EMBER
Steam still clings to my hair when I bound up the steps from the baths, scrubbing at my cheeks as though I can wipe away the sting of humiliation. My ankle is raw from where I scrubbed the stench of Lucia’s trick off me. My lungs burn as I climb the stairs toward the first floor.
I’m running up the steps from the foyer to the first floor when a familiar, dark figure comes to stand beside them, arms folded.
My chest tightens. Still reeling from being humiliated, I try to gauge his reaction. As I grow closer, his eyes soften, arms falling to his sides. It bolsters my shame into bravado.
“Can I help you?” I ask breathlessly, pausing two steps below him, chest rising and falling.
“Nope.” His eyes gleam molten in the firelight, sliding over me like a touch. “Just enjoying the view.”
I should keep walking. I don’t. My feet plant themselves beside him.
“Looking is free.” My lips twitch. “Touching will cost you.”
His head dips close, pine and winterberry wrapping around me like a cloak. My knees go weak at the sheer relief of it — his delicious scent.
“Is that a challenge?” his voice is gravelly and low.
“It’s a promise.” My eyes flick helplessly to his lips. What I would give to feel them on mine again.
As if reading my thoughts, his brow arches. His lips part. My whole body leans forward—
“Holy Gods.” Roman barrels past, arms stacked with books. “Will you guys just get a room already?”
Heat floods my cheeks as Roman bounds up the steps to our room. Thorn chuckles, and despite myself, I laugh too. The tension shattering.
“Ember,” Thorn says, softer now. His smile falters into something real. “Can I talk to you in my—?”
“Alpha Thorn!” A voice cuts sharply down the hall. We both stiffen.
“Aura,” Thorn greets evenly as a tall, dark-haired woman approaches, hips swaying with purpose. She glances at me, I recognize her as one of Lucia’s friends, before she tilts her head toward him.
“Can I talk to you for a moment…” Eyes flicking toward me. “In private?”
“Uh…” he pauses to look back at me. The air goes ice cold.
Thorn hesitates, his eyes glancing back to me, so many words unsaid hang between us like threads ready to snap. As an Alpha, he must have duties to fulfill. Issues to resolve. If Thorn is what I choose, I’ll have to get used to this.
I force myself to nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” he promises, that cocky grin sliding back into place as he turns to follow her.
I climb the last set of steps alone, my chest aching with a new thought I can’t shake…what if she’s more than just his packmate?