My Human Alpha Mate: Read Chapters 1-5

"No!! You can't do that to me!"

As I listened in disbelief to what Elyon had just disclosed, a piercing ring resonated within my ears. It was all too surreal; we had made agreements about when this would happen, and now Elyon was backing out!

When I reflected on all the occasions when he assured me of his boundless love and the wonderful moments we spent together, I couldn't help but question if it was genuine. Or rather, was I merely a fleeting intermission in his life as he waited for his destined mate to arrive, with whom he would ultimately share his life?

“I’m truly sorry, Becca,” I heard him say with a tinge of agony in his tone. "But I can't possibly resist Xena. The mate pull is too intense; it simply overpowers my senses and drives me towards her. I'd rather confess it to you now than lead a double life behind your back." Elyon attempted to comfort me by taking me into his arms, but I pushed him away. The last thing I wanted was to be embraced by this cheater.

"Elyon," I whimpered through tear-filled eyes. "Please, tell me what I am supposed to do now?"

Feeling lost and unsure, I turned to the love of my life for answers. I mustered up all my courage to hide the tears that threatened to break free but failed miserably. The hollowness within me was excruciatingly agonizing; even breathing felt like an overwhelming challenge at this moment of deep despair.

"For many years, you've referred to me in front of the rest of our pack as your Luna," I pointed out to him. "As your mate, I have been faithful and supportive, always being at your side and performing my duties with pride. Everyone acknowledges my position as your would-be Luna. Elyon, what do you expect me to do now?" My voice was firm and demanding.

He had to fix the mess we ended up in because he was the one who didn't keep his part of our vows. Elyon gazed at me, and I could tell that he was struggling with an array of emotions too.

"We had sworn to reject our mates as soon as they arrived!" I reminded him. "You'll have to reject Xena; that's what you owe me."

At the moment, we were standing on the wooden platform that stretched out into the breathtakingly beautiful lake of the pack, the same one where we used to take a dip every day. This particular locale held significant sentimental value; it was here where we professed our love for each other and where we had sex for the first time. And today, I was rejected by him in this very spot that once held dear memories for both of us.

Elyon heaved a sigh of despair as he continued to stare at me. "I'm sorry, Becca, but I cannot do that right now. Even if I were inclined to do so, it is simply unfeasible as my parents have already arranged for us to be announced at tonight's pack gathering and Xena's family is already on their way here. Our union has been confirmed, and we are set to mark each other this evening in front of the entire pack."

Fear and jealousy alternated on my face. Elyon had previously decided that we would mark each other after his Alpha installation, which was scheduled for later this year. Ready to serve him in all his decisions, I joyfully agreed with my head in the clouds.

And now he would do all this with another she-wolf, even before he took the position.

This sudden change made me question the lack of urgency demonstrated by his parents in pushing him to announce me as his mate previously. Was their kindness towards me just a show all along? The realization hit hard, and tears uncontrollably streamed down my face. Marking another she-wolf would be the final nail in the coffin for what little hope remained inside me.

The harsh reality that I found myself facing was one where Elyon no longer belonged to me, and as such, my aspirations of becoming Luna for Moon Shine pack were now mere pipe dreams.

The mating ceremony would be starting in just a few short hours, which also spelled out an end to any affiliation I had with my pack. Staying in Moon Shine any longer felt impossible, as watching my ex on a daily basis being lovey-dovey with his fated would kill me.

Additionally, the treatment from other female wolves would render my life unendurable. Surely they would take pleasure in humiliating me through ridicule or fake empathy. For a moment, I pondered whether Elyon had taken even the slightest moment to consider my feelings and what my position in the pack would be after he marked someone else.

How was I supposed to present myself to the new Luna? Was it possible that the mate bond also made werewolves cold-hearted and self-centered?

"But we can still be together, Becca," I heard him say in a daze. "Even if I can't give you the Luna position anymore, we can still continue our relationship. We spent beautiful moments together, and my love for you hasn't faded away. You don't have to stop loving me just because of this."

My disbelief swelled as I gazed at him, fully baffled that he was even able to utter those words. This outright lack of respect left me stunned; this was the least I expected from him. The sound of a sharp slap and the blazing red on his cheeks made me realize that I had struck the future Alpha.

First came terror across his face, and then unfathomable anger.

"Remember, I'm still your Alpha, Becca," he growled. "After my mating ceremony, we'll have this conversation again. And then I want to see how you dare stand up to me. Remember how pliable and submissive you were always in my hands."

