I’m practically holding my breath until I confirm he’s unharmed. I force my expression to remain neutral, burying the concern beneath a display of professional detachment.
I offer him a hand. “Let me help—”
He grabs my arm and yanks, catching me off guard. I lose my footing immediately and fall on top of him. He rolls me over until he’s on top, pinning me down.
An unexpected bubble of laughter erupts from my chest. “That wasn’t fair!”
“Nothing’s fair in war,” he responds. “Your words.”
The moonlight catches a little of the shine in his eyes as he laughs with me. They’re jade green, like the color of the finestjewels. The heat from his body is bearing down on me as we both catch our breath, along with his particularly comforting and warm scent.
Goddess, I forgot about that. That’s a habit I’ve been trying to form lately, ignoring how good he smells to me. I can usually put it out of my mind until I catch a whiff on the breeze or he happens to be standing somewhere too close to my personal space. My inner wolf whines with interest.
What’s happening right now?
His ever-present, boyish smile fades, and now, our eyes are locked. His gaze runs over my face, down my body, and back up again. The scrutiny should irritate me, but instead, my skin flushes hot beneath his stare. Blood rushes between my ears, and for the first time since Xander, a telltale heat blooms throughout my core, settling low in my belly.
He lowers himself down to me, his mouth approaching mine.
I imagine his hands pinning my wrists to the ground, his sweat-slicked body moving against every curve of mine, taking what he wants.
My body wants him. My wolf needs him . . .
“Stop.” The word barely leaves my lips. He freezes, inches from my lips. “Please.”
He obeys, sitting up and getting off me. We climb to our feet, and he says, “Sorry, I—”
“Don’t— don’t apologize.” I step away from him, my mind fluttering with confusion. I don’t know what that was, but I can’t stay here.
Every muscle in my body fights against my retreat. Each step away from him requires deliberate effort, as though I’m slogging through mud. My wolf is practically whimpering in protest, urging me to turn around, to go back to him. The physical pull is so strong it frightens me.
I don’t know what the fuck is happening, but I can’t let it happen.The last time I allowed myself to feel something for someone, another woman took my place. And it’s not lost on me that Ethan isherhuman.
I walk away in a daze, leaving him there, unable to form words.
Behind me, the training ground is silent except for the whisper of the night breeze, carrying his scent away from me even as my wolf yearns to turn back.
Chapter 9 — Ethan
“Nice suit.”
I take the compliment with a smile as Thea looks at my reflection in her mirror. The dress she’s wearing is pale yellow with a pleated skirt and a halter top. It fits her well, highlighting her very pregnant belly under the breezy material. Her ivory hair is piled up in curls with jewels woven into the strands.
Standing next to her is Akila, who’s dressed in a modified version of her uniform. It has longer sleeves, heavier leather, and the pants are dotted with silver buttons down the sides. Her hair is still in braids, but they’re tied up and out of her face. For a warrior, she cleans up good.
Compared to them, I look like a nobody in my dark double-breasted suit with gold buttons, but that’s probably the point. It’s not like I’m supposed to be here. I imagine they’re hoping that I blend in so much that the Shaman won’t notice me.
“I’m nothing compared to you two,” I say in all honesty. Thea responds with a short chuckle as Akila just smiles at us both.
“I look like an angel food cake.” She runs a hand over her large belly, her smile turning downward. “God, I feel like I’ve been pregnantforever. I can’t even see my feet anymore.”
“Luna, you could not look more beautiful,” Akila says. She steps in and rubs Thea’s belly. “I’m so proud you chose me to be her mother goddess. This wolf’s spirit is strong. She’s already so big.”
Thea laughs. “It’sgodmother, and watch that ‘she’ business. Xander is certain I’m carrying a son.”
“All males think they’re having sons.” Akila shakes her head. “My father thought the same thing when my mother was pregnant with me. I sure fooled him, and I’m stronger than both my brothers.”
I like the two of them together, and I’m glad that in the time that Thea and I were apart, Akila was here to pick up where I left off. I can see that Akila adores her as much as I do.
