Page 68 of Wild Wolves

“I’m so sorry, Tristan,” she says, tilting her head back.

I furrow my brows, confusion swelling in me. “You don’t need to be sorry for anything.”

Her mouth trembles and tears sheen over her gaze. “I misjudged Kellan. I thought we could trust him.”

“How were you supposed to know? He was helping us.” I reach up and push strands of her damp hair behind her ear. I want so badly to kiss her, but a part of me hesitates. I don’t know where we stand. I might cross a line if I try.

She lifts and drops her shoulders, easing away from me and turning to the shower. Training her gaze to the stream of water, she adjusts the showerhead to my height and doesn’t look at me when she says, “I don’t know. I just...I don’t know what we should do anymore. Everything is so complicated. I know that when the moon rises tonight, we’re going to learn whether or not our bodies will accept the transformation.”

“So some of us are fucked all over again.” It’s not a question. I know the answer. I close my eyes and inhale a slow breath, filling my lungs with the steamy air. It does nothing for my nerves. A part of me doesn’t want to risk getting into the shower, leaving me exposed and vulnerable especially when I don’t know exactly who this pack is. Another part of me knows that this might be my only chance, and I’ve missed taking hot showers. Missed soap.

Eliana closes the space again and hooks her fingers to the band of my filthy salt-crusted shirt. She helps lift it over my head and I wince as I shift my shoulder. My neck throbs, and I reach up and touch the bandages sticking to the wound.

“I thought the bastard was going to tear your throat out. I was so scared.” Eliana grazes her fingers over my jaw, standing up on her tiptoes to get a better look at me. “This whole situation has been so fucked up. We need to figure it out. If we stay...” Her words trail off, and she busies herself by playing with the hem of my shorts. “We can’t stay. What I have gathered so far is that whoever bites you has a claim on you. I don’t know anything beyond that.”

Realization hits me, and I stand utterly still as she slides my shorts down, careful not to rub them against the bite on my shin. “We’ve been bitten by different packs, haven’t we?”

She motions for me to get in the shower, and I use her arm to help myself step in. “I think so. It’s why that wolf tried to kill you. He didn’t want another pack to gain a member. I don’t think they procreate like humans do. At least, not completely.”

“Because of the lack of females.” I heard Kellan speak of it. Other wolves too. That’s why he said we needed to have a female if we were going to make it through this. I guess it’s some sort of test or some bullshit.

“Yeah, something like that. I’m sure we’re going to learn shit soon enough. Ravi is only giving me another hour with you before I have to meet with him. It’s why we’re all here. I promised I’d give him a chance if he’d help all of us through the call of the moon. His pack leader wanted to abandon the rest of you guys.” She reaches down and lifts up a bottle of soap, squirting it into her hand. I guess she is planning to take washing me seriously, and I can’t stop the lust pouring through me despite her revelation. Ignoring my growing boner, she shifts me to face the shower stream, massaging her fingers into my hair and soaping up my dirty strands.

“I don’t like it, Eliana. What if he tries something? We’re going to be stuck in this room, aren’t we? I don’t think you should go. No answers are worth jeopardizing your safety.” I turn around to face her, needing to see her face to gauge her feelings.

She meets my stare and touches my shoulder, carefully peeling away the bandage to look at the bite. “I’ll be okay. Ravi won’t hurt me. He thinks I’m his mate. We can use this to our advantage. It wouldn’t be the first time I used my sex appeal for something. Don’t worry about me. I’ve already decided that you guys are going to be part of my pack. You have to let me do whatever I can to ensure our safety and that we get off this fucking island.”

Damn. She does nothing to help kill my boner. Her words turn me on unexpectedly. I should be the one promising that. She dares me with her eyes to argue, her expression tight and prepared to argue right back. She’s feisty, and I love it. I’m not afraid to submit to her. If she wants to be my leader and control the situation, I’ll gladly lie beneath her.

The thoughts send a shiver through me, and I bob my head, trying to ignore the pain flourishing across my throat. I turn back around without saying anything and stick my face in the water, rinsing off the blood and dirt and filth from being exposed to the elements then being bit.

Eliana gently uses her hands to massage soap into my skin, traveling over my shoulders and down my back. She rubs her hands over my arms and turns me around to wash my chest. I’ve never experienced such bliss without returning anything, but she doesn’t let me finish cleaning myself. She takes her time rubbing soap over every inch of me, including my fucking hard-on, teasing the hell out of me. She smiles as she does it, knowing exactly what she’s doing, making it impossible for me to stand still. I grab her before she gets to her knees and tug her up, meeting her for a kiss. Our lips brush each other’s, and she smiles against my mouth, sliding her hands over my slippery body.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’d like torturing me,” I murmur, getting her clean clothes wet. She doesn’t complain, entering the shower with me instead of making me stand in the cold air.

“Torture? I’m just taking good care of you.” She bites her bottom lip, leaning up to kiss me again. If I couldn’t hear someone arguing outside the door, I’d let myself get carried away on the emotions she elicits in me.

She sighs against my mouth and pulls herself away. Swiveling, she looks at the door and shakes her head. “He’s here. Let me help you rinse off and get dressed.”

I want so desperately to argue and stop her from putting herself in danger, but she looks ready to throw down if I try. It gives me the confidence to know that whoever this Ravi guy is will have one hell of a time trying to do anything she doesn’t like. She looks ready to gut everyone against us.

Without another word, I finish rinsing off and allow her to join me, savoring the closeness and how this is the first time someone other than my family has put effort into ensuring I was okay.

“I want you to come up with a plan with the others. As soon as the full moon rises, and we face our fate, we need to be prepared.” Eliana whispers the words into my ear, kissing me one more time.

“We’ll figure this out.” If only I had more faith in myself. Because right now, I’m lost. I’m lost and have no clue what will happen next.

A knock sounds on the door, drawing Eliana’s attention away from me. “Princess, I’ve given you extra time.”

Eliana squeezes her eyes shut. “Coming.”

Ice blooms across my skin, watching her exit the small bathroom. The man, Ravi, gives me a long once-over without a word.

“You better fucking keep her safe,” I say, clenching my fingers into fists.

He chuckles and shakes his head. “Worry about yourself, pup. I only promised my mate to help her through the transformation. I need you to prove yourself worthy.”

He quickly closes the door, not letting me respond. The bang resonates through me, stealing my breath. I have to figure this shit out. The bastard is right. I’m doomed otherwise.

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