Chapter 0013

The moment I stepped away from Sebastian, my body was on fire. That man was pure temptation wrapped in leather. Thank the moon my father was already asleep when I got home. I stripped off my clothes and slid between the sheets naked—no point wearing pajamas when I planned to take care of this unbearable tension before my few hours of sleep.

My fingers traced circles over my breasts, teasing my nipples until they peaked. The memory of Sebastian's growl sent a fresh wave of heat through me. One hand drifted lower, stroking my clit in slow, deliberate motions. I bit my lip, imagining the hard press of his body against mine while we danced. A soft whimper escaped me as I pictured his mouth claiming mine, that dominant kiss that left me breathless.

Then my mind betrayed me.

Suddenly, it wasn’t Sebastian between my thighs—it was Adrian.

I froze.

What the hell? Adrian? No. Absolutely not. This fantasy was about Sebastian. I shook my head sharply, forcing myself back to the memory of Sebastian’s kiss, his skilled tongue—

But the image of Adrian’s ice-blue eyes flickered behind my eyelids. That thick, dark hair brushing against my inner thighs as he pinned me down with one strong hand. The thought of his growl vibrating against my skin sent me spiraling into the most intense orgasm I’d ever had. I barely muffled my cry with my free hand, my body trembling through the aftershocks.

What. Just. Happened?

When my alarm blared hours later, I dragged myself out of bed feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. Warrior training was brutal, but thankfully, most of the pack was just as exhausted from last night’s festivities.

Weekends with my father meant two things: endurance training and deadly botany lessons. Knowing which plants could kill a werewolf—or worse—wasn’t just useful; it was survival. Witches existed, sure, but finding one who wouldn’t curse you for fun was like stumbling upon a unicorn. Better to rely on my own knowledge.

Exhausted didn’t even begin to cover it, but weakness wasn’t an option.

"Push through, Evelyn," my father said, tossing the 250-pound dummy into the pool. "An Alpha doesn’t get the luxury of fatigue."

For two grueling hours, I treaded water, keeping the dummy afloat while he drilled me on toxic plants, symptoms, and antidotes. By the time we finished, my muscles screamed. A long, scalding bath was the only mercy I allowed myself before collapsing into bed again.

But even as I closed my eyes, one thought lingered:

Why couldn’t I stop thinking about Adrian?