I slowly took a few steps back from Elyon before clumsily making my way back home.

I arrived home and found my mother waiting for me. "Becca, we are so sorry," she tried to console me as soon as I stepped inside. She held me tight in her arms. My relationship with Elyon had caused some discord within our family. While my parents tolerated it, they never approved of it, especially my mother, who spent much time warning me about the unbreakable nature of mate bonds and their irresistible pull. She predicted that neither Elyon nor I would be able to reject our mates.

My parents were fated mates and still very much in love. Although their love life sometimes made me uncomfortable enough to flee the house on occasions, they never had any reservations about it.

"Try to get over it, no matter how hard it may be. Now, focus on finding your own mate."

I doubted I'd ever recover from this betrayal. For years, Elyon and I had aligned our lives, and now that I was left alone, I felt out of control, my life was aimless. Elyon had prepared me for the Luna position, but now it seemed as though I had reverted to an ordinary pack wolf with no future prospects in sight.

I rushed into my bedroom for another bout of weeping. After a while, I sat up on my bed and stared at the walls, adorned with images of Elyon and me during happier times. Brimming with hurt, I snatched them all off before shredding them to pieces.

"You liar, cheater!" I yelled, devastated...

"Becca, it's time to leave for the ceremony," I heard my mother say softly as she knocked on my bedroom door.

I let out a deep sigh of discomfort as I thought about the upcoming event. The mating ceremony of the future Alpha was a significant event, and no one could be absent without express permission from the Alpha. Unfortunately, I was not granted that privilege and had an obligation to attend. I wanted to avoid any risk of my family getting into trouble by deliberately staying away. Heartbreak was not an acceptable excuse for not showing up, and I was not ready to face the Alpha’s wrath. I put on a pair of simple skinny jeans featuring distressed fabric at both knees, paired with an elegant white top.

My parents were waiting for me in the sitting room. When my father saw my chosen outfit, it was clear that he did not approve of it. Before any harsh comments could be made by him, my mother pulled him aside and spoke to him privately, away from earshot. After successfully resolving this issue between them, we walked as a family towards the wide-open meeting space, which had been festively decorated.

Both my parents flanked me while tightly gripping each one of my hands protectively as we moved through crowds bustling excitedly around. My parents were the head warriors of the pack, but instead of sitting in our usual front seats, we took the back row today. I believe my parents deliberately aimed to send a message to Elyon's family with this.

As we sat comfortably in our seats, my father squeezed my hand encouragingly, while my mother draped her arm over my shoulders. Not long after, Elyon stepped onto the stage with Xena on his arm. He traversed through the audience, scanning every familiar face until eventually locating mine amidst all of them. I read regret in his eyes, but that was pointless at this moment since my life had already been shattered anyway.

"Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale gradually," I heard my father say from far away. "This is going to be terrible."

The sound of his words washed over me like a calming balm as I braced myself for what was to come. I never expected this impending ordeal to be easy, but with his reassuring presence at hand, I summoned all the courage within me to endure whatever discomfort may arise from this trying experience.

After the completion of the installation procedure, the eventful moment arrived when Elyon had to mark his mate. He hesitated at first, slightly shifting his eyes towards me. An impatient hint from his father, and a second later, Elyon's sharp fangs pierced into Xena's neck, solidifying my fate.

The agony I felt in the depths of my chest was almost intolerable, causing me to emit a heartrending cry, and tears welled up in my eyes anew. As if on cue, every head turned towards me with keen interest. Elyon himself took a step forward as though he wanted nothing else but to come over to offer me comfort during my distressful moment. But his father quickly intervened and directed him back into place next to Xena.

I turned around and ran towards the dense forest behind the packhouse at high speed. I dashed over fallen tree stumps and shallow streams of water as far as my feet could take me. Countless small animals halted their daily activities to gaze in amazement at me along the way. They were no doubt curious about what had caused such haste for me.

Eventually, my body succumbed to the incredible exertion, and I crumpled onto the sloping edge of a small waterfall. My muscles were spent and bruised from running through harsh terrain. With nothing left in me but despair, I sprawled out beside the flow of water before drifting off into unconsciousness.

When I opened my eyes once more, there was only one name occupying my thoughts.

Elyon!!

