Chapter 1 - Enid's POV

I suddenly woke with a gasp that burst out of me before I could restrain it. The dim light from the window above my bed spread a grey tint throughout the room just enough to glimpse the mess I’d made with my twisted sheets. They were tangled around my legs as if I’d fought with someone in my sleep.. Clung, to someone. My skin was burning, excessively hot. My body continued to tremble from the dream I longed to forget.

Asher.

His voice resonated within the dream gravelly calling my name as though he'd stumbled upon a forbidden secret. His hands stayed steady and confident. The manner in which he held me in that dream still kindled a heat beneath my skin to this day. I pressed my face into my pillow. Let out a soft groan blending shame with irritation aimed at myself.

Third time this week.

For example I jolted breathless as my thoughts decided to torture me with the person I must utterly refrain from fixating on. Asher. Alpha. Out of reach. Definitely not someone, for fantasies of mechanics who barely passed pack combat exercises.

A sudden tap startled the door.

"Enid " Nina called out her voice muffled through the timber "if you’ve stayed in bed longer I swear I’ll yank you out by your eyebrows."

I pulled the pillow tighter against my face. "Go away.“

"I’ll interpret that as a yes" she remarked. "You’d stop drooling again. Jasper mentioned it runs in the family."

I groaned more. "I am not drooling."

"Then open up"

I forced myself to sit upright. My legs still felt feeble. My heart hadn’t returned to its rhythm yet. My dreaming mind showed no control. Unfortunately my body decided to do the same. I ran my hand through my hair hoping I didn’t look unruly as I felt. Nina entered the room before I reached the door. Typical. She leaned on the doorframe exhaling. "You look like you've battled a ghost."

"Something like that " I muttered, pulling the sheets up to cover how messy they were.

Her eyes narrowed. "You experienced another nightmare."

I looked away. "I’m not going to discuss it."

"That intense " she joked. ". That good."

I nudged her shoulder. Not forcefully,. Sufficient to make her chuckle. The noise reverberated through the room, cozy and known. My chest softened slightly.

"It’s nothing " I stated, grasping for an excuse. " Just foolish dreams.". My tone gave me away. I detected the quiver in it. My body still vibrated as if something, within me had been stirred to life something I had yet to comprehend. Whenever I dreamed about Asher it seemed like fantasy and more like an unnamed force drawing me in.

Nina raised an eyebrow as if she were deciphering every idea flickering across my expression. "Of course. Completely nothing."

I released a trembling sigh.

If only it were that simple.

I forced myself out of bed my feet landing on the floorboards with exaggerated flair. Nina lingered by the door still acting like a protective mother hen obsessed with gossip. I gently pushed her away. Headed to the small bathroom dousing my face with cold water until the burning in my cheeks eased and no longer screamed my remorse.

Dreams were meant to fade. Mine stuck to me like burrs, on cloth.

I cleaned my teeth stroked my hair and avoided looking at my reflection whenever possible. I hated how flushed my face stayed how my heart continued pounding at the idea of a man who rarely looked at me these days. I tied my hair back, into a ponytail. Glared at my reflection anyway. "Pathetic " I whispered.

Nina leaned on the doorframe. "Talking to yourself more."

“It’s either this or shout " I answered.

She chuckled. "Honestly shout. It could add some personality to you.”

I slipped past her into the room. Sunlight streamed through the drapes illuminating the dust floating in the air. I put on my jeans and a tank top, my mind wandering back, to places I earnestly wanted to escape.

Asher.

My stomach tightened. Simply saying his name felt like inviting turmoil to flood my veins. He was my brother’s ally, the Alpha of the IronClaw pack a figure whose presence made enemies hesitate and inspired wolves to rise with pride. Command draped in leather. Determination. Scars carved from endurance. Every part of him was designed to command.

Regrettably my dreams paid no heed to limits.

I tightened my boots trying to push the thoughts. They returned persistently as though gravity resented me. The dream felt so real. The sound of his voice the force of his grip the heat blossoming within me. Wolves don’t experience dreams like humans do. Our dreams carry instincts, warnings, meaning.... That scared me.

Beneath my skin my wolf stirred faintly not fully awake yet. It was aware enough to vocalize notions I decided to overlook. I placed a hand on my chest trying to inhale.

Nina watched me from the bed. "You realize that if you continue frowning like that you'll hasten the aging process.”

“Alright " I answered. "Perhaps then Asher will stop treating me like a child.”

She raised an eyebrow. "Oh so now we are talking about Asher.”

“We aren’t."

“We definitely are."

I grabbed my jacket. "No we’re not."

She trailed me to the stairs that led down to the garage. "Enid you’ve been dreaming about him for weeks. Before you deny it again you talk in your sleep."

My face heated up, at once. "I don’t."

"You said his name last night."

I nearly faltered. "I despise you."

" You care about me. Yet you are fond of him."

"No. I don’t like him.” I gulped sharply. "I don’t even want to consider him."

Nina shot me a grin. One of those self-satisfied smirks that made me want to hurl a wrench in her direction. "Your heart thinks otherwise."

I inhaled sharply pushing the garage door aside as the scent of motor oil drifted out to greet me.

"If Jasper found out " I whispered, "he’d go crazy."

"Fortunately he isn't here." I exhaled, my nerves buzzing.

Dreams meant something. And this one felt too real to ignore.