“If you insist on showing off,” Darius said to him, “then I suppose I have no choice in the matter.”
“She needs every advantage she can get.”
“What advantage?” I turned around to ask Emilio what he was talking about, but he didn’t need words to answer me.
He loomed before me, naked, as stunning as a sculpture and just as silent. I hadn’t even heard him approach, or strip for that matter, but now he was here, close enough to touch. To smell.
I still hadn’t spent a lot of time with him—not up close—and for a moment I closed my eyes, letting his scent wash over me. It was a heady mix that reminded me of everything I loved about being outside—earthy and woodsy, underscored with a touch of something sweet, like vanilla.
It was lovely and warm and comforting, just like Emilio himself.
I opened my eyes, marveling at him. Not even caring that I probably looked like a crazy fangirl.
The biggest of the guys in all ways, his well-defined muscles rippled in the moonlight, sleek and powerful beneath his golden skin.
Despite his playful smile and the kindness in his eyes, standing here in all his chiseled perfection, Emilio Alvarez was downrightfrightening. The raw power locked away in his body gave me chills.
And he hadn’t even shifted yet.
Wordlessly he pointed toward the other end of the yard, gesturing for me to walk in that direction. He was so beautiful it almost hurt to tear my eyes away, but somehow I managed, heading out to the edge of the grass that bordered the woods.
“Is this far enough?” I turned around, simultaneously nervous and excited to see him shift again. I’d only seen it the one other time—the night we’d infiltrated Norah’s place to save Asher—and there hadn’t been much time to appreciate it.
But I’d already missed my chance tonight, because charging across the lawn, heading right for me, was a very fast, very large wolf.
Out here in the moonlight, clearly in his element, the jet-black wolf ignited a primal fear inside me. My heart hammered against my chest, my mouth turning as dry as sand.
“Tuck and roll, Gray!” Darius shouted. “Do it now!”
The urgency of his command snapped me out of my paralysis. Shoving aside my fear, I dropped to the ground and covered my head with my arms.
There was no time to roll.
Emilio crashed into me like a freight train, sending me sprawling onto my back. Like Darius had earlier, Emilio pinned me down, baring his fangs. I blinked rapidly, sucking in air to try to calm my heartbeat.
I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but holyshitthose fangs were scary.
“It’s a show of dominance,” Darius explained. “He’s testing you to see if you’ll submit or challenge him.”
“I’m not exactly in a position to challenge him,” I said, trying to squirm out from beneath him.
Emilio growled, a quiet but menacing warning meant just for me. Every hair on my body stood on end.
He really was magnificent.
And clearly the alpha in this situation.
I closed my eyes, indicating my total submission.
After a beat, I felt him lower his head, nudging my cheek with his snout. He was still on top of me, but he’d taken his paws off my arms, relieving the pressure.
“What’s he doing now?” I asked Darius, opening my eyes.
“I believe the big softy wants you to pet him.”
I let out a shaky laugh, my body still humming with fear and adrenaline. “That I can definitely do.”
Slowly, I reached up to touch his head, stroking his coarse fur. It was thicker than I remembered, coated with an oily sheen. I grabbed a fistful, giving him a gentle tug, working my way over to his ears.
