231

Dahlia’s POV
Once again, four-thirty in the morning found me wide awake, wedged between two Alphas, my thoughts racing too fast to be silenced. Blue purred contentedly in the back of my mind, still reveling in the pleasures of last night, more than pleased with the position we found ourselves in.
Despite knowing things were growing increasingly complicated, I couldn’t bring myself to regret any of it. Even without fully mating, the way these two men touched me set my body aflame, leaving me craving more.
Last night’s climax had been earth-shattering, and the anticipation of feeling their hands on me again made my skin tingle.
As much as I had loved Finnian, he had never ignited this kind of fire within me. Not the way Logan and Liam had.
My mind drifted back over the evening’s highlights, and a soft moan almost escaped my lips as I recalled the way their touch had sent sparks cascading over my skin. When Logan had pulled me beneath him, his lips crushing against mine as if he couldn’t bear another second without tasting me, I had felt powerful, desirable. These two breathtakingly gorgeous men wanted me. Me. It was a heady boost to my confidence. Blue hummed in agreement.
“Of course they want us! We’re irresistible,” she purred smugly. “And when he sucked and bit on our lip, forcing us to let him in… Gods, that was so hot!”
“And they taste amazing,” I countered playfully. “Just like they smell. Liam-warm vanilla. Logan-cinnamon and coffee.” Blue let out a pleased rumble at the memory.
Shame never even crossed my mind when I thought of how much I had relished their hands on my body. When Liam had teased my nipples, the pleasure had shot straight between my thighs, making me ache for more. So when he suggested we move to the bed, resistance had been impossible. I was already lost to them. But even if I had possessed the willpower to deny them, the way Logan had looked at me-hopeful, almost vulnerable-would have shattered it entirely.
A man who could have any woman he wanted, who likely had, had stared at me as if my rejection could utterly destroy him. That look alone had emboldened me. The adoration, the raw desire radiating from them when I agreed, had filled a hollow space inside me-one that had been empty since Finnian left. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.
Even more unsettling than my overwhelming desire was my response to their dominance. I had pushed back at first, refusing to let Logan take control, resisting his tongue’s invasion. But when he forced his way in, bending me to his will, Blue had been right.
It was intoxicating.
Though that was nothing compared to the way my body had responded when he smacked my ass and commanded me to use my words. The way he dominated me yet left me in control of my own pleasure sent my pulse skyrocketing.
I had heard myself beg Liam to touch me, explicitly telling him where and how, but I could hardly believe it had been my voice. I wasn’t the type of woman to ask for what I wanted. I had always been the one who stepped back, letting others take their happiness at the expense of my own. But Logan and Liam had demanded I voice my desires, and in doing so, they had given me something I hadn’t known I needed.
And the pain? The sharp sting of Logan’s palm against my skin? It had only made me wetter.
I had wanted him to do it again. I still did. But I wasn’t quite bold enough to ask for it-yet. He had promised there would be more, though his words had carried a warning.
“You might get more than you bargained for,” he had said.
What did that mean?
If I was going to replay the night, I supposed I had to acknowledge the less graceful moments, too. Like when Liam had slipped a finger inside me. I had asked for it. I had craved it. But when it happened, I had still tensed-reacting like some inexperienced schoolgirl. It wasn’t that I hadn’t wanted it. It was just…
The only thing to ever enter me that way before had been my own fingers, and my hand was half the size of his. The fullness of even a single digit had been new, foreign.
Not painful, though. Not at all. It had felt incredible. So much so that I had immediately missed it when he withdrew. Then Logan had pressed me for the truth of my inexperience, and for one mortifying moment, I had wanted to disappear.
It wasn’t that I had never wanted to go further with Finnian. I had. We had both agreed that once we started, we wouldn’t be able to stop. And so, we hadn’t.
Blue chose that moment to chime in.
“They were thrilled to learn how untouched we are,” she mused. “Fang and Ghost told me they want to be our first and only in every way.”
“Hmm,” I hummed. “Well, they didn’t make me feel ashamed about it, and we got exactly what we wanted, so I guess it wasn’t all bad.”
The mere memory of the way my body had shattered under their hands made my eyes roll back, my toes curl. I wanted more. I was willing to give them more of my firsts.
The ‘only’ part?
I wasn’t sure. But I wouldn’t tell Blue that. No need to shatter her post-pleasure haze.
Speaking of firsts… If I hadn’t passed out from sheer exhaustion after that mind-blowing orgasm, I would have surrendered my virginity last night without a second thought. I had expected to, in fact, when I agreed to move to the bed.
But they hadn’t pushed. They had been tender. Careful. They had cleaned me up, dressed me, held me.
And now, doubt slithered in. What if I had disappointed them? What if they had lost interest?
I had given them both a hand, and they had both come. That meant they enjoyed it, right? But what if I had been boring compared to the women they were used to? What if they had just told me what I wanted to hear?
Gods, I hated this spiral of uncertainty.
I couldn’t keep lying here, replaying every moment over and over in my head. I needed to get out. From the sound of their steady, even breathing, they were still fast asleep. Carefully, I untangled myself from their limbs, slipping silently from the bed and tiptoeing to the door.
