***
I stir in my sleep, not wanting to wake up, but instead just lay here in the arms of my very skillful lover, who’d spent all day and all night soothing my heat in every way imaginable.
Now that I’m no longer in pain, I feel every other sensation as it rolls through my body; the tingling left in the wake of his passionate lovemaking remains between my thighs.
As my consciousness awakens, I soon realize that the warmth of Elias’s embrace from last night is absent, prompting me to open my eyes with a frown.
I’m staring at his empty pillow, wondering if he’d already left for the day. There’s a flicker of disappointment that rears its head, but I quickly dismiss it.
Alpha Elias is the leader of this pack, after all. There are certain responsibilities and duties that he must carry out.
It’s no wonder he left this morning without saying goodbye. The only duty he has toward me is to ensure my well-being is taken care of, and part of that is catering to my wolf’s need to be sated.
Sighing discontentedly, I decide to close my eyes to that disappointment, hoping that sleeping in today will have me forgetting that the only reason Elias cares about me is for the sake of his child growing inside.
What was I expecting, anyway? A grand gesture to show that he cares about me? I blow out an irritated breath through puckered lips.
How ridiculous of me to think that Elias McGruff could care—
My thoughts are interrupted when a knock on the front door of the cabin faintly travels to the bedroom. I open my eyes with a frown, this time wondering who could possibly be visiting.
It’s not like Elias has any reason to knock before he enters. It’s his cabin after all. When I’m on my feet, wrapping a gown around me, a sliver of dread courses down my spine.
What if it’s Sandy and Delilah, coming over to finish what they started yesterday?
Taking careful, cowardly steps to the front door, I take a deep breath before pulling on the handle. Relief spreads through me when the woman standing on the porch isn’t one half of the pair of bullies from yesterday. With her red hair in a neatly clipped bun at the back of her head and a green wrap dress hugging her pristine figure, she appears friendlier than most of the pack members when she smiles.
“Good morning, Luna Aurora,” she greets politely, turning to reveal the clipboard and black bag she has tucked under one arm.
“Good morning,” I respond warily. “The alpha has already left.”
The woman clicks her tongue. “I’m here at the alpha’s behest, Luna. I am Rissa, and I’m the healer assigned to check your vitals. May I come in?”
Taken aback by the woman’s politeness, I’m even more stunned that she’s here because Elias sent her over.
“S-sure,” I mutter as I step aside. “Come in.”
“Thanks,” Rissa says as she walks in. She waits for me to close the door, then lifts a hand to shield one side of her mouthas if she’s about to let me in on a secret. “Alpha Elias told me about your”—her eyes flicker to my stomach—“condition,” she giggles lightheartedly. “I’m here to ensure that everything runs smoothly. You can consider me your personal healer.”
My heart does a strange little flutter, my cheeks warming with the stirrings of a blush.
Alpha Elias McGruff sent over a personal healer? For me?
Perhaps I didn’t have any reason to doubt him after all.
Perhaps the alpha does care about me, I think as a smile warms my lips.
Chapter 19 - Elias
Gazing deeply into Aurora’s eyes as I thrust as far as I could inside her heated cave, I can’t help but wonder how I was so fortunate enough to find my fated mate and have her in my bed.
More than that, she’s my official mate and luna of this pack, even though I haven’t marked my claim on her neck.
Yet.
I’d decided to take things slowly because I wanted Aurora to trust me beyond what I could do for her in bed. There’s so much more to explore in our mate bond, but we have some time, and I’m able to exercise patience.
At least we’ve had a few days to acquaint our bodies with symphonies of passion that neither of us seems to be getting enough of. Her lengthy heat cycle means she’s insatiable, and coupled with my rutting spree, we can’t seem to get enough of each other.
