I felt hot. Like someone had opened an oven door and forced me to sit beside its pooling waves of heat.

Rolling over, I attempted to kick the duvet from my body but found myself strangely restricted. I grunted, thinking that I had just cocooned myself too much and tried to kick my legs free. I bucked my hips, agitation growing as the remnants of sleep disappeared.

My foot contacted something solid, and I froze when a low grunt of pain came from right beside me. My heart skipped a beat, inhaling sharply as the sound registered in my mind. Weight suddenly shifted, taking the basking fiery heat with it. The mattress dipped, jostling me, and the restrictions lifted with the movement.

Do I pretend to be asleep?

Do I pretend to be dead?

Who was in this bed with me?

Why did my head hurt and my stomach feel sore?

"I know you are awake, flower."

I held my breath as the deep tone of voice caressed my ears. Goosebumps rose on my skin, my body recognising the soothing tone of my supposed soulmate before my brain.

My eyes flew open once my brain registered who was lying beside me. The first thing I saw was his tattooed skin and arm moving through the air to rest along my torso. The heavy yet familiar weight of the limb had me realise it was what had been pinning me to the bed all morning.

All the memories of last night came flooding back at once. He had wanted to stay because he didn't feel like I was safe alone and he climbed into my bed after asking some rather sensitive questions. I swallowed when I realised how much I would have told him if I hadn't of fallen asleep when I did.

"I thought you would have left." I murmured, my throat dry.

He hummed. "I was going to when the sun rose, but... I slept all night."

I turned my head to seek his face, my eyes travelling up his bare-wait, wait, wait, wait.

"I said clothed!" I squeaked, my eyes finding the wonderful sight of morning wood.

He grumbled. "It was so damn hot in here and you insisted on cuddling in the duvet like a damn child."

I frowned at him. "So you thought getting mister potato out would be a wonderful way to cool down?"

He smirked. "Mister potato?"

I huffed, removing my eyes from his bare body. "It was hot because you are like a furnace."

Pushing the covers from my body, I pulled myself to the end of the bed. Glancing down, I found that I too was naked and had a moment of hesitation as a weird dread came over me. He wasn't Darius, was he? He wouldn't... Touch me in my sleep, right?

"Nothing happened." His voice murmured, as if sensing my thoughts. "I was just hot. I stayed on top of the covers all night."

My shoulders relaxed, finding the truth in his voice. "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me for natural decency and consent, Ailia." He growled. "I will not touch you until you beg for it."

I suppressed a shiver, my back still facing him as I stared down at my feet on the carpet. I didn't answer, unable to think of a response worthy enough to his statement. He had stunned me. He seemed agitated, but I couldn't determine whether it was because of me. His small grumbles gave him away.

"I'm going to shower." I muttered. "Are you..."

I turned, standing from the bed at the same time he did. Our eyes clashed with each other, and I couldn't help but let my eyes wander. His body was too glorious to not look at, my mind drawn to the tattoos and sculpture of his chest and shoulders. His muscle rippled as he moved, his lips pulled down into a small frown.

Did this guy ever smile?

He cleared his throat. "I will go back to my room."

I nodded quietly, running my hand through my bedridden hair. "Okay."

Neither of us moved, stuck in a stalemate of eye contact. And nudity. We were both naked. Awkward?

Eventually, I was the one to break it. Clearing my throat, I made my way across the room. I was highly aware of his eyes following my naked body from my wardrobe to the bathroom until the door clicked shut behind me.

I emerged freshly clean and ready for the day around half an hour later. Asra had long since gone. The faint scent of his cologne settled in the air. I noticed he had made my bed and cracked the window, my curtains drawn and on their tie-backs. I smiled softly at the gestures, appreciative of him taking a minute out of his day to make mine simpler as I walked out of my room and to the elevator.

He definitely was not Darius for that.

I had to stop comparing the two. I really did. One was a wolf, and one was a wolf in sheep's clothing. One thirsted for my blood, the other thirsted for my...whatever it was Asra wanted from me. My ass?

I really needed to talk to that man. I had way too many things to say to him, but everything just got in the way. Remembering it was the full moon, I wondered if that was where Asra had gone before turning up dishevelled at my doorstep.

