Page 5 of Desired By Eros

“It’s a long story.” And one he wasn’t interested in sharing, especially with a stranger, who wasn’t staying long anyway.

“You’re a god.” Her lips pursed together. “Like Artemis or Apollo.”

He gritted his teeth at the sound of that asshole’s name from her mouth. “Definitely not like Apollo. I’m in a league of my own, darling. Maybe you’d like to know exactly how I’m different?”

“Eros,” Artemis warned.

“Well, it’s pretty obvious you two are different. Apollo is the god of the sun, poetry, and arts,” she replied, “while your realm lies in the emotions of love and desire.”

“There’s more to it than just emotions, you know,” he purred. “I can show you if you want. A demonstration, maybe. A private one.”

“No, thank you.”

No?He frowned. Did she even know what she was saying no to?

She turned back to Artemis. “If you don’t mind, Artemis, I’d like to go back to my room and settle in.”

“Of course, go ahead.”

Without another word, Psyche turned on her heel and walked away.

“Eros,” Artemis began. “You better not be thinking what I think you’re thinking.”

He pushed away the outrage over Psyche’s rebuff. She was a nobody after all. She’d be gone in a few days. “I don’t know, Artemis, what am I thinking?”

“Youknow…”

“For fuck’s sake, Artemis, stop acting like a virgin goddess. Everyone within a mile can hear you when you scream Cade’s name when he’s fucking you?—”

“Shut up.” She actuallyblushed. “Just…don’t, okay?”

“Why not?”

“You don’t know her. And she’s also—” Her mouth clamped shut, as if she was about to say something she wasn’t supposed to. “You can have any woman you want—and you do anyway—but I’m begging you, stay away from this one.”

“Fine.” He supposed it wasn’t a big ask to stay away fromonewoman. “She’s not my type anyway.”

“Hey now, that’s not nice. While she’s not the usual model-type you go for?—”

“I don’t recall saying she wasn’t pretty,” he interrupted. “She’s just…” He couldn’t quite figure it out. “What do you want from me? You want me to stay away from her or be attracted to her? It can’t be both.”

She blew out a breath. “Just don’t hurt her, okay?”

“I donothurt women.” While he knew Artemis didn’t mean it physically, the idea of such a thing provoked a visceral reaction through him. “I’m always clear with any woman I sleep with—sex only, nothing more. It’s not my fault they think they can change my mind. Anyway, this conversation is boring.” He handed the sleeping baby back to Artemis. “I’m gonna go grab a drink.”

He marched over to the bar and pushed his way to the front, ignoring the outraged reactions from the guests. “Double whiskey,” he barked at the bartender. As soon as he got his drink, he slinked toward the exit, but not without one last look at the dance floor. A few more couples had joined Aphrodite and Hephaestus, but from the way his parents stared into each others’ eyes, it was as if there was no one else around them.

For a moment, he allowed himself to think of his past—just the briefest touch on the memories that still lingered in his mind, of the days before Hephaestus had come into their lives, before washing them away with a generous gulp from his glass. As the liquid warmed a path down to his stomach, his resolve strengthened, and he was sure now more than ever that he had done the right thing, if only in that it brought Aphrodite and Hephaestus down the path that led to this day.

Chapter 2

Psyche

Psyche’s alarm chirped at precisely 6:00 a.m. She reached over to the nightstand, her hand closing around her phone, and a quick swipe silenced the sound. She exhaled deeply, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. The faint, earthy smell of pine wafted through the window she’d left cracked open last night. Anchorage was colder than she was used to, but the air had a crisp clarity she couldn’t deny.

The subtle tug of anxiety reminded her of the enormity of this change. New place. New people. New sounds. Even the pack house carried its own rhythm—a shifting current of footsteps, voices, and occasional wolfish growls in the background. It hummed with life, yet she felt like a puzzle piece pressed into the wrong spot. It didn’t fit yet.

But her routine did. Her routine was home.

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