Chapter 124. Keep Holding Back

Althea froze at his tone. For a moment, she saw not the Alpha King but the beast that ruled behind his calm mask. His chest rose and fell heavily, eyes dark and burning like embers.

“I’m not talking back,” she said softly, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound steady. “I’m just telling the truth.”

Gavriel’s face was still so dark, and Althea didn’t want him getting mad, so she leaned in and kissed his lips, hoping that would distract him from talking any more about Kael. She honestly didn’t know where his jealousy was coming from, but it could have been his pride or his overpossessiveness toward her as his mate.

To cool him down, she had to make him feel reassured.

For a moment, Gavriel didn’t move. His breath hitched as if caught off guard, but when Althea’s lips brushed his again, something inside him snapped. His hand gripped her waist, pulling her closer until she could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat against her chest.