My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 139

We reached the southern forests just before sundown. We were going to camp there for the night and enter the Scarlet Valley Pack's territory at dawn. The vans were carefully masked, and the whole group marched deep into the forest, carrying our backpacks.

This was the first time I had to set the tent, and thank God, Ian was there to help me, saving me from embarrassment. At that time, Draven was busy securing the area and talking about the details of the attack over the phone with other group leaders. Coordinating so many people spread across the huge southern territory must have been difficult, yet Draven seemed composed and strict the entire time. His commands were firm and unquestionable. I had to admit that he looked sexy as hell with his leader's demeanor. As soon as he finished the hundredth phone call, he walked towards Ian, me, and my almost-set tent, and pulled me into a surprising, warm hug.

"All that talking exhausted me. I need to recharge." He placed his forehead in the crook of my neck with a deep exhale.

Ian cautiously stepped away from us, giving us as much privacy as we could have in that situation. I shot him an awkward smile, uncertain how to react. I stood still for a while, then my arms traveled slowly through his waist, roaming through his hard-muscled back. As my arms closed around him, he let out a soft chuckle.

"I feel better already," he purred, sending a vibration through my body.

"Maybe you should lay down…?" I suggested hesitantly.

He lifted his head and smiled at me. His hand moved up to the back of my head, delicately leading me to press my cheek against his firm chest.

"I'm still waiting for a few reports from the intelligence squad. I need to be on my feet until I get them and check if there's a need to correct our plan for tomorrow," he sighed while entangling his fingers in my loose hair.

The way he pressed my head to his chest, I could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, while he took another deep breath into his lungs. It was soothing. His warmth cooled my anxieties. I shifted in his embrace, burying my face in him more comfortably.

"You can sleep in my tent if you want to," he said, a hint of a smile in his voice. "The nights get cold out here, and I can keep you warm."

I knew that he didn't mean it to be strictly a sexual proposal. A werewolf's body was as warm as a human's during a high fever. Nonetheless, I'd rather be cold than sleep next to Draven in his tent, because I had a feeling there wouldn't be much "sleep" that night. I surely didn't trust Draven in that department, and I didn't trust myself either. I was getting used to his touch, and my body reacted to him in a similar way to how it used to react to Sariel. With my mind disturbed and my heart healing slowly, I craved physicality as if it could fix me.

"That's definitely not a good idea," I chuckled nervously, pulling myself away from his chest.

"I won't force you," he grinned, his eyes eating me from head to toe.

With a deep exhale that was supposed to calm me down, I turned around to finish setting up my tent. I knew that Draven stood right behind me, watching my every move, and his presence was greatly increasing my clumsiness.

"Should I help you with that?" he smiled mischievously, picking up a peg I had just dropped beneath his feet.

"No thanks," I hissed, abruptly turning back to snatch the peg from his hand.

"Or you could just leave it and go sleep in my tent. I'm sure that you'll fit into my sleeping bag with me if we spoon."

Unlike me, he seemed to be good at ignoring that there were over twenty people who could hear him. They were enjoying the show and barely held their laughter. I truly wanted to kiss Ari when he came to his Alpha with reports from the intelligence squad, taking him away from me. Suddenly, I was able to finish setting up the tent in less than a minute. Once I placed my backpack inside and unfolded my sleeping bag, I closed the tent and called Martha.

"You're not fighting yet, aren't you?" she asked right away.

"No," I laughed, "We're camping in the woods. The siege is begging tomorrow."

"Promise me that you will be safe there," she demanded, her voice sounding worried.

"Martha," I sighed, "You know, I cannot promise you that, but I won't get myself killed easily," I chuckled.

"Don't say it so lightly! Don't even use the "k" word!" she exclaimed over the phone.

"Hey, you were the one who suggested I should participate in this campaign," I reminded her.

"I did…" she confirmed, nearly sobbing, "but I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm a big girl, Martha. I nearly kicked Draven's ass once," I told her proudly.

"You did?!" The tone of her voice changed in an instant. "I want details!"

I chuckled, hearing her anticipation. "We had a training session and he forced me to attack him while he was in his wolf form… I even cut him a few times."

"Wow! Lilith, you are amazing!"

I heard her gasps of admiration and smiled. "As you can see, I will be fine tomorrow. I'm a good fighter," I said, trying to convince her as much as to convince myself.

"Well, I feel a little bit calmer now," she giggled.

"Now tell me what's happening at the Palace?" I knew I wouldn't focus on anything, knowing that she or Kanan could be in danger.

"We are staying in the west building with the security guards, and we are almost cut off from everything going on in the main building, but we heard that Elora is up to something, and it is going to be big," Martha claimed agitatedly.

"What have you heard? Tell me everything!" A wave of anxiety rushed through me.

"Elora called in her personal doctor today, and she had planned a special meeting with all the nobles and the Palace council. We have no idea what is going on, but Elora meeting with all the most important vampires in the kingdom can't mean anything good…"

She was right. It sounded like she was planning something big behind Sariel's back.

"Anyway," Martha continued, "Don't worry about us, Lilith. We are well guarded. Just stay concentrated on the fight."

I sighed, knowing that I had to. Martha kept assuring me that she and Kanan were in the safest place within the Palace, and that had to be enough to ease my restlessness for the time being. As we said our goodbyes over the phone with Martha, I saw someone's shadow right outside my tent. I got up and unzipped the door.

"Knock, knock," Draven grinned, knocking the air outside the tent.

I walked out with the phone in my hand. "Yes… Alpha?" I teased him, blinking my eyes.

He cleared his throat, stepping closer. "We are leaving at 4 AM. I'll tell you details on the way," he said, forcing his lips not to curve.

"Thank you, Alpha," I responded with a girly smile, "Have a good night."

"Yes… Good n-"

The sharp sound of an incoming text message broke through his words. I smiled nervously and looked at the screen.

The display showed Martha as the sender and the first line of the message, saying, "This is King Sariel's number…"

I abruptly put the phone into my pocket, knowing that Draven could have easily read this part by just looking over my shoulder… and by the instant change in his eyes, I knew he did.

He narrowed his eyes at me, tensing his jaw. "I suggest you go to sleep right away," he squeezed through his teeth.

"This is what I was planning to do, Alpha," I said, irked by his sudden change of tone.

"Good night," he tossed angrily and walked away.

Exhaling heavily, I took out my phone to read the full message. "This is King Sariel's number, the one below. He called the Palace and asked me to give it to you. He also asked me to tell you that fate is leading him to the south, and you will soon meet again."