Chapter 11

Rosemary

The following day, I found myself sitting at the breakfast table with Nathaniel and Grace. The soft chatter of pack members filled the room, everyone greeting each other, exchanging pleasantries. My plate of food sat mostly untouched in front of me, but my attention wasn’t on it. I couldn’t stop staring at Ethan, who just walked in.

There was something about him, something magnetic. I tried to be discreet, but I knew he noticed how my eyes flicked toward him. I could feel his gaze on me, too, intense and lingering. It was like there was this unspoken tension between us I didn’t understand, and yet, I couldn’t look away.

Around us, I could hear pack members murmuring, “Good morning, Alpha,” as they passed by, nodding respectfully in his direction. Ethan took his seat next to Nathaniel, and soon the two of them were deep in conversation, discussing things that, to my surprise, sounded a lot like business.

I couldn’t help myself. “Did I hear you guys talking about a company?” I asked, leaning in slightly. “What kind of business are you in?”

Nathaniel glanced at Ethan before answering. “Ethan is the CEO of Walker Inc. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “Heard of them? That’s my dream company!” I gasped. “I had no idea werewolves had… I don’t know, actual jobs in the human world.”

Ethan’s lips twitched slightly, as if amused by my reaction. “We do. Many of us work within the pack, but some, like myself, also work outside, integrating into human society. I hire witches, fae, and even some vampires, though managing vampires during the day can be tricky. Most of them handle our international contacts.”

“That’s incredible,” I said, still processing. “I mean… if I ever manage to finish my degree, which feels like an impossible task right now, working for a company like yours would be a dream come true.”

Ethan’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a moment, he seemed almost… softer. “Maybe you will,” he murmured quietly, his voice barely audible.

I couldn’t help but smile at his comment, warmth spreading through me. There was something reassuring about the way he said it, like he believed in me even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself.

The conversation shifted back to pack matters, and after a while, both men stood up to leave, heading toward Ethan’s ground-floor office. I stayed behind with Grace, who was as cheerful as ever, a bright presence beside me.

“You and Ethan were kind of… staring at each other,” she teased with a knowing grin.

I blushed, looking down at my plate. “I wasn’t staring,” I mumbled, knowing it wasn’t entirely true. Grace just laughed and nudged me with her shoulder.

After we finished breakfast, she convinced me to change into one of the swimsuits she’d made me buy the day before. “Come on, let’s hit the pool,” she said, her eyes gleaming excitedly. “You need to unwind.”

I couldn’t argue with that, so I went up to my room and pulled on the black swimsuit she’d insisted I get. It was skimpier than anything I’d ever worn, but somehow, I didn’t mind. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I realized I actually liked it. Maybe Grace got me better than I got myself.

We spent the next hour lounging by the pool, the sun warm on our skin. Grace fell asleep on the chair beside me, her breathing soft and even. I looked around, taking in the sight of the pack members scattered around the area. It was like nothing I’d ever seen - so many beautiful people in one place, all of them relaxed, at ease. It felt surreal.

As I scanned the crowd, I noticed a girl sitting a little farther away, watching me. She was stunning - long, tanned legs, blonde hair, a belly button piercing that gleamed in the sunlight. When she caught my eye, I winked, feeling a playful surge of confidence that surprised even me.

Grace was still asleep, so I decided to introduce myself. I walked over to the girl, feeling her eyes follow me as I approached. “Hey,” I said, flashing her a grin. “I’m Mer.”

She smiled shyly, her cheeks flushing a little as she gave me her name, though it didn’t really register. Something about her was intoxicating, and I felt the tension I’d been carrying begin to melt away. We ended up heading to the showers together. Apparently, they were unisex here, which made sense, considering werewolves shifted naked next to each other. Modesty wasn’t exactly a thing.

Once inside, I felt a boldness rise in me, maybe because I hadn’t let myself unwind like this in so long. I took her hand and led her toward one of the stalls, the sound of water running around us. The second we were alone, I pinned her gently against the wall and kissed her - hard and deep. Her lips parted instantly, needy, soft, warm, her breath catching as I slipped my tongue into her mouth. I threaded my fingers through her damp hair and tilted her head back, devouring her, sucking on her bottom lip until she whimpered. It had been too long since I let go, too long since I had found any type of release.

My hands moved to the strings at her neck, tugging them loose. Her swimsuit top fell away, and I took a moment to admire her. Smooth, soft skin. Perfect breasts, nipples already hard from the cool mist, or maybe from the way I was looking at her. I bent down and sucked one of them into my mouth. She gasped, her back arching into me, hands flying to grip my shoulders. I flicked my tongue over her nipple, then nibbled gently, dragging a moan from her throat. I moved to the other, giving it the same treatment, loving the way she writhed under my touch, her breath coming faster now.

I slid my hand down between her legs, under the wet fabric of her suit, and found her soaked. I groaned softly, teasing her entrance with slow strokes, then circling her clit with two fingers, watching her face contort in pleasure. She clung to me, panting, grinding against my hand. I slipped a finger inside her, then another, curling them just right as I kissed her again, swallowing her cries. Her pussy clenched around my fingers, her thighs shaking as I thrust them in and out, faster and harder, pushing her closer to the edge. But just as I started to lose myself in the moment, I heard a sound that stopped me cold.

A gasp.

I turned, and my heart skipped a beat. Ethan stood there, his chest heaving slightly like he had just come from training, sweat glistening on his skin. His blue eyes locked onto mine for a split second, and then he quickly turned around and walked out of the shower area, retreating without a word.

My breath caught in my throat. The girl I was with said something, but I didn’t hear her. My mind was focused entirely on Ethan, on the look in his eyes when he saw me.

Without thinking, I apologized to the girl, hastily pulling away from her. I barely registered her disappointed look as I ran after Ethan, my heart racing for reasons I couldn’t explain.