Was it a doorstep if... there wasn't a step?

I hummed at my internal question, stopping my descent in the hallway to ponder.

If it wasn't a doorstep, since it was just a hallway, was it a door-flat? A door...way? No, a doorway was different. Same thing, but different. A door...entrance-no, no, a doorstep. It simply had to be a doorstep. Maybe instead of a step, like a stair, it meant the verb form, so the movement of stepping inside? Yes, that had to be it.

Shaking my head to clear the daydream, I barely registered the open elevator doors and a familiar alpha male inside.

"Head in the clouds?" Blake grinned.

I couldn't hide the grimace on my face and he rolled his eyes, his hand firmly clasping the elevator doors open.

"Going down?" He asked, fingers dancing along the button display.

Having no choice but to climb into the death trap, I nodded. "Please."

I forced myself into the opposing corner, the doors closing beside me. Instead of retreating, Blake hovered in the middle of the death trap. I caught sight of myself in the mirror behind him, my wild ginger hair tamed into a ponytail today. My face was rather pale, I assumed from the alcohol consumption last night.

"Did you enjoy your night?" He asked politely.

I shrugged. "I went to bed. Nothing exciting."

His eyebrows quirked, and he took a step closer to me. "You should've found me, my dear. I could've made it a little more fun."

My nose crinkled, and I pushed myself further into the corner of the elevator. "No, that's quite the opposite of what I would want to do."

He laughed, the sound ricocheting around the death trap. "I have never met a human so gutsy."

"Gutsy?" I repeated.

"Yes. Humans where I am from are not so... bold. It is wonderfully refreshing and is quite an attractive quality." He grinned.

I felt nerves clutch my stomach as he grew closer, a nervous laugh bubbling in my throat. "Is that so?"

Looking anywhere but directly into his obsidian eyes, I mentally cursed the elevator for taking so long. When he stepped another foot closer, his weight shifted, and I caught sight of the panels behind him. I cursed when I realise he had not even pressed the button, and was successful in cornering me away from them. The elevator was frozen. The only button he had tricked my sight into pressing was the hold button.

When his toes almost touched mine, I had no choice but to stare at him. My head stayed low, firmly locking onto a button on his black shirt. My jaw clenched when he leaned closer, his head dangerously close to mine.

Was I supposed to stay still? Like you do with wild animals or reptiles? Hope he backs away? Do you run from wolves or scare them off?

I shivered when his breath ran along my skin, his chest heaving as he loudly inhaled my scent. A low groan escaped him on the exhale, sending a sickening nausea into my stomach.

"So sweet." He murmured, pulling his face away from mine. "Tell me, does the Alpha know you have had multiple partners? Is that why he keeps you around?"

"Excuse me?" I scoffed.

His lips pulled into a grin when I made eye contact. "Ah no, I see it. I see it well. A little lion, but a breakable one. You are an excellent entertainment. Perhaps... tonight, you could... entertain me."

"No, thank you." I shook my head. "I would rather-

He cut me off when his hand darted out to grab me by the face. My jaw instantly screamed in pain when he tightened his fingers around my chin, teeth clattering against each other. A small gasp of fright escaped me before my hands darted up to grab hold of his wrist. He held me way too familiarly...

"It was not a question." He glared. "You are a human, yes?"

I hesitated, not wanting to answer him. His grip tightened, making a small cry of pain leave my lips.

"Yes." I whimpered.

"Yes, what?"

"I am human."

"Humans are below wolves, correct?"

Despite my pain, I glared at him. There was a light littering of yellow bruises across his temple and jaw. So faint, I almost missed them.

"Humans are below wolves."

"Yes."

"So, you will obey me, as your superior." He growled, canines flashing from beneath his lips. "Do as I say, and you won't get hurt again. You learnt about your place as a child. You know this."

It was painfully funny because no; I did not. I knew nothing about this, or wolves. They secluded us for a reason, free to live from their restrictions... Only to be thrown into our own hierarchy... Funny, right? Didn't really work, did it?

"Do not ignore me." He growled.

I cried out in pain when he shook me, my lower back banging against the elevator wall. "Okay, okay, okay."

"Good." He snapped, fingers flexing on my chin.

