Chapter 11
Wilder
Lucy ended up crushing me in multiple games of go fish. She said it was because of her card-playing prowess, and I wasn’t about to admit that the real reason was because her presence was so wildly distracting I couldn’t focus on my cards for shit.
My cabin was usually quiet. Sometimes I turned on the staticky radio to fill the silence, but the shitty reception—especially during rain or snowstorms—meant I usually gave up on it.
But Lucy filled the space with her constant joyful chatter.
I’d learned she grew up in Starlight Grove with four moms and a brother.
The more she shared, the more obvious it became that our lives were nothing alike.
She loved her friends and participating in town events, while I’d purchased this cabin specifically to avoid social interaction.
The little omega made a content noise as she snuggled deeper into my chest. She’d drifted off a while ago, moving closer to me in her sleep until she was curled up against my side.
I stayed frozen, unwilling to risk any movement that would wake her.
I was fucking playing with fire. We could never be together, but in my heavily medicated state, I let myself soak up these moments.
Eventually, sleep pulled at me, and I knew my time was up. I gently shifted her until she was in my arms. She let out the cutest little disgruntled noise before blinking her eyes open.
“Time for bed,” I said, my voice low.
Her arms wrapped around me and she rubbed her cheek against my chest. I didn’t know if she was intentionally scent-marking me, but I knew with certainty that I would never wash this flannel.
I gently put her down on my bed, pulling the covers back and arranging a pillow to place under her leg.
“How’s your ankle? Do you want more ice or pain meds?”
She shook her head. “Feels fine.” Her words were slightly slurred and her eyes closed.
“Just shout if you need anything.”
A line appeared between her eyebrows as she blinked her eyes open. “Where are you going?”
“I’m sleeping on the couch.”
She shook her head and pushed up to a seated position. “No. I should take the couch.”
Fuck no. “Lie down, Lucy.”
“Wilder, you’ve already done too much for me. You worked a long shift and then had to rescue me. You need a good night’s sleep.”
“No.”
“But—”
“The couch isn’t safe. It’s right by the front door.”
She frowned. “So?”
“So, if someone were to break in, they would reach the couch first.”
“Do you have many burglars making their way up the mountain during a storm?”
My traitorous lips twitched with the temptation to smile. “You’re taking the bed. The storm should quiet down overnight, and I’ll drive you back to town in the morning.”
Her lip jutted out in a pout, but she laid back down. “You could always lie down with me,” she murmured.
My cheeks flushed and my cock hardened. Just do it.
My alpha was like a devil on my shoulder, tempting me to get in beside her.
Terror seized me at the thought of it, at what could happen if we shared a bed.
I let out a strangled sound as I stumbled out of the bedroom.
I shut the door behind me, wishing it was made of metal so I would be completely locked out.
My heart pounded, my mind swirled, and I clenched my fists.
I couldn’t stay here, mere feet from her. I had to burn off this energy.
I stormed out of the house again, heading back to the woodshed to chop more logs.
Morning light danced against my eyelids, and I groaned, my mind hazy with the fog of sleep.
The few times I’d accidentally fallen asleep on the couch had taught me that thirty-six was too fucking old to sleep without a mattress.
But as I shifted and stretched, I was shocked at how comfortable I was…
the only exception being my painfully aching cock.
It wasn’t like morning wood was unusual for me, but this seemed extreme.
A soft little sound had me freezing. My eyelids flew open to discover the reason I was so comfortable.
Curled up next to me on the couch, half on top of my chest, was a certain gorgeous omega.
Her scent permeated everything—the couch, my sweatpants, the bare skin on my chest—and soothed my physical and emotional aches and pains.
How did she get here? She’d been fast asleep in my bed when I finally came back inside after splitting every single log in the woodshed. I had enough firewood to last me for the next six months. I’d taken a quick shower before collapsing on the couch and falling asleep almost instantly.
I closed my eyes and breathed in slowly. When I first revealed as an alpha, I’d dreamed of mornings like this, curled up with my omega and pack. My broken alpha had destroyed the future I’d dreamed about.
The longer I lay here, the more I risked. Well, the more she risked, even if she didn’t know it.
“Lucy, honey. Wake up.” I gently shook her shoulder, but she pressed even closer, slinging her thigh over my body so that it rubbed against my cock.
Fuuuuuck.
I cleared my throat. “It’s time to wake up.”
She whined and the sound rocked through me like fucking lightning. Her scent thickened as she perfumed, and the intensity of it clouded my mind.
Bite. Claim. Fuck.
I jolted, flying off the couch in my panic to get away. I was halfway across the room when I realized my hurried movements had pushed Lucy onto the floor. She landed with a startled umph. I tugged at my hair, horrified at what I’d done. In my desperate desire to protect her from harm, I’d hurt her.
A confused crease appeared between her brows and she looked around until her eyes landed on me. “Good morning.” She pushed her hair out of her face. “This isn’t where I fell asleep.”
I fought the urge to rush to her side, check on her ankle, and cuddle her on my lap. I was too on edge to risk being too close to her, let alone touch her.
“Seems like you decided the couch was more comfortable at some point in the night.”
Her cheeks flushed and she pushed herself off the floor. She cocked her head as she took me in. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” My tone was too brusque to be believable. “I just wasn’t expecting to wake up with you on top of me.”
Her face fell. “I am so sorry. I’ve been told I sleepwalk sometimes, so that must have been what happened. I never—” She cleared her voice, her lower lip trembling. “I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable.”
She looked seconds away from bursting into tears. I was the worst scum of the earth, letting her believe she’d done anything wrong. As if waking up with her on top of me wasn’t a fucking dream come true.
But it was better this way. Safer. She shouldn’t want to be around me.
“It’s fine. I’ll radio the local weather station to make sure there haven’t been any mudslides on the mountain, but we should be fine to head into town.” She went to say something, but I cut her off. “Can you be ready in ten minutes?”
Her jaw snapped shut and she nodded.
I turned away and headed into the bedroom, closing the door securely behind me.