The light coming through the heavy curtains was soft, but it still felt too bright for my eyes. I moved my legs under the silk sheets and immediately let out a small groan. Every single muscle in my body felt heavy and sore, a dull ache that reminded me exactly of everything that had happened on this bed. My thighs felt like lead, and even moving my arms to reach for the other side of the bed felt like a chore.
I reached out my hand, expecting to feel one of them, but the mattress was empty. I was alone in the room, but the air still smelled like them—sandalwood, expensive rain, and that wild, metallic scent of the pack. The silence of the room was heavy, but it didn't feel lonely. It felt like I was being given a moment to breathe.
I sat up slowly, the sheets sliding down my skin. I rea
