Asra forced me to shower with him for the next five days. He was relentless in not allowing me to wash myself. I liked to shower before I fell into bed, to wash away the grime of a workday. But Asra was always there. I think he knew when I left the kitchen and intently followed me to the bathroom. He was understanding my habits more than I did his. He was still a mystery to me.

Even as I stood bare and sudsy, and his hands ran along the length of my thighs with a fire burning in my belly, I still did not know this man.

That made me nervous.

He stood upright when he finished, with an accomplished smile that soon dropped at my scowl. "What is it?"

"I know nothing about you." I shook my head. "Like, nothing."

He cocked his head, blue eyes darting between my own. "What are you getting at, Tulip?"

"I want to learn more about you. If I am stuck with you like you say I am..." I gave him a pointed look at which he smirked at. "Then I need to know you more... I am standing naked in front of you right now and know nothing but your name and title."

"But I like it when you call me Alpha...."

I scoffed at his teasing. "Stop changing the subject."

"Fine, fine." He chuckled, moving me under the showerhead. "Get rinsed off. We shall talk about it when you are done being delectable and wet."

I scowled at him as the water poured down my face. He shot me a wink before stepping out of the shower and getting dry. Despite being drowned in the shower's current, I couldn't help but admire his body. Veiny, powerful hands clasped the towel around his waist, his scarred, broad shoulders glistening with beads of water. The sharp v of his pelvis that disappeared beneath the towel...

I had to correct myself from drooling. The urge to lick the water from his tan skin was too strong. This bond thing... I had seriously disbelieved that it was a thing. Being more attracted to someone because of it was barbaric, right? But the past few days... It has been harder to keep my mind and eyes from wandering.

Even the simplest of things I found terrifyingly attractive. How he would eat or swallow... How he would stretch, or the placement of his arms and legs. It was getting frustrating. My body was reacting to his more so than usual. I even sought his touch in the night so I could sleep. Asra was being very laid back about it all, pretending it wasn't happening. I just hoped he was having a war with himself about touching, but I highly doubted it. He seemed the type to know what he wanted.

Turning off the shower with an annoyed huff, I watched as Asra left the bathroom, now fully nude. I gritted my teeth before moving to the vanity and getting dry and ready for bed. I plaited my hair, leaving it in two long braids down the sides of my head, before also leaving the room naked.

As I approached the bed, I found Asra already lying on his side. The duvet pulled to the side. I narrowed my eyes at his chilled out reaction to my nudity. He didn't even seem the slightest bit affected by me compared to how I felt about him. I angrily got into bed naked, back to my usual ways. It seemed to catch his attention as I nestled into his newly boxer-clad front, a small growl leaving his throat.

"You are sleeping naked?"

"Nudist, remember?" I tutted.

He hummed, wrapping his arms around me. "Hard to forget."

My body ignited with fire at his touch and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep quiet.

Safe to say that night, I did not sleep without lucid dreams of Asra's post-shower body looming over me.

***

The next day, the pack was buzzing with energy. Apparently, a full moon was coming, which meant my two weeks were nearly up. I had made the deal with Asra and Piper a week ago, so I was halfway through my battle. And yet, it wasn't anywhere as bad as I thought it was. In fact, this morning, I woke alone and did not think about Asra once as I got ready to help in the kitchens.

Today was a slow day cooking, most of the pack too pent up about the full moon in two days. It meant that they were hunting more, to store up for a feast. The past full moons they hadn't gone this mad, but perhaps this one was different? It was June now, my appearance in this pack long since old news.

The only thing keeping my mind busy was that it was the last full moon I would get to spend with Piper. She leaves tomorrow, which will be a day of great sadness, but she had her own responsibilities to tend to. I don't know why she extended her stay in the first place, since her entire purpose was to get to know Asra a little more personally. But that ship sailed, and her appearance here had been rather... anticlimactic.

How would she even tell them? Oh yeah, he has a mate, she's a weak little human though... And they haven't fucked so... shrug?

Doesn't seem very informative.

"You okay there, Ailia?" Stephanie wondered.

I hummed, looking up from my work to seek her out. "Huh?"

"You are rather... vigorous with your stirring today." She quirked an eyebrow.

"Oh, am I?" I frowned, glancing down at the cooking pot of cheese sauce. "I didn't realise."

She smiled softly. "A lot on your mind, huh? I do that, cook my thoughts into my food. Always feels good, and tastes better, too."

I was glad she understood and felt my shoulders sag with relief. "Yeah, it does."

"Keep it up, girl." She winked before moving to her own side.

I evened out my breaths before continuing, pouring all of my thoughts and emotions into my distraction. Breakfast was already done, and lunch was well underway. Before I could react, I was sitting around the table with the girls, eating our meal of the day. Time had blurred by without even realising, and the evening shift would soon take over. Only the younger girls got to leave early, the rest staying on to earn those extra coins.

I was just about finished with my meal, my fork being placed down one last time as I leaned back in my chair. I smiled softly at the cheerful chatter at our table, glad the girls were relaxed and taking time for themselves.

As soon as they finished, I excused myself to the bathroom, leaving my plate on the kitchen side for later. After relieving myself and washing my hands, my eyes caught sight of the silvering mark on my neck. My fingers lightly traced the surrounding area, millimetres away from touching it. Goosebumps rose on my skin at the thought of the sensations it would give me.

It was strange how easily I accepted his mark. In the heat of the moment, I had been desperate for the safety that it would give me. If I had known that it would incline me to have sex with him in a matter of weeks since, then I may have changed my mind before his teeth pierced my skin.