The man of my dreams, with whom I thought I would have a future filled with many lovable pups and would grow old together. But now he is claimed by someone else—from this day forth Xena will be the one lying in his arms, marking him as hers again when night falls. I never thought that this day would ever come; I was totally convinced that our love could overcome all obstacles, including broken mate bonds. Sadly, it seems not to be so.

Due to the overwhelming feeling of weariness, I fell asleep under the open sky once more. My tears were done, and there was no more left in me. Every inch of my body felt stiff from all the intense emotions that had ravaged it.

When I finally opened my eyes, it was already late in the evening. As soon as I looked around and cleared my blurry vision, it became obvious how warm and pleasant everything felt. Normally at this time of year, the air was quite chilly.

When I lifted my head, I noticed that I was lying next to a lively blaze of firewood. I felt a folded towel under my head, surely that allowed me comfort to be able to sleep soundly. Sitting up straight, I looked around me. There were no signs of any individual; only the dark forest loomed over and watched silently upon me.

"Wake up already?"

An unexpected resonant and masculine voice erupted behind me. Startled by the sudden sound, I swiftly spun around to face a towering young man with white-blond hair and bright blue orbs who had intruded upon my space.

"I, uh... I mean...," I faltered nervously, taken aback by the sudden appearance.

I wasn't sure if this meeting would be the end of my life. I had never seen such a peculiar stranger in our pack territory before. Judging from the scent, he was not a rogue, but could possibly be half-bred or human. Regardless of his origin, he left me questioning his intentions and whether I should tread carefully around him during our interaction.

"You are in violation," I conveyed to him after recovering from the shock. "You have trespassed onto private property and could be attacked or jailed if you stay here without proper permission."

The man lifted both of his arms above his head in a sign of surrender. "Listen, I mean no harm. I'm just camping, and I'll be gone in a few days," he explained, while his acutely observant gaze fixated upon me. "I was under the impression that these grounds were liberally granted for public use by our government." As I glanced upwards at him towering over me, I felt an inexplicable aura of genuineness emanating from the man.

"Zane Coovens, nice to meet you," he introduced himself.

I raised my hand to match his height, and as our hands touched, a powerful surge of electricity coursed through me.

"Becca," I responded kindly.

"Would you mind if I sat next to you?" asked Zane, pointing to a spot in front of me on the grass.

"Of course not," I invited him.

My werewolf instincts had identified him as harmless, which played a major role in reducing my tension and anxiety while being around him.

"I sincerely don't mean to offend you, Becca, but you look awful. Your face is quite tearful and despondent, and your eyes are bloodshot," he observed carefully. "Such mental anguish can only arise from deep-seated sadness or emotional pain. Did a close family member suddenly die? Have you failed an exam? Or did a boyfriend break your heart?"

As he made his final assumption, I felt my complexion flush with embarrassment.

"Hmmm," he murmured thoughtfully, a faint smile gracing his lips. "I believe I'm on fire with my guessing. Which one is it?" He then chuckled in an easygoing way. "Just so you know, and this might come in handy somehow, I happen to be proficient in Tai Kwan Do. So if ever there's a need for me to go into battle on your behalf... well... consider it done!"

Of course, I understood that he was trying to change my emotional state.

However, the pain ran deep; in my mind's eye, I could still vividly see Elyon sinking his fangs into another woman's neck. That image alone brought forth new tears and caused me to break down with a fresh stream of sorrowful tears cascading down my face again. An uncontrollable choked sound escaped from deep within me as sobs wracked through my chest once more in response.

Zane wrapped his strong arms around me in a gentle embrace, drawing my body close to his as he tenderly stroked my hair. "This sounds like a formidable heartbreak," he spoke in a hushed tone into my hair.

As I nestled against Zane, I couldn't help but notice the air of familiarity that emanated from him. The warmth that enveloped me was so soothing. Wanting to immerse myself even more in this sensation, I pressed my head deeper into his sturdy chest and rested against it.

"You seem like a woman who is used to lying against a man's chest," he murmured. "Tell me, who broke your heart, beautiful lady?" His sympathetic approach was so attractive that even a slight smile appeared on my lips. My arms wrapped around his body in a tight, warm embrace, it felt as if I had known him for years.

As I unraveled the story, a torrent of words poured out without pause.

Meanwhile, Zane remained quiet and listened to my emotionally muffled voice while tenderly running his fingers through my long dark locks. Being that he was human and not privy to certain aspects of our werewolf culture, there were particular details that I chose not to disclose.

