The mood had altered, it was like as soon as he had given her room to breathe, she immediately withdrew into herself. Ace let out a sigh, his little mate was going into heat, and yet she acted like she would be able to control her body. Once the heat hit, it made everyone act differently. Alpha and Beta, they were all brought down to their basic animal instincts, the urge to rut was too deep to ignore. Ace had been taught a strong level of control, being raised with a Phantom of Darkness had its advantages, yet he had a feeling being mated to Alex was going to test his control in a big way. Alexis Darling was his true-life mate, his attraction for her was unlike anything he had ever felt before and going through heat was a painful process for a female. Their wolves would be fighting against their bodies and by the end of it, they would be begging anyone around to rut them in desperation. Would he be strong enough to not take her? It did not take a mind reader to know that she was not ready for the physical side of their relationship yet.
The rut could be a painful process for a female that had never experienced it before, they needed more time to adjust, more tendency attention. Ace found himself looking forward to seeing his shy little mate beg for his touch, Alex would be quite the lover, when she allowed herself to not think too much about it. Watching the way, she looked everywhere else in the room, besides at him, confirmed his earlier observation. Alex had over thought everything and was getting squirrely, the way she fidgeted with the blanket around her told him all he needed to know. Leaning against the dresser Ace starred at her intently, finding a sick sort of amusement in watching her squirm, a feeling that he would not analyze too deeply. Crossing his arms over his chest, he waited patiently, she would eventually get exasperated and give in to conversation. Some people might find his actions borderline bullying but when you were mated to a stubborn beta female, you find yourself doing the oddest things to get some sort of reaction.
"Are you seriously just going to stand there all calm and collected, starring at me like that?" she huffed out.
Finally.
"Take off the blanket Alexis." Ace stated his voice was low but stern.
The look of complete horror blanched her perfect face. "No way in hell." She seethed.
Alex's shoulders stiffened and her back straightened. Ace kept his amusement in check and simply raised an eyebrow at her. "You can take the blanket off by yourself or I can make you." He suggested.
"You would not dare." She said as her eyes starred daggers into his soul.
Gods she was beautiful. Her hair was in a complete disarray around her, those wild unruly curls fanned down her back and shoulders, her cheeks were starting to flush with a mix of anger and embarrassment. Oh, but he would most definitely make her, he would like nothing more than to be "forced" to bare her to his eyes. "Are you challenging me little wolf?" Ace asked as he pushed away from the dresser and took a step in her direction. The blanket hit the ground so fast that Ace blinked in disappointment, the thought of bending her to his will was a little too enjoyable. Sticking his hands in his pocket to not be tempted to touch her, he nodded his approval.
"There are you happy, now what?" she asked as she brought her arms up to cover her chest.
Ace sighed inwardly, "Now my darling, you get in the bathtub and wash todays events away, I will send Miss Fanny in to bring you a change of clothing."
"Where are you going?" she more demanded than asked.
Ace walked over to where Alex stood and noticed how her body stiffened at his proximity, "I have business to deal with, we were just attacked, or have you forgotten?" he asked lightly.
"Of course not but wait and let me change and I will come with you." She looked at him, those steady baby blue eyes locked on his.
Ace leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead, "Just the fact that you offered is inspiring but you will be safer here, "he stated, then pulled back, "I mean it Alexis, stay here." His tone was stern as he gave her one last departing look.
This was an interesting position Ace was finding himself in. Being a ruler with an iron fist was the normal but add in a rebellious mate to the equation and it was untelling what was going to happen. It was true that his life was no longer dull, it felt as if he had a renewed purpose in life, a reason for truly living. It had been an exceedingly long time since he had felt that type of emotion and if he were being truly honest, he had no idea how to process it rationally. Pushing those wayward thoughts to the back of his mind, he focused on what he was familiar with, even great at. War. That was what this was coming down to and Ace Ryker was the best at it.