Neither stirred as I made my escape, slipping into the quiet sanctuary of my own room. A hot shower. That was what I needed. Something to ground me, to clear my mind.
Because if I kept thinking about last night, I’d never be able to resist crawling right back into that bed.
I lingered in the shower until the steaming water turned tepid, unwilling to leave the comforting cascade. Eventually, I stepped out, shivering as the cool air met my skin, and quickly moved through my morning routine. Since it was Sunday and training was off the schedule, I opted for a red off-the-shoulder sweater paired with black skinny jeans and heeled black booties. My wild curls were tamed into a low chignon, a few loose strands framing my face, before I grabbed my phone and slipped out the door.
Restlessness clawed at me. Staying in my room felt suffocating, so I ventured outside, desperate for fresh air. The pack house was eerily silent in the predawn stillness, and I managed to slip out through the back entrance without encountering anyone. My original plan was to settle among the flowers and watch the sun rise, but my body refused to be still. Instead, I wandered aimlessly through the grounds until I stumbled upon a building the twins had failed to mention during their tour.
As I approached, the sign above the entrance came into focus-Blood Moon’s infirmary. Curiosity sparked in me. Back home at Crystal Moon, I had spent countless hours assisting in our own infirmary, so I couldn’t resist the urge to compare.
Stepping inside, I was immediately struck by the sleek, modern design. It had all the hallmarks of a high-tech hospital, though on a smaller scale. Despite the early hour, the place buzzed with activity-nurses hurried through the halls, their arms full of supplies, while the waiting area already housed several patients.
Drawn deeper into the building, I soon arrived at the front desk, where a tall brunette was flipping through files. She must have sensed my presence because she glanced up, offering a polite smile.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
There was something oddly familiar about her, though I couldn’t immediately place why.
“Hi,” I began, improvising quickly. “I was just looking around. I’m visiting from Crystal Moon. Our packs recently signed an alliance, and I was hoping to learn a little about how things operate here.”
My wolf snickered at my impromptu excuse.
“Oh! Sure!” The woman perked up. “It’s a busy morning, but I’m sure someone can show you around. Was there a particular area you were interested in?”
I hesitated for only a moment before the answer became obvious.
“Actually, OB/GYN and Pediatrics are my specialties. Do you think I could observe rounds?”
Excitement bubbled within me at the prospect.
“Of course! Follow me.” She gestured for me to walk with her, then tilted her head slightly. “Hey, weren’t you at the lake yesterday? With the Alphas?”
“Yes!” I exclaimed, the familiarity clicking into place. “I thought I recognized you! You were with Nikolai, right?”
She grinned. “That’s me. I’m Bia.”
“Dahlia. Nice to officially meet you.”
By now, we had entered the women’s and children’s clinic, where the walls were adorned with bright, playful decor. A tall man in a white coat stood with his back to us, flipping through a file. Bia stepped up, tapping him on the shoulder.
“Dr. Edgewater, can I steal you for a second?” she asked.
He sighed but turned to face her, his dark brows furrowing. “Make it quick, Bia. We’re slammed.”
“I have someone here from an allied pack who wants to observe today.”
At that, he finally lifted his gaze to me-and froze. He was strikingly handsome, with sharp, chiseled features and intense brown eyes. I suddenly understood why Bia had approached him so cautiously. His presence was overwhelming.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered. “I don’t have time to babysit.”
I stepped forward before Bia could respond, sensing she was caught in an awkward position.
“I’m so sorry! She was just asking on my behalf, but the last thing I want to do is slow you down. Maybe I can come back when it’s less hectic?” I offered.
For a long moment, he just stared at me, mouth slightly open. The silence stretched, and when he still didn’t reply, I added, “Okay… well, I’ll just go then.”
I turned toward the door, but his voice halted me.
“Wait!” he called, his tone softer now. “Sorry. You just weren’t… what I expected. I’m Dr. Theron Edgewater, but just call me Theron.”
Relieved, I smiled and extended my hand. “Dahlia Sterling, but Lia is fine.”
He shook my hand briefly before releasing it. “Well, Lia, tell me what you want to see while you follow me back.”
So I did. I recounted my experience as a midwife and the training I had received from our pack doctors, omitting any mention of the Alphas being my mates. As I spoke, his interest visibly grew.
“Look, I know you’re swamped, and I meant what I said about not wanting to be a burden,” I told him sincerely. “If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d love to.”
He looked at me like I had just solved all his problems. “Are you serious? Because if you are, I’ll put you to work.”
I grinned. “Bring it on.”
And just like that, I spent the morning working alongside him, handling routine OB patients so he could focus on complex cases. It was a familiar rhythm, one that energized me. I thrived in this environment, sharing in the joy of expectant mothers as they prepared to meet their babies. More than anything, it gave me something to focus on outside of my own tangled thoughts.
To my amusement, Theron checked on me often, though I never actually needed his help. His initial gruffness gradually softened as the hours passed, and by the time he made his last round, he even cracked a joke and smiled.
Who knows? We might actually be on our way to becoming friends.