No sooner than Xi and her mom pulled out of our driveway, my brother was back in my room. He plopped down on the floor next to my bed and started grilling me about my conversation with Xi.
Of course, due to our wolf hearing, he was able to eavesdrop on our whole conversation until we entered my room. Once I'd hit puberty, Dad had the witch doctor place a spell over my room so that I'd have some privacy from all the wolves around the house. Only he and Mom could hear me in here if they wanted or needed to. I loved it, and it was helpful during times like this.
I looked down at him from my seated position on my California king bed.
“Will you tell me what was said, or must I resort to violence?" He raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
“You know I'm not afraid of a little roughhousing, but perhaps I'll save you the trouble and just reveal the truth." I leaned back, crossing my arms defiantly as I pretended to consider telling him the truth.
“Alright, but only if you promise to keep your hands to yourself," I teased, trying not to give away my thoughts.
He sat up, and we locked eyes. I could see the seriousness in his eye. He was curious about everything we shared, but I couldn't betray Xi in such a manner. We are friends now, and friends keep each other's secrets. I took a deep breath, weighing my options as the silence stretched between us.
“We really didn't get a chance to talk about much. Once we entered, she was so surprised by my style that we started talking about design and decorating her room.
“I could sense his disappointment at my evasiveness, but I knew I had to protect my friend's trust, no matter how much I wanted to share the details of that vibrant exchange.
He let out a low growl. "I know you are omitting details deliberately, but I'll respect it. Just remember I'm your brother, and your loyalty is to me."
I could feel him trying to force his alpha dominance over me, and that pissed me off.
“Stop that s**t, Xixi. My loyalty extends to my future, Luna, who is also evolving into my closest friend. I spat through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to bow to him and comply. "I won't be intimidated by your posturing, especially when it comes to the people I care about," I added, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.
As I stared back at him, I realized that his concern was about more than just our conversation; he was scared of the unknown between him and Xi and what his next moves would mean for them and the pack.The tension in the air was palpable, and I could see the conflict playing out in his eyes. It was clear that he felt cornered, caught between his past and now his future.
“It's okay, brother; we have three weeks until school starts to get her comfortable here. Before school starts, we need to be honest with her. Nicole will be a problem once she finds out that your mate has found her way to you. We can't leave her in the dark, or she could get hurt." As I talked, he nodded his head in understanding.
“You're right. Let me go run some things by Pops. Get some rest; I'll be ready to go pick her up early in the morning. Ty's acting like a lovesick puppy right now, and I'm not going to be able to keep him at bay long." He kissed me on the top of my forehead before leaving my room.
After I heard the clicking sound of the door shutting, I let out a breath. I lay back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. I'd almost shared my most coveted secret with Xi tonight. Her vibe made me feel so comfortable, like I could tell her anything and she'd take it to the grave. I wanted to carry my secret to the grave with me. But the weight of it felt heavier than ever, pressing down on my chest.
I closed my eyes, wondering if I’d made the right choice by holding back or if perhaps sharing it would have lightened my burden. As the moments slipped by, I could almost hear my heart racing, urging me to confide in her. It was tempting to break the silence, to let my truth spill out like a long-held breath, but fear of her reaction held me back like a vice. I'd have to wait until she's made aware that she now lives among wolves.
One secret at a time, I reminded myself. There was no way I could confide in her without her knowing about us first, or my secret wouldn't make any sense to her, and I'd sound like a crazy person. I needed to gather my thoughts and formulate a plan. Each piece of information would need to be carefully chosen, revealing only what she could handle while keeping the rest lodged deep within me, like a ticking time bomb waiting for the right moment to explode.For now I'll just keep it to myself.
I got up and gathered my things for a long hot shower. I shared this floor with my siblings, and we all shared the main bedroom on our floor.
As the water cascaded down, I let the steam envelop me, washing away the weight of my secrets. The hum of the shower replaced my racing thoughts, if only for a moment, allowing me to drift into a fleeting sense of calm amidst the chaos of my mind.
In that serene space, I closed my eyes and focused on the rhythm of the water, imagining it carrying away my worries with each drop. For those precious minutes, I felt free, as if the steam could cleanse not just my body but also my troubled heart.
The vibe suddenly shifted when Cole's handsome face flashed behind my eyes. My heart raced at the thought of him, both exhilarating and unsettling. My body became even warmer, my n*****s pebbled, and my core began to throb. The memory of his touch lingered, igniting a fierce yearning within me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps this moment of solitude was just a brief interlude before reality pulled me back to the complexities of our relationship.
