Chapter 76

Anna’s POV

Anna followed Olivia the whole way back to Olivia’s room, to be sure that Olivia went inside and would not be bothering Julian and Amber anymore. Then, once she saw that door close, she returned to Julian’s room.

The scene she saw there shocked her more than anything!

Amber was passed out, face first against Julian’s muscled chest. Julian was holding her gently, keeping her upright and secure.

“What the hell happened?” Anna asked.

“I think the alcohol went straight to her head,” Julian admitted. There was some color in his cheeks, unusual for him. It made Anna wonder what she had missed for those few seconds she had chased Olivia up the hallway. “She passed out.”

“Is she alright?” Despite working at the clinic, Anna really didn’t know anything about medicine. She was entirely on the clerical side of things.

“How much did she have before you got here?” Julian asked. After I told him, he seemed pensive but calm. “She just needs to sleep it off for a while.”

“Well, I’m not leaving her here,” Anna said.

“I can help you take her back to her house.”

“Absolutely not. Alice will have enough questions without you.”

“I can help you get her to the car, but you are going to need to carry her inside by yourself. Can you do that?” Julian asked.

Anna wasn’t strong. For a werewolf, she was thin and weak. Stronger than a human, perhaps, but nowhere near strong enough to carry around her unconscious friend.

“I’ll just stay here then, and keep an eye on things,” Anna started to say, but then cursed. “Someone has to pay the babysitter. She didn’t sign on for staying all night.”

“Amber can stay here,” Julian said. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“Yeah, no way I’m letting that happen.”

“I won’t hurt her.”

“Like you didn’t hurt her tonight by having Olivia in here? Like you didn’t hurt her all those years ago, by cheating with Olivia the first time? Was that even the first time?” Anna shook her head. “Like hell, she’s safe here with you.”

Julian frowned but didn’t argue with her.

“I won’t harm her, I can promise you that,” Julian said. “You have to admit there aren’t many options. Unless you want to go get Alice and come back.”

“She’s already in bed. I’m not dragging her to some hotel room in the middle of the night.”

“Then trust me to watch Amber.”

Anna was slowly realizing that she didn’t have a lot of options here. As she couldn’t carry Amber herself, the best course might be to leave Amber here, trusting Julian. Though that didn’t mean she had to leave her friend unprotected.

“If you mean it, make a vow,” Anna said. “A vow to the Moon Goddess. Tell me you won’t hurt her.”

A vow to the Moon Goddess was serious. Once it was made, the one who made the vow would be bound to his words. The Moon Goddess herself would intervene to ensure the bond wouldn’t be broken.

It was a mysterious power, and proof of the Moon Goddess existence and power.

“I don’t believe this is necessary,” Julian tried to say.

“The vow,” Anna said, insisting on it. “Saw you won’t even touch her tonight.”

Julian straightened. “Fine. I swear to the Moon Goddess, that once I get Amber safely onto that bed, I will not touch her again.”

Anna closed her eyes, feeling a slight thrum of power fill the room and then immediately dissipate. The vow had been made.

“Put her on the bed and step back,” Anna said. She was going to be sure Julian wasn’t going to find any strange workarounds.

With a frustrated huff, Julian complied, carrying Amber to the bed. Gently, he laid her down upon it, and then stepped back. From here, he would be under the watchful gaze of the Moon Goddess and unable to touch her.

Satisfied, Anna gave up a silent apology to her friend, shot one last glare at Julian, and then left the room.

Julian’s POV

I had some idea of what Anna had been worried about, leaving Amber here with me, and the thought that she could think so low of me as to assume I would do something like that made me ill. It was no trouble at all making a vow to prove I wouldn’t, other than the general insult at being suspected of being someone who would touch an unconscious woman.

To protect Amber though, I supposed I could understand where Anna was coming from. In her place, I probably would have done the same.

I followed Anna to the door and then closed it behind her. Once she was gone, and I was alone with Amber, I turned to face the bed.

Amber was resting peacefully, her face half-turned into the pillows, her body comfortably stretched out over the mattress. Fortunately, she had kicked off her own shoes. I wouldn’t be able to help with her other clothing. I hoped it wasn’t too uncomfortable to sleep in.

At the moment, she didn’t seem to mind.

Her cheeks were still flushed, just as they had been before she passed out, when she had been rubbing her body against mine so seductively, while making such sweet whimpering noises.

Thank the Gods I was a man of willpower and honor, able to hold myself back from the temptation of her body and her sounds, and the fire that had burned in those eyes.

She’d been angry with me, yet she’d also wanted me. It had been a confusing, whirlwind mix of emotions, and I’d been at an utter loss on how to react.

It must have been the rum. Or the fast way she had downed that wine.

I’d seen her drink wine before, and she’d never acted like she had now.

It had been too long since last I touched her in that way. With her rubbing against me, I had nearly embarrassed myself. I longed for her so desperately. Even now, I felt on edge.

Perhaps the vow had been for the best after all.

If she awakened in the night in a similar mood, reaching for me and begging, I wasn’t sure I would have been strong enough to turn her away a second time.

Shaking my head, I tried to press the thoughts away. Yet, even as my desire slowly dimmed under the force of my will, I could not keep my gaze from being drawn toward her.

She was beautiful, resting soundly, her face lax with her peaceful slumber.

So many times in the past, I would watch her sleep just like this. Well, no. I supposed it was different then, because I would have gotten to hold her.

Now, I sat down on the ground beside the bed. My cheek in my hand, my elbow on the bed, I watched her.

There was some hair over her face. Without thinking, I reached out to brush it away. When I came too close, my hand stilled as if someone had forcibly grabbed my wrist and kept me there.

“Sorry,” I said to the Moon Goddess, and pulled my hand away.

After watching her a few more minutes, I headed into the bathroom for a cold shower.

Amber’s POV

As I blinked my eyes opened, I immediately cringed against the headache pulsing in my brain. Lifting my hand, I was surprised to find that I was still wearing a long-sleeve. Usually I slept in t-shirts or tank tops. It hadn’t been that cold last night. I could tell because I still felt warm.

After blinking a few times, I looked around. Where was I?

This almost looked like… a hotel room?

At once, images of last night flashed through my mind. Was this Julian’s hotel room? What was I still doing here?

In a panic, I surged upright.

Had I slept with Julian?!