4

I jerked awake to blinding sunlight from the open curtains and the sound of waves from the ocean. I was wrapped up in unfamiliar sheets, in a room I was sure was not mine. 

I looked around, finding that the alcohol had worn out and my brain no longer felt like mush yet it hadn’t erased the memories of last night. I remembered it vividly.

The full moon. Humans transforming into wolves. Actual fucking werewolves!

God! It wasn’t a dream. Terror filled my whole body and made me tremble as another memory flashed through my mind. 

I needed to leave this place, this ship. I didn’t know how I was going to do that but I knew I wasn’t safe here. 

I jumped out of bed, my heart hammering in my throat as I raced towards the door, going through all the ways I could escape from this ship alive. 

“Where are you going?” A deep voice froze me in my tracks and I turned around with wide eyes, staring into gold flaming ones.

My heart skipped.

Landon.

He was standing there, chest naked, water dripping from his muscled strong toned abs. My face flushed and I couldn’t tell if it was from the fear that kept me rooted in place or the fact that I thought he was extremely hot. 

All of a sudden, a thought crossed my mind and I stared down at myself, then at the bed and back at Landon whose heated gaze was fixed on me.

“We… didn’t… right?” 

Actually, that should be the least of my concerns but I couldn’t help myself.

This perfectly sculpted god like man standing in front of me… did I really sleep with him?

A low dangerous chuckle escaped his lips and it sent goosebumps down my spine.

“Who do you think you are?” His words were cold as he trailed his gaze over my body. In other words, he didn’t think I was someone he’d take to bed. Yet, even though I knew it was the wrong time, I couldn’t help remembering the way he’d sniffed me last night, the way he had me clenching my thighs in need. 

“I… I’ll just leave then.” Nervously, I reached for the door but he moved too fast. Almost as if he’d disappeared and appeared, blocking the door. 

He was standing close to me now. Too close. And I was shaking like a leaf. This was prove that last night was not a dream. 

He was a fucking werewolf!

“I didn’t say you could leave.” Landon stared at me through narrowed eyes, his gaze was calculating, cold, and I felt his breath on my cheeks as he whispered. “You’re suspicious you know? You didn’t shift last night.”

Shift? As in, transform into a monster like they all had? Fuck! Was it a requirement?

My head spinned with lies, excuses I could make up and then I said.

“I didn’t want to.”

“You didn’t want to?” He repeated, voice deep and dangerous like he already knew my secret. “It was the full moon. No one can resist shifting on the full moon. I’ve never heard of it.”

“Well, now you have.” I tried to sound not concerned about it. The only thing ringing in my head was that attendant’s words.

If they find out you’re human, you’ll die. So I absolutely cannot let him find out. 

His eyes were narrowed at me, as if he was trying to see through my lie but I didn’t wait for him to find out.

“Uh… I really need to use the bathroom so.. uh.. I’ll just leave now.” I pushed past him hurriedly, headed for the door, praying he wouldn’t stop me again.

If I could simply disappear from his sight at that moment, I would. 

I pulled open the door, ready to run away from this place but I’ve always had terrible luck since I jumped on this ship.

I came face to face with two people. Emily, and Leo. I froze, my blood turning cold.

They looked like they were just about to knock and when they saw me, their expressions twisted into mind blowing shock, like they couldn’t believe their eyes then their gazes moved behind me to where Landon was now standing, chest naked and insanely hot.

Goodness! I could almost see what they were thinking so I began to explain instantly.

“It’s not what you think.”

Leo’s lips curled in amusement after his shock subsided but Emily glared at me, crossing her arms.

“And she said she wasn’t a whore. Look at you seducing our Alpha.”

I held my tongue back from firing a reply, telling myself these people were not human. They could easily break me, kill me and no one would ask questions. No one would even find my dead body. 

Leo licked his lips and whistled. “Well, this would make breaking news.”

I shuddered at the implication of that, then I looked at Landon. Shouldn’t he be explaining to them that nothing happened between us? But he just crossed his arms, throwing one glance at the two before he asked. “What do you want?”

“Well first, I think you should tell us what drove you and Nara together. Was it the moon? Did it bring you two together? Does that mean-“

“Shut up!” Landon barked. His voice reverberated through the air, making me almost jump. It was as if what Leo was implying finally pissed him off. Did he hate the thought of being together with me that much?

Leo immediately went quiet but the amusement didn’t leave his face.

“I… I’ll go now.” I said, unable to spend one more second in their company.

I didn’t wait for them to say anymore before I hurried out, walking briskly in the opposite direction and feeling their gazes burning into my back. 

A moment later, I heard Leo’s voice. 

“Nara, that’s not the way to your room.”

I froze and slowly turned around, finally recognizing the surroundings.

“Aren’t you a door away from Kain? It should be this way.”

I nodded, trying to hide my embarrassment as I walked back towards them and continued on to my room.

All the while, they were staring at me.

If I wasn’t so scared that they’d find me out, I’d have been willing to bash my head into a wall from the embarrassment.

But then, didn’t this mean I was also just a door away from Landon’s room?

My room was sandwiched between Kain and Landon.

I tried not to think about it. When I finally got inside my room, I shut the door tight and collapsed on the floor, my legs shaking. 

What have I gotten myself into?

Werewolves were not supposed to be real, but here I was, in the midst of them. I must be going crazy. 

My heart was racing, fear gripping my bones then I stood from the floor, unease filling my chest.

I needed to find that attendant. If anyone was going to help me leave this ship, it was going to be her. 

Just as I was getting ready to leave, a knock came on my door.

I froze, wondering who it could be. 

I didn’t dare open it.

It could be anyone. 

Or Landon might’ve told someone I didn’t shift like they all had and has reported me.

This thought caused a memory to flash through my mind.

Last night, right before I collapsed in Landon’s room, I saw him. 

And he wasn’t in his wolf form when every other person was.

Another aggressive knock and I was jolted out of my thoughts. It was followed by a familiar voice.

“Nara, are you in there?”

Kain.

What was he doing here?

I hesitated, but then I knew I couldn’t keep him out there like that so I walked forward and opened the door.

Except nothing would’ve prepared me for the horrific sight that was waiting for me outside. 

Kain stood there before me, naked in all his glory. And my first instinct, was to scream.