apter 13
+15 BONUS
Chapter 13
He gently placed a hand on the small of my back.
The touch was barely there, but it sent an electric jolt through me. His warmth seeped through the fabric of my shirt, making my
heart race.
We turned a corner, and Alexander opened a carved oak door. I held my breath.
The suite was stunning.
A wall of floor–to–ceiling windows revealed rolling hills bathed in moonlight. Velvet curtains shimmered in the soft glow of crystal sconces. The king–sized bed was dressed in pristine Egyptian cotton, inviting and impossibly plush.
“The bathroom’s to your left,” Alexander said, gesturing to a marble–clad doorway. “An Omega will come up to help you settle in. If you need anything…”
He hesitated, and a flicker of something passed over his face.“Call me. Anytime.”
I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. “Thank you, Alexander.”
“You know you never have to thank me,” he said softly, reaching out to ruffle my hair like he used to.
The familiar gesture shattered something inside me.
Tears welled up before I could stop them. My shoulders trembled as I looked down.
“I’m sorry…” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away. If I had handled things differently, maybe…”
“Shh.” Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms–wrapping me in strength and warmth. One hand cradled the back of my head, the other stroked slowly down my spine.
“It’s over. Let the past stay in the past.”
I leaned into him, burying my face in his button–up shirt.
His scent–cedar and lavender–wrapped around me, taking me back to a simpler, happier time.
I don’t know how long we stayed like that.
Slowly, my sobs subsided. But every second, his body heat, his scent, his heartbeat against my cheek–it all felt too close.
Too intimate.
Damn it, why did it feel so good to fall into his arms again?
Then I noticed the damp patch on his shirt from my tears.
“I… I’m sorry I ruined your shirt.” I tried to pull away, but his arms only tightened.
“Summer…” His voice was rough and low, his breath warm against my ear. “You think I care about a shirt?”
My heart skipped a beat. His fingers brushed against the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.
“What I care about…” he paused, his other hand wiping the last of my tears away, “is why you were crying.”
“I…” I looked up at him, only to be caught in those deep, burning eyes. They were too intense. I looked away quickly. “It’s late. I should get cleaned up. You should rest too.”
He let me go, but just before he stepped away, his fingers lightly grazed my chin–as if he needed one last touch.
1/2
Chapter 13
“Goodnight, Summer.”
I practically fled into the room, pulling the heavy door shut behind me.
+15 BONUS
Leaning back against it, I could feel my heart thudding. My ears, my cheeks, even my collarbone felt like they were on fire.
“Mommy, why is your face all red?” Felix asked from the velvet armchair, blinking sleepily. “You look like a tomato.”
“Uh… probably just a little warm,” I said, forcing a laugh and pressing a hand to my burning cheek. “Come on, let’s get you ready for bed.”
He tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. I grabbed his overnight bag and led him to the bathroom.
Once he was clean and tucked under the down comforter, I leaned over to kiss his forehead. “Sleep well, baby.”
“Goodnight, Mommy.” He yawned wide and drifted off almost instantly. ·
I climbed into the massive bed on the other side, but sleep didn’t come.
Alexander’s voice, his expression, his scent–it kept looping in my head like a stuck record.
Cedar and lavender still clung to the air around me.
I turned over with a frustrated sigh.
If Alpha Alexander…
God, I really wish my wolf was awake.
She would know what to do.
