The Growl
663 Words
Rowan’s POV
Rowan stood frozen in the hallway.
He hadn’t meant to stop.
Hadn’t meant to look.
But there she was.
Aria stood in Lena’s room in front of the mirror, turning slowly as she examined the black bikini she was wearing. The thin ties hugged her hips, the fabric barely covering her curves.
Rowan’s chest tightened.
His wolf stirred again, alert and deeply interested.
Mate.
The word pulsed through him like a heartbeat.
Rowan clenched his jaw.
No.
He refused to accept that thought.
Aria brushed her hair back over her shoulder and leaned closer to the mirror, adjusting one of the thin straps on her shoulder.
The movement made Rowan’s control slip just a little more.
He dragged a slow breath through his nose, trying to calm the instincts rising inside him.
But her scent was drifting down the hallway now.
Sweet.
Warm.
Dangerous for a wolf’s self-control.
Rowan shifted his weight, preparing to finally walk away before this situation got worse.
Then Aria turned slightly again in the mirror.
The movement caught his attention before he could stop himself.
His wolf reacted instantly.
A low sound slipped from Rowan’s chest.
A growl.
It was quiet.
Barely more than a rumble.
But Aria heard it.
Inside the room, she froze.
Her head lifted slowly as her eyes moved toward the door.
Rowan cursed under his breath.
Too late.
Aria walked toward the doorway, confusion written across her face.
The door creaked open slightly wider.
And there he was.
Standing in the hallway.
Watching her.
For a moment neither of them moved.
Aria’s eyes widened when she realized exactly what he had just seen.
A deep flush spread across her cheeks.
“Mr. Ashwood—”
Rowan cut her off quickly, his voice rough.
“Rowan.”
The name hung in the air between them.
Aria hesitated.
Rowan forced his gaze upward to her face, refusing to look anywhere else.
Even though his wolf was very aware of the fact that she was standing only a few feet away in a tiny bikini.
“You’re… still here,” she said awkwardly.
Rowan crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look composed despite the tension running through him.
“This is my house.”
Aria blinked.
“Right. Yeah. That makes sense.”
Silence settled between them again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Aria shifted slightly, suddenly very aware of how little she was wearing.
Her fingers tugged lightly at one of the bikini strings near her hip.
Rowan noticed.
And immediately looked away toward the floor.
His self-control was already hanging by a thread.
“You should probably—” he started.
But the words died in his throat when he looked up again.
Because Aria was staring at him.
Not shyly.
Not nervously.
Curiously.
Like she was studying him the same way he had been studying her.
Rowan felt heat creep up the back of his neck.
“Lena said there’s a pool here,” Aria said quietly.
“There is.”
“Do you mind if I use it?”
Rowan swallowed slowly.
Images flashed through his mind before he could stop them.
Aria in the pool.
Water running down her skin.
His wolf immediately approved of the idea.
Rowan forced himself to nod once.
“Go ahead.”
Aria gave a small smile.
“Thanks… Rowan.”
The way she said his name made his chest tighten again.
She stepped past him in the hallway, heading toward the stairs.
For a second, Rowan’s instincts screamed at him to stop her.
To grab her wrist.
To pull her closer.
Instead, he stayed exactly where he was.
Rigid.
Silent.
Listening to the sound of her footsteps disappearing down the staircase.
Only when she was gone did Rowan finally exhale.
His wolf was restless now.
Pacing inside him.
Because the line between them had just shifted.
And Rowan had a feeling this summer was about to become far more dangerous than he had planned.
- Writer
