Alethea (Zoe)
I slowly stir from my sleep, turning onto my side. The bed feels unusually soft, more luxurious than I remember.
I raise my hand to my face, brush my hair away, and slowly blink my eyes open. The light filters in gently, allowing me to take in the surroundings.
I blink again, trying to make sense of where I am. Nothing about the room rings a bell. I sit up gradually, and as I do, the blanket that was covering me slips down my body.
“Shit,” I whisper under my breath as my gaze drops to my bare skin. I’m completely naked.
My panic rises swiftly, my heart pounding as a wave of deja vu crashes over me, bringing back memories of the last time I lost control around Alpha Asher.
I grab the sheet and pull it close to my chest, my hands trembling slightly as I try to shield myself.
I sniff the air, and the unmistakable scent of Alpha Asher fills my senses with a trigger of some memories.
Slowly, the events of the previous night started piecing together in my mind.
“Shit,” I mutter again, sliding back down onto the bed. The realization of where I am and what happened weighs heavily on me.
I berate myself for letting things spiral out of control once more.
In times like this, I miss Selena. Whenever I was in heat, she would prepare a potion for me to drink. It didn’t completely take the pain away, but it made it bearable-nothing like what I endured last night.
Clutching the sheet tighter against my chest, I slowly get up from the bed. I know I need to get out of here before Alpha Asher comes back and rejects me again, for the second time.
The thought alone makes my chest ache, but I push it aside, focusing on getting myself together.
I make my way to the bathroom, once inside, I quickly turn on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over me.
I can’t leave this room reeking of sex.
“What was I thinking?” I mutter under my breath, running my hands through my hair. Coming to Alpha Asher’s room to help me with the heat was a terrible idea.
Maya will be furious when she finds out, especially considering she’s in the hospital because of me. The guilt tightens my chest, but I try to shake it off.
I scrub my body thoroughly with the body wash I find, determined to wash away every trace of what happened. Satisfied that I’ve done enough, I step out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry myself off.
As I leave the bathroom, my eyes land on a walk-in closet nearby. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I step inside.
My jaw drops as I take in the sight-rows of clothing neatly arranged, each outfit perfectly tailored for different occasions.
Everything smells of Alpha Asher. His scent is everywhere. I run my hand over the fabrics, admiring the fine textures. But I snap back to my senses. I need to get out of here.
I open one of the drawers and spot a large shirt. It’s Asher’s. Without wasting any more time, I grab it, pulling it over my head. The shirt hangs loosely on me, so I grab a tie from the closet and cinch it around my waist, hoping to make it fit better.
Satisfied with my makeshift outfit, I step out of the walk-in closet and make my way to the room, my mind focused on leaving as quickly as possible. I don’t even glance around, my hand reaching for the doorknob.
Just as my fingers graze the cool metal, a voice cuts through the silence.
“Going so soon after what we shared?” His voice is cold and calm, laced with an undertone of control. It’s as if he’s struggling to keep his wolf at bay.
I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest, and slowly turn to face him. My eyes meet his, and I can see the struggle in his dilated pupils, it’s a sign that his wolf is close to the surface.
“Thank you for last night, but whatever happened between us meant nothing,” I say, trying to keep a steady voice. “You have Maya, and I’m not willing to compete with that.”
His jaw clenches at my words, and his grip on the couch tightens, the leather groaning under the pressure. He wasn’t expecting my response.
“That’s it, huh? It meant nothing to you?” His voice is sharper now, edged with disbelief.
Before I can react, he’s suddenly in front of me, closing the distance so quickly I barely have time to process it.
He moves me back until my spine presses against the door, while his body looms over mine.
“You just came here and used me to help quench your heat,” he accuses his voice of a low growl that sends shivers down my spine.
I hold his gaze, my breath catching in my throat as I see the storm brewing in his green eyes. His wolf is close, too close.
He lifts a hand, brushing it against my cheek, and the familiar sparks ignite, tingling against my skin.
I close my eyes as I try to suppress the overwhelming sensations threatening to consume me.
He moves his face closer, his warm breath tickling against my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine.
My voice comes out breathless, trembling from the intensity of his proximity. “Asher, p… please,” I plead, barely recognizing the desperate tone in my voice.
Why am I begging him? I’ve lost all sense of control, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
I squirm under his gaze, pressing my thighs together in a futile attempt to suppress the heat building threatening to overflow.
“Open your eyes,” he demands, his voice ragged and filled with something I can’t quite place.
The command snaps me out of my daze, and I realize I have closed my eyes, trying to block out the overwhelming sensations.
Slowly, I open them, my gaze locking with his. In his eyes, I see a storm of emotions swirling desire, frustration, and something deeper, something I don’t want to name. The intensity of it makes me shudder.
“I want you, Ally,” he confesses, his voice low and rough. “I want you so fucking much that it hurts. It kills me to push you away, to act like you don’t matter.”
My heart pounds harder, the sound echoing in my ribcage as if it might burst.
I can’t tear my eyes away from his, and with every word he speaks, the walls I’ve built around my heart begin to crumble.
“You want me?” I repeat, the words feeling hollow in my mouth. I don’t want to believe him, but the emotions swirling in his eyes make him look so vulnerable, so raw. For once, he’s letting his guard down, revealing a side of him I’ve never seen.
I want to pinch myself, to scream at the top of my lungs that everything between us is messed up, but I hold my breath, as I’m lost in his gaze, unable to look away.
“Say something, Ally,” he urges gently.
“It’s Zoe, Alpha,” I whisper, correcting him, though my voice wavers.
A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips, and my heart does a backflip. I’ve never seen him smile before, and this moment feels surreal.
“You think I wouldn’t recognize you?” he asks, with the smile still there. “But Ally, my wolf did. The moment we saw you, he was pacing, restless just from your presence.”
He tugs me closer, and though my legs feel like lead, I find the strength to move. His words leave me shocked, the sudden shift in his demeanor making my head spin. What is happening?
Asher guides me to the couch and gently helps me sit. For a moment, I wonder if he hit his head, if this is some sort of dream. But then, he says something that surprises me even more.