Still wrestling with my thoughts, I glanced at Lexi, her eyes already meeting mine as if she sensed the turmoil inside me. "Hilda is running a bath for me. I'm going to go check on it," she said softly, untangling herself from the fragile embrace that held Luke and me together. "I'll come with you," I offered. There was something unspoken, an invitation in her eyes that I couldn't ignore. We left Luke in the living room, the air still thick with emotions none of us knew how to articulate. As we reached the bedroom, Lexi turned toward the bathroom door but paused. "Would you wait here for a moment? I need to talk to Hilda. Alone." "Are you okay?" I asked, the weight of the evening pressing down on me. Worry crept into my voice. She smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, Clay. I just want to ask Hilda to give us some privacy and thank her." With a nod, I watched her slip into the bathroom, leaving me standing in what was now our bedroom. Pacing back and forth, the weight of what I'd just
When Clay's teeth broke the skin, a cataclysm of sensation and emotion erupted within me. It was as if a thousand volts of electricity coursed through my veins, originating from the point where he marked me, searing through my body and settling deep within my soul. A flood of affection, possessiveness, and connection—all words too simple to define such overwhelming feelings—poured into the very core of my being. An intimate web had been woven, connecting me to Clay in ways I couldn't fully grasp. Every pulse of my heart seemed to echo his name.As I marinated in the aftermath, the arena around me regained its solidity, and I was ushered away. Heidi, Hilda, and Gertrude—the elder triad of our pack—had materialized almost out of nowhere, concerned expressions painting their faces.They guided me through the expansive house, their hands gentle but purposeful as they led me into a quiet room. It smelled of herbs and age, the scent heavy in the air but not unpleasant. They treated the fre
Awakening, entwined with Lexi, the room soaked in morning light, I noticed Clay's absence immediately. The space beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. A glance at the clock confirmed it: almost 8 a.m. My fingertips grazed the raw wound on my neck, a mark tinged with both physical and emotional sensitivities. Just the touch sent a shudder down my spine, an electric charge that coursed through me, so intense that it seemed to awaken Lexi, who stirred lightly beside me.Compelled by a curiosity I couldn't quite quell, I leaned over and delicately brushed my fingers over Lexi's mark. It was a surreal experience, feeling my own mark tingle in response. For a moment, I was caught between two facets of my personality. The intellectual part of me that yearned to dissect the meaning behind these intricate physical and emotional connections, and the raw, emotional part urging me to let it exist in its beautiful complexity, unanswered for now. I chose to listen to the latter.Unt
Despite the thermostat's claims, the absence of their body heat beside me made the room feel like an icebox. The tingling sensation on my neck puzzled me as I wrapped myself in Luke's oversized, fluffy white blanket that had somehow ended up on the floor. I started my search for them, navigating through a house that was slowly becoming familiar.A sudden encounter with an Omega made him almost jump out of his skin. "I'm so, so sorry, Luna," he stammered."There's no need to be upset. It was an accident," I reassured him, my voice softer than the blanket enveloping me. He mumbled his apology again before disappearing down the hall. Finally, I found them in what looked like Clay's office, engrossed in a conversation that brimmed with the kind of familiarity and warmth I'd always hoped they'd share. The room was alive with a warmth that transcended temperature, a cozy sanctuary. Drawn to Luke and Clay's coziness and reassuring presence, I sprawled across the couch and instantly succum
The atmosphere on the training ground was electrifying, a tangible sense of electricity flowing through each of us. I stepped onto the field, my black paws standing in stark contrast against the sea of white fur surrounding me. It felt like the embodiment of all the recent changes surging through the pack.As I glanced up, I saw Hilda leading Lexi to the elevated platform overlooking the field. Their procession to the platform with Lexi felt like a ceremony, an affirmation of her new place at the heart of our lives. Once they reached their perch, Lexi looked like she saw a new world unfold in a single second. The platform's positioning was perfect; we'd be within her sight and her ours no matter where Clay or I moved.Returning my focus to the field, I felt an exhilaration I hadn't felt in years. Every leap, every sprint brought with it a rush of endorphins, a connection to a primal joy I'd long forgotten. "Check this out, Lex," I thought loudly, leaping gracefully over two pack memb
We returned to the pack house, the front door creaking open as if announcing our presence to whoever was inside. I found Clay hunched over his desk in his office, consumed by some paperwork. The instant he sensed us, he looked up, his piercing brown eyes locking onto mine. I walked over and hugged him tightly. He reciprocated, leaning in to gently kiss the mark he'd given me. It was a sweet, simple act, but I couldn't help but notice Luke's reaction. "Whoa, okay... ummm," Luke stammered, shooting up from his seat on the couch as if jolted by an invisible electric current. Clay raised an eyebrow. "What?" Instead of answering, Luke turned to me. "Can I?" His voice was tinged with clear apprehension. Confused but trusting, I nodded. Luke leaned down and pressed his lips to my mark. The sensation was strange but not unpleasant, like an echo of my connection with Clay but with a different tone. Clay had a reaction much like Luke's earlier one. He abruptly stood up, his body language
The door clicked shut behind Lexi, sealing off the space where a universe of unspoken tension hummed between Luke and me. I turned to face him, our eyes meeting in a collision of questions, denials, and suppressed desires. "Listen," I began, picking up my pen and redirecting my attention to the mountain of paperwork in front of me. "You do realize that my life isn't a perpetual holiday, right? I've got responsibilities. A pack to manage and guide. I can't just clock out in the middle of the day to figure out...whatever the hell this is. My time has to be spent wisely if we're going to restore this pack to what it should be." Luke moved deliberately, taking a seat across from me. He scanned the stack of papers before snatching up a few sheets. His eyes darted across the text, and he went into action, striking out lines and scribbling alternatives in the margins. He slid the papers back across the table. "There. That'll save you some time." "Thank you," I muttered, momentarily taken
Just as the words left my mouth, the door creaked open, and Clay walked in, looking a bit disheveled, his eyes glazed over as if he'd been wrestling with unseen forces. The timing was uncanny."See," I chuckled, locking eyes with Lexi for a moment before turning my attention to Clay."What?" Clay's brow furrowed, a perplexed look dancing across his face."I was just telling Lexi how surprised I was that you hadn't shown up yet. Perfect timing, isn't it?"Clay exhaled deeply, almost a groan. "I was actually hoping to get a bit more work done, but you two," he gestured vaguely between us, "are making it nearly impossible to concentrate."The atmosphere in the room was noticeable, a heavy blend of anticipation, anxiety, and a dash of something unnameable. Before I could talk myself out of it, the words burst forth from my lips: "Do you think things would get easier if I marked her as well?"The room went still, as if we'd all caught our collective breaths. My eyes darted between Lexi and