"Brutal!" he responded with a grimace etched on his face as he processed it all.

"In all honesty, I don't think you should return there any time soon. The mere thought of encountering your ex-lover every single day with his new wife in his arms is bound to stir up unwanted emotions and unpleasantness." We sat silently embraced in each other's arms, lost in our own thoughts for an indeterminate moment or two.

"I understand that you haven't known me too long," he started with an enchanting grin. "But I can assure you that I pose no threat. I'm not a serial killer or rapist. I even have several references if you need them." As I listened attentively, my curiosity was piqued.

"I am privileged to own a house that is spacious enough for the two of us."

I felt him looking at me attentively, waiting for a response. I glanced back at him, unbothered by his stare, still waiting for what was about to come. "I have a number of people who can attest to the fact that I am harmless. Additionally, I have a good reputation in the city where I live." This time it proved exceedingly difficult for me to hold back chortles; he went to such lengths to prove his good reputation to me. He looked somewhat surprised, witnessing how promptly my tears transformed into euphoric chuckles.

"Zane, please, make your point. It appears that a great deal of words is required for even the simplest point you want to make. It's rather comical."

"Well, let me elaborate on what I was just about to say," he tried again. "I am offering you to stay with me for a while until you figure out what you want to do further with your life. Rest assured that my house offers plenty of space and privacy, and since I work every day, you'll have ample time alone to think. I won't bother or distract you at all. What do you think about that?"

I stared directly at him with my mouth agape.

"Why would you take in a stranger? You don't know me at all. We just met an hour ago for the first time. What a risk you are taking!"

"Seriously, Becca?! What could you possibly do to me? I am many times stronger than you. It is clear as day to anyone who lays their eyes upon you, just how fragile you really are." He chuckled heartily at his own witticism while I found myself glaring back at him.

"Hey, are you insinuating that I'm weak?" I asked with feigned anger.

"Do you accept my proposal? It would really be better if you lay low for a while. Staying there may result in further emotional turmoil. Heartaches aren't easy to overcome," he stated with concern.

As I pondered the offer presented to me, it dawned on me that this was indeed a blessing in disguise. The options were limited, and there was no denying the fact that he had hit the nail right on its head: returning to Moon Shine simply wasn't an option for me anymore.

If truth be told, I didn't have a clue as to where else I could seek refuge after fleeing from the ceremony on a whim. Perhaps if things had gone differently, my parents would've come up with some alternative arrangement until matters cooled down. But it was too late to burden them after taking this drastic step. Sneaking a glance once again at Zane so close by amazed me at how good his presence felt. So without further ado, I made a far-reaching decision.

"Okay, I accept. When will we leave?"

"Now."

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks became months, time seemed to slip away in a hazy reverie.

Over the course of time, an incredible bond had formed between Zane and me; he truly was an outstanding guy. Being in his presence made me feel so at ease, my heart trembled with excitement each moment he arrived back home.

His house was indeed big. It stood three stories tall and boasted fourteen splendid rooms, each equipped with a luxurious private en-suite.

Our bedrooms were on the second floor. On the first floor, there was a generously sized kitchen space outfitted with state-of-the-art utensils and equipment to prepare all kinds of lavish meals. In addition, there was a spacious dining section capable of accommodating numerous guests at once. Further down on the same floor, an area existed that could function as either an office or conference zone. Moreover, there was also a grand living area on that floor.

To the already existing storage spaces within the house, there was also a spare closet and a laundry room. Two skilled maids were hired three times per week to clean the house and do laundry.

Zane adamantly prohibited me from performing any household chores, joking that it would spoil my delicate hands and insinuating that I was trying to steal the maids' jobs. Frankly, I was surprised when we arrived here. When he mentioned in the woods that his house could easily accommodate both of us, I didn't anticipate it being this spacious.

At first, living in the house with a stranger was awkward and required some getting used to. But Zane's amiable personality and natural openness made it effortless for me to feel completely at home. Quite frankly, he made me feel so homey as if we had been acquainted for years. This bond continued to grow steadily day by day; every moment spent together solidified our unspoken understanding even further. He loved all the dishes I prepared for him; after dinner, not a single scrap remained on his plate. It was just as clean as when it came out of the dishwasher. Every day, he came home on time and recently had started planting kisses on my neck as soon as he entered the threshold.

After dinner, we usually settled down before the television in the living room to watch the world news.

