Riley suddenly called out, "Wait."
Harlan paused. I saw the faint smirk on his face when he turned around. His pride was strong. He probably thought she was about to soften, maybe even follow him back to his territory.
Instead, Riley casually picked up his suit jacket and tossed it at him.
"Don’t forget this," she said lightly.
It was oddly polite.
His face went pale with anger. "Fine, Janice. Don’t regret this."
He grabbed the jacket and stord out, his steps heavy with wounded pride. I could almost feel the frustration rolling off him like heat. He had expected her to chase him.
She didn’t.
Riley looked disgusted, as if even touching his jacket had left a scent she didn’t like. She walked straight to the bathroom to wash her hands.
I stood there, my mind racing.
Lewis had gone upstairs without looking back. The bond between us felt tight and strained at the sa ti. I knew that tone. I knew that stillness.
He was angry.
Riley ca out of the bathroom as if nothing had happened. "Where’s Lewis?"
"He has sothing to handle," I replied softly.
I couldn’t bla her. She didn’t see the shift in his aura. But I did.
"Riley, it’s late. Let’s sleep," I said gently.
"Okay! I want to cuddle you. It feels weird hugging myself."
We went to the guest bedroom. She lay down beside and started poking my cheek, studying my face.
"Why does this body look prettier after the soul changed?" she asked.
"Stop thinking nonsense and sleep," I muttered. "I’ve been on a plane all day."
She finally settled down and wrapped her arms around . Her chin rested on my shoulder, just like a child seeking comfort. I knew this habit of hers. She always needed sothing warm to hold at night.
I let her.
Soon, her breathing beca steady.
I waited.
When I was sure she was asleep, I carefully slipped out of her arms and replaced myself with a pillow. Then I tiptoed out.
The master bedroom was quiet. Light spilled from the bathroom. Lewis was washing up after finishing work.
He was always busy. Always carrying the weight of the pack. Yet he still made ti to protect , to comfort .
And tonight, I had hurt him.
The bathroom door opened.
Before he could step fully into the room, I rushed forward and jumped into his arms.
"Surprise," I said softly.
His arms caught easily, but his eyes were still cold. "Elena. I’m not Riley."
I sighed internally. One stubborn Alpha. One stubborn sister. I really could open a daycare.
"Lewis," I said softly, pressing my forehead to his chest. "Riley has been through so much. I used her body. I couldn’t let her be bullied."
His jaw tightened. "Is Harlan that good-looking? You didn’t even blink."
I took a breath. "He is good-looking. I won’t lie. But I wasn’t thinking about him like that. I just thought he and Riley looked... balanced. She’s wild. He’s dominant. It fits."
He gave a cold laugh. "You wouldn’t know he’s dominant unless you were watching closely."
That stung.
He moved past and lay down, turning his back.
The bond between us felt restless. His scent had changed slightly—possessive, territorial.
He was jealous.
I crawled onto the bed after him. Slowly. Carefully. Inch by inch, I moved closer until my face rested against his back.
"If I say he’s not attractive, that would be a lie," I whispered honestly. "But even if you gathered all the handso n in this world, none of them compare to you. When I first saw you, I thought... how can soone be this beautiful?"
He didn’t answer.
Panic rose in my chest. "Don’t ignore . Honey... I was wrong."
His body went still.
"What did you call ?" His voice was low, rough.
"Honey," I repeated softly. "My honey. My Alpha."
He turned over in one swift motion and pinned beneath him. His weight, his warmth, his dominance pressed down on .
"Elena," he murmured, eyes dark, "don’t tempt ."
I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Then don’t hold back."
The air shifted. The playful jealousy lted into sothing deeper. The bond between us pulsed hot and fierce. For months, he had been careful, restrained, always gentle.
Tonight, he wasn’t.
And I didn’t want him to be.
The night swallowed us whole.
—
Morning ca far too soon.
Riley stared at the dark circles under my eyes. "Elena, did you not sleep?"
I absolutely did not.
Across the table, Lewis looked perfectly refreshed. Calm. Elegant. As if nothing wild had happened the night before.
He returned to his gentle tone. "Eat before it gets cold."
I couldn’t even et his eyes.
The man who had been fire and storm last night now looked like a polite, composed Alpha in broad daylight.
"Elena, why is your voice hoarse?" he asked lightly.
I nearly choked on my drink.
Riley looked at innocently.
"It’s jet lag," I said quickly. "New place. Didn’t sleep well."
"She’s not sensitive to beds," Lewis added calmly. "Just to people."
My face burned.
Riley blinked. "Ohhh. I see."
"No, you don’t," I muttered under my breath.
Lewis pushed a glass of milk toward . His fingers brushed mine, and the mory of last night flashed through my mind.
My legs felt weak just from that touch.
"Are you still feeling unwell?" he asked smoothly.
"No. I’m fine," I replied quickly. "I’ll rest a bit more. Then we’ll head to Caelkirk this afternoon."
When I ntioned Mom, Riley’s expression softened. Nervous. Excited.
"I’ll buy her a gift," she said quietly.
After breakfast, I went back to the bedroom to rest.
A few minutes later, Lewis entered, holding a small tube of ointnt.
He sat beside the bed, his expression finally losing its teasing edge.
"Sorry," he said quietly. "I lost control. Does it still hurt?"
For a second, I saw it clearly—the strong Alpha, feared by many, worrying like a guilty boy.
I smiled faintly and reached for his hand.
"No," I whispered. "It doesn’t hurt."
The truth was—
What burned wasn’t pain.
It was the bond.
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