E


    The sight of Alexander’s naked body in the moonlight made me freeze.


    His muscled frame gleamed with sweat and blood, highlighting every ridge and ne of his body. Broad shoulders. Powerful chest. Taut stomach. And lower… Goddess.


    He was huge even when he wasn’t aroused. The patch of red hair between his legs did little to conceal anything.


    The heat began instantly, spreading outward until my skin felt feverish from head to toe. I had never seen a naked man in person before, and the fact that it was Alexander, my mate, my husband, made it all the more intense.


    I swallowed hard and tried to look away, but my eyes kept dragging back to him.


    “E,” Alexander growled, moving forward.


    I finally managed to tear my gaze away, my face burning. “S-sorry,” I stammered. “I didn’t mean to-”


    “I can smell you,” he cut me off.


    My head snapped back up. “What?”


    Alexander’s nostrils red, green eyes darkening. “I can smell your arousal.”


    Mortification washed over me. Wolves could smell desire, but he shouldn’t be able to scent mine. Not without my wolf. Unless…?


    “Our contract doesn’t include sex or love,” Alexander said coldly. “Don’t forget that.”


    His words felt like a bucket of cold water being dumped over my head. The heat in my belly instantly cooled, reced by shame and embarrassment. I folded my arms across my chest, wishing I could disappear.


    “I’m well aware of that,” I snapped. “I don’t want to have sex with you.”


    “Your scent says otherwise.”


    I swallowed hard. I shouldn’t have had a scent. But that wasn’t the only strange thing about tonight; how the hell had I made it all the way here?


    The hospital was miles away. I had run barefoot through the forest, over rocks and sticks and rough terrain. My feet were bleeding, but I’d hardly noticed the pain. My body hadn’t reacted at all to the intense cardio and muscr strain.


    Not to mention the fact that I’d found Alexander without directions, without guidance, just…


    following instinct.


    Was my wolf returning?


    Desperately, I reached inward, searching for that familiar presence. “Hello? Are you there?”


    But there was nothing. No answer. My wolf was still dormant.


    Just then, the sound of crashing underbrush announced another arrival. Alexander tensed as if to fight another rogue, but it was Liam who burst into the clearing, panting heavily.


    “E!” he eximed, rushing toward me. Then he stopped short as he noticed Alexander’s state of undress.


    Alexander scowled but made no move to cover himself. “Take her back to the hospital,” he ordered, “She shouldn’t be here.”


    “I came because I thought you were hurt,” I said, anger recing my embarrassment now. “I was worried about you!”


    Alexander didn’t answer. Liam moved to my side and ced an arm around my waist. “Come on, E. Let’s get you back. You’re in no condition to be out here.”


    By now, my adrenaline had faded, leaving me shaky and sore. I didn’t fight it as Liam scooped me up into his arms, one under my knees while the other supported my back.


    As he carried me away, I couldn’t help but nce back over his shoulder. Alexander was still standing there, naked in the moonlight, watching us leave. The sight of him made my heart pound in my chest, and I quickly looked away before he could catch me staring again.


    By the time we reached the hospital, I was half asleep in Liam’s arms, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. The hospital was in an uproar, nurses rushing around, Dr. Evelyn barking


    orders.


    “Luna E!” she eximed when she spotted us. “Thank the Goddess you’re safe!”


    Liam carried me to my room and gently ced me on the bed. “I’ll leave you to it,” he said, nodding to the doctor before slipping out.


    Dr. Evelyn immediately began checking me over once we were alone. “What were you thinking, running off like that? You could have copsed again, or worse!”