On any other weekend, he would pamper me with dinner at some of the most upscale restaurants in town. And sure enough, I couldn't help but notice many envious stares shot towards me. I used to sleep three rooms away from him, but I moved last week to the room right next to his. As the day broke each morning, the sound of running water in his bathroom woke me up. Then I jumped out of bed, quickly washed my face, and ran downstairs to make him breakfast.

Without a doubt, Zane was drop-dead gorgeous.

If the pain of Elyon's betrayal weren't so persistent, I would certainly have tried to hit on him. However, we were only best friends. But this did not prevent Zane from demonstrating his affection towards me whenever he could. And then again, every evening, I looked forward to our special moment in front of the television. There, I stretched out with my head on his lap while Zane enveloped me tightly with his strong arms. It felt absolutely wonderful!

On one particular occasion, I fell asleep in that blissful position to discover the next day that I was still nestled cozily in his arms on the couch. Since then, I had consciously made efforts to pretend to sleep several times just so we could spend more time entwined together.

"Becca, want to go to the beach today? I heard there might be a party taking place down by the ocean, and I thought it could make for an exciting day filled with sun and fun."

Zane's masculine voice broke through my reverie with an invitation that immediately piqued my interest. It sent shivers of excitement down my spine as I eagerly considered his proposition because nothing sounded more enticing than spending time at leisure on sandy shores with this handsome hunk.

"Sure. Bikini or full?" I inquired playfully with the intent to capture his attention.

Last time, he was furious when I showed up in a tiny bikini at his friend’s pool party. Looking back now, I must admit that those pieces of fabric were quite alluring, but gosh, he really overreacted. From then on, I took his feelings into account and always asked for his opinion on my clothing choices.

"Always full!" he groaned under his breath.

Really, everyone on every beach was wearing the bare minimum of clothing. Did I really have to go out of line?! I packed my swimsuit anyway; it didn't show much cleavage, but my curves came out perfectly. This particular piece had been personally hand-picked for me by Zane during our recent shopping trip, so he had little to complain about now.

Yes, after arriving here with nothing but the clothes on my body, Zane made sure my wardrobe was quite stocked.

Despite any objections I had about his excessive generosity towards me, he proceeded passionately to spend thousands of dollars on outfits and footwear for me. "Whom am I going to spend all that money on, then? Please, let me do this, Becca," he almost begged me. So, I took advantage of his generosity and allowed myself to revel in our decadent shopping sprees. He paid with his gleaming platinum credit card, an unmistakable symbol of wealth that confirmed my suspicions about him not being remotely poor or average in any way imaginable.

I planned to talk to him about his spending on me tonight.

I really wanted to know more about him. Earlier, I did not dare to ask him private questions for fear of prying too much into his affairs, but as our bond blossomed over time, I felt emboldened to speak a little more freely with him.

Hand in hand, we strolled onto the beach.

Zane carried the picnic basket that we had brought with us. We signed up for an epic game of beach volleyball and were divided into opposing teams, eagerly ready to compete against each other. Before long, the competition started and both sides played their hardest. Incredibly enough, it wasn't until we reached the final match that we unexpectedly faced each other!

"Zane, how about we make a bet? If my team wins today's game, you'll cook and do the dishes."

A mischievous grin appeared on his face. "And if my team wins?"

I bit my lower lip and furrowed my eyebrows as I carefully considered the options available to me. "Anything you want."

As soon as those words left my mouth, loud whistles were heard all around us.

“Deal.”

Sure enough, his team won the game! Guess a single werewolf doesn't make or break a game. With a noticeable swagger in his gait, he walked up to me, sporting a smirk on his face.

"Pay up, beautiful lady."

It was with a profound sense of loathing that I admitted my defeat. Zane deftly took my chin between two fingers and turned my face toward him. Before I could think what he was up to, he had captured my lips within the warm confines of his own. The sudden cascade of sensation coursing through me like wildfire made me shudder uncontrollably; instinctively, I opened my lips for him.

We got lost in a fiery kiss. Only when we heard the whistles and cheers around us again did we pull away.

I had given my all to Zane's longing, and right there and then, I realized that our relationship wasn't as innocent as I always thought...

As soon as we arrived home, I immediately addressed the matter regarding that kiss. The public display of affection would eventually continue to haunt us. Several snapshots had been captured, and who knew where they would all end up?