I shivered when they fell to my neck, tensing around the delicate flesh there before removing them all together. He licked his lips, eyes trailing along my body with an unwelcome hunger. Pressing the button on the wall, the elevator lurched. He kept those dark eyes locked on me as we descended, my stomach lurching when we hit the bottom floor.

I was about to move when his words caught me off guard, sending a familiar gut wrenching fear through my body.

"Be a good little whore and keep your mouth shut if you know what is good for you." He snapped.

The doors opened, and I stepped out without looking back. Blake stepped around me, grumbling as he marched down the hallway. My head hung low. I felt fearful tears burn in my eyes as the doors closed behind me. My jaw ached like I lost a tooth, and I hoped I wouldn't have any bruising to hide.

Why did every man I meet always treat me like shit? How did sleeping with two men in my life make me a whore? Why was sex such a taboo thing to be treated so lowly when you have had it more than once in your damn life? Most of mine were forced, anyway! Not like he deserves that information...

Sniffing back the tormenting emotions, I made my way into the kitchen to get a drink and look for some painkillers. I remember Eve telling me where they were... There was a human stash in the... Utility! Yes, that was it.

I surpassed a gathering of wolves in the kitchen and made my way into the utility, pleased to find it empty. I rummaged through the cupboard of human medicines until I found the ones I needed. Carrying them into the kitchen, I avoided eye contact as I grabbed a small carton of juice and left the room. The conversation didn't stop whilst I was there, so I took it as a good sign.

"Hey, Ailia!"

Maybe not.

I stopped my escape, looking over my shoulder to see Piper coming towards me. I felt my heart lurch, the instant want to blurt out my secrets overwhelmed me. Piper was safe. I felt vulnerable after Blake's show of dominance, and my emotions were getting the best of me. I was paranoid too, and that did not help at all.

"Hey, Piper." I smiled.

She stopped beside me, her lips pulled down into a frown. "That's not a pleasant smile. That's a sad smile."

"What?" I wondered, my eyebrows furrowing.

"What's happened?" She wondered, looking down at the pills in my hand. "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head rapidly, shaking the thoughts of Blake away with it. "No, no, I just have a headache."

Her eyes lit up knowingly before she snorted. "Ah, good ol' wine-ache."

Nodding in tandem, she looped her arm through mine and led me to the porch, as always. Once we were outside, she looked down at me with a confused smile.

"Ailia..."

"Yes..."

"Why do you smell so strongly of Alpha Blake?" She wondered.

I tensed, my entire body freezing. What if he was like Darius? What if I told Piper, and he hurt her? What if I told Piper, and he hurt me?

Apparently, my hesitation was answer enough because her eyes narrowed into slits. "What did he do?"

"N-Nothing, he just..." I began.

"Just, what?" She urged.

"He was in the elevator with me." I mumbled. "He..."

"Ailia... Come on, no secrets with me, yeah?"

I scanned her honest eyes before sighing with certainty. "I don't like him."

"What did he do?"

"He... He called me a whore and told me to meet him later to entertain him."

Piper froze, her eyes blazing a fire as they unfocused. Just as she was about to launch out of the chair, I jumped up with her. Placing my hands on her chest, I begged for her to stay here.

"If he finds out I told you... I don't want you to get hurt."

"You are not going to him later." She glared.

I shook my head. "I can't."

"You are not his toy. You are not a whore." She demanded.

"Okay."

"Say it."

"I am not his toy." I sighed, fed up with repeating things to people.

"And...?"

I swallowed, unable to find the truth in my words. "I am not a whore."

Her eyes narrowed again. "Why does it sound like you are lying?"

"It's hard for me to... say that... when... I have been told all my life that I am one." I shook my head, dropping my gaze.

Her face softened, and her hands came to cup my cheeks. I flinched at the contact, which only caused her to hesitate again.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" She wondered.

I smiled softly. "No, it's okay. I think I must've slept with my mouth open or something... Jaw ache."

She smirked. "Or maybe it aches from something else you were doing last night."

I gave her a deadpanned look. "Nothing like that happened."

"Oh yeah? Prove it."

And so, just like that, the morning conversation moved to my non-existent sexual relationship with Asra.