Chapter 3

That afternoon, I stopped by a private clinic. I couldn't sleep lately. I had no appetite. I thought I was sick.

"Your results show you're perfectly healthy." The young female doctor put down my chart. "You're just stressed. It's messing with your hormones."

She looked at my age. Then she looked at my marital status.

"I suggest you find a partner and blow off some steam in bed." Her blunt advice made me blush. "A healthy sex life is important for a woman's health."

I practically ran out of the clinic in pure awkwardness. If I was getting laid, would I even be at the doctor's?

Later, Chloe and I had tea at the studio.

"Look at you." She handed me some tiramisu. "You're pale as a ghost, with dark circles under your eyes."

"Thanks for the honesty." I took a bite of the sweet cake.

"I have an idea." Chloe leaned in mysteriously. "Hire some hot male models as 'training partners' for the studio. Let them help you relieve some stress."

I almost choked on the cake. "What?"

"Don't play innocent." She smirked. "I know some pros. Great bodies, great skills. They'll rock your world."

"Chloe!" My face turned beet red. "I'm a married woman!"

"So what? Your husband won't touch you. Are you just gonna stay frustrated?" She rolled her eyes. "Modern women need to live for themselves."

I shot down her idea. But later, staring at my own exhausted reflection, I hesitated. Maybe she was right.

That night, I had the wildest dream.

I was running through a forest under a full moon. Something was hunting me. But I wasn't scared. I was trembling with excitement.

A massive black wolf caught up to me. His golden eyes glowed under the moonlight.

He pinned me to the grass. His scorching tongue licked my neck. I trembled beneath him, moaning, completely surrendering.

Then the black wolf shifted into Ryder. He was naked and perfect. His eyes were wild with raw lust.

He kissed me. He bit me. He pounded into me...

"Ah!" I jolted awake, drenched in sweat.

My heart hammered in my chest. I was completely soaked between my legs.

Damn it. I just had a wet dream about him.

I sat up. My legs felt like jelly. The dream felt too real. Frighteningly real.

My throat was dry. I went downstairs for water. Walking past the living room, I heard voices.

Ryder and his pack buddies were still awake, drinking and chatting.

"Ryder, this can't go on." A guy said. "Married for six months and you still haven't touched her?"

"You're a pathetic Alpha." Another guy laughed. "Your fated mate is right there, and you're too scared to claim her. Keep this up, and another wolf will."

I froze. Alpha? Mate? Wolves?

What were they talking about?

"Shut up." Ryder's voice was low and dangerous, dripping with pure dominance. "She doesn't know about our world. It's better this way."

"She's so perfect. So fragile." His voice broke with agony. "If she finds out what kind of monster I really am, she'll be terrified."

My heart almost stopped. Ryder... wasn't human?

"Bullshit," one of his buddies jeered. "If you’re so tough, then stop whining on that encrypted forum every night. 'Midnight_Howler'... real creative."

Midnight_Howler. I memorized the ID.

I slipped back to my room and opened my laptop. I found the hidden forum called "The Den". With a few tricks, I registered and got in.

I quickly found the user "Midnight_Howler".

The title of the pinned post made me hold my breath:

[I Finally Married the Girl of My Dreams]

Shaking, I clicked the thread.

"Six months ago, I married her. The girl I've loved secretly for years is finally my wife."

"But I don't dare touch her. I'm terrified that if she sees the real me, she'll be disgusted and run away. I'm a beast. I'm afraid I'll hurt her."

Every reply told him to confess, but he kept saying no.

My hands shook as I scrolled down. I found an even more shocking update.

It had a cropped selfie attached: Ryder’s thick neck wearing a heavy-duty black tactical dog collar.

The metal buckle dug right below his Adam's apple. It was dirty, forbidden, and incredibly sexy.

The caption made my breath hitch:

"I confess. I sneaked into her closet and stole her training gloves. Every night, I fall asleep breathing in her scent."

"I even bought a collar. I fantasize about her soft hands holding my leash. I want her to order me around like a dog. I want to submit to her completely. I want her to tame me, but I also want to rip her apart and swallow her whole."

"She tried to seduce me again last night. She laid in my bed wearing sexy lingerie. I almost lost it. I almost bared my fangs, pinned her down, and took her hard. But I ran away."

"Avery, look at me. Look at the real me. I'm not some cold, untouchable CEO. I'm just a beast who is madly in love with you."

Reading these agonizing, obsessed, and deeply devoted words set my blood on fire.