Wolves seemed to enjoy biting me.

Leaving the bathroom, I was just about to enter the kitchen when a hand wrapped around my arm and pulled. I stumbled, a shout of protest escaping me as I fell into their body. They giggled, and I groaned when I realised it was Piper who held me in a death grip.

"Oh, no you don't." She chirped. "You are not going back to work."

"What are you talking about? It's my shift." I scoffed, wrapping my fingers around her own.

It only made her squeeze tighter, a manic grin on her face. "I have already spoken to the chef. She cleared you of work for the night for some well-needed time off."

I frowned. "Really?"

"Really!" Steph shouted from inside the kitchen.

I shot the closed door a glare before sighing as I turned back to Piper's giggling face. "Well, this has to be for a reason, right?"

"You know me so well!" She beamed. "We are having a girls' night! Time to dress up and look pretty!"

"Really?" I groaned.

"Yes! We will get dressed up, pick out snacks and movies... A proper girl night in!"

"Really?" I dragged the word.

"You sound an awful lot like a parrot." She chided. "It will be fun. Come on!"

Not that the idea wasn't tempting. I have never had a 'girl night' in my entire life, so it intrigued me. I have seen it on the television in Asra's room, read it in the teen fiction books I borrowed from the town's library. Asra's library was way too advanced for me to understand. He had classics that spoke strangely, or books that had too big words for my mind to comprehend. I may know how to read and write thanks to ten years of school, but being so isolated from further resources as a teen can only get you so far. Arabella got lucky and could continue with school.

"Okay, okay." I sighed. "Fine."

Piper grinned, jumping on the spot. "Yay! Let's go then! You need to shower."

"Is that really necessary?" I wondered as we walked towards the elevator.

"You stink of kitchen sweat and... meat? Not that I'm against you tasting like dinner, but it will be rather distracting when we are so close in your room."

"My room? This is happening in my room?" I wondered, thinking about the barely clad bedroom I had before.

"Well, duh. Asra has the best looking bed and television I have ever seen." She gushed.

"Oh..." I trailed off, nodding with understanding. "That room."

"What room did you think I meant, silly?" She giggled.

I shrugged, stepping out of the recently arrived elevator to walk towards my room. It was still going to take me a while to adjust. He had claimed it was mine, his, ours, but it was a lot to wrap my head around. I had to learn to accept it; that it was also mine. I knew that. But Piper was right. It was way better than my old room.

"Strip! Get in that shower whilst I get the preparations." She clapped, forcing me into the bathroom.

"Preparations?" I scowled, turning on the bathroom light.

"No questions, just cleanliness. Now, go!"

I groaned as she pushed me again, finally adhering to her commands and turning on the shower. Stripping bare, I sniffed at my clothes, my nose wrinkling as the smell of pork drifted through my nose. Perhaps she was right... I mean, a night off having fun and being clean sounded fantastic right now. It would give me a chance to clear my head and get things off my chest before she leaves.

So, with that, I stepped into the shower and rid myself of all the grime. If I had known what awaited me outside the bathroom door, I would've taken longer.

Piper was waiting and forced me into a seat. She blow-dried my hair with grace before being straightened down my back. She clipped a few pieces to the side, admiring how long my hair was when no long, wild and untamed. I have never seen my hair so... shiny and clean. She added some oils to it too, before drying it, of course, that made it smell like heaven itself.

All of this happened too quickly and just as I went to get up to get dressed, she adorned me with creams, palettes of colour and powders that made my skin glow. When finished, I stared at the stranger in the mirror. I had used makeup before, to hide the dark and red colours of my skin, but for an entirely different reason. I had never had a 'girly makeover' and it made me feel... empowered.

I turned around to ask what she was doing next, only to find Piper was standing before an array of dresses, a wide, sheepish grin on her face.

"Why all the clothes?" I grunted.

"I didn't know what to wear... So, I brought them all here!" She grinned.

"You're going to dress me like a doll, aren't you?"

Her innocent giggle did not hide the dread I felt in my stomach. Piper was quick to make me stand and force me into some black panties. The first dress she gave me was a blue strapless number, which explained the lack of a bra. She hummed and awed as I displayed it for her, before she shook her head.

"It's not like we are going anywhere." I groaned as I stepped into the fourth dress. "Can't I just wear this one?"

"Nope! Too showy!" She chided. "Strip!"

"Yes, ma'am." I muttered begrudgingly.

Six dresses deep, was when she seemed to pause. Dress number six was a black minidress, with thin spaghetti straps that suffocated my every curve. Spinning for her, she finally let out a joyful scream of glee.

"That's amazing!" She grinned. "Definitely the one."

"Great!" I sighed with relief.

"Can't forget the heels!" She sang, thrusting a pair of black heels into my hands.

I stared down at them in confusion. "Heels?"

"Well, yeah! Completes the outfit."

I scowled, suddenly noticing my situation. Why was I standing here dressed and dolled up? Piper remained in her jeans and top. Her day makeup was still in place and her hair was in a ponytail.

"Piper..."

"Yeah?" She turned to me with some jewellery in hand.

"What is this?"

"Necklaces. I think this one..." she hummed, securing it around my neck.

My hand found the pendant, staring at its moon crescent with sudden dread. "That is not what I mean, and you know it."

"Oh, shush!" She giggled as a knock sounded on the door. "Oh, they're here!"

"That better be pizza..." I warned.

"Even better and more delectable!" She grinned, walking towards the door. "It's your date for the evening!"

My eyes widened with horror.

Did she just say date?