This Must be a Dream
A pair of eyes fluttered open in a vast, beige-colored room.
The early morning light poured through the windows in golden streaks—too bright for winter.
Birds chirped softly outside, their wings tapping gently against the glass.
Adelaide squinted, shielding her face with the back of her hand.
This is weird… she thought groggily. When did the sun get so bright in winter?
She stretched her legs, expecting to feel the familiar emptiness of her queen-sized bed.
But her foot collided with something warm. And solid. Like a man’s.
Oh…
It had been ages since she’d been with a man, and now she was getting these carnal dreams?
Before she could pull back, a rough hand slipped up her thigh and wrapped around her waist, pulling her close.
A low moan escaped her lips before she could catch it.
She shouldn’t be enjoying this. Yes, she was single—but she wasn’t depraved.
And yet...
A second hand cupped her breasts, squeezing gently, rubbing slow circles over her buds.
Adelaide felt a wetness bloom between her legs. She bit her lower lip.
Alright… that’s enough. Time to wake up. She had a book signing today. The sun was up. She couldn’t be here fantasizing and dreaming about a man that—
Wait.
She made to stand, but the hand was still firmly around her waist.
Her brows furrowed as full awareness began to set in.
“You feel so good, baby.”
A deep voice spoke from behind her.
In a flash, Adelaide jumped off the bed, her small hands instantly going over her bare chest.
“Who are you? What are you doing here!”
She screamed, the hairs on her body standing upright.
Who was this man? How did he get into her room?
Hold on…
Adelaide’s eyes darted around the room— And all color drained from her face.
This was not her room.
Gone were her soft pink walls, her vanity cluttered with different brands of lipstick, and the cheap Mona Lisa knockoff she got from Puerto Rico.
In its place was a massive, luxuriously furnished chamber. Ornate paintings lined the walls. A chandelier glimmered overhead. Red Persian rugs cushioned her feet. The bed was easily seven feet wide.
Wait a damn minute…
The last thing she remembered was drinking wine to stupor before drifting off to sleep.
How the hell did she get here? Did she sleepwalk?!
Adelaide’s gaze snapped back to the man on the bed.
He was staring at her, puzzled—as though just as confused.
Her eyes gleamed with fear. She moved backward until her back hit the wall.
“Who are you! What did you do to me?! Oh God… Did we…”
She swallowed hard.
Her insides were pulsing—like something thick, hard, and huge had been in her.
Her legs instantly clamped together.
The man on the bed was… gorgeous.
His golden eyes shimmered under the morning sunlight. His chest was sculpted, his biceps flexing as he brushed a hand through his white silvery hair.
He looked like he’d walked out of a painting.
She hadn’t seen anyone this drop-dead gorgeous.
Adelaide’s insides ached with want—like she needed him inside her again.
Her nipples hardened at the thought.
She shook her head.
What the hell! Why am I gawking at this man? I don’t even know where the hell I am!
This must be a dream, right?
Wake up!
Adelaide slapped herself—hard.
Pain soared through her cheek.
She screamed.
“Help! Somebody please help!”
“What are you doing?”
The man on the bed asked, brows creased, one arched.
Adelaide pointed a shaking finger at him.
“Who the hell are you? How did I get here? WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!”
He stared at her for a beat… then scoffed.
In a blink, he stood from the bed.
The sheets fell away.
Adelaide’s eyes widened. Her gaze dropped—then she forced it back up.
He was naked. Stark. Lord.
She looked away quickly, cursing under her breath as he approached.
Her hands fiddled at her sides.
But there was no time to think.
In a flash, his hand wrapped around her neck—
—and lifted her off the ground.
Her toes barely scraped the floor.
“You drugged me,” he growled. “Got me to sleep with you and now you’re playing innocent?
You must be quite silly if you think you can wriggle your way out of this with your stupid little games.
Polly.”
Polly?
Adelaide’s legs flailed in the air as her face turned beet red. Her eyes nearly bulged from her sockets.
“Stop… you… are hurting me…”
She croaked, her hands clawing at his wrist.
He let go.
She slumped to the floor like a bag of sand, coughing violently.
Polly? He called me Polly?
Wait…
That was the name of the villain in her book, Tempting Him.
Was he one of her deranged fans? Did he drug her? Kidnap her to act out his twisted fantasy?
“Get out of my sight,” he seethed, “Before I lock you up in the cellar.
And this time, not even your parents will be able to get you out.”
He stormed out through the adjoining door, slamming it behind him.
Adelaide blinked back tears.
Was he insane? What was going on?
Polly had drugged the male lead, Alpha Rael, and slept with him. Was he… recreating that scene?
Was he trying to put her through her own book?
Adelaide scrambled to her feet.
She had to get out. Now.
She sprinted toward the door— —but paused.
A floor-length mirror stood beside her.
She came to an abrupt stop.
Adelaide’s heart thundered. The hairs on her arms stood up.
What… was that?
She didn’t know every inch of herself on sight, But one thing she could never mistake— Her height.
She was 5′8. Always had been.
But the reflection showed a 5′2 woman. Maybe 5′4 at best.
Adelaide swallowed hard.
She turned slowly toward the mirror—
—and her world came crashing down.
Gone were her sea-blue eyes.
In their place: gray ones, bleached by the sun.
Her lips weren’t her usual tiny pout lined with lip pencil— —they were full. Red. Kissed raw.
And her hair…
Blood red. Just like Polly’s.
No… no no no…
She took another look at the mirror— —and instantly jerked backward, collapsing on the floor.
Her face turned deathly pale.
“It can’t be… no… no…”
The bathroom door creaked open.
The man— Rael— stepped out, towel wrapped low on his hips, his white hair dripping water down his sculpted chest.
Adelaide turned.
Golden eyes. White, silky locks. Chiseled body.
He was walking toward her now— His eyes a deathly glare.
“Alpha… Alpha Rael?” she whispered.
He paused—then smirked.
“Remain there… and my name will be the last word you speak before I sniff the living life out of you.”
Adelaide didn’t wait to see if he meant it.
She bolted.
But as she got to the door—
—it swung open by itself.
Two guards rushed in.
“Alpha! There’s trouble!”
Their faces were pale. Stained with horror.
Rael’s brows furrowed, eyes sharp with annoyance.
Whatever made them barge into his chambers… It better be worth it.
Or their heads would be on a stake by noon.
“What is it?” he asked coldly.
The guard trembled.
“Alpha… The Luna…She’s dead.”
