Chapter 12
Ella's POV
After about an hour we feel Phillip get warm and he eventually shifts back into human form. We had both embraced him, trying our best to keep him alive and warm. I could tell the duke was terrified as I watched him look over his friend, worry spreading to all parts of his face.
"How did you know to get naked? Didn't you grow up a princess?" Merrick finally asks looking at me over Phillip's side.
"Well, My father didn't have any sons, and my sister Grace was the oldest. She was going to be the Duchess after my father so they were more strict with her. I was able to get away with more. Like, my sister had to be educated in the royal academy, and I got to go to the Blackmoore school. It was still prestigious but with fewer rules. My father spent more time with me than Grace, she had the be perfect. When I met Paul, my father let me visit him. He taught me a lot about survival and how to hunt. He was super wise about things Duchess' were never taught," I smiled.
I think it was the first I had actually talked about him. "You would have liked Paul. He was very loyal, much like Phillip." I said, my arms snug around his chest. Merrick didn't look uncomfortable with me touching him in this way instead, he just smiled and rubbed his lower back. "I am sure I would have liked him," he reassured me. We both felt Phillip shift and we removed our arms to give him space to move. He rolled on his back, his hair falling out of his face. He was ruggedly handsome, not like the duke who was clean-cut. He had chin-length dirty blond hair that slightly sparkled in the sunlight. His broad shoulders showed off his large physique. Werewolves normally looked very chiseled Phillip was no exception. He was taller than both of us and I know Merrick was at least 6'4".
Both of us jump when we feel Phillip's arms pull us closer to him, as he shivers. We wrap our arms around him trying to maintain the warmth. His sweet brown eyes flutter open long enough to see Merrick and me holding him. " ...am I lucky or what? I get both of you" His eyes droop closed and his arms pull us in closer. At this point, we are both practically on top of him. I feel my face turn red at his words turning to look at Merrick he is the same shade.
After Phillip had drifted back into unconsciousness, we watched the clock that clicked on the wall. The doctor was still an hour out and we needed to make sure he stayed warm. Our bodies had started sweating under the thick blanket and I kicked the blanket off my feet. "You know, it's ok to talk about him," Merrick said suddenly.
"After Alliyah, I didn't have anyone to talk to but Phillip. Without him, I would have never gotten through that nightmare. He has this way of making you feel better even at your lowest. He really is my best friend, I love him." I was not surprised at his statement.
"I could tell you two were very close. He loves you too, don't worry Merrick, he will be ok. The first couple of hours have passed and he is still breathing." I tell him reassuringly.
"I think we were targeted by Luca, but why? Phillip told me about them running the black market but why would he want to kill us?" I ask. I see the concern spread on his face,
"We have been tracking things in all of the countries in our kingdom and we believe that some of the lower-ranking packs have joined the Silver Spears." I hear the anger in his voice.
"First they take your mate, then mine...now my best friend will it ever be enough?" He exclaimed, then rested his head on Phillip's shoulder. All of a sudden there is a knock at the front door. Merrick gets out from under the blanket and throws on some pants. I can't help but admire his body before he pulls up his pants. Though he wasn't as well defined as Phillip, he was still very fit. His shaggy locks were pulled back from the night before his olive skin set off his piercing green eyes. He grabbed a gun from Phillip's jacket and headed for the door.
"Please keep him safe Ella. I need you both to be safe, you two are all I have left in the world." with that he closed the door behind him.
My arms surrounded Phillip as the light from the sunrise bleeds into the windows, It is quiet and the air around us is still. Phillip's eyes flutter open and I can see his eyes shift from the soft brown they normally were to bright gold. "Phillip, it's ok. It's Ella, the doctor is on his way. Please try not to shift, your wolf is restless." His arms hold me against his chest before he left out a heavy sigh. "please.....wa...water" he manages to say. I slip out from under the covers and grab a bottle of water from the minibar in the corner of the room. I open it holding his head up to help him drink. His arms grip my waist and pull me back into bed.
"You smell so good... and your skin is electrifying" he moans. I knew he was out of it but was he coming on to me?? He crawled into my arms never letting go of my waist, his breath on my chest. He had fallen back asleep as I ran my finger through his hair. I felt guilty, this was very intimate and here I am stroking the hair of my guard while my mate was in the other room. Somehow it felt right.
" Where is Merrick? I say softly as I wait for him to come back to the room, back to Phillip and me.