Another crash, followed by creative profanity that would make a soldier blush.
I push through the bathroom door and freeze.
Selene is tangled in the shower curtain, clearly having been in the middle of bathing when something went wrong. The curtain is wrapped around her like a cocoon as she struggles to free herself while maintaining modesty. Water drips from her auburn hair, and her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Don’t look!” she shrieks.
The mate bond surges at the sight of her, my wolf practically howling with recognition. Water droplets cling to her bare shoulders, her wet hair falling in dark waves around her face. The clinging fabric outlines curves that make my mouth go dry.
“Seth!” Her voice is breathless with panic and mortification. “What are you doing here?”
I should leave. Turn around, walk away, pretend this never happened. But my feet seem rooted to the tiles.
“I heard you cry out,” I manage, my voice rough. “I thought you were in danger.”
She finally frees one arm, clutching the fabric closer. “Well, I’m not. So, you can go now.”
I wait for the telltale signs—her pulse racing, her scent changing, the tremor in her voice—that would tell me she feels the bond, too. But there’s nothing. Just normal awkwardness at being caught in such a compromising position. Her heart rate is elevated from the fall, not from my presence.
My wolf whines in confusion. How can she be so unaffected?
“Are you hurt?” I ask, taking a step closer.
“No, just tangled.” She tugs at the curtain, but it’s thoroughly wrapped around her. “Can you leave? Please?”
There’s no awareness in her eyes now, no recognition of what should exist between us. Just a woman trying to preserve her dignity while stuck in a ridiculous situation.
“Let me help you,” I hear myself say.
“Absolutely not!” she insists. “I can manage on my own, thank you very much.”
But she can’t. The curtain is twisted in impossible ways, and her struggles are only making it worse.
I reach out slowly. “Hold still.”
The moment my fingers brush the wet fabric, electricity shoots up my arm. The mate bond sings with satisfaction at even this indirect contact. But when I look at her face, searching for any sign that she feels it, too, there’s nothing. Just frustrated embarrassment.
How is this possible? The bond is stronger than ever on my end, but she shows no reaction at all. It’s like I’m the only one who can feel it.
“Don’t touch me!” she snaps, jerking away from me. “Just get out, Seth!”
I freeze, my hand still extended. The sharpness in her voice has cut through me like a blade.
“Get out!” she repeats, her voice rising with panic and anger.
I should turn around and leave. Something abouther complete indifference, though, something about the way she’s looking at me like I’m nothing more than an unwelcome intruder, keeps me from moving.
“Seth!” Her voice cracks with desperation. “What part of ‘go away’ don’t you understand?”
When I still don’t budge, her blue eyes flash with fury.
“Why are you just standing there? Why are you invading my space like this?” Her voice trembles with emotion. “I thought you made yourself perfectly clear the other night.”
Heat flares in my chest—anger mixing with confusion and something darker. “What’s going on with you?”
She lets out a bitter laugh, clutching the curtain tighter around herself. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But the Commander should probably leave my room before someone sees you here.”
The formal way she says “Commander” stuns me into silence.
