The words escaped my lips, sounding like they belonged to someone else yet expressing my deepest desire. The ssh of cold water from the in bath hit our tangleil bodies like a shock, Instead of pulling away, I pressed closer to ke, chasing his wornth


    That icy inlt dented my head faster than any medicine. The fog of Moon Hest thinned, reced by something sharper-avarten. I would foil every cabbar on ke''s fingertips, smell his pine and cal scent, sense his pulse hammering against mine.


    ke pulled hack just enough to study my face, his storm gray eyes searching. "Youreing back to me,


    "Yeah," I nodded, somprised by my own rity. "But I still want you." No drug talking now-just me. The Moon Heat Engered in my system, but my mind had. wrestled back control.


    Something shifted in his expression. He lifted me gently let the water, his hands never breaking contact, like been afraid I might disobe if he let go. The water swirled around us, cooling my fees hot skin without billing whatever was sparking between us.


    As the currents washed over me, I felt the change-from that desperate, drug- driven need to something meal. Something mine, ke''s troch wasn''t just medicine anymore; it was exactly what I wanted.


    I reached for his face, my hand steadier than it had any right to be. This is me," I said, Hinning my thumb along his in "Not the drug."


    His eyes darkened. He cupped my face and kissed me-nothing like the hungry sh from before. This was gentle, careful, like i might break. But underneath, that same heat burned.


    The water cooled, and rity rushed in Memories pieced themselves together-the dank cell, Sophia''s unconscious farm, those masked wolves with their needles and crielughter.


    "Sophia," I said suddenly, sitting up straighter. Is she-


    "Sale," ke cut in, running his fingers through my wet hair. "Back at ckwood with the healers.


    Relief washed through me, but then another memory sliced in-Jackson appearing in that dungeon, the shock on his face when he saw us both, and how quickly he decided. How he didn''t men hesitate,


    "Jackson was there," I said, the words tasting bitter. "He took Sophia and just... left me chained up. Like I was nothing


    ke went rigid, his fingers freezing mid-stroke. "Hayes was in that, cer


    "Grabbed Sophia and ran." I couldn''t keep the venom from my voice. "Second time he''s thrown me away when something better came along."


    ke''s Alpha energy surged, turning the bathroom air heavy as lead. The water around us seemed to vibrate with his anger. Then he inhaled sharply, reining himself in.


    "What exactly did they inject you with?" he asked, voice too carefully controlled.


    “Moon Heat,” admitted, something cold slithering through my gut despite the warm water. "They wanted to break me. Make me beg


    "They paid." His voice went t, deadly. "All of them.


    I thought of those bodies scattered across


    the clearing, throats tom out, and felt nothing but relief. Another day, that might have scan


    The drug''s grip loosened further, and I suddenly realized how exposed I was, skin hare except for scraps of what used to be clothes. Funny how that seemed like the smallest problem right now.


    "My clothes are trashed," I said, ncing down at thetters.


    "I''ll grab something." ke said, pulling back. His eyes lingered on me for a bear tou long before he stood.


    Mone in the moling water, I had my fint real chance to think. I should have been morished-nextty heg heat-crazed teenager. That wasn t me. Wesn''t supposed to be, anyway,


    The Alphe King to m


    But the shame didn''t hit like 1 expected. Yes, the ding had pushed me, but it hada


    i created anything that want abrendy there. Thet Numer


    alked into a room, that pull toward him I''d been fighting for terrks-thise were real, drive or no drug.


    My fingers found the mark on my neck. Inckson''s viber brand was changing, gold threads wearing through the pattern. Nothing in any wolt lejen this. ke said he felt de through it, tracked me when no one else could. How the hell was that possible?


    I ducked under the water onest time, letting it those away thest traces of that dungeon. Some things wouldnt with off so easily-the memory of thos men''s eyes as they held that needle, the humiliation as the dog look hold, But at least I could get clean,


    I was just getting up from the tob, water sliding off my skin, when my foot nearly slipped on the wet edge. My heart pounded like crazy, but before 1 mudd fall, ke was right there. His strong was wrapped around ine, palli tight against his warm, hare chest. The heat of him made my whole body tinglé


    He didn''t have anything on, and my eyes-ols run, why cent 1 stop?-dated down to his... well, you know. My breath caught in my throat. He wào so big, so merwhelming, it made my cheeks burn and my stomach flip in a way I''ve never felt before, I couldn''t help it; my mouth went dry, and a hot, flottery feeling


    the wild rush in my chest. bloomed deep inside me. I swallowed hard, trying to ca


    He lifted me out of the tub like I was nothing, setting me down on shaky legs. His hands stayed on my hips, holding me steady until he knew I wouldn''t stumble. Every ce he touched felt like it was on fire, sparking this crazy, aching need that made my heart race even faster. When he let go to grah i towel, I felt so exposed-cold and desperate for his wath toe back. Why do I feel like this? I''ve never been this fluttered before.


    He


    draped the towel over my shoulders, covering me up, but his fingers brushed my skin, and my pulse went wild. I couldn''t stop staring at him. His body was unreal -every muscle, every sharp line looked so powerful. It was too much, too intense, and it made my insides twist with this sly, hungry feeling! didn''t know how to handle. Am I really this drawn to him? Oh pack, what''s happening to me?


    The steam had faded, but the heat in me hadn''t. It bubbled inside, a restless, needy ache that kept growing, tugging at every bit of control I thought I had


    "Keep looking at me like that, and I might not be able to hold back," he warned, his voice dropping to a deep, husky tone that sent shivers straight through me, making that ache even stronger.


    Then don''t hold back, I blurted out, the words slipping free before I could think twice, daring and full of a longing I couldn''t hide.


    Chapter Comments


    Tanya Gordon


    That''s right girl you tell him & hopefully he''ll listen.


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