Page 9 of Talk Howly to Me

That electric shock feeling. What the hell was that about?

She worked shampoo through her hair, letting the familiar routine calm her racing thoughts. But her mind kept circling back to the two men who'd welcomed her here without question. The way Ronan's blue eyes had seemed to see straight through her defenses and the way Kozue's smile had made her feel safe for the first time in years.

You don't get involved with guys. Not really. Not beyond a night or two.

That had always been her rule. Keep things simple. Keep them temporary. Don't let anyone close enough to disappoint you. But the attraction she'd felt to both men had been immediate and overwhelming in a way that made no logical sense.

They're probably brothers. Or at least they act like it. Getting involved with one would be complicated enough, but being attracted to both of them?

She rinsed the shampoo from her hair with more force than necessary, as if she could wash away the confusion along with the suds.

You're just overwhelmed. That's all this is.

The rational part of her mind supplied the explanation she wanted to hear. She'd had a traumatic night. She was in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by luxury she wasn't used to. It made perfect sense that she'd feel drawn to the first two men who'd shown her kindness and safety in years.

It's not attraction. It's gratitude mixed with exhaustion and adrenaline crash.

But even as she told herself that, she could still feel the phantom tingle where Ronan's hand had touched hers. Could still remember the way Kozue's green eyes had darkened when he'd looked at her.

She reached for the body wash—something that smelled like vanilla and sandalwood—and began working it over her skin. The scent was intoxicating, making her feel more feminine than she had in months of living in sports bras and workout clothes.

This will pass by morning. All of it. The attraction, the confusion, this weird feeling like I belong here.

She finished washing and stood under the rainfall of hot water for several more minutes, letting it carry away the last of her fight with Roxy, the terror of those men in the alley, and the exhaustion of a year spent fighting just to survive.

When she finally turned off the water, the bathroom was filled with steam that made everything look soft and dreamlike. She wrapped herself in a towel that was so plush it felt like being embraced by a cloud and caught another glimpse of herself in the now-fogged mirror.

Tomorrow I'll figure out what's next. Tonight, I just need to sleep.

The bedroom felt even more surreal when she emerged from the bathroom. The king-sized bed dominated the space, dressed in linens that looked like they'd never been slept in. She dropped the towel and slipped between sheets that were softer than anything she'd ever experienced in her entire life. The mattress seemed to cradle her body, supporting her in ways that made her realize just how much tension she'd been carrying for twenty-six years.

You're only staying here until you figure out your next move. That's all.

But as she settled into the most comfortable bed of her life, surrounded by safety and luxury she'd never known existed, Sloane found herself wondering if maybe—just maybe—she'd finally found a place where she could stop running for a while.

Sleep claimed her before she could finish the thought, pulling her into the deepest rest she'd had since she was six years old.

FOUR

KOZUE

Kozue's legs carried him through the lodge corridors on autopilot, his mind reeling from what had just transpired. The guest room door clicking shut behind him still echoed in his ears, but the sound felt muffled compared to the roar of his wolf demanding he turn around, march back through that door, and claim what belonged to them.

Mate.

The word pulsed through his consciousness like a heartbeat, primal and undeniable. His wolf paced restlessly, agitated by the distance he'd put between himself and Sloane. Every instinct screamed at him to return to her room and tell her everything—that she was his fated mate, that despite whatever danger had driven her here, she was the most breathtaking woman he'd ever encountered and that he would spend every day protecting her for the rest of his life. But he couldn't. Not yet.

She just arrived. She's running from something. The last thing she needs is some stranger telling her they're destined to be together.

The rational part of him fought against the primitive demands of his wolf, but it was a losing battle. His hands trembled slightly as he climbed the main staircase toward the upper level of the lodge, the scent of lavender and something uniquely Sloane still clinging to his skin.

His jaw clenched when he reached the third-floor landing as the memory flooded back with a vengeance. The moment Ronan had shaken Sloane's hand, and Kozue had watched his Alpha's pupils dilate with the same recognition that had slammed into Kozue. The electric shock of awareness, the way Ronan's entire body had gone rigid with barely controlled restraint—it had been unmistakable.

Sloane was Ronan's fated mate too.

A triad mate bond.

The words felt foreign in his mind, despite knowing the theory. Rare didn't begin to cover it. Most wolves lived their entire lives without meeting their fated mate, let alone sharing one with another wolf. But the universe had apparently decided that Kozue—who had spent thirty-three years believing he'd never find his mate—would not only discover her in one chaotic night but would have to share her with the man who was already the center of his world in every other way.