Masuk~LAIA~I reach the temple, and Zia’s happy squeal immediately makes me smile.She’s clearly fresh from a shower, the faint scent of soap and cream still clinging to her skin. Straight from pack training.“And look who finally decides to visit us,” Zia says, her voice teasing as she grins at me.Okay, I don’t actually think I can see myself opening up to her. But right now, I step forward and hug her anyway. Sincerely, I miss her. I miss her chatter. Her easy presence.She stiffens for a second, then hugs me back.“I honestly didn’t think you’d want to associate with me anymore,” Zia admits softly.I pull back slightly. “Why would you think that?”She gives a small shrug. “You’re the Alpha’s bedmate now. I just… figured you’d be too important. Or too busy.”Her words sting more than I expect.“I’m still me,” I say quietly.Other girls step into the temple, already walking out and gushing when they see us. Zia doesn’t waste a minute, she grabs my hand and drags me straight inside the ro
~LAIA~It’s been two days since my heat ends, and I’ve never felt this good. That alone should scare me. I try, really try, to shut myself out from how good it felt. From how right it feels to be in his arms. To have him close. To breathe him in. His scent clings to me like a bad habit I don’t want to quit.But fuck no. That kind of pleasure comes with a price tag, and I already know how this ends, with heartbreak. Again. First Cael. Then Damon.Because the truth I refuse to forget is simple and brutal: someday, the Moon Goddess might gift Damon a second-chance mate. And when that happens, I’ll be discarded like I was never anything at all. So no. Absolutely not.I strangle every emotion trying to grow roots in my chest and grind it into the dirt. Feelings are a luxury I can’t afford.Today is pack training, but Damon insists I stay behind. Says it’s only been two days since my heat, that I need rest. Even though I feel fine, the soreness is gone and my body feels annoyingly perfect.
~DAMON~I step away from her, my eyes still locked on her silver orbs as I unbuckle my belt, shoving my pants down. My cock springs free, hard, solid. I grip the base, giving it a slow stroke while watching the wetness on her thighs, her slick heat calling to me, begging me to take her… to claim.My balls feel heavy, and at this rate I’m going to end up aching if I keep watching her while stroking myself.“This feels so good… my body’s heated… like it’s on fire.” That innocent tone, those soft sounds, tell me how untouched she still is. And fuck… if she’s mated to Cael, why didn’t he sense his mate upcoming heat? Something is wrong with their bond. I can feel it.I spread her legs, positioning myself between them again.“This is going to hurt a little,” I murmur, “but I promise to be gentle.” She nods frantically. I guide myself to her, gasping as I press into her warmth.“Oh, by the Goddess…” Her eyes widen. “I’m so full… I, that’s so big… I can’t,”I hush her, capturing her lips wit
~DAMON~IFive days later.Maddox is prowling inside my skull, restless and feral. Laia’s scent fills the air, sweet and inviting, driving him mad, driving me mad. I force him down, grit my teeth, breathe through the burn.Lady Marissa, the woman running that damnable We Heat Together, made it clear early on: Laia requested to spend her Heat alone. Her choice. One we’re expected to respect. One I am expected to respect.Even with Maddox pressing hard against my control, raining hell inside my head, demanding I go to her. I don’t because wanting her doesn’t make it my right to take what she didn’t give.It's taking forever, I can only imagine the pain shr would be in, and damn ner for being so stubborn. I tear through the woods, boots skidding over frost and roots, everything blurring except the trail of her scent pulling me forward like a leash wrapped tight around my spine. Sweet. Fevered. Laia.By the time the cabin comes into view, my pulse is roaring in my ears.Unmated males wait
~LAIA~“Goddess, I miss you, Laia… I can’t sleep at nights. I feel the bond…”Cael’s striking blue eyes are on me. I look at the closed door trying to understand how he even got into the room, but right now he’s sitting at the edge of my bed, his hand warm through the blanket burning my ankle.His scent, oh fuck. I want to live in it. I want to breathe him in.My wolf stirs, awakened by his presence, restless and aching. He’s our mate. And no matter how hard I try to deny it, he makes my whole being ache.“Cael… It’s too late. The Moon Goddess already gave us our chance once…”He moves closer on the bed and reaches out, his fingers brushing lightly beneath my chin, lifting my face. His eyes stay intensely locked on mine. “It’s not too late, Laia… Sweetheart. I’ll mark you. I’ll mate with you, and you’ll be mine. Damon won’t have any claim over you ever again.”I shouldn’t. I can’t. My resolve trembles.I sit up. “You need to leave, Cael… if Damon-,”I don’t get to finish. He grabs me
~DAMON~It’s been two days since the incident, and Maddox has found a new hobby - watching Laia.We watch how her silver eyes spark when Dr. Bastien finally discharges her, armed with medication and a list of strict recommendations. Maddox barely hears any of it. His attention never leaves her. He watches the way a faint blush creeps up her cheeks when she’s shy, the way her face tightens into a frown whenever something I say makes her uncomfortable. I keep telling him to calm down.But it’s too late for that. This is a full-time job now, juggling pack work while still carving out time to see her.“Are you going to feed me again?” she asks with a teasing smile smile with her lunch in front of her.I nod.She shakes her head. “Hell no, Damon. I’ll feed myself, however I can.”She cuts me off before I can argue, already reaching for the tray.“Touché. Your ego’s wounded,” Maddox teases.I shut him out.“How are you comfortable with your friend being in rehabilitation?” she asks, halfwa







