Chapter 3

The next morning…

ALYSSA

I couldn’t sleep a wink last night. My head kept working over a one-in-a-million possibility that my wolf’s healing might be tied to Duncan’s dominant presence… and his voice. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions until I had confirmed. But chances are, I might be right. And I really DO NOT want to be right. So, I tried to do an experiment at dinner last night, but Duncan didn’t have dinner with me.

I tried walking around the palace after that, maybe I could run into him or something. Still nothing.

My head is literally hurting from all the thinking I had to do before bed. And when I woke up this morning, I prayed to the goddess that my wolf would stir at least. That way, I wouldn’t have to go with the plan I—desperately—plotted in my head.

But as fate would have it, she’s silent.

With an exhausted sigh, I packed my hair into a loose ponytail, put on a pretty sundress, and headed out for breakfast. When I got to the dining hall, varieties of food were already lined up on the dining table—eggs, fruits, toast, even roasted meat. But Duncan wasn’t here… again. And I will not stand for it this morning.

“Hi,” I waved at the maid who was standing at the edge of the dining table. She turned to look at me, eyes widening before she rushed forward and bowed.

“What do you need, my princess?” she asked, eyes on the floor and trembling like I would kill her if she as much as looked at me.

I groaned and ruffled my hair. It took a lot of work before the maids at my pack were able to talk to me without acting like they had a hidden treasure on the floor, stopping them from looking into my eyes while they spoke to me. Now I’d have to start with these ones, but I didn’t have the time right now.

“Is Alpha Duncan coming down for breakfast?” I asked, expectant.

“No, my princess. He says he would call when he needs it.”

When he needs it? I scoffed. My wolf cannot wait for when he needs it. And I cannot wait to get my answers.

I reached forward and took a tray of food. The maid stretched her hand to take it from me, but I shook my head. “Show me to the Alpha’s room.”

She looked stricken at first, but she nodded with a polite bow. “Follow me, my princess.”

She led me down a long, quiet hallway. The air felt heavy around here. It was like his aura was extended all over this wing of the palace. He was that powerful, huh?

When we stopped in front of a large black door, she bowed again.

“You can go,” I told her softly. “I’ll take it from here.”

She hesitated, glancing nervously at the door, but I gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell him I came on my own.”

She nodded and hurried away.

I took a deep breath, adjusted the tray in my hands, and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” came his deep voice from inside, rough and commanding.

My chest fluttered, my knees going weak. With a sigh, I pushed the door open and stepped inside with a small smile.

Duncan turned in his chair, surprise flashing across his face when he saw me. He was sitting at the corner of the room, typing on his laptop. He wore simple black joggers and a plain gray shirt, his hair slightly messy, like he’d been raking his hand through it for hours.

Gone was the cold, distant Alpha from yesterday. This Duncan looked… relaxed and human. Hotter, even.

My heart skipped a beat. I really wanted to run my hand through that hair and see just how soft and silky it was.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his deep voice jolting me out of my not-so-innocent thoughts.

My wolf jumped with joy at the sound of it, and the tray in my hands almost slipped.

Realization hit me like a cold blade.

My wolf needed Duncan.

The only reason she had stirred, the only reason she had felt alive again, was because of him. His voice. His dominance. His presence.

Without him, she would slip back into unconsciousness, and I would have to suffer the pain for it.

My breath trembled as I took a step back. What was I supposed to do with that? How do I handle it?

Because if my wolf truly needed Duncan to heal… then I was in far more trouble than I could ever imagine.

“Alyssa?” The way my name rolled out of his mouth made my insides throb with need.

“I just… I was—” I stuttered, dropped the food on the table, and rushed out of his room. When I closed the door behind me, that pain shot through my chest again. I quickly opened the door and ran back in, my eyes filling with tears.

Duncan stood from where he was seated, his face ice cold as he approached me. Every step he took made my heart beat even faster. And when he stopped in front of me, all I wanted to do more than anything in the world was to touch him, to feel him.

“Are you going to tell me what all these shenanigans are about?” he asked, his brows raised in question as he studied me.

I reached out to touch him, but he held my hand. My wolf practically purred at the contact, her tail swishing. He would probably kill me because of what I was about to say. But I’d rather take that than die from the pain of staying away from him.

“Alyssa—”

“Please,” my voice trembled as I looked up at him. “Can I… can I hug you?”

He froze, his brows knitting together. “What?”

My throat went dry under his stare. “Just… please.”

He blinked, clearly confused. “Are you okay?”

I nodded quickly, even though I wasn’t. My wolf was scratching at the walls of my chest, begging to get closer to him. “I’m fine,” I whispered. “I just need to—” My voice cracked. “Please.”

He let out a low sigh and ran his hand through his hair, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here. “Alyssa, I’m busy,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “You should go back to your room.”

I shook my head immediately, tears threatening to spill. “No.”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes—something like concern—but he quickly turned away, muttering under his breath. “I don’t have time for this.”

He moved toward the door, and panic surged through me. My wolf whimpered inside me, desperate and aching.

Before I could stop myself, I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him from behind.

He went completely still.

My face pressed against his back, and my fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt. The heat from his body seeped into me, burning through the cold that had been eating me alive for days. My wolf stirred weakly, her soft growl of content echoing in my chest.

“Please,” I whispered again, my voice muffled against him.

Duncan’s breath hitched. His whole body was tense, like he was fighting himself not to move.

For a long moment, he didn’t say a word. Then, slowly, his hand brushed over mine hesitantly.

That single touch sent a rush of warmth through me, and my wolf sighed in relief, curling inside me like she finally found the missing piece she’d been searching for.

But just as quickly as it came, the warmth faded when he pulled my hands away and turned around, his eyes dark and unreadable.

“Alyssa,” his voice was rough. “Don’t ever do that again.”

And before I could explain, he walked past me and left the room, leaving me standing there, my heart racing and eyes burning.

What the heck do I do?