Chapter 13

Through Olivia’s Eyes

Elroy wasn’t healing.

Every time I saw him he was wan and pale, as if his energy had been sapped. To say I was worried was an understatement! It was like he’d been through some terrible ordeal—and that was coming from the woman who was currently ripping her soul open to wake up her wolf.

(Though frankly it wasn’t as bad as Apothecary Iris had made it sound. It hurt, yes, quite a lot, especially for the first split-second of agonizing rending, but after that it was far more bearable. Nowhere near as bad as severing my pack bond, at least.)

So I made him soup.

I felt incredibly stupid walking with it to his room, but I didn’t know what else to do. My mom had always made this for me when I was sick, and I swear it always gave me a little more energy to heal. Maybe that was stupid of me too but, well…too late.

The fact was, this was the father of my child. He was my Mate, my Alpha, and right now I was entirely dependent on his good will. Besides, he fought injured on my behalf—I owed him.

So I stood in front of his door for a moment, awkwardly holding two bowls of soup and convincing myself not to be a wimp and just knock. At least, I did until the door swung open to show Elroy’s smug little face.

“You know I smelled you coming, right?” he teased, stepping back to let me in. I huffed, my cheeks red. “Is that…food?”

“Chicken cheese chowder,” I muttered. “You’d better like it, because it was a pain finding things in that massive kitchen.”

Elroy’s eyebrows flew up. “You cooked this? Yourself?”

“Uh, yes?” I said, handing him a bowl that he took far more gently than he needed to. “You don’t seem to want to tell the kitchen you’re still recovering, but you need extra nutrients. You’re welcome.”

He smiled at me. A tired, but genuine smile.

“Thank you, Olivia,” he said, a little too seriously for my taste. I just flushed under his stare, looking away.

“Not all of us were raised with personal chefs,” I diverted. “It might be weird to you to cook with my own two hands, but it’s not to me.” Elroy snorted.

“Well, thanks anyway,” he said, sitting down. His room, like mine, had a small sitting area and he motioned for me to join him. “It’s the best gift I’ve gotten in a while—even if it does look like you swapped the salt for sugar.”

Mortified, I looked down at my own bowl and brought it to my nose. I turned so red I could probably be seen from space. He was right.

“Give it back,” I demanded, reaching out as fast as I could. “You don’t have to eat it—I’ll make a different pot—”

Elroy leaned away from my grabbing hands and took a deep gulp right out of the bowl, with a smug look in his eye that said ‘Oops, too late now!’ I steamed.

“Nevermind, I hope you get food poisoning,” I huffed. Elroy laughed heartily, and though I didn’t want to admit it, I felt a tinge of pride at getting him a little closer to his usual annoying self.

“I could never turn down a homemade gift from my Luna,” he teased. “Besides, it’s really not bad.” I tentatively dipped a finger in my bowl to check for myself, and I decided he was absolutely lying.

He ate with gusto though, and with a sigh I sat down to do the same. It was edible, at least, even if it was really weird. Maybe Elroy’s tastebuds were just fucked up?

I watched him swallow more and knew that wasn’t it. How long had it been since someone made him a meal from scratch, for him to want to eat it this much?

“Stay here tonight,” Elroy blurted. I turned my head to stare at him. “The doctor said our puppy needs more of my energy.”

Oh, that makes more sense.

“Yeah, alright. I’ll go get some pajamas.”

I should have known better. Every time I laid down next to Elroy we ended up doing the horizontal tango, and tonight wouldn’t be the exception.

“Are your breasts sore yet?” Elroy asked, one hand sliding up to cup one of said breasts in his big hand.

“It hasn’t even been three weeks,” I rolled my eyes. I didn’t stop him, though—it felt nice, a little like a sensual massage. I sighed into it.

“So that’s a no,” Elroy deduced with a grin. I just puffed air at his face. “Should I stop?”

“No,” I pouted. Elroy chuckled and brought his other hand over, now kneading softly at both breasts, and I felt myself relaxing into the mattress. “It feels good, and you never came during my heat, so…”

Elroy’s eyes darkened a little, part arousal and part amusement. “Oh, yes I did,” he said, his voice dipping into an octave that made my pussy start listening. “I humped against that gorgeous ass of yours ‘til I painted your cheeks white.”

I blushed. “I don’t remember,” I breathed, entranced by the mental image of this powerful Alpha nearly cumming in his pants without me having to lift a finger. Elroy smirked.

“Well, I had you a bit preoccupied,” he purred. My breath hitched. He was looking at me like I was a meal.

“It’s safe to fuck,” I said suddenly, holding his eyes. “I asked, after the heat, and as long as you don’t go crazy or anything it’s perfectly safe for the baby.” Elroy’s grin sharpened, and I felt arousal simmering dangerously under my skin.

Damn, it didn’t take much, huh? Guess that’s what I got for bagging someone who, frankly, oozed sex appeal.

“Well, well, well, don’t mind if I do.”

And he did.

He warmed me up good with his fingers, and then I was biting my lip as he slid into me. he still felt so big, pressing up on all the right spots and making me feel so full. I closed my eyes and let myself succumb to the lazy, sleepy atmosphere.

Elroy fucked me slow, but strong. Every stroke of his cock punched a sigh or hum out of me, and he took the time to make sure I felt every excruciating inch of his cock—both on the way in and on the way out again. He groped my tits as he did, adding fuel to the growing fire.

He wanted to provide? I was going to let him.

Time stretched like pulled taffy, but it probably wasn’t really that long. We were both too tired to go at it after the last three days of grueling preparation, but the rising endorphins made me forget all about it.

“Look at me,” Elroy rumbled, hips stuttering. “Wanna see those pretty eyes roll back—fuck.”

So, yes, it was a good night. The orgasm was sticky-sweet, and the momentary break from the action was just what I needed. As Elroy pulled out to finish on my stomach, I had the feeling he’d needed it to.

He kissed my lower stomach before we went to sleep, and I smiled. If nothing else, he was going to be a loving father, and that made this worth it.

“You’re going to regret this,” Louisa hissed in my ear before hanging up. I sighed, dread settling in my stomach. I’d refused to give Damian the Harp House, and she did not appreciate that.

I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my gut, reminding myself that I was getting my wolf back. She had nothing to hold over me, at least hypothetically.

A wolf’s first shift always came at the full moon, and that wasn’t for another few days. Until then I wouldn’t know for sure if Apothecary Iris’ potion had done its job. If it went wrong…

I shook my head. I’d put my eggs in this basket, I couldn’t go second-guessing myself now.

Even though the full-moon night was also the Luna ceremony. But it was fine, I told myself, everything was going to be fine.

I kept up that mantra right until I walked into the dining hall for lunch, and found all the high-ranking members of Eclipse watching me even more than normal. I frowned. Someone’s phone was blaring out what sounded like a live broadcast, and one with a voice that was all too familiar.

“Yes, it’s horrible, but I’m afraid it’s true!” Louisa said passionately. “My sister, the soon-to-be Luna of Eclipse Pack, is a wolf who can’t shift!”