The bathwater was warm and soothing, the gentle scent of lavender calming my nerves. I sank into it with a quiet sigh as the heat enveloped me. Moments later, Alaric climbed in behind me, the ripples brushing against my skin. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. Arrie purred in contentment at the contact, a low vibration echoing faintly in my mind.
I felt exposed, vulnerable — though the layer of bubbles hid me from the waist down, the upper half of my body was bare. Still, I stayed, unsure whether it was the warmth or Alaric's steady presence that kept me from fleeing.
Leaning my head back, I rested it against his shoulder. His breath ghosted against my neck as he buried his face in the crook of it, inhaling deeply — scenting me again. The brush of his canines against my skin sent a shiver down my spine. He lingered right where a mark would one day rest — the mark that would bind us forever once the mating process was complete.
But I wasn't ready. Not yet.
I barely know him, I thought, heart racing.
"Coward," Arrie growled in my head, her voice dripping with disappointment. But I ignored her. I wasn't going to let fear or instinct rush me into something I didn't understand.
I sat up quickly, pulling away from Alaric. The cool air replaced his warmth, and my body instantly missed the contact. "Alaric, I… I'm not ready yet," I said softly, glancing over my shoulder. "We barely know each other. Can we… take time to get to know one another first?"
Unease flickered across his features, but beneath it, I saw understanding. After a pause, he nodded once. Relief flooded through me, and I smiled faintly in gratitude.
After the bath, he stood and wrapped a towel around his waist, then walked out of the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him — giving me privacy to dress.
I noticed a nightgown hanging neatly on the door. It was a soft lilac color. My favorite. How did he know? I wondered as I began drying my hair with a towel, still staring at the gown.
"Because I told his wolf, since your useless ass is a coward," Arrie snapped irritably.
I rolled my eyes. "You're impossible," I muttered, though she wasn't entirely wrong.
The fabric felt like silk beneath my fingers — smooth, light, and luxurious. I slipped into the gown, its cool touch against my skin both comforting and unfamiliar. Standing before the mirror, I combed my hair with my fingers, trying to tame the waves that had dried into soft curls.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, I found Alaric standing near the window, moonlight tracing the sharp lines of his jaw. He looked lost in thought — or perhaps mind-linking someone. Hopefully, arranging for Railey's… remains.
I quietly crossed the room and sat on the bed, unsure of what to do or say. The silence stretched. I fiddled with my fingers in my lap, closing my eyes as exhaustion began to creep in.
"Arrie," I murmured, "who would've thought we'd go from being the most useless she-wolf in the pack… to the mate of the Lycan Prince. Maybe even the next Lycan Queen — and we're not even Lycans ourselves."
"Well, if our mate wasn't him, we would've been rejected for sure," Arrie replied, a hint of amusement in her tone.
Her words confused me. What does she mean? I was about to ask when strong arms slipped around me from behind.
My eyes flew open. Alaric.
He moved like a shadow — silent, fluid. I hadn't even heard him approach. One moment he was at the window, the next he was behind me, his presence consuming the air around me.
"H-how did you…?" I began to ask, but my words trailed off as he gently pulled me backward, under the covers with him. My back pressed against his chest, his arm draped protectively across my waist. His head rested atop mine, his nose nuzzling into the crook of my neck, where my scent was strongest.
I wanted to move, to ask what he was doing — but his warmth, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and the exhaustion from the night overtook me. Within moments, my eyes fluttered closed, and I drifted into sleep.
***
The next morning
When I woke, the bed was empty.
Blinking away the haze of sleep, I sat up — only to realize something was wrong. This wasn't the same room I'd fallen asleep in. The sheets were different. The walls, darker. The air carried a faint unfamiliar scent.
Panic clawed up my chest.
Not the same room. No mate in sight.
Was I kidnapped?
My breathing quickened, my vision swimming. I stumbled to the door, yanked it open, and bolted out.
Unfamiliar hallways stretched before me — endless corridors lined with paintings and tall windows. My bare feet slapped against the polished floor as I ran, desperately searching for stairs. When I finally found them, I took them two at a time, barely keeping my balance.
By the time I reached the front doors, my lungs burned. I shoved them open and stumbled outside. The morning air hit my face — cool, sharp, and bracing. I inhaled deeply, gasping like someone drowning, finally breaking the surface.
But when I looked around, my panic only worsened. Wolves stood near the courtyard, staring at me as if I'd lost my mind. Their gazes shifted suddenly — flicking to something behind me.
I turned, my heart hammering — and froze.
Three wolves stood there, massive and armored, each holding a spear. Their eyes were hard and focused entirely on me.
Terror shot through me. My knees gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground. I hugged my knees to my chest, burying my face between them, trembling.
The sound of footsteps stopped nearby. Silence. Then a familiar voice, sharp with restrained anger, broke through the air.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
My heart stuttered.
I knew that voice.
Alaric.