Wolf Kisses & Empty Houses
SCARLETT
I stood in front of Kaiden, face burning hotter than the sun.
He wore a small, knowing smirk, brown eyes sparkling with amusement as he took in my flushed cheeks, swollen lips from Kane’s brutal kisses, and the slick still glistening on my thighs. My arousal hung thick in the air, impossible to hide.
I wanted the floor to swallow me whole.
He had seen everything—Saint between my legs, Kane sucking on my breasts, Rhys claiming my mouth. He had watched me tremble and moan like a desperate little Omega.
I couldn’t defend myself. I could only stand there in my soaked panties and tank top, cheeks flaming, thighs sticky with embarrassment.
Kaiden’s smirk softened a fraction, though the amusement remained.
“I can come back later if you want,” he chuckled softly.
I shook my head quickly, still hiding behind my fingers, but peeked through them. Despite everything, relief washed over me that he was okay.
The air crackled with tension. Kane and Saint barely held back their growls.
This was officially the most mortifying and strangely hot—moment of my life.
Before I could speak, Rhys’s calm, commanding voice sliced through the room.
“Scarlett. Go upstairs to bed.”
His tone left no room for argument. Pure Alpha command, the kind that made your body obey even when your mind rebelled.
I stared at him, surprised, cheeks still burning. I glanced at Kaiden, wanting to talk, but Rhys’s golden eyes didn’t waver.
Saint whined softly beside me, clearly reluctant to let me go.
“Now, darling,” Rhys added.
I huffed in annoyance, turned on my heel, and stomped up the stairs. Kane’s playful voice followed me.
“Don’t be mad, love. We’ll make it up to you later. Promise.”
I didn’t look back. I slammed the bedroom door harder than necessary.
The room was dark, lit only by soft moonlight filtering through the curtains. Lily was already curled up in the big bed.
I sighed, the mix of frustration and embarrassment still churning in my chest, and slipped in beside her, careful not to wake her. She stirred anyway, turning toward me with sleepy eyes.
“You can’t sleep?” I mouthed.
Lily shook her head and scooted closer. She had always been wary of Alphas—understandable after everything she’d endured. She was only starting to warm up to the Triumvirate because they were good to me.
Dominant Alpha pheromones in a house that wasn’t hers had to be overwhelming.
I pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back. *Sorry,* I mouthed.
“It’s fine,” she whispered, pressing her nose to my neck and breathing me in. “You smell safe.”
We stayed tangled together until her breathing evened out and she drifted off again, face tucked against my shoulder.
I lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, the taste of Kane’s kiss and Saint’s tongue still lingering on my skin. The Triumvirate was downstairs. Kaiden was somewhere in this house. And my sealed memories kept cracking wider every hour.
I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but with Lily safe in my arms, I eventually fell asleep too.
*****
Sunlight warmed my face, soft and golden through the curtains.
Something warm and wet dragged across my cheek.
Then again.
And again.
My eyes fluttered open. A massive black wolf filled my vision—one ice-blue eye, one glowing red—tongue lolling happily as he licked my face over and over.
I yelped and bolted upright, heart slamming against my ribs.
*Saint!*
A few minutes later, I stood over him in the middle of the room, hands on my hips, silently scolding him.
*You nearly gave me a heart attack!* I mouthed, pointing at him. *Waking up to a giant wolf licking my face? Really?*
He sat back on his haunches immediately, ears flattening against his head, looking up at me with the saddest puppy eyes I’d ever seen.
He let out a soft, apologetic whine, tail thumping once against the floor.
I sighed, the annoyance melting away. He just looked so big and pitiful.
I sat down on the floor in front of him and opened my arms. “Come here, you big baby.”
Saint didn’t hesitate. He crawled forward and rubbed his massive furry head all over my chest, nuzzling and scent-marking me with happy little chuffs. I laughed silently and stroked his huge back, fingers sinking into thick fur.
Just then, the bathroom door opened.
Lily stepped out with a towel wrapped around her body, hair damp. She froze when she saw us, me on the floor, Saint’s giant wolf practically in my lap, rubbing all over me like an oversized puppy.
Lily blinked slowly. “I don’t even want to know.”
I burst into silent laughter, shoulders shaking as I kept petting Saint’s head. He just kept rubbing against me like he couldn’t get close enough, completely unbothered by Lily’s presence.
Lily just shook her head with a small smile and went back into the bathroom.
I scratched behind Saint’s ears for a little longer, then gently pushed his big furry head away. *Okay, big guy. Time to go downstairs. I need to get ready.*
He whined softly, ears drooping, but eventually stood up, gave my cheek one last lick, and padded out of the room with a heavy sigh.
I smiled to myself and headed to the bathroom.
Lily was already dressing when I stepped in. She gave me a knowing look but didn’t say anything. I brushed my teeth carefully, still strange not being able to speak, then took a quick, warm bath. The hot water felt amazing on my sore body.
When I stepped out, wrapped in a towel, Lily was sitting on the bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked up and smiled.
“Feeling better?”
I nodded and mouthed *Much better.*
I quickly got dressed in a simple shirt and trousers, then we both headed downstairs together.
The house was… silent.
Too silent.
No deep voices. No heavy footsteps or the massive Saint-shaped shadow following me. The kitchen was empty, dishes from last night neatly put away. The living room was the same.
Lily and I exchanged a frown.
“Where did they go?” she whispered.
I shrugged, a little uneasy. We walked to the front door and stepped outside onto the wide porch.
The view was breathtaking acres of lush forest stretching out in every direction, tall trees swaying gently in the morning breeze. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, birds chirping peacefully.
But there was no one.
No sign of the Triumvirate's or Kaiden.
Just the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant sound of nature.
Lily wrapped her arms around herself, looking out at the empty land. “This feels… weird.”
I nodded, a strange feeling settling in my stomach.
Where were they?