6 | When the Time Comes

(MORNING OF)

*** Lilliana's POV

Lilliana’s day had begun with careful preparation. She’d started with the practicalities—reserving the suite online, ensuring all the details were in place. The hotel’s app made it easy. The QR code on her phone granted access to the VIP elevator and her suite, eliminating the need for a front desk encounter. It was discreet, efficient, and exactly what she needed.

Her thoughts turned to the clothes she’d wear. AlphaWatcher had been specific: comfortable clothes that made her feel like herself. She’d felt a wave of relief at his words. Most of her wardrobe consisted of business attire—black suits, crisp white shirts, and undergarments that were more functional than comfortable. Not exactly what she wanted for tonight.

She opened her closet, her fingers brushing past the tailored blouses and structured dresses until she found what she was looking for. A light cardigan, soft and worn-in, perfect for layering over a wide-strapped tank top. An ankle-length skirt in a warm baroque paisley print completed the outfit. The skirt was a favorite of hers, the fabric light enough to catch the breeze as she walked, a sensation she loved. Even as a child, she’d delighted in the feeling of the wind running through her fingers when she held her hand out of the car window. The cardigan, in cooler tones, balanced the look, grounding her in a way that felt right.

Next, she packed her overnight bag. She kept it simple: the essentials, a change of clothes, toiletries, and a few self-care items. AlphaWatcher had suggested some things to mitigate any discomfort or soreness—a thoughtful gesture that didn’t go unnoticed. She paused before adding a green lingerie set to the bag, nothing fancy, but matching and thin. She tended to run hot, and she wanted to ensure that any extra heat she felt tonight would be from their chemistry, not the layers of fabric. She decided to wear it there instead, replacing it with a cozy camisol set instead.

The rendezvous was intended to be a single-night event, but Lilliana had planned ahead. She’d taken two days off work, knowing she’d need time to process everything—mentally and physically. This wasn’t just about pleasure; it was about finding common ground, establishing trust, and setting the stage for whatever might come next.

Before leaving, she left a note on the kitchen counter, just in case. It was subtle, something the housekeeper would understand if needed. Lilliana wasn’t nervous, but she was cautious. Meeting someone from an online forum wasn’t without its risks, and she wasn’t one to ignore them.

As she headed out the door, she was surprised by how calm she felt. Her confidence was unshaken, her resolve clear. The anticipation had been building for weeks, a slow burn that had settled into her body in ways she couldn’t ignore. Her arousal had grown steadily, a constant hum that never fully subsided. Even now, as she walked to the car, her body was in a state of unrest, her clitoris throbbing with a persistent ache that refused to be calmed.

But tonight wasn’t about immediate gratification. The goal wasn’t to dive headfirst into the activities she’d listed in her ad; it was about testing the waters, finding out where they both stood. The physical pleasure would be part of it—of course, it would—but the real objective was to see if they could establish that final level of trust, paving the way for future encounters.

Lilliana took a deep breath as she started the car, feeling a thrill of anticipation run through her. She was ready.

(NOW)

*** AlphaWatcher's POV

AlphaWatcher watched her slip into the side entrance of the hotel. He knew this place well; that entrance bypassed the lobby, leading straight to the elevators. Smart choice. She was cautious, deliberate. He liked that.

Ten minutes passed, and then his phone buzzed. He didn’t need to look to know it was the QR code. This was part of the process, moving from the forum to real numbers, a step further into trust. He pocketed the phone, resisting the urge to move too quickly. His wolf was restless, barely contained. Followers were for Eamon, but a mate was for both of them.

Even if he hadn’t seen her enter the building, he could have followed her scent. Honeysuckle and fresh-cut lemongrass, it led him straight to her. The elevator ride to the 21st floor was smooth, uninterrupted. No one around. He stepped out, the air in the hallway thick with her scent, filling his lungs. It calmed him and drove him wild at the same time. All his careful planning for the evening seemed to have evaporated.

He braced himself as he approached the door. Something was off. Lil didn’t seem to have noticed the mate-bond. She couldn’t sense it, couldn’t scent him the way he could her. What was she? Wolf, Lycan, witch, vampire? It didn’t matter. She was his, even if she didn’t know it yet. But could she sense him as a supernatural? He needed to know.

He thought back to something Lil had said during one of their conversations. Her eyes. The only physical feature they’d discussed. Brown, she’d told him, most of the time. Most of the time? What were they, then, when they weren’t brown? It stuck in his mind, a puzzle he hadn’t solved yet.

He stood in front of the door, the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. This was it. He readied himself, taking a deep breath and holding it, trying to maintain control. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to. The wolf was too close, too eager. He knocked, the sound echoing down the empty hallway.

And then, he waited.

     

*** Lilliana's POV

Lilliana scanned the hotel app, locating the icon for the VIP elevator. The phone’s soft glow illuminated her face as she pressed the button, summoning the elevator that would take her up to the suite. It had been about fifteen minutes since she left the gas station, and the anticipation hadn’t waned. If anything, it had only grown stronger, more tangible.

The elevator doors opened with a quiet chime, and she stepped inside, feeling the smooth glide as it carried her upwards. The plan was simple: get settled in the suite, take a moment to compose herself, and then send the guest code to AlphaWatcher—no, to Eamon. They’d agreed on using real names, a gesture of transparency, of having nothing to hide.

The elevator stopped at the 21st floor, and she stepped out, following the signs to her suite. She had chosen this specific suite for several reasons. It was a business suite, one of many in the hotel, but it had three rooms and—most importantly—a balcony. There was only one suite with a balcony, and it sat on the second-to-last floor of the 22-story hotel. She couldn’t resist the chance to feel the breeze at 200 feet, to be high above the city with nothing but the wind and sky around her.

She entered the suite, the door closing with a soft click behind her. The space was airy and bright, with an open floor plan that flowed effortlessly from one room to the next. Two bathrooms, which she thought would be nice to keep the mystery alive. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in the fading light of the day, and the sliding doors to the balcony beckoned her with the promise of fresh air.

Lilliana had paid for the suite herself, wanting to be the first one in and to have control of the situation. The proverbial high ground. After this, the control would shift to him—Eamon. The name felt right, natural, though it still held a hint of mystery.

As she walked through the rooms, taking in the clean lines and modern decor, she recalled a comment Eamon had made during one of their exchanges. He hadn’t been concerned with appearances. “The look in my eye is all you need to worry about,” he’d said. The memory sent a shiver down her spine, a reminder that tonight was about something far deeper than the anticipated physicalities of the evening.

She walked through the rooms, taking in the clean lines and modern decor. The fabrics were soft to the touch, a mix of textures that added warmth to the space. But what really drew her was the balcony. She set her small overnight bag on a lounge chair, her fingers brushing against the cool fabric as she placed it down. Then, without hesitation, she sent the guest code to Eamon.

The sun was setting on the far side of the city, casting the sky in hues of red and orange that mirrored the color palette of her skirt. She stepped out onto the balcony, letting the breeze wrap around her, lifting her skirt and teasing through her hair. The dry wind wicked away some of the moist anticipation that had been building between her thighs, cooling her just enough to keep her grounded.

She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the world around her fall away. The height, the open air, the anticipation—it all came together in a heady mix that made her feel alive, more alive than she had in a long time. She opened her eyes, her inner voice nudging her, It’s time.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a sharp rat-tat-tat sounded at the door, making her jump slightly. Her heart skipped a beat, the sudden sound pulling her out of her reverie and back into the present.

She took a deep breath, one hand smoothing down her skirt as she turned away from the balcony and walked back into the suite. It was time indeed.

    

**The following chapter contains Graphic Sexual Content**