Chapter 81

Lauren

Pain.

That was the first thing I registered. A dull, aching soreness that settled deep in my muscles like I had run a marathon, fought a war, and then been hit by a truck for good measure. My body felt...off. Like I wasn’t quite put together right, like my bones didn’t fit inside my skin properly anymore.

And then I registered something else.

Warmth. Steady, solid warmth pressed against my back, a heavy arm draped lazily over my waist. Steady breaths ghosted against my neck, sending a ripple of awareness through my exhausted body.

Oh no.

I opened my eyes and immediately regretted it. The room was dim, just the faintest slivers of moonlight filtering through the curtains, but I didn’t need full daylight to recognize where I was.

Alexander’s bed.

In Alexander’s room.

With Alexander.

And I was...oh God. I was sore.

Panic surged through me as I twisted, wincing at the sharp protest of my muscles. Alexander made a noise behind me, a sleepy grunt, and I froze as he shifted, his grip tightening slightly before loosening as he exhaled a long breath.

Okay. Okay, think.

I had transformed. I remembered that much. The rush of heat, the fire beneath my skin, the feeling like I was breaking apart and coming together all at once. I remembered the cage. The full moon. And then—

Nothing.

Just blank space where there should have been memories.

I turned my head slowly, looking at the man beside me. Alexander was still asleep, his dark hair a tousled mess, his bare chest rising and falling evenly. He looked...peaceful. Which was ironic, considering the last time I had seen him awake, he was anything but.

His arm was still around me, and okay, that was a problem.

I tried to move again, but as soon as I lifted my head, a sharp pain lanced through my temples. I let out a quiet groan, pressing a hand to my face, and that’s when I felt it.

A sting. Right beneath my eyes, like two dots.

“What the hell...” I muttered, rubbing at the tender skin.

“You’re awake.”

I jumped—actually jumped—because at some point, Alexander had stopped sleeping and started staring at me. His voice was still thick with sleep, but his eyes were sharp as they studied me.

My heart was racing. My mouth was dry. And still, the only thing I could say was—

“What happened?”

Alexander didn’t answer right away. His gaze softened—just a fraction—and his hand reached up, brushing his fingers against my cheek before tracing lightly under my eye.

I shivered.

“Really?” he murmured. “That’s the first thing you say? Demand of me?”

“Yes?” I swatted his hand away, ignoring the way my skin still tingled where he’d touched it. “Because I don’t remember anything. And my face hurts.”

His lips pressed together, his jaw working as if he was holding something back. Finally, he sighed, rolling onto his back and scrubbing a hand over his face.

“How do you feel?”

“Like I got hit by a truck,” I snapped, then immediately groaned. “Why are you asking me that? Why aren’t you telling me what happened?”

His eyes flicked back to me, something dark simmering in them. “Because, Lauren, I’d really like to know why you didn’t tell me.”

I blinked. “Tell you what?”

He scoffed, pushing himself up on his elbows. “Oh, I don’t know. That you were planning on throwing yourself into a deal with Liam just so you could transform? That you were going to lock yourself in a cage and shift for the first time in years without telling me?”

Ah.

That.

I opened my mouth—to say something—but at that exact moment, there was a knock at the door. Well. More of a lazy push, because the door swung open without an invitation, and Liam stood in the frame, arms crossed, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“Well, don’t you two look cozy,” Liam mused, his eyes flicking between us before landing squarely on me. “I was beginning to think you weren’t going to wake up.”

“Liam,” Alexander growled, already swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “Get out.”

“Sorry, can’t,” Liam said smoothly. “Business.”

“Unless your business involves jumping out that window, I don’t care,” Alexander snapped.

Liam grinned. “I think you will care.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Liam, just spit it out.”

His expression shifted slightly, the smugness giving way to something sharper. “You owe me.”

Silence.

Then, Alexander let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Excuse me? You almost killed her. Went behind your Alpha’s back—”

Liam leaned against the doorframe, completely unfazed. “My father is my true Alpha, you are… close. But no quite. Regardless, your Luna here made a deal with the wolf moon goddess. And guess who facilitated it?” He placed a hand on his chest. “Yours truly.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “What?” The moon goddess? “That wasn’t—”

“The deal was transformation,” Liam cut in, eyes gleaming. “And per payment to the goddess, I get a favor or two from you. Them’s the rules.”

Alexander’s entire body went rigid. “You rat. How dare you involve that ancient magic. You had no idea what it was would do. You could have killed her.”

Liam pursed his lips. “She asked for it. I was simply the messenger.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Um, no? You never said magic was involved.”

Alexander pressed a hand to his temple was a growl, “The answer is no, Liam. Leave.”

Liam arched a brow. “I wasn’t asking, Alexander. That’s how this works. She got her transformation, and now I get what I want.”

I swallowed, already dreading the answer. “And what, exactly, do you want?”

Liam’s grin widened. “Dinner.”

Alexander moved before I could react. One second, he was beside me, and the next, he was across the room, grabbing Liam by the collar and slamming him into the doorframe.

“Like hell,” Alexander hissed. “She’s not going anywhere with you. Not again!”

Liam’s smirk didn’t falter. “That’s not your call, is it?”

My brain felt like it was short-circuiting. “Wait—dinner? That’s what this is about?”

Apparently Liam gets some cosmic god wish and he chooses dinner?

Liam shrugged as much as he could while pinned. “What can I say? I’m a simple guy.”

I turned to Alexander, who was still very much on the verge of murder. “Alexander, let him go.”

“Like hell,” he snapped.

“Alexander,” I pressed. “I agreed to the deal. Whether I like it or not, I owe him. I’m not interested in pissing off a goddess.”

He clenched his jaw so tight I thought his teeth might crack. “No.”

I sighed, stepping closer and placing a hand on his arm. “It’s just dinner.”

His eyes met mine, burning with frustration. “It’s not just dinner, Lauren. This whole thing is—”

I knew what he meant. I did. But I also knew there was nothing we could do. So I gave him a soft smile, squeezing his arm. “I can handle Liam.”

Alexander let out a sharp exhale, his grip loosening slightly. He hated this. Hated that he had no say, that Liam had an upper hand.

Liam took the opportunity to pry Alexander’s fingers off him, straightening his jacket. “I’ll pick you up at seven,” he said with a wink before disappearing out the door.

Alexander let out a noise somewhere between a growl and a groan, running a hand through his hair. “I hate him.”

I let my head fall against his chest, sighing. “Yeah. Well we—”

He pulled away from me, his eyes searing. “We’re not done here, you owe me answers. Now.”