Chapter 6
Juliet
The next morning, I woke up wrapped in Louis's arms like I was something precious he didn't want to let go of.
His face was peaceful in sleep, those sharp cheekbones catching the morning light streaming through my bedroom window.
I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the warmth of his skin against mine.
'I don't want to leave,' I thought, watching him sleep. 'I want to stay here all day and just... exist with him.'
It hit me then—this wasn't just about having good help anymore. This wasn't about convenience or even the amazing kissing.
I was developing feelings for Louis. Real, messy, complicated feelings that had nothing to do with his Wolf Care services.
'Shit. I'm in deep.'
And with those feelings came something I wasn't proud of—a fierce, possessive urge to keep him all to myself.
Louis stirred, his eyes fluttering open to meet mine. Those gray-blue depths immediately warmed when he saw me watching him.
"Good morning," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
"Morning," I replied, reaching for my phone on the nightstand. I needed to check the time—work was going to kick my ass if I was late—but a news notification popped up first, bright and bold:
[Blackwood Family Heir Missing for Two Weeks—Reward Increased to Nine Figures. Authorities Fear Foul Play.]
I frowned, squinting at the screen.
Blackwood. The name felt familiar, but my brain was still fuzzy from sleep.
Rich people drama, I thought. Not my problem. I swiped the notification away without reading the rest—Louis was tracing patterns on my arm, and that was way more interesting.
"I have to get ready for work."
Something flickered across his expression—disappointment, maybe?
I sat up reluctantly, already missing his warmth. "Listen, Louis... you're not going to go anywhere today, right? Like, you're not going to get poached by some other client?"
He tilted his head, looking confused. "Poached?"
"You know, hired away by someone else. I mean, you're so good at everything—cooking, cleaning, and... other things." Heat crept up my neck at the memory of last night's kiss. "Some rich client is definitely going to try to steal you with a better offer."
"I don't want other clients."
The certainty in his voice should have been reassuring, but I couldn't shake the anxiety.
"But what if they offer you more money? I'm barely making ends meet as it is. If someone offers you double what I'm paying..."
"Juliet." Louis sat up, his hand cupping my face gently. "I don't care about money."
"Good," I said, trying to sound casual while my heart hammered. "Because I really can't afford to lose you."
As I was leaving for work, Louis came up close, his hands carefully fixing my clothes. But his gaze? It kept sliding up to my lips, and the intensity in his eyes made me feel like I was going to fucking combust on the spot.
I could practically feel the heat of his stare as it traveled from the corner of my lips to the center, like he was memorizing every detail.
"Do you need something?" I asked, my voice coming out breathier than intended.
Louis nodded slowly, not breaking eye contact.
"What do you need? A hug? Or..." I swallowed hard. "Another kiss?"
"Master," he said softly, and fuck if that didn't send a jolt straight through me. "Both. I want both."
I felt my face flush. "You don't have to ask permission for stuff like that anymore. I'm... I'm okay with it. Whatever you need."
Before I could say anything else, Louis pressed me back against the door, his forehead touching mine. The solid weight of him against me made my knees weak.
His tail was hitting the door behind me, wagging in that excited way that meant he was happy.
"The neighbors are going to hear," I whispered, though I made no move to push him away.
"Sorry." But he didn't step back.
"I really need to get to work," I said, even as my hands found their way to his chest. "If I'm late again, they'll dock my perfect attendance bonus."
Louis's eyes flashed gold for just a second. "Tonight?"
"Tonight," I promised. "When I get home, we can... continue this. Maybe take things a step further."
The golden glow in his eyes intensified. "I'll be good and wait for you, Juliet. I'll be right here when you get back."
And suddenly I understood why all my coworkers were always rushing home after work. If I had someone like Louis waiting for me every day...
'I want to curl up on the couch with him and watch movies,' I thought as I finally forced myself out the door. 'I want to run my hands over those ridiculous back muscles. I want to find out if the rumors about werewolf stamina are actually true.'
My mind wandered to last night, to the hard, hot pressure I'd felt against my leg during that earth-shattering kiss. That definitely hadn't been his belt buckle.
'Jesus Christ, what is wrong with me? I'm turning into a complete pervert.'
But I couldn't stop thinking about it. About him. About what might happen tonight.
By the time my shift ended, I was practically vibrating with anticipation. I'd spent the entire day fantasizing about going home to Louis, and now I was practically running through the subway station.
I was so distracted by thoughts of werewolf anatomy that I almost didn't notice the line of luxury cars parked outside my building.
"Holy shit," I muttered, slowing down to stare.
They were serious money—the kind of vehicles that cost more than I'd make in a decade. Black, sleek, and intimidating, with small but unmistakable emblems on the doors that looked like some kind of family crest.
'Blackwood,' I realized, recognizing the name from news headlines. One of those old-money werewolf families that owned half the city.
"Must be nice," I said to myself. "Some neighbor's living it up while I'm over here scraping together rent money."
'Maybe I should ask for a raise,' I thought bitterly. 'Or win the lottery. At this rate, I won't be able to keep Louis much longer without going into serious debt.'
But I pushed those worries aside as I climbed the stairs to my apartment. Louis was waiting for me, and that was all that mattered right now.
Except when I opened my door, the apartment was dark and empty.
"Louis?" I called, flipping on the lights.
No answer. No warm greeting, no tail-wagging, no low rumble of acknowledgment.
'Maybe he went to the store,' I reasoned, dropping my purse on the counter. 'We did run out of a few things.'
I was just about to head back out to look for him when I heard footsteps on the stairs. I opened the door to find Louis coming up from the lobby, but something was off.
His tail was hanging limp instead of its usual slight sway. His eyes lacked their normal bright alertness.
"Hey," I said, relieved but confused. "Where did you go?"
"Shopping." His voice was flat, distracted.
I looked at his empty hands. "Where's the stuff?"
Louis paused, something flickering across his face. "I'm sorry. I forgot what we needed. I'll go back—"
"No, don't bother." I stepped aside to let him in. "We have plenty of food. It's fine."
"I should start dinner," he said, but his movements were mechanical as he headed toward the kitchen.
I watched him with growing concern.
He picked up a knife to start chopping vegetables, but his movements were distracted, unfocused.
'Something's wrong,' I thought, anxiety gnawing at my stomach. 'Louis is acting weird. What the hell happened while I was gone?'