CHAPTER ONE
ELOWEN
We return to our chambers, the sun has set completely. My feet hurt, but in a good way.
Rylan closes the door behind us, and the atmosphere immediately shifts. I feel his desire spike through the bond, answering something in me. “Elowen.” My name sounds different in his voice now. Deeper. Hungry.
“I should change,” I say quickly, moving toward the closet. “And maybe take a bath. I’m all dusty from the gardens—”
His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back against his chest. “You’re perfect exactly as you are.”
“I’m sweaty.”
“I don’t care.” His lips find the mark on my shoulder, and I gasp at the sensation that shoots through me. “I’ve been thinking about this all day.”
“We just—this morning—”
“I know.” His hands slide under my shirt, warm against my skin. “I can’t get enough of you.”
Heat pools low in my belly. I try to focus on anything else. “Maybe we should—”
“Should what?” He turns me around, backing me toward the bed. “Talk about the weather? Discuss politics?”
“Yes,” I lie. “Politics is very important.”
He laughs against my neck. “You’re a terrible liar, little wolf.”
The backs of my knees hit the bed. I sit down quickly, then flop backward, closing my eyes.
“Are you seriously pretending to be asleep?” His voice is amused. I don’t respond. I even add a small snore for effect.
“Fine.” The mattress dips as he climbs over me. “If you’re asleep, you won’t mind this.”
His fingers find the buttons of my shirt, undoing them slowly. Cool air hits my skin as he spreads the fabric open.
I force myself to stay still. To keep my breathing steady. “Still asleep?” His lips brush my collarbone. “Good.”
His mouth moves lower, tracing a path between my breasts. My breath hitches despite my best efforts.
He pulls the bra down, exposing me completely. The first touch of his mouth on my bare skin makes my back arch involuntarily.
“There she is,” he murmurs against my breast. “I’m sleeping,” I insist, my voice breathless.
“Sure you are.” He takes my nipple into his mouth, sucking hard.
A moan escapes before I can stop it. My hands tangle in his hair, pulling him closer instead of pushing him away like I probably should.
“Rylan,” I gasp.
“Yes?” He switches to my other breast, his hand kneading the one his mouth just left. “I’m listening.”
“We should—” My thought disappears when his hand slides between my thighs. “Oh.”
“Should what?” His fingers find me through my panties, stroking my already dripping core. “I really want to know.”
I can’t remember what I was going to say. Can’t think past the sensation of his mouth on my breast and his hand between my legs.
He reaches for the nightstand drawer, still kissing me. “Need to get—” His phone buzzes loudly against the wood.
We both freeze.
“Ignore it,” he mutters, reaching for the drawer again. The phone buzzes again. Then again.
“Rylan.” I push gently at his shoulder. “Someone really needs you.” He growls, actually growls, against my skin. “They can wait.”
But the phone keeps buzzing. Insistent. Urgent.
With a curse, he grabs it, clearly intending to end the call and shut it off completely. I sit up, leaning against his shoulder to see who’s calling.
The name on the screen makes my blood run cold.
Rosalind Delaney
A woman’s name.
Rylan declines again, tossing his phone aside. He looks down at me, his eyes darkening with that familiar hunger as he pulls me closer.
“Where were we?” He leans in, his lips brushing my jaw.
I press my hand against his chest, stopping him. “Who was that?”
“No one important.” His mouth finds my neck, kissing the mark he left there. The sensation makes my breath catch, but I force myself to focus.
“Rylan.” I push harder. “Who called you?”
He sighs, pulling back slightly. “Just an acquaintance. She might have some news about pack business.”
“An acquaintance who calls at this hour?” I try to keep my voice light, but it comes out sharper than I intended.
He cups my face, his thumb stroking my cheek. “It’s nothing, little wolf. Now can we—”
“If it’s nothing, why did she call so late?” I sit up, pulling the blanket around me.
His jaw tightens. I can feel his frustration through the bond, mixed with something else. Resignation, maybe.
“I don’t want to call her back.” His hand finds my hip through the blanket. “I want to continue what we started.”
“But—”
“Fine.” He reaches for his phone, his movements sharp. “I’ll call her. But only because you’re going to overthink this if I don’t.”
He presses the callback button, and I hear it ring once before a woman’s voice answers. “Rylan! I knew you’d call back.”
Her tone is warm. Familiar. Too familiar.
“Rosalind.” Rylan’s voice is clipped. He pulls me closer with his free arm, tucking me against his side. “What is it?”
“I heard the news! Congratulations on becoming the Werewolf King.” She sounds genuinely happy. “I always knew you’d achieve great things.”
I stare at his chest, trying not to listen too closely. But her voice carries clearly through the phone.
Rylan glances down at me. I know my expression must show everything I’m feeling because his lips twitch like he’s trying not to smile.
He leans forward and captures my mouth in a kiss. Soft and sweet, like he’s trying to distract me.
I pull back, narrowing my eyes at him.
“Thanks,” he says into the phone, his attention still on my face. “I appreciate it. Now if that’s all—”
“Wait!” Rosalind interrupts. “I’m coming back next week. Should I bring you a gift? Or maybe you could pick me up from the airport? It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other.”
My stomach twists. Pick her up from the airport?
“That won’t be necessary,” Rylan says firmly. His hand slides up my arm, pulling me even closer. “I’ll be busy.”
“Oh, come on. We’re old friends.” Her laugh is light. Musical. “Surely you can spare a few hours for me?”
“Rosalind!”
“Fine, fine. I know when I’m not wanted.” She sighs dramatically. “But I do have some information about the eastern territory situation.
We should meet when I’m back to discuss it properly.”
“Email me the details.”
“Always so formal now.” There’s a pause. “Well, I’ll let you go. Congratulations again, Rylan. I’m proud of you.”
The call ends. Rylan tosses his phone onto the nightstand and immediately turns his full attention to me.
His mouth finds my chest, kissing slowly. But Rosalind’s voice still echoes in my mind.
That warm, familiar tone. The way she said his name like she’d said it a thousand times before.
A pang of jealousy twists in my chest.
“Rylan.” I place my hand on his shoulder, stopping him. “Are you close to her?” He pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me. “Rosalind?”
I nod, not trusting my voice.
He kisses my forehead, then seems to think for a moment. “We haven’t been in touch for a long time.
We were classmates at the werewolf academy. She’s the Alpha heir of her pack now, and sometimes she helps with clan matters.”
“Oh.” I look down at my hands.
I know he was expelled as a child. Had to grow up fast, build everything from nothing. Of course, he had people who helped him. I shouldn’t press for more details.
But Rosalind grew up with him. She knows parts of his life I’ll never know, academy years, struggles I can’t picture.
I don’t know much about his past at all.
And I’ve never seen another woman be so familiar with him before.
Never heard that warmth in someone else’s voice when they said his name. The thoughts circle in my mind, each one making the knot in my chest tighter. Sympathy for what he went through. Jealousy of what she shared with him.
The more I think about it, the worse it gets.
Heat floods my face. I bury myself under the blanket, turning my back to him. “I’m going to sleep.”
“Elowen.” His voice carries amusement now. “Goodnight.”
