HARDIN
It wasn't just seeing her bare skin that was driving me insane, it was her scent.
That maddening, irresistible scent that clawed at the wolf inside me, pulling me to her.
My c*ck was already straining under me. It was begging for her.
"Elara…" I managed to speak, though my throat was dry, my voice trembling, like I was forcing the words out. "Why did you scream?"
She blinked, still breathless. "T-the water… it was hot."
But it wasn't only her scent that was burning in the room. The air also felt thick, like fire had seeped through every corner of my mind, tightening around my chest. My pulse thundered as Lyon pushed harder inside me, his growl low, feral, impatient.
I could feel Aaron too, the faint echo of his turmoil through the bond. It made it totally worse for me. My restraints were breaking.
Aaron was feeling it, the same pull, the same unbearable heat, and I knew he wouldn't last long before it broke him too.
In just two strides, I was already inside the bathroom. My eyes locked with Elara's, and everything inside me stilled. Those icy blue eyes pulled me in, silent and wild all at once. I stepped closer, still staring, her strong scent tangled with my breath, until there was nothing but the sound of our hearts beating in sync.
I knew I wanted to mark right there. God, I was trying so hard.
Then it hit me like something inside me snapped loose. I caught her by the waist, unable to stop myself. The need to mark, to claim, to make her mine roared through me with a force I couldn't fight.
My lips crashed against hers instantly.
Lyon went spiral inside me making the heat only stronger.
I kissed her so deeply, releasing myself to her like two worlds were colliding. She didn't resist, as if she wanted it too, her hands slided roughly to the back of my neck and that's when my c*ck started aching.
I s*ck*d every part of her lips, my fingers brushing past her neck carefully, before finding its way to her boobs.
I squeezed it so hard, she moaned softly into my mouth.
I lifted her off the ground and carried her to the room, placing her gently on the bed… And I could swear I didn't want the moment to end. It felt endless… until the door flung open.
Aaron.
His breath ragged, eyes flickering with golden light, the same heat blazing through him.
"Elara…" his voice cracked when he saw us, his scent mixing with mine, fierce and untamed.
~ELARA~
The moment the door flung open, my eyes darted toward it.
Aaron.
Panic shot through me. I pushed Hardin away quickly, my chest rising and falling fast as if the realization had just struck me. I didn't even know why I'd let him touch me, why every inch of me had burned for him moments ago. I should have been angry when he walked in on me like that, but I couldn't. Not with that strange heat still crawling beneath my skin.
"I'm sorry," I managed, stumbling out of bed. "I think I need to go."
"Where would you go at this hour?" Hardin's tone was calm, and I almost fell for it, but I didn't stop moving.
"You can't go anywhere, alright," he added, his voice still low but firm.
When i got down, my eyes moved from Hardin to Aaron, then back again.
Were they serious right now?
"What now?" I snapped. "You're going to stop me? Or worse, lock me inside this house? That's not happening."
"We're not going to stop you…" Aaron said, cutting in before Hardin could respond. "But I don't want you to leave either. It's not safe out there."
What a beautiful excuse. What danger was possibly lurking around the Alpha's quarters? I'd rather sleep in one of their maid quarters than here.
So... I didn't listen. My legs moved on their own, carrying me toward the door. Aaron followed close behind, but Hardin stayed where he was, silent, watching.
When I reached the door, Aaron stepped in front of me, his arm blocking my path before I could touch the handle.
I froze.
The air around us thickened, that same burning sensation returning, stronger this time. His eyes locked with mine, and for a second, neither of us breathed.
When I stared at him, his face was different. He wasn't the same calm, soft-spoken man that spoke minutes ago. His chest heaved, his jaw was tense, and his eyes, those usually gentle eyes, were now glowing faintly, wild and uncertain.
"I need you, Elara," he said quietly, his voice low and strained, like something inside him was breaking.
I swallowed hard. "Why do you need me?" I said almost flatly.
He didn't answer, instead, his hand reached for mine, and the moment our skin touched, something snapped inside me again, the same I had felt with Hardin.
What was wrong with me now?
A rush of heat shot through my body, and a voice echoed in my head. That same voice from before.
'Mate.'
It took me a second to let it sit in... No. No, not again. Not that voice.
Before I could take a step back, Hardin's presence pressed against my back. His voice came rough, trembling.
"Look Elara, I don't want any mates, that's the truth," he muttered, "...but my wolf, Lyon, he's going crazy because of you."
"I… I don't understand," I whispered.
"I'm gonna make you understand," Aaron said quietly.
But I still still don't get it or maybe I did, I definitely don't wanna admit it.
Before I knew it, Aaron moved closer to me. And before I could form any word, his hands caught my face, his lips found mine, softly, and every thought scattered in my head. The heat between us flared, wild and consuming.
I should've pulled away. I knew I should've.But I couldn't. I wanted him too and it was driving me crazy.
The world around me blurred into warmth and breath and heartbeats. The only thing that existed in that moment was just this strange heat that neither of us could fight.