“Here are some extra blankets for the both of you.” The human woman smiled, setting a bundle of old quilts down on the bed. “One of you can come down for some dinner. The shower’s working, but the hot water needs a few minutes to kick in.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. This will do just fine for the night.” Leonardo gave her a polite, icy smile.
I barely held back a snort at his overly formal tone. It only reminded me how little I actually knew about him. Though we’d been in the same school for years, I had always avoided him, steering clear of his indifferent attitude. The only times I’d even noticed him were when his friends targeted me. Still, I knew so little of him or his family. I’d seen his Alpha and Luna parents a few times but had never spoken to them. From what I’d heard, Leonardo’s father was a strict leader and even stricter at home. Shaking off my curiosity, I took in the small bedroom I was now sharing with him.
As I unzipped my thick coat, I stifled a groan. How had it come to this? I’d been safe in Carlo’s pack with my mother at my side, and now I was here, sharing a room with the man who’d once rejected me. I could barely grasp how quickly everything had turned upside down. This was nowhere near what I’d imagined when I returned to Leonardo’s pack.
The room was small, with plain walls and a single window looking out at the snow-covered forest. Against one wall was a brick fireplace, its small flames the only heat source in the room. I could already feel the chill seeping in, knowing I’d likely freeze before morning. The room’s bathroom was tiny, with an old sink, toilet, and stall shower. A pair of cotton towels lay folded on the toilet, waiting to be used. Against another wall sat a full-sized bed with peeling paint on its metal frame. The single dresser had patterns and flowers etched into the wood, signs of its age. Despite its worn-down look, the room was clean, and the blankets smelled of laundry soap and fresh snow.
“Relax, kitten.” Leonardo smirked, his demeanor shifting the moment the woman left.
He gently swatted my fumbling hands away from my coat zipper, tugging it down with ease. As he helped slide the coat from my shoulders, his fingertips brushed against my neck, sending a shiver up my spine. I instinctively pulled away, though for reasons I hadn’t expected. His touch was ice against my flushed skin. One of his dark brows quirked, and I caught myself just as my gaze dropped to his full lips.
“You’re freezing,” I muttered, peeling off the thick pants I wore. I still had a few layers beneath but refused to undress further with him in the room.
“Am I? You know, sharing body heat’s the best way to warm up.” He shrugged, moving toward the door.
“Don’t hold your breath.” I grabbed my small duffel bag from the bed.
“Take a shower and warm up. I’ll bring up some food.” Leonardo’s smirk returned before he shut the door.
Ignoring the strange twist in my stomach, I rummaged through my bag, pulling out a long-sleeve shirt and sweatpants. As the shower water heated, I used the bathroom, grimacing at the cool touch of the water. Once it finally warmed, I sighed under the spray, letting my mind wander to the crossroads in my life. Tomorrow, I’d confront what I had lost, though it was hardly my greatest worry. My feelings toward Leonardo had become far from black and white. He wasn’t just the cold villain I’d made him out to be.
Leonardo had opened up to me, shown me a part of himself I’d never expected. He regretted his choices and, in his flawed way, wanted the best for me. It was everything I’d once wanted to hear, though I now had questions that might forever remain unanswered. Why would my mother push Leonardo away, knowing better than anyone that a mate completed your soul? I felt a pang of longing for that missing half of my life.
I’d been lost in thought and hardly noticed when he returned to the bedroom. The door clicked shut just as I rinsed the shampoo from my hair. Once I’d dried off and dressed, I brushed the knots from my hair, noticing it had grown to the middle of my back. Feeling refreshed, I walked out into the bedroom.
On the bed sat a tray laden with roasted vegetables, bread, two bowls of soup, and cups of steaming tea. The warmth radiating from the food drew me in as I sat on the edge of the bed. Leonardo finished eating before me and left for the shower. I savored the silence, letting the soup’s warmth settle within me. Tucking myself under the blankets, I kept close to the bed’s edge, determined to stay as far from him as possible. Yet the cold crept back in, little by little, until it was almost unbearable.
Though I’d hoped to fall asleep before he returned, it was impossible. The mattress dipped as he climbed into bed, his presence immediately filling the small space. His scent-a strange, intoxicating mix of rainwater and fresh snow-filled the air around me, a scent I’d never forget. Trying to ignore the shiver running through me, I resisted the urge to move closer to his warmth.
“Do you have to take up so much room?” I grumbled through gritted teeth.
I peeked over the blanket to find him lying on his back, arms folded behind his head, a lazy, knowing smile on his face. His wet hair clung to his forehead, appearing almost pitch black under the faint light, in sharp contrast to the snow drifting outside. My fingers twitched, wanting to brush it away. The silent turmoil in my eyes must’ve been obvious, because Leonardo turned to his side, his gaze burning into me. I had never met a pair of eyes that could peel away every wall I’d built until all that remained was me-just Isabella. I hated how exposed I felt, the vulnerability that gnawed at me, but even as I resisted, some part of me reached for him, echoing the call of his soul to mine.
“Will you ever stop fighting it, Isabella?” Leonardo’s voice was soft but held the weight of every emotion he’d bottled inside.