Chapter 0003

CHAPTER 3

“Are we going to be sharing a bed?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. The Alpha paused mid-step, his hand still on the back of the chair. Slowly, he turned to face me.

“Yes,” he said. “We are.”

“That was… fast,” I muttered.

“It wasn’t my decision alone.”

“No,” I agreed. “It never is.”

His jaw tightened. “This isn’t a debate, Solyn.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “I just…needed to hear it said out loud.”

Silence stretched between us..l  crossed my arms, suddenly hyper-aware of the room, the bed behind me, the faint lingering scent that unmistakably belonged to my sister.

“So,” I said, forcing steadiness into my voice, “do we… pretend? Or do we just exist awkwardly on opposite sides and hope no one notices?”

He exhaled through his nose. “You’ll sleep. I’ll sleep. The pack will see what it expects to see.”

“And what do you expect to see?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His eyes snapped to me.

“That,” he said sharply, “is not a question you should be asking.”

I nodded. “Right. Sorry.”

He studied me for a moment, gaze unreadable. “You don’t have to apologize every time you speak.”

“Old habit.”

“Break it.”

I almost smiled at that. Almost.He turned away again, tugging at the collar of his shirt. “I’ll shower.”

“Okay.”

He hesitated, then added, “You can take the bed. I won’t touch you.”

My chest tightened. “I didn’t think you would.”

Something flickered across his face, too fast to name. “Good.” The bathroom door slid shut.

I sat on the edge of the bed, hands clenched in my lap, trying not to think about how wrong everything felt. My sister was missing. Kidnapped. And here I was, standing in her place, wearing her clothes, sleeping beside her mate.

Temporary, I told myself.

Just until Sailyn comes back.

The sound of running water filled the room. I stood, restless, pacing once, twice…then stopped.The wall. Glass. My breath caught. Steam began to gather slowly, curling along the glass, blurring and revealing in soft pulses. I told myself to look away. I tried to look away.

But my eyes betrayed me.

His silhouette moved through the steam, broad shoulders, the powerful line of his back, the slow, unguarded movements of someone who believed himself alone. There was nothing lewd in it, nothing deliberate.

That somehow made it worse

I turned away instantly, cheeks burning. “You should have warned me,” I muttered under my breath.

As if summoned, his voice came through the glass, muffled but clear enough.

“About what?”

I froze. “Nothing.” The water shut off. My heart thudded violently.

“You’re pacing,” he said.

“I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

I hesitated. “Because my sister is missing. Because I’m lying to an entire pack. Because I’m sharing a bed with her husband.”

“That last part shouldn’t make you nervous.”

“It does.”

Another pause.

“Why?”

I swallowed. “Because you’re looking at me like you’re trying to remember something.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?”

The bathroom door slid open. I turned despite myself. He stood there, towel wrapped low, water still dripping from his hair, his presence filling the room in a way that made it suddenly hard to breathe.

“You’re imagining things,” he said.

“Am I?” I asked quietly.

His eyes dropped…to my hands, my bare feet, the way I stood too close to the bed. Then back to my face.

“Get into bed,” he said. “We’ve talked enough.”

I didn’t move.

“Solyn.”

“I didn’t mean to stare,” I said quickly. “I swear. I just—wasn’t expecting—”

He took one step forward.

Then another. His gaze promised something I feared to name.

“Stop,” I whispered.

He stopped instantly.

For a heartbeat, neither of us spoke.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he said finally. “My wolf has been unsettled since you arrived.”

My breath hitched. “Because Sailyn is gone.”

“Yes,” he said too fast. “Because my mate is missing.”

I nodded, even as something twisted painfully in my chest.

“You should sleep,” he added. “You’ve had a long day.”

I glanced at the bathroom, then back at him. “You can… finish dressing.”

“I will.”

I turned toward the bed, but before I could take a step—

“Solyn.”

I stopped.

“You can’t do that again,” he said quietly.

“Do what?”

“Look at me like you’re waiting for permission.”

My fingers curled into the fabric of my nightdress. “I wasn’t.”

“Yes, you were.”

I faced him slowly. “Then don’t stand in front of me like that.”

His lips twitched. “Like what?”

“Like you’re forgetting who I am.”

His expression hardened. “I haven’t forgotten.”

“Good,” she said softly. “Because I haven’t either.”

He closed the distance before either of us could think better of it, catching my wrist

“Don’t test me,” he murmured.

My pulse raced beneath his thumb.

“I’m not,” I whispered. “I’m trying to survive this.”

His grip loosened. For a moment, his gaze looked… lost.

“This is because I miss my mate,” he said, more to himself than to her. “That’s all.”

I nodded, even though my chest ached. “Of course.”

He released me.

“Get into bed,” he said again. “Before I forget why I’m fighting this.”

I did as told, sliding beneath the covers, heart pounding.

He remained standing, watching me.