Chapter Twenty-four: Depart From

Sighing, I sensed some panicking in the palace and I don't know what could have been the reason. I locked myself in the headquarters and just do some paperwork. I was alone and some of my comrades are doing rounds to their privates.

I am totally stressed out from last night. There was a rouge attack happened. Luckily, our team was there, guarding the night as well as the royal guard and some royal soldiers that are in position. I managed to kill more than five rouges. After our shift, I was ordered by Benedict to make a report and sent it to him. He has to make a report as well as to what happened and told me I need to make my support details for him.

I placed my cheek on my palm after I placed my elbow on the desk, feeling sleepy. I just got done with my reports and need to send them right away but I was feeling tired. Maybe I would just grab some coffee before I will have our rounds later at night.

I decided to stand up and brought the reports with me as I stormed out of the office. My heart jumped as I was about to bump Claude with a sudden worry on his face while panting. I creased my forehead in confusion seeing him in his state right now. He looked like he was running after something or someone.

"What is wrong with you?" I asked, looking at him weirdly.

"One second..." he said as he kept on panting and catching his breath.

I just pursed my lips into a thin line and crossed my arms over my chest while waiting for him to calm down. I wondered where he could have been to be in such a state.

I plastered a stoic expression upon remembering something. "Shouldn't you suppose to be beside of Duchess Amelia?" The taste of bitterness was smooching in me. I snorted when he just looked at me, still catching his breath. I just shook my head and started walking away.

"Wait!"

I suddenly shuddered when his hand touched my elbow and he made me turn around to look at him. In a blink of an eye, his hands were now on my shoulders and his eyes were piercing intensely on me. I was even too shocked to make a reaction.

"Are you okay? I heard what happened last night," he asked. His tone was smudged at how worried he was.

I just blinked then smiled wryly. "Did you just come here to ask me that?" So, did he just leave his post just to what? "Seriously, Claude?" I jerked his hands away from me.

I didn't want to get seen by some officers and royal guards nearby. I don't want to receive some gossip about Claude and me. It was the last thing I want to hear.

His dark hazel orbs sparked an emotion I couldn't describe. "I just came here to check on you. I just want to know that you are alright."

Something fluttered in my stomach and there was a hot and cold tingling sensation passed up to my face down to my spine. I could even hear the sudden palpitating of my heart which made me release a series of expletives.

I stepped back so I could put a distance between us. "I am alright. As you can see, I am alive and breathing." I forced a smile. "Now, if you excuse me. I have to deliver some reports."

"Rachelle, wait!"

I gasped when he made me spin around which made me irk and gently touched my jaw. He pinched my chin and moved it up. "You have bruises," he said not asking but stating it. I watched as his eyes darkened and his jaw clenched.

I jerked his hand away and distanced myself. I need to distance myself away from him because my heart was reacting so weirdly again. "I-I told you, I am fine, Claude. They will get healed eventually. I am a wolf not a human, Claude."

But my words didn't falter his expression but instead, he was just looking at the bruises I got from under my jaw. This was from one of the rouges I had fought with. He was quite strong and managed to step and kick my jaw a few times before I managed to get up and had an opening to kill him.

"I need to go and please stay away from me. You're scaring the shit out of me." I shook my head to hide the hot feeling emitting on my face. I could tell that I am flushing right now.

I need to stay away from his gaze because if I did not hide, I wouldn't be able to hide my annoyance with the way he looks at me. I slowly stepped back then turned around to leave. The moment my back faced him, I made a sigh as I calmed my heart.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

I halted in ny tracks as my eyes widened. "What..." I said mindlessly when I spun around to look at him.

Is he serious?

Claude draped a small smile. "I'm leaving tomorrow. I didn't just come here to check on you but to tell you as well about my departure."

I stared at him as my heart started to get sunk. He sounded like I wouldn't be able to see him again. Like there would be no chance that I would get to see him.

Slowly, he took strides and reached for my hand. No words were coming out of my mouth. It was too surprising that he would depart now. I was just talking to him just yesterday and now...

"Why are you telling me this in the first place?" Were the words that splurged out from my mouth. The feeling of my heart being clenched right now was unbearable and I wanted to stay away from him as much as possible.

My wolf was howling inside me like she is going to die if Claude will leave.

"Because you are my mate. I would be hurt for telling you this but you have to know..."

I looked away when I couldn't take his hot gaze drifting on me. Instead, I slowly removed his hand from him but Claude was quick to toggle my hand and hold it tightly. Confused, I shot him a glare and tried to release my hand from his.

"Rachelle, please."

"Please what?" I said through gritted teeth. I could feel the stinging sensation in the corners of my eyes right now and I need to leave as fast as I could.

But how could I leave if Claude was holding my hand so tight like he didn't want to let me go?

I took a moment of silence before I spoke, "I'm informed now. Go back to Duchess Amelia. I'm sure she is looking for you." I draped an understanding smile while trying to remove his hand on me.

Claude just looked at me, bewildered. "Why would you want me to go to Amelia? I came here to be with you, Rachelle."

I blinked so many times before I heaved a sigh. "You see. I still have to give the reports for what happened last night, Claude. Fleet Admiral Abraham is looking for these reports. Plus, you are still on your duty. Weren't you assigned to guard the duchess?"

"Y-Yes, I am. Why—"

"Then go back to her. Finish your duty. I still have lots of things to do. I need to settle the chaotic situation that happened."

There was still confusion in his eyes. He must be wondering why I am acting like this. I am grateful he informed me but he didn't have to do this. Plus, why is he claiming that I am his mate when in fact I haven't accepted him?

Claude was about to open his mouth but someone—a feminine voice—called him. I sided my head to see Duchess Amelia approaching us. Panicking, I glared down to look at Claude's hand on mine and he wasn't even budging even though I am trying to remove his hand from me.

"Let go. She will see us," I said in a hurry low tone that only the two of us could hear.

Claude won't falter. His eyes were piercing on me. He was not leaving his eyes and didn't even turn his head whilst the duchess is calling his name.

"Sir Claude!" I raised my voice and in an instant, I harshly removed my hand and made a salute at him as soon as Duchess Amelia stopped beside him. I turned at the duchess and gasped a surprised expression. I bowed my head. "D-Duchess Amelia, greetings!"

She just raised her eyebrow, looking at me suspiciously before she turned at Claude who has darkened his eyes. I even saw how he secretly gnashing his jaw.

She then turned at Claude and clung to his arm. "Claude, I've been looking for you. They said that you're just going to deliver a report to someone. What took you so long to come back?" she asked, slightly pouting her lips.

That made me want to roll my eyes but I stopped myself. I excused myself and told them I had to go to the Office of the Ministry without glancing back at Claude again.

I knew that he had a disappointed expression on his eyes that I didn't want to stare at them again.