Sold To The Alphas I Hate - Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Rafe’s Teasing
Kael’s POV

The first light of dawn slipped across the trees, pale gold streaking the sky. My eyes opened slowly and the first thing saw was her. She was still snuggling in my embrace, now transformed into her human form, entirely naked, pressed against my naked human form.

Eira had shifted back sometime during the night, her wolf giving way to her human form. Now she lay pressed against me, her bare skin soft against mine. My arm cradled her head, her breath steady against my chest. My free hand curved around her shoulder, holding her close.

It was more intimate than just sleep. Too close. If she opened her eyes now… what would she think?

And it wasn’t just me—behind her, Lucian had shifted back too, , his naked body pressed close against her back. His arm was curled around her waist, holding her as though it were the most natural thing.

To us brothers, it was. We had long grown used to sleeping in each other’s presence, wolves or men. But for her? She might wake and think we were trying to do something with her.

How I wished… But no. I knew better.

Still, morning always stirred primal instincts. The temptation of her soft body pressed between ours, the scent of her filling the air—it was impossible not to feel the hunger coil in my blood. My wolf strained against the restraint I forced upon him.

Lucian stirred then, still half-asleep. Instinct guided him before thought—he nestled his face at the back of her neck, inhaling deeply, savoring the intoxicating scent she carried. A low rumble of pleasure escaped him.

But then his eyes opened fully, reality catching up with him. He froze, his gaze flicking to me. Over Eira’s sleeping form, our eyes met. His brow arched slightly, a silent question.

I gave a small, steady nod—assurance. She’s still asleep.

He slowly retracted his hand from her waist and then moved away from her, careful not to disturb her sleep.

The other three weren’t with us.

From the mild sound of water splashing, I understood they had gone into the water. Lucian stood up, stretched his naked form to shake off his sleepy slumber, and walked to the water body.

When we were here, it was impossible not to take a dip in the healing water. There was some healing property in this water for the wolves—it’s what my mother told me. I wasn’t sure how much truth was in it, but it was indeed relaxing whenever I went in.

“Bastards, already enjoying it?” I heard Lucian’s voice.

“Are you our wife to wait for you?” Rafe’s voice was heard.

Those two continued to argue like always, while I focused on the woman in my arms.

She stirred, her body shifting faintly against mine, her breath changing. My muscles tensed. I knew her waking wasn’t going to be pleasant for us.

Her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, once, twice, and found my face so close that the tips of our noses almost brushed. I held her gaze, calm and steady. She didn’t look away.

Slowly, daringly, I leaned just a little closer until my forehead rested gently against hers. Our breaths mingled in the cool morning air. For a heartbeat, everything felt quiet and right—no anger, no fear, just us, breathing the same air.

I could feel her wolf under her skin, tugging her toward me. Even as her mind tried to hate me, her instincts wanted to stay, wanted to close the distance. But…

The next moment her brows furrowed, her rational mind that only hated us took command now. She moved away from me, and I allowed her to, but the next moment she winced in pain.

Pain shot through her body, her muscles still raw from the first shift. She tried to swallow it, but her shoulders trembled.

I couldn’t stand by.

I moved to her, sliding an arm around her and pulling her gently back against my chest. She didn’t have the energy to resist. Her back pressed against my bare skin, her head fitting beneath my chin.

“You shifted for the first time,” I whispered at the back of her neck, my voice low and steady. “Your body’s aching. It will get better after a few shifts. But till then… let me help you.”

I shifted my hold, sliding an arm under her knees and lifting her effortlessly into my arms.

She glared up at me, her voice hoarse. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Helping you ease the pain,” I murmured, already moving toward the water.

“I don’t want your help,” she spat, twisting faintly. “Put me down.”

“Trust me, you won’t regret it,” I said quietly.

“I regret meeting you assholes—nothing else could make me regret more,” she hissed, her eyes flashing.

“I know,” I answered softly. “But for now, listen to me.”

The others stopped their playful splashing when they saw me approaching. One by one, they moved aside in the water, their eyes following me as I stepped down into the pool, the coolness rising over my calves, my thighs, my waist.

Her body tensed against mine as the first touch of water lapped at her legs. She inhaled sharply, glaring at me even now.

I held her tighter, whispering just for her ears. “Breathe. Let the water take it from you. Just this once.”

Then, slowly, I lowered us both into the pool under the waterfall’s mist, the sound of rushing water filling the clearing.

I set her down carefully, the cool water reaching just below her shoulders. Her body tensed under my hands. I kept a steady hold on her, knowing she wouldn’t be steady on her own yet.

She brushed away my hand angrily, almost about to trip, but someone held her from behind. “This is not the place for you to show your tantrums, Caldwell.”

Rafe.

Rafe moved into her line of sight, his dark hair wet, his bare skin glistening, his hand still firm at her waist.

“Move, and you’ll be at the bottom of the water,” he said, his smirk more like a dare than a warning.

She stiffened, clearly.

Was she afraid of water? I thought.

Rafe smirked, as if he knew what was in her mind.

It made me wonder how deeply this bastard knew about her, while we thought he was always indifferent to her.

She didn’t move and looked away, swallowing the curse she was going to hurl at him.

“Soak in the water for a while. It will ease your body pain,” I told her regardless.

“Dip your head in as well,” Lucian told her, “it needs healing as the shift affects every part of you.”

At his words, she stiffened again. The water lapped at her collarbones; she glanced at it warily, her jaw tightening. The one afraid of water—how could she force herself under?

“It’s alright,” I said, “I can just pour water over her head,” and already began to do so, scooping water in my hands and pouring it over her head slowly.

Roman approached and helped as well. While Jason stood away.

Rafe frowned. “Caldwell,” he called her. “See what this is?”

She looked at him and he said, “Take a deep breath and you will be able to see it.” He inhaled deeply. “Do it like this. There is something surprising you will see.”

To our shock, she did it.

The moment she inhaled deeply, Rafe moved his hand and pushed her head into the water entirely, but let go quickly and pulled her up, supporting her against him.

Cough! Cough!

Her coughing filled the surrounding air, while we all glared at him. But the stubborn vampire kept his calm and let her cough against his chest.

“Did you see the bottom of the water?” he asked her, “Wasn’t it a good surprise?”

She controlled her coughing and pushed him away. She slipped and Lucian held her from behind, but she was simply focused on cursing Rafe, “You hateful jerk… disgusting bloodsucker… why don’t you die at the bottom of it… bloody fucker…”

He smirked in return. “The way you are cursing, I can tell you are entirely fine. Good going, Caldwell,” and he moved away in style, diving in to swim with grace.

“You bastard Damaris… next time I shift, my wolf will tear you apart… You disgusting shitty vampire…” She continued to curse more and more using every kind of swear she could spit out, while Rafe continued to swim.

Rafe was truly skilled in riling her up, and then walking away unharmed. The bastard had this skill.

On the other hand, the four of us standing around her didn’t know what to do or say. Our ears were getting a treat of her sweet curses.

If I remembered that sweet girl from the past, I bet she never said a single cursed worse.

Strangely, I wished she cursed me this way as well. There was something different between her and Rafe, that we didn’t have.