It must have been at least two hours by now. The darkness outside makes it impossible to gauge the time urately, but I know I can''t stay lying here any longer. Quietly, I slip out from beneath my nkets and tiptoe across the room. Just as I''m reaching for the door handle, a strong arm suddenly wraps around my waist, pulling me back against a solid chest.


    "Where do you think you''re sneaking off to?" His warm breath brushes against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.


    "I''m not sneaking away," I reply, trying to keep my voice calm. "I didn''t want to wake you. I''ve rested enough. My mind''s been racing all night—I have to get to my office." At least my tone sounds steady, even if my heart is pounding.


    He chuckles softly behind me. "Well, then, let''s go." His grip loosens just enough for me to move.


    "Really? You''re just going to let me work like this?"


    "I''m honestly surprised yousted this long without getting up," he says with augh. He leads me to the door but then pauses, turning toward the room across the hall instead.


    "What are you doing?" I try to slip past him toward my office, but his hold tightens around my waist.


    "I need to change, and you''re not going anywhere without me. There''s a clear threat hanging over the Alpha family. You better get used to having a shadow."


    "I don''t need your protection."


    "You do understand why having a Beta is important, right?"


    "You''re not my Beta."


    "The hell I''m not." His low growl makes me shiver again. "Right now, you don''t have anyone you can truly trust. The Goddess ced me here for a reason. I''m not going anywhere." He pulls me toward the room opposite mine, which is cluttered with boxes stacked high.


    "What''s all this?" I run my fingers over the side of one box, noticing the neat, masculine handwritingbeling it as books.


    “Alpha James packed up my entire life and shipped it here. He knows I''m your mate. He''s been training my brother to take over as Beta at Silver Crescent. I''m here for good. I''m your Beta-nothing more, nothing less. I''m aware of your Elder''s opinions about mates and their expectations. I don''t want to be an Alpha, but I''m damn good at my job. So as your Beta, you''ll have a shadow with you twenty-four-seven until we sort out this rogue and witch problem." He tosses a duffle bag onto the bed and starts rifling through it. “Now, stay put like a good girl and wait for me."


    I want to feel annoyed at the teasing tone, but the way his arm brushes mine as he passes sends my thoughts spiraling in apletely different direction.


    I settle onto his bed, silently hoping he isn''t the type to spend forever in front of the mirror getting ready. To my relief, he''s in and out of the shower in under five minutes. But the moment the door swings open, steam billowing out behind him, I lose all focus. Ben steps into the room shirtless, his damp hair slicked back with fingers. Water droplets cling to his chest as if he didn''t bother drying offpletely —and honestly, I''m notining. I never thought I was the kind of girl who noticed a man''s chest and abs, but right now? Damn.


    "Eyes up here, Alpha," he rumbles with augh.


    "Shut up." I roll my eyes, trying to look away, but it''s far from easy.


    "Ready to go? Or do you need something else?" He''s teasing me, and I''m not sure if


    I can handle having him around full-time. I might just explode. I inhale deeply, taking in his strong scent close by.


    "It''s safe to look," heughs again, cocky as ever. I feel the urge to both put him in his ce and throw myself at him all at once.


    But the need for control wins. I spring to my feet. “Let''s go talk about Sebastian and Richard, then we can start looking into these witches." There—a full sentence that actually makes sense and sounds decisive. Now, if only I could erase the image of his half-naked form burned into my mind.


    I step out of his room, Ben right behind me, his smile practically radiating as he follows closely on my heels.