“For now, though, enjoy," my wolf Daisy whimpered. I imagined that Cole was in the shower with me, putting out my flames. As the warm water cascaded over my skin, I let my thoughts drift to the way his hands would explore every inch of me, igniting a spark that had long been dormant.
The fantasy enveloped me, blurring the lines between desire and reality, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget the chaos waiting just outside the bathroom door. With each drop of water, I felt my heart race, yearning for the connection that only he could provide.
The steam enveloped me like a cocoon, and I surrendered to the intoxicating vision of his lips brushing against mine, igniting a fire that threatened to consume me whole. As the warmth cascaded over my skin, I imagined his gentle touch, the way his fingers would weave through my hair, pulling me closer. In this moment of solitude, I clung to the fantasy, hesitant to break the spell and return to the reality that felt all too harsh.
He lifted me and spread my lower lips using his manhood. He gently pushed into me while whispering reassuring words in my ear. My head fell back, hitting the shower wall, as he dug into me deeper and deeper with each thrust of his hips. The steam from the shower dispersed around us, enveloping our bodies in warmth and creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. The sound of the water cascading down mixed with our breaths, heightening the intensity of the moment as I surrendered fully to the sensations flowing through me.
He drilled me faster and harder, causing his name to escape my lips. I could feel the tension building within me, a wave of pleasure that threatened to consume us both. With each powerful thrust, my body responded eagerly, urging him on as the heat of the moment enveloped us even more.After a few more thrusts, I came undone for him. I uttered his name a little louder than I should have.
That's when my eyes opened, confronting me with my harsh reality. The water was beginning to turn cold, so I quickly began to clean myself one last time before stepping out of the shower. As I toweled off, the steam began to dissipate, leaving a coolness in the air that felt jarring after the warmth of the water. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the fantasy while staring at myself in the mirror.
I dressed quickly, ignoring my wolf who was pushing at the border of my mind, trying to talk to me. I wasn't in the mood for a lecture from her right now, so I pushed her future back in my mind. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I ran into a rigid wall of a chest. Startled, I looked up to find Cole standing there, his expression a mixture of concern and amusement.
“You okay? You looked like you were about to jump out of your skin," he said, tilting his head slightly and raising an eyebrow.
He pressed my body closer to his, using the arm he had wrapped around my waist to keep me in place. I could feel my cheeks flush as I met his gaze, the warmth of his body making it difficult to focus on anything else.
“Yeah, just a little surprised," I replied, trying to regain my composure, but the way he looked at me sent my heart racing all over again. "I wasn't expecting anyone to be standing here."
Suddenly I went rigid in his arms when it hit me that he might have heard me calling his name. The breath caught in my throat as I searched his eyes for any sign of recognition. "You didn't hear me, did you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, hoping against hope that he hadn't been standing here long.
He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "No, I just left Xi's room to come piss," he replied softly, a glimmer of relief washing over me.
“Thank God," I murmured to myself, my heart racing as I stepped back out of his embrace. I felt an immediate sense of regret for the loss of his warmth.
A look of confusion crossed his face again before he pulled me back to him by my shirt, gripping my hair with his big hand and tugging my head back. He quickly buried his face in my neck as I let out a low moan. He was sniffing me. The sensation sent shivers down my spine, igniting a mix of anxiety and exhilaration within me.
“What are you doing?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.Anxiety took hold of me as I felt the heat radiating from his body, mixing with my own heat.
There's no way he could smell my scent, or could he? I quickly thought back, trying to see if I had forgotten to take a dose of the scent-masking potion the witch doctor made for me. In the dim light, his gaze locked onto mine, and I noticed a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. My heart raced as I silently prayed that the potion hadn't worn off.
“You smell different. The scent is subtle and ephemeral, making it difficult for me to identify or detect." He stared at me with a strange expression. I could feel my cheeks flush as I searched for a response, my mind racing with the implications of his words. What if he could discern my true feelings hidden beneath the masking scent?
He gripped my hair tighter, but before he could attach his nose to my neck again, I pulled away. My sudden movement caused him to let go of my hair.
“It's nothing; my body is just going through some changes, you know." I rambled, rushing out my words before turning and practically sprinting into my room, slamming the door shut and locking it. I leaned against the door, my heart racing as I tried to catch my breath. The weight of his gaze lingered on my skin, and I could still feel the heat from his touch, sending shivers down my spine as I attempted to steady myself in the dim light of my room.
I have to go see the witch doctor as soon as possible.