Ruthless Alpha, and his Curvy Saint-Chapter 45

Angel’s POV

I hesitated for only a second before placing my hand in his.

His fingers closed around mine - warm, gentle, strong - and he helped me to my feet.

We walked out together, and I felt the weight of dozens of eyes following us.

But I didn’t look back.

*****

The fresh air felt like a blessing.

I hadn’t realized how stuffy the dining hall had become until we stepped out into the corridor, where windows overlooked rain-soaked gardens and cool air drifted through.

"Thank you," I breathed. "I was starting to feel..."

"Suffocated?" Merrick supplied with a knowing smile. "Large gatherings can be overwhelming. Especially when you’re the center of attention."

"Was I?"

"Oh, absolutely." He started walking, still holding my hand, leading me through corridors I’d never have navigated on my own. "Every man in that hall was watching you. And every woman was either jealous of you or jealous of me."

"That’s not..."

"It is." He glanced at me, his silver eyes catching the lamplight. "You’re beautiful, Angel. Surely you know that?"

"I’m not..."

"You are." His voice was firm, brooking no argument. "That dress fits you like it was made for you. Which, I suppose, in a way it was. I commission dresses in various sizes specifically because I appreciate women of all builds. But seeing you in it... it’s perfect."

We emerged onto a covered walkway that overlooked the gardens. Rain fell in sheets just beyond the overhang, creating a curtain of water between us and the world.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For the dresses. For the room. For dinner. For all of it."

"It’s my pleasure." He turned to face me fully. "Truly. I enjoy having guests who appreciate what I have to offer. Especially female guests who actually eat the food instead of pushing it around their plates."

I laughed despite myself. "A maid mentioned you prefer... women with curves."

"That’s one way to put it." Merrick’s smile was devastating. "You want to know if I really like girls with... with curves?" He waited for my shy nod. "Girls like you, you mean?"

"Yes," I breathed, relief flooding through me at his directness.

"Absolutely." No hesitation. No embarrassment. Just simple, honest truth. "That’s actually one of the things that most clearly differentiates me from my brother. I’ve always preferred women with generous curves, soft bodies, flesh you can actually hold onto. Women who look like women, not girls. Uriel has always gone for the slender, athletic types. Warriors and fighters. Women all muscle and sharp edges."

The confirmation of what I’d already suspected still stung a little.

"What else is different between you?" I asked, genuinely curious now.

Merrick’s expression turned thoughtful. "Many things. Our temperaments, our approaches to leadership, our..." He paused. "I’d love to tell you everything, Angel. But that would mean exposing some things I have no right to expose. My brother’s secrets are his to share, not mine."

Before I could push for more, he changed the subject smoothly.

"Are you really going to marry the Alpha?"

The question caught me off guard. "No. I’m never going to do that."

"Because he killed your family?"

I met his eyes steadily. "If you were in my shoes, would you marry the person who wiped out your entire family? Who murdered your sister, her baby, your parents - everyone you ever loved?"

Merrick was quiet for a long moment, his expression serious.

"No," he said finally. "I wouldn’t. Because I don’t trust myself not to kill the bastard in his sleep."

Relief flooded through me. Finally, someone who understood.

"I want you to know something," Merrick continued, his voice soft but intense. "You’re always welcome here, Angel. If things don’t work out with the Alpha - if you find yourself with nowhere to go, no one to turn to - my door is open. I would gladly welcome you, take care of you, ensure you never lack for anything."

My breath caught.

"I would show you what it means to be well loved," he continued. "What it means to be cherished for exactly who you are, body and soul. No judgment. No criticism. Just... appreciation."

Was this really happening?

Was Lord Merrick - handsome, wealthy, powerful Lord Merrick - openly showing interest in me?

"You don’t need to say anything right now," he said gently, reading my shock. "I’m not asking for an answer. I’m just... extending an offer. One you can accept or refuse whenever you’re ready. There’s no pressure, no expectation. Just... know that you have options."

He stepped closer, and suddenly the space between us felt charged with something I couldn’t name.

"God, you smell incredible," he murmured, his voice dropping to something intimate. Almost reverent.

I felt my face heat. "I don’t... I’m not wearing any fragrance."

"What?" He leaned in slightly, inhaling deeply. "That’s impossible. That scent... vanilla and wildflowers and something sweet, like a baby’s softness... that’s just you?"

"I don’t know anything about scents," I said, flustered. "I’m not a werewolf. I didn’t know humans had scents."

"I thought they didn’t." Merrick looked genuinely shocked. "But yours is... incredibly strong. Intoxicating, actually. It’s been driving me slowly insane since you walked into my throne room."

He stepped even closer, until I could feel the warmth radiating from his body, until I had to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact.

"Would you like me to show you?" he asked softly.

"Show me what?"

"Your scent. What it does to me. What it makes me want to do."

I stared up into his silver eyes - so like Uriel’s but different somehow, softer maybe, less guarded - and felt myself sinking into their depths.

My heart was racing. My skin felt too tight. Something low in my belly was twisting in that same ungodly way it had when Uriel had looked at me.

Merrick’s hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing across my lower lip.

"Angel," he breathed.

A sharp cough shattered the moment.

We both jerked apart, turning toward the sound.

Uriel stood in the shadows at the end of the walkway.

His expression was murderous.

"Am I interrupting something?" His voice was deadly quiet. Too quiet.