CHAPTER 5

Grayson's POV~

"There are thousands of women out there who would have a more excited expression on their face because they just became my Luna. You should look more grateful."

The words left my mouth mirroring the boredom I suddenly felt the moment she signed the contract.

Her gaze snapped to mine, and I watched the color in her eyes swirl, shifting to a darker shade.

Most things didn't interest me, but her eyes-something I had noticed the moment she fell at my feet-the way they switched colors-intrigued me enough to want to understand them.

Those same eyes flashed with anger now, like my words had insulted her.

"It's contracted Luna," she corrected, her voice laced with irritation.

Without hesitation, she grabbed the document and strode toward me, shoving it into my chest. The fear and uncertainty that had been on her face moments ago had vanished, replaced by a look that said she was ready to commit murder.

My murder.

Honestly, I didn't care what I had said to offend her. I stared back at her, assessing. Ava Pierce was strikingly beautiful, even if I lacked any interest in the sentiment.

She held my gaze for a long moment, then broke it, her glare softening. "What now?" she asked, her tone clipped. "Are you going to assign me guards? Watch my every-"

"Lose the attitude," I cut in before she could finish and I saw her shiver slightly at the harshness of my tone. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off again. "I am still speaking and when I speak," I paused for her moment letting it sink in, Do not ever interrupt me."

She flinched even harder then I let out a sigh, deciding to soften my tone. I was asking a lot of her after all, "I do not have any interest in controlling you but I most definitely do not appreciate insolence. Do you understand?"

It took her a moment for her to nod her head.

"Good. Now to answer your earlier question. What is happening right now is that we're going to have our first session."

Her eyes widened as my words registered, her entire face flushing a deep red. "Right now?" she stammered. "I don't even have the equipment-"

Right on cue, the door to my study opened, and a team of people filed in, dropping medical equipment onto the floor before disappearing as quickly as they'd entered.

A smirk curved my lips as I watched her eyes dart around the room. "I've done my research. Everything you need for your first session has been provided."

She glanced around, clearly struggling to maintain her composure. Her breathing hitched, and I arched a brow at her. "You're a medical expert, aren't you? You should be used to situations like this."

Her eyes snapped back to mine, and she shot back, "My patients have never looked like-" She caught herself, stopping just short of finishing the sentence making the smirk on my lips grow.

I knew exactly what she was about to say. I was aware of my looks, and frankly, I was realizing I liked how uneasy I made her.

Her in particular.

"So, do I need to take my pants off?" I asked, my hand moving to unbuckle my belt.

Her eyes widened, her face turning so red that I thought it might explode. "Stop!"

It happened so slowly after that, the amusement hitting me hard and for the first time in almost twenty years, I actually almost laughed.

What was it about Ava Pierce?

I brushed the thought aside, watching as she straightened her spine, her eyes shifting into a more professional mode. "Take a seat, and keep your pants on," she said, a warning laced in her tone.

I bit back the smile, settling into the chair and watching as she began to survey the equipment, her hands moving over each item with practiced efficiency. She turned back to me, her expression all business now. "I'm going to ask you a few questions about your condition."

"Go ahead."

In all honesty, I didn't feel an ounce of shame because there was so much more to my condition than anyone would ever find out.

Ava fired off her questions, each one precise and clinical, and I answered them without hesitation, watching her closely the entire time. Her professionalism was commendable, but I could see the cracks, the way her eyes occasionally flickered with uncertainty.

She was out of her depth, and we both knew it.

Finally, she sucked in a deep breath, "I'll have to touch you now. I...I meant examine you."

A smirk tugged at my lips and leaned back in the chair, making myself more comfortable, watching as she hesitated for just a moment before stepping closer.

The moment she moved towards me, stepping fully into my personal space, her scent suddenly hit me hard, stronger than before, engulfing my senses. My body stiffened involuntarily, something inside me stirring at the sensation.

She reached out, her hands trembling ever so slightly, and just as she was about to make contact, I grabbed her wrists, stopping her cold.

It was instinct, pure and forceful. The moment our skin touched, I felt something else-something I couldn't quite name. My grip tightened, and without thinking, I growled, "Get out."

She flinched at the harshness in my tone, her eyes wide with confusion and a flicker of fear. She opened her mouth to protest, but I cut her off again, my voice deadly calm. "I said get out. You have three seconds."

Her eyes searched mine, desperate to understand what she had done wrong, but there was nothing to explain. I kept my grip firm, my gaze cold. Without another word, she yanked her hand from my grasp and bolted for the door, her footsteps echoing in the silence of the room.

As soon as she was gone, I flexed my fingers, the sensation of her skin still lingering.

What the hell just happened?

I got to my feet, feeling my wolf mirror my confusion. My body was still reacting, and I couldn't shake the sensation. As I walked to the bathroom, the voice that had started this need for a solution echoed in my head.

"Your bloodline has history with the Moon goddess, and because of it, you can only be aroused and have sex with your fated mate."

I still believed that it was a load of bullshit but still, this wasn't possible.

The thought played on repeat as I undid my belt and yanked down my trousers. It had to be the fact that she was beautiful-nothing more. But I had been surrounded by beautiful women for as long as I could remember.

We had been in close proximity before so how was this happening?

My wolf didn't sense a bond, which only made the confusion worse and Ava had already found her mate.

Her scent still clung to my senses as my eyes. dropped to my length the moment I freed myself from my boxers. I sucked in a deep breath. I had felt it, and I wasn't wrong.

How the hell did Ava Pierce just get me hard for the first time in my entire life.…

Without even touching me?