Secrets Never Die

Morning After

Alyssa

The morning after was quiet. No birds chirping, no traffic noise, just the rhythmic hum of the ceiling fan above her. Alyssa blinked slowly, still wrapped in warmth, body sore in all the right places, she could hear the slow steady drumbeat against Cole's chest. His arm was draped over her waist, hand curled protectively against her hip.

She let herself stay there for a moment, memorizing the feel of him. The soft rise and fall of his breathing. The way his fingers twitched slightly in his sleep, like he was still holding onto something even in his dreams.

She wanted to believe this was real.

But her past had never been good at letting her keep the things she cared about, her past provided her with a false sense of tenderness and love to only replace it with evil and pain.

Still, she closed her eyes again and leaned into the illusion, just for a few more minutes.

When Cole stirred beside her, it wasn’t abrupt. Just a soft sigh, followed by the tightening of his arm and the press of his mouth to her shoulder.

"Good morning, gorgeous," he murmured, voice rough with sleep.

Alyssa smiled. "You know how to make a girl want to stay in bed forever."

"That was my plan," he said, shifting so he could kiss her jaw. "But unfortunately, we both have lives."

"Do we?" she teased. "Because I feel like this might be the start of me never leaving this bed again."

He laughed, deep and low. "Tempting. But there is still pasta in your fridge."

"Ah, the lure of the pasta that we never did get to, your fault by the way."

They got up slowly, moving around each other with the easy rhythm of people who had shared something intimate. Cole grabbed two mugs from the cabinet while she pulled her robe around herself and fiddled with the coffee machine.

He watched her with quiet intensity, like he was still trying to convince himself she was real. And maybe, in her own way, she was doing the same.

They ate at the counter, brushing their legs occasionally, eyes meeting over bites of warm spaghetti and sips of too strong coffee. And when she laughed, really laughed at something he said, he reached across the counter and took her hand, threading their fingers together.

It was simple. But it felt like the beginning of something real.

Cole

He should have been thinking about strategy. About Lucas. About Aiden. About the fundraiser next week and the evidence, they still needed to gather.

But all he could think about was how good it had felt to fall asleep with Alyssa and being wrapped around her. How natural it had felt to wake up with her in his arms.

Zodiak was calmer this morning. Still possessive, still urgent in his demand to claim her, but slightly more patient.

She’s ours, his wolf whispered. Soon.

Cole had spent a century building empires, burying his loneliness in war and profit. But none of that had prepared him for this, the slow ache of wanting someone not just in body, but in life.

He glanced at Alyssa, who was now barefoot and humming under her breath while rinsing out the coffee pot. Her robe slipped slightly off her shoulder, exposing the curve of her neck.

His gaze darkened.

That neck had nearly been his last night.

He had almost marked her. The instinct had been so strong it took everything he had to stop.

But he would not take that from her without the truth.

She deserved to know what he was. What they were. And what claiming her meant. Them sleeping together already was going to deepen their bond and emotions even more. He hoped it would help her accept the truth more easily.

Because one way or another, everything would change soon.

For better. Or for worse.

And she had to choose him willingly, knowing the truth.

Shortly after they ate Cole left, he had to devel back into his Lucas and Aiden problem. He could not let anything happen to Alyssa.

Back at his apartment, Cole pulled out his phone and dialed.

Lucian picked up immediately. “How was the date? Did you screw everything up?”

Cole chuckled. "Define screw up."

Lucian groaned. "Considering I haven’t heard from you since early yesterday morning, who knows what you did. You didn’t mark her, did you?”

"No. But I came damn close, I've never felt this way before. It was so intense, Lucian, I am falling hard for her.” Cole breathed out.

"You need to tell her, Cole. If she finds out another way…"

"I know. It’s happening soon."

A pause.

"You think she can handle it?"

Cole looked out the window, jaw tight. “I think so, hopefully the physical bond helps her to accept it.”

Lucian exhaled. "Then let’s make sure she has all the facts. I’ve been digging through Slater Corp’s financials. You’re going to want to see this."

“Okay, I’ll be over soon.” Cole hung up abruptly.

Anxious to see what Lucian had to say, Cole hopped in the shower and tried to clear his mind to focus on Slater Corp and the task at hand.