"Hey, Cass," a voice says—Warren's voice. It's clipped and business-like.
Then the room floods with a sudden, harsh yellow light as Warren flips on a lamp, making me flinch again. My eyes quickly adjust, and they immediately find him.
The blond alpha is frozen in place, his hand still on the lamp switch, as he takes in the scene. Me tangled in the sheets, Cass’s possessive hold, and the undeniable scent of sex that fills the room.
I can’t help but lift my head, looking him up and down.
He’s all dressed up for work, wearing a dark suit that fits his powerful frame like a second skin, a crisp white shirt open at the collar. The sharp, clean lines of his frame make him look even more dangerous. More commanding.
His eyes zero in on me, dragging slow and deliberate over every inch of my exposed body. The look in his eyes sends a shock right through me, a deep, electric tingle that has nothing to do with panic and everything to do with him.
He looks so powerful. So strong.
All I want is for him to crawl into bed with us. I want tokiss him, to feel his hands on me, to fuck him right here alongside Cass.
And the raw, immediate intensity of that desire scares the life out of me.
“Cass…I…need…” Warren drags in a deep, audible breath through his nose, then he lets out a low, slow growl that vibrates through the room.
The sudden predatory sound sends a rush of heat rushing through me, making me moan out loud. The room goes silent, and it feels like all eyes fall on me.
Mortified, I scramble to grab the sheets, and a choked gasp rips from my throat.
The movement is a catastrophic mistake.
A sharp, searing pain tears through me as the sudden shift makes Cass's knot pull hard against my inner walls. "Ah!" I cry out, the sound raw and pained. I hiss through my teeth, frantic to yank the covers up over my naked body, my face burning with a humiliation so hot it feels branded into my skin.
"Fuck, don't move," Cass growls, his voice laced with fury as his hands clamp down on my hips, his grip like iron. He pins me in place, holding me absolutely still to prevent another agonizing pull.
Warren blinks hard, like he’s just broken out of a trance. "Fuck. I'm sorry, Cass," he says, his voice tight with regret. "I didn't...I should have waited. I'm sorry, Tansy."
"Get out," Cass bites out, the words laced with fury. "Now."
“Right.” Warren doesn’t hesitate. He backs out of the room, pulling the door shut quietly but firmly behind him, plunging us back into a dim, tense silence.
The peaceful aftermath is gone, completely destroyed. My heart is hammering against my ribs, but now it's withmortification and a lingering, sharp ache. I bury my face in the pillow, wishing I could disappear.
A stupid, rational part of my brain screams that my reaction is ridiculous.
After all, Warren is my packmate. One day, he'll claim me just like Cass. I should be used to it, to them. But logic is a distant whisper drowned out by the roaring fire of my embarrassment, and I can't help the way my whole body burns with shame.
Cass's grip on my middle loosens as he presses a soft kiss to my shoulder, his lips a stark contrast to the rage still vibrating in his chest. "It's okay," he murmurs, his voice a low, soothing rumble meant only for me. "I've got you. Breathe."
I try, I really do, but each shaky inhale is still tainted with humiliation. Cass seems to sense it, because he doesn't say anything more. He just holds me, a warm, solid wall of protection at my back.
He nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. His lips brush over the sensitive skin of my mating bite, and then he gently nips at it with his teeth.
The effect is instantaneous.
A jolt of pure, possessive electricity shoots through me, overriding every other sensation. The sharp sting of his teeth on that sacred mark is a command my body obeys without question. All the mortification, the panic, the shame completely dissolves like mist in the sun.
My muscles go limp, my racing heart slows to a steady, calm rhythm, and a soft, contented sigh escapes my lips.
I am his.
He is here.
And that’s all that matters.
