It's been a few minutes since Nate went in for a shower. I'm staying in the living room waiting for him to be done. I plan to take a shower after him, but I don't have any clothes. Nate made us leave the cabin without giving me a chance to pack my things.

I walk into the bedroom to find out if he's done. He has been taking a shower for a long while. I walk inside and hear the shower still running from inside the bathroom. He takes a long shower, that's for sure.

I'm about to step out of the room when I hear the shower stop running. He must be done. I turn back around to wait for him to step out so I can go in. He opens the door and walks out with only his towel around his waist. I'm starting to think I should've left and not waited for him to step out.

I've never seen someone sexier in my life. His upper body is still wet from his shower, and it's making his abs look insanely attractive. I bite my lips to stop the images forming in my head as I imagine how his body feels on my fingers.

"I can smell your arousal. Stop staring at me," Nate says. I startle and immediately stop making babies with him in my head. My cheeks become crimson as I realize I've been caught.

"I'm sorry, it's the mate bond that makes me attracted to you," I say, but that's a lie. Even though the mate bond makes me attracted to him, I made babies in my head with him all on my own.

"I know. You can put this on after you shower," he says, handing me a shirt from his luggage. Room service brought his bags upstairs.

"Thank you, and do you have anything I could wear for down."

"Down?" he asks, confused.

"Yes, I can't wear only a shirt. My—" I pause because this is embarrassing.

"Oh, you can pick from the bag which whatever you like. They're all new," he says, walking back to the bathroom with clothes in his hands.

I'm so happy I didn't have to explain that I needed something to cover my ass if the shirt went up while sleeping. That would've been very embarrassing.

I pick the finest set of boxers among his collection and go into the bathroom to shower.

I take my time cleaning up. I removed my makeup in the car with baby wipes Nate bought for me on our way so I don't have to spend a lot of time on my face. Nate asked me why I looked like a dead woman. I lied and said I was trying out new makeup.

Once I'm done washing, I step out of the bathroom dressed in Nate's shirt. It smells heavenly because it has his scent. His boxers managed to cover my ass but are barely hanging on. I walk out to find Nate preparing the bed. I'm shocked that he's preparing the bed for me, or so I thought until he takes off his shirt and lies down.

"If you're sleeping on the bed, where am I sleeping?"

"On the bed."

"But you're sleeping on the bed."

"Yes, I am."

"We can't sleep together. You agreed we won't mate."

"Just because I'm sleeping on the bed doesn't mean I'm going to mate you, Elizabeth."

"Then sleep on the couch."

"I can't."

"You can't or you won't?" I can't believe my mate and I are fighting for who gets to sleep on the bed.

"I can't, and I don't have time to argue with you all night. Lie down and sleep," he commands.

I think about sleeping on the couch, but I don't want my neck to hurt tomorrow. I carefully get on the bed. I pick up all the pillows he threw away from the bed and make a barrier between us.

"Elizabeth, this is ridiculous. I already said I won't mate you."

"I know, but this will give me peace of mind."

"Suit yourself," he says, switching off the lamp on the bedside table.

"Goodnight," I say once I'm comfortable under the covers. He doesn't say it back, and I'm not surprised. It's a good thing the blanket is big enough for us to use without being close.

***

The following morning, I woke up feeling heat. Something is pounding in my ear. I open my eyes, but it's still dark. That's odd. Even with the lights off, I should still be able to see. I try to turn the other way, and that's when I figure out I'm stuck. Something is holding me from moving. I try harder to move, and that's when I realize it's not something—it's someone. Nate tightens his arms around me, pulling me closer to him. I can't see with my eyes open, so I don't understand how close he wants me. Nate has his arms around me. Why, and when did I get to his side of the bed? I'm not sure whose side I'm on.

I try to wiggle out of his arms without waking him but stop when I hear his heart beating against my ear. It sounds amazing. It's just a normal heartbeat, but with every thump, I hear I feel my whole body calming down. Isn't that weird?

I'm able to wiggle myself a little in his hold and give myself some space from him. I can see, but I'm still close to him. I look at his face and watch as his eyelashes mirror his face as he sleeps. I see his mouth muttering something, but I can't understand what he says.

I unconsciously use my hands to stroke his face. Nate's eyes shoot open the second he feels my hand, and before I can register what's happening, I find myself on the floor across the room. Nate flung me across the room.

"Nate," I say, shocked that he threw me across the room. He doesn't say anything and walks into the bathroom. I can't believe he pushed me away from him like that. He was the one holding me close to him.

we freshen up and continue our journey to Nate's territory. I'm excited to see Chloe and Ana. I missed them. While we're driving home, I ask Nate something that's been bothering me.

"Nate, how do you always find me?"

"It seems you forget who I am."

"No, I don't. I can't forget who you are."

"If you remember who I am, you'd also remember that a single word from me can make the whole werewolf clan look for you."

"Oh," I can't believe Scarlett ratted me out. I really thought she was the only one who'd never tell Nate where I was.

"What you're thinking is wrong."

"Can you read my thoughts too?" I ask, surprised.

"I can't, but I know you think Scarlett told me where to find you. She didn't; her Beta did."

"Oh," that means Scarlett can be trusted when it comes to running away from Nate. I'll keep that in mind.

After our conversation, we continue the ride in silence. I rest my eyes a little. Hopefully, when I open them, we'll be back home.

***

I open my eyes to find myself in my bedroom. I get out of bed and go to the bathroom to freshen up. It should be dinner time now. I'm sure Nate must've carried me to my room when we arrived. I'm surprised he didn't wake me up.

I walk downstairs to look for something to eat. In the kitchen I see Nate. He's cooking; I never knew he could cook.

"Sit down," he says with his back to me. He must've smelt me come in. I take my seat on one of the kitchen stools.

"Eat," he says, placing a plate of food in front of me. I know he wants me to eat, but can he speak to me like a human being?

"Thank you," I say, picking up the fork he placed beside the food. He made pasta with chicken. I swirl the fork into the spaghetti and taste it. He watches me as I taste the food as if waiting for my verdict. I'm surprised he wants to know if I like it or not.

"It tastes amazing," I say, and it indeed does. He knows how to cook, and I wonder where he learned. It's surprising to me that the Alpha King would know how to cook. You'd expect people like him to have others doing every single thing for him. "Where did you learn to cook?"

"Eat your food and don't talk," he says, though not sternly. He doesn't want to make conversation with me but wants to stare at me while I eat. I don't understand why. It's not creeping me out, but it's not normal.

Once I finish I expect him to leave, but he doesn't. He follows me to the living room. Is he following me around to make sure I don't run away? I already told him I wouldn't, so he doesn't have to watch me.

"Tomorrow is the full moon. I've prepared everything. The only thing you need to do is be in the room with me. If my wolf scents you close, he'll be calmer, and the chances of him killing anyone will be less."

"Alright."

"Make sure you get to sleep early. We're going to be up the whole night."

"Okay."