Chapter 37

~Grace~

“Someone can’t control herself,” Alex mumbled as his eyes fluttered open, a cocky smile on his face.

Gasping, I drew back my hand, holding it close to my chest. My face was beet red, having been caught. I only wanted to feel the definition of his chest, I hadn't meant to wake him!

“I-I was just checking the bandages,” I responded quickly, looking away.

He chuckled darkly, and I could hear a rasp in his breath.

“There’s no need to be shy. Just admit that you want me,” Alex said, and I stared at him with wide eyes.

How bold! Even if it was true, I’d never be so outright with my feelings! After all, it was only my first night divorced, did I really want to move onto another man this quickly?

I knew the answer was yes.

Alex had shown me how a real man treated his partner, and I loved every minute spent with him. Other than the annoying, cocky remarks he just had to make.

But my mind told me to be rational, not to rush into things. After all, who was Alex, really? I still hadn’t been able to figure him out completely. Did I trust him enough to surrender my heart?

Alex sat up, and I watched his muscles as they flexed in motion, his black hair falling over his eyes.

Oh god. The body was stronger than the mind, sometimes. And right now…

“You’re in heat,” Alex said.

What? Oh my god, that- it all made sense. The uncontrollable feelings, my wandering mind… Of course I was, but-

My face turned even redder. How did he know?! I wasn’t sure I wanted him to know!

Alex reached a hand out, taking my chin. He pulled me closer to him by my jaw, and I let him. It was as if I were transfixed by him, his beauty, his masculinity… I was frozen. All I wanted was him.

“Say it,” Alex whispered, leaning in close to my ear.

I shivered, feeling his warm breath against my skin. What did he want me to say?

“Say you want me,” Alex continued, and I felt his hand slide down my neck.

My breath hitched in my chest, and I could feel my heart pounding through my ribs. He was teasing me, he had to be!

“I-” I couldn’t get the words out.

“You won’t be able to rest tonight,” Alex continued, as if amused by my predicament. He traced circles into the soft skin on my chest.

I felt lightheaded with intoxication for him. My body ached for him to touch me, and I was quickly losing my composure.

“Let me rescue you from your suffering,” he breathed, his hand running down my stomach, placing both hands on my hips.

He looked up at me with his gorgeous golden eyes, the moonlight shining on his face, giving him an otherworldly glow. God, he looked stunning.

I wanted him so badly. My eyes dilated with my infatuation for him, and I felt myself draw nearer, as if he were a magnet. I couldn’t pull away.

He smiled at my body’s response, but he gave me a look of warning. “I need you to say it.”

I took a shuddering breath. Did I really want to go through with this? The answer was emphatically yes, but I think I was more anxious about the idea of actually doing it… with him.

It all felt so unreal.

Ever since I first laid eyes on him, I knew he was an incredibly attractive man. His mysteriousness, his harshness, his standoffishness all added to his charm, and it felt like he chose me.

He could be with any woman in the world right now, and the werewolf world was full of attractive women, but yet here we were, in his room, just him and I.

I knew I wasn’t just an accessory to him. He had proven that in his fight against Liam. I had to be something more. And I knew he was more than just a means to an end for me.

“I want you,” I whispered, and I knew my fate was sealed. Alex grinned at me, his sharp teeth glinting in the moonlight.

He gave a sharp tug at my waist, and I fell forward, catching myself with my hands on the sheets. My face hovered above his, as I now straddled him, my hands on both sides of his body.

Alex’s eyes travelled up and down my body with a hungry gaze, and I could feel his eyes piercing through my clothes.

Suddenly, he reached up and licked my cheek, the warm, wet sensation sending a shiver down my spine.

Oh, boy. This was going to be a long night.

Sunlight fell across my eyes, waking me up. I rolled over, and felt a warm body next to mine. Opening my eyes, I looked over Alex’s sleeping figure and smiled to myself, the memories of last night rushing to mind.

I looked over his sculpted figure, admiring how his body lay halfway under the sheets. My eyes travelled down his chest to his hips. Last night was wonderful, better than anything I ever experienced.

Was it because he was experienced? Or because of my intense passion for him?

Either way, if every night with him was like this, I never wanted to leave.

I drew the covers up around my body, lost in the hazy flashes of last night’s moments of desire, when I suddenly jolted up.

Oh my god, he hadn’t used protection! We were so caught up in the moment, and our passion carried us away, I didn’t even think about it!

I felt myself begin to panic.

What would people think of me, getting pregnant the very night I divorced Liam!

My reputation would be destroyed, and possibly gain Liam some reputation. People would think I was cheating on him while we were still married, and that Liam had every right to cheat on me, too.

And then the Council–they’d never let me earn voting rights or even attend after that. Everyone was already wanting redemption from Liam, I’m certain with any opportunity the media caught wind of, they’d try to boost his reputation again-

No… no, nothing would happen.

I hadn’t had a child, even after trying for three years straight. Even after taking medication for it. What was I so worried about?

I relaxed, as I remembered my infertility. My heart sank thinking about it, but I shrugged to myself. At least it was good for something.

I looked over at Alex again, a strange feeling in my chest. Did… did I want children with Alex? How did I see our relationship? Would I start a family with him?

My heart ached as I remembered what I so badly longed for when in my relationship with Liam. I just wanted a simple life, to have a family, and raise children.

Oh, how much I loved the pups in the pack, and how much I wanted my own.

Alex’s nephew was fine, but… he wasn’t mine. And I wanted my own.

I stared down at my stomach, feeling an empty space. No child, and no wolf… who was I now that I divorced Liam?