Pauline's POV
My gaze traveled across the defined contours of his shoulders, watching how the bathroom light highlighted every carved muscle. I found myself staring openly at his form.
I convinced myself this was mere observation, nothing more lustful.
Just observing. After all, how could someone barely seventeen possess such a physique?
This marked my first encounter with anything like this beyond the pages of romance novels or distant glimpses during pack training sessions. Here he stood, directly before me, close enough that I sensed the subtle warmth emanating from his bare skin.
My internal thoughts must have been deafeningly obvious because his lips twisted into the faintest hint of amusement. A low chuckle escaped him, the sound vibrating through my ribcage and igniting every nerve ending.
