you want the truth to come out as soon as possible, and right now, you probably don’t even feel like enjoying anything. But you’re my wife now, and I want you to relax for a while."

Andrew’s expression softened as he continued, "There’s no truth that can remain hidden from me forever. I have people capable of uncovering even the things that seem impossible to find. I want Victor to remain restless during that time. The more anxious he becomes, the more likely he is to make a mistake. You need to trust me on this."

Caroline studied his eyes for a moment before finally nodding.

"I understand," she replied. "You’re right about Victor getting restless. He’ll eventually make a mistake. I trust you."

She looked ahead at the vast sea stretching before them while Andrew stood beside her with his hands tucked into his pockets.

"I’ve never seen the sea before," Caroline said quietly.

"Really? So this is your first time?"

"Yes." Caroline kept her eyes on the water. "I wasn’t from a well-off family. Since childhood, my parents and I struggled to build a better and more comfortable life. We worked even during our vacations because there was always something that needed to be paid."

She paused, taking in the sight before her.

"When I started earning, I thought I would slowly pay off my father’s debts. I believed that, with enough time, we could finally live without constantly worrying about money. But it never happened. The interest kept piling up, and the debt only became heavier."

Her voice remained surprisingly steady. There were no tears in her eyes this time.

"And like a fool, I also thought I could find love which destroyed our family."

Andrew remained silent as he listened.

He understood why Caroline had always been hesitant whenever he gave her expensive gifts or offered her things that she had never been able to afford. She wasn’t simply uncomfortable with luxury. She had spent most of her life struggling to earn and save every bit of money she had.

"Victor never intended to build a future with me. He was only using me for my body. How could I have been naive enough to give myself to him?"

"In love, you don’t see anything except the person standing in front of you," Andrew told her. "And don’t talk about your time with him. It pisses me off. I’m willing to listen to anything you want to share, except what happened between you and Victor. Because that was the time when I failed to find you."

Caroline noticed the fierce anger in his voice and lowered her gaze.

"Forgive me," she apologized softly.

"No, don’t be sorry." Andrew’s expression softened as he turned toward her. "Shall we go back?"

"Yes." Caroline gave him a small smile, feeling a little relieved.

As Andrew walked past her, Caroline caught the sleeve of his shirt. He halted and lowered his head to look at her.

"Close your eyes," she said.

"Why?" Andrew asked, raising a brow.

"Just... do it," she urged.

Andrew’s brow arched for a moment, but he obediently closed his eyes. Caroline rose onto her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. His eyes immediately opened in surprise.

"Thank you," she murmured.

She turned to get into the car, but before she could take another step, Andrew caught her arm and gently twirled her around. His hand quickly came up to cradle the back of her neck, and he leaned down to kiss her again, this time with a more possessive intensity.

The driver, who was standing a little farther away, noticed them and smiled before turning around, giving them some privacy.

Caroline’s hands rested against Andrew’s chest as her back tilted slightly. When he used his other hand to support her, she steadied herself against him. She felt his tongue brushing against her lips, seeking permission to deepen the kiss, and she parted them.

A soft moan escaped her when his tongue gently met hers. His pheromones slowly enveloped them, stirring her wolf awake. She heard the silent voices of Andrew and his wolf calling her their mate.

Finally, they pulled apart when they were both out of breath. Caroline looked at him, breathing heavily, as Andrew’s thumb brushed gently over her lips.

"Caroline, it’s hard to control myself." He leaned down, resting his forehead against her shoulder as he inhaled her scent. "If you do something like this again, I may not be able to stop myself, despite what I promised."

Caroline’s heart pounded against her chest when Andrew finally stood straight. "Let’s leave," he said, holding her hand and guiding her to the backseat.