Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-87. May I?

[Raven]

Xanthea's eyelids fluttered to Ezra as he stood before her, her breaths shallow, and when he leaned closer to her, she wasn't breathing altogether.

Ezra held her gaze, his eyes dropping to her parted lips behind the veil as he took in her features like a drug. With a swift gulp, he looked away briefly, overwhelmed by the intensity of her electric proximity. With a deliberate lick of his lips, Ezra stepped closer to her, closing his eyes to breathe her in.

His fingers twitched with a dying urge to reach out to her, yet he restrained himself, careful not to breach the boundaries Xanthea had set.

"May I?" He whispered, his voice carrying a gentle resonance as he feverishly stretched out his hand toward her.

Xanthea looked into his eyes and then at his hand in confusion. Ezra blinked once with a faint smile and their eyes moved in a sync as though communication in a language only they understood.

Xanthea took a cautious breath and gracefully placed her hand into his palm.

As Ezra gently tightened his grip around hers, he tenderly caressed her skin. Holding her gaze, he slowly lifted her hand. With a bow, he pressed the back of her hand against his forehead before planting a kiss on it, causing her to stiffen with a subtle shiver.

Her expression was blurred behind the veil, but the way her eyes lit up with surprise... I knew she was expecting anything but this. "Alpha?"

Her soft whisper trembled on her lips, and for some inexplicable reason, I had to shut my eyes to relish the sheer sublimity of her voice. "Please... trust me," Ezra said coaxingly.

Xanthea tensed her brows as she took in the hall, the elders seated on the balcony. Her breaths quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly. But she blinked away her fears and gave an adamant nod.

"Thank you." Holding her hand tight, Ezra ushered her onto the dais with him.

Xanthea tried to keep her posture as relaxed as possible, but I could sense the tension and the struggle with her emotions as she stood clueless before the council.

Ezra let go of her hand as she faced Isagi, who addressed her.

"Lady Xanthea Plath Xipher, welcome to the council. I hope you know why we summoned you-"

"Pardon me, honorable speaker," Ezra interrupted Isagi. "But she doesn't know why she's here."

A wave of confused murmurs ran across the jury and the elders.

Isagi spoke through the

and everyone, Ezra looked at

with her before the meeting

you need

is exactly where I want this to happen." Ezra snapped his fingers, and the lights dimmed around the hall, spreading a shroud of darkness

I ask a lot from you today," he licked his lips, lowering his head. "And the only thing I can offer you is my sincere truth. Truth of you and I and what it means." He held her hands and looked into her

man whose own fate is so uncertain. So, I ask you not to entrust your fate to me, but to keep mine in your care..." Xanthea's grip tightened on his palms, her eyes trying to decipher the depth of his words and the emotions he tried to

I promise to never let go of your hands if you say yes and to hold you tighter if you say no." His voice cracked with a

if I fail, just whisper and I'll read your

as though she could somehow feel the pain

vulnerable before

What is he thinking-

I sat petrified in my seat as Ezra got on his one

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Xanthea took in a sharp, broken gasp, involuntarily stepping back, shock clear through

smiled at her and

reached his hands towards his collars and pulled

mouth, her composure disoriented, her eyes filled with disbelief. She shook her head

the ring over Ezra's chest. Her restless eyes darted to his, searching

and freed the ring from the chain,

anything... until... I found this ring. And while I have known you

eye contact with

into tight fists as she stared

stopped breathing at that moment, all eyes on

of my claws, sinking into them as I glared at Xanthea who shut her eyes and took a

she didn't. All because Ezra created a safe space for her to process everything without being overwhelmed. He hid us and the council away in the darkness so we wouldn't influence her judgment.

gritting

took over

Wrath?

Irritation?

the full experience. You won't find the