Moon Bound

Nice Bedroom, Nicer Bathroom

Panic, along with a small thrill of excitement, sent adrenaline rushing through me. I was buzzing from the high.

I growled at an alpha.

The idea almost left me giddy. All my life I had told myself I didn't want to be one of the pack. I didn't want to believe in their backwards thinking and despised the way they treated the lower ranking wolves. I couldn't stand the idea of a mate. I didn't want to be a shifter.

But that one growl almost made me want it. For the first time in my life I felt powerful.

And now that I had a taste of it, I was itching for more.

I could finally see why wolves took pride in their abilities. Having just that teeny tiny lick of strength was surreal.

"I thought you couldn't do that," Aiden rasped from where he was sprawled in front of me.

I palmed my throat with a shake of my head, "I couldn't. I never have before."

Woah.

Woah. Woah. Woah.

I growled.

Full on feral she-wolf; I had growled. I wildly patted around the bed for my phone to call Emma. Sadness washed over me again when I remembered I didn't have it.

I pounced on Aiden's firm body. I took his bewildered face in my trembling hands, "My phone. Give it to me."

His brows furrowed at my demand and he pried my hands away.

"That's not happening." He shot me down point blank. "I'm sorry about what just happened. I didn't mean to lose my cool. It's hard to keep my composure around you." His voice turned soft. All of a sudden I was very aware that he was beneath me.

For the millionth time since I had met Aiden, my cheeks went hot. I rolled off of him and hesitantly climbed down from the bed.

I smoothed the rumpled sheets, doing my best to avoid his stare that I could feel burning a hole into me.

"Lyra, I don't intend to keep secrets from you. And although I can't speak for Killian, I'm not a bad man-"

I cut him off with another smack to the bed, "Like hell you aren't! You drugged me. You say I'm being hunted down by Elias- which still makes absolutely no sense to me, yet the only person who has done anything to potentially harm me is you."

That shut him up.

I circled the bed, stalking towards him as the defiance flared to life again. Just as I was riding the high of my newfound growling ability and the anger he ignited within me, I slipped on the spotless hardwood floor.

Aiden looked down over the edge of the bed at me. His mouth twitched before he broke into laughter.

My already aching head exploded in pain at the contact with the floor. I winced and stuck my middle finger up at him

"Have a nice trip?"

I made a face at the bad joke.

He chuckled and rested his chin on his massive arms, watching me lazily, "While you were busy crying like a baby and insulting me, I was going to suggest you take a shower. I thought it would help you relax. But since I'm so mean and crazy, I think I should just leave you here to fend for yourself for the rest of the night."

I yelped after another growl ripped through me. Aiden's eyes darkened again but this time he didn't look mad.

I blushed at the way he watched me behind hooded lids. Clearing my throat, I sat up and pretended to shake off imaginary dust.

There wasn't a speck of dust in this place.

But it at least kept me from having to watch Aiden eye me like I was his next meal.

"You are crazy. Thank you for the nice room and food and everything, but that doesn't change the fact that you brought me here against my will."

My bottom lip quivered slightly. I bit down on it hard. I didn't want to cry in front of him again.

I shut my eyes for a moment and weighed my options. After the day I had, a hot shower did sound amazing.

I exhaled, blowing a piece of hair that had escaped from the elastic tie out of my face. When I opened my eyes and looked up at Aiden he was drumming his fingers against the edge of the bed.

"Can I take a shower please?" I gritted out through clenched teeth. He smiled brightly with a nod.

He hopped off the bed and made a beeline for a door I hadn't noticed earlier in the corner of the room. I stood up and leaned against the bed as I waited. The sounds of cabinets opening and closing and water being turned on came from what had to be an attached bathroom.

His blonde head popped out and he waved for me to come in. Feeling unsure, I walked slowly over to the bathroom.

My eyes widened as I entered the room.

It was huge. A long clawfoot tub stood on a platform to my left with marble steps leading up to it. Matching marble countertops with wooden cabinets built in were to the right, and large mirrors with individual vanity bulbs lining their edges sat atop them. All the knobs and pulls and faucets were shiny and golden. A sparkling clean toilet sat at the back of the room and in the far right past the counters was a shower with double glass doors.

I moved forward and my sock covered feet slipped against the white tiled floor. Aiden's hand shot out to keep me upright.

He grimaced, "Is it too much?"

"Sort of," I admitted, making his face drop. "It's beautiful though." I added after seeing his reaction to my disapproval.

I wasn't sure why I was trying to reassure my captor that his fancy bathroom was pretty.

Maybe I was the crazy one.

The smell of lavender wafting towards me caught my attention and I shuffled carefully away from him.

I opened the doors to the shower to find a ceiling high shower head raining water down into the drain. What had to be at least twenty different shampoos and body washes lined the little shelves built into the shower. Hanging from some hooks was a ridiculous amount of loofahs and scrubbies, and sitting in a tiny nook next to them was a stack of razors.

"Aiden?"

"Hmm?" He must have snuck up behind me because his nose was buried in the back of my hair in an instant.

I did my best to ignore the contact and pointed to the amount of products in the shower, "How many of these do you actually think I need?"

His fingers grazed the edge of my arm. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to suppress a shiver.

"All of them?"

That managed to get a laugh out of me. I pushed him away and burst into uncontrollable giggles. Hurt crossed his face.

"How many bottles of shampoo do you use when you shower? I like options, but this is a bit overkill. Haven't you ever seen a female's shower before?"

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and hunched the way I noticed he does when he's embarrassed.

I stopped laughing as he spoke,"No.. I have never actually seen a woman's anything."

Was he saying what I thought he was saying?

"Oh. Well.." I adjusted my hair tie nervously. "That's okay. I've never seen a man's anything either so no need to be embarrassed. Thank you for this. It's… nice."

It really was. It was silly but thoughtful in a strange way. I noticed the five fluffy towels hanging up outside the shower door and giggled again.

"I'll let you shower now. If you need anything just shout. I'll be across the hall." He practically fled from the room.

Well that was… interesting.

I peeled my clothes off and stepped under the steaming water.

This was going to be the best shower of my life.

All I needed to do was forget that I was being held hostage.