"Zane, hmm. I must say that the kiss was really deep and it has caused me to question where our relationship stands at present. Until now, I believed us to be in a phase of platonic friendship, nothing more than close friends. But that kiss…hmm."

He closed the distance between us, took me tenderly in his arms, and carefully lifted my face with one hand. As we gazed into each other's eyes, his face drew nearer to mine until our lips were mere inches apart. The intensity of the moment was palpable as he maintained unbroken eye contact with me while positioning himself in such a way that I could feel his breath on my skin.

"I am unsure whether you are ready for this yet, but I cannot keep it to myself any longer. Becca, I want you to know how important and special you are to me," he stated softly. "I'm madly in love with you. This feeling is so deep and different from anything else I've ever felt before. It's as if a part of my life has become intertwined with yours."

His words startled me like hell. The thought had never even crossed my mind that he could possibly harbor any romantic feelings towards me, despite the fact that I adored him. Zane was an exceptional man, any woman wouldn't hesitate to kill just to be with him. And yet, luck was thrown at me on the worst day of my life when I met him. Now he's offering me his devoted love. What more could a humble werewolf whose soul had been battered by emotional battles ask for?

The emotions I felt for Zane before could no longer be described as amicable. It had gone beyond that stage and evolved into something entirely different. But to say I was in love with him, no! It would be fair to say that although I cherished his presence in my life immensely and felt a deep sense of attachment to him, confessing that I was in love with him might have been an overstatement. In his warm embrace, I felt safe and yes, my attachment towards him had grown a bit intense lately. However, it wasn't enough to be called love but more of an urge for security that only a man could offer me.

Zane waited quietly for my answer, allowing me ample opportunity to think. I made the conscious decision to be honest while avoiding hurting his feelings.

"Zane, I love you too, however, it doesn't quite reach the depths of being in love," I confessed honestly. “Though I can't imagine a life without you, I want to be with you always. You make me feel good about myself. But I'd be lying if I said it is the kind of love you are looking for from me. You see, I'm not over my broken relationship yet. It's not about Elyon, rather, it's challenging to recover from being cheated on, it hits to the soul."

A wry smile appeared on his strikingly manly lips. Even now, his handsome features couldn’t be overshadowed by the slight disappointment on his face.

"I am well aware of this all. In no way did I expect you to reciprocate my feelings immediately, and it already brings me joy to know that I am important to you. This indicates that we are on the right track. But I remain patient."

And there was his bright smile again, so infectious that the atmosphere between us instantly lightened up. We smiled happily at each other and exchanged a quick kiss. I think kissing is going to be a regular occurrence from today on; not that I'm complaining – it makes me feel like I'm floating on clouds.

"I'm tired from all the exercise we did today. What's our plan for tonight, babe?"

Please, add a pet name along with the kiss. We are clearly upgrading our relationship. Still no complaint from my side though, still loving it.

"What about the couch, some excellent wine, and good jazz music?" I suggested.

"Your wish is my command, my Lady," claimed Mr. Gorgeous.

I ran to my bedroom to do a quick fresh up. In my comfortable pajamas, I went back downstairs to the entertainment room where Zane was already lying on the couch. Without wasting another moment, I nestled myself snugly onto his warm chest while planting a gentle peck upon his sturdy jawline before diverting my attention to the stereo that was playing a relaxing melody. As usual, both arms came wrapping around me and we laid back, listening and enjoying our precious moment together. About fifteen minutes later, I felt a tender peck on the top of my head.

"I have a wish. It's quite daring, and I hope you won't blame me for trying, even if you don't see anything in it."

I found his sense of insecurity quite amusing. In response, I decided to display some toughness.

"Your wish is also my command, Sir. Just spill it and consider it done."

I could hear him quietly laughing in my hair. He was almost accustomed to my bragging and provoking of him.

"Would you like to stay in my room starting tonight? You can have your own bed. No problem."

I tensed up, my nerves were on edge as a wave of fear washed over me. The prospect of tackling this next level filled me with dread. Sleeping close to an attractive man was like tempting fate, flirting with danger, and inviting disaster at every turn. Surely sex would come sooner or later. Was Zane intentionally alluring me, I wondered.

After careful consideration, I made up my mind to accept the towel that he threw down in front of me. Now, I must play my cards well.

"Why? Are you feeling lonely or could it be that you're trying to seduce me into steamy sex?"

This remark resulted in yet another round of boisterous laughter between us. I believed that engaging in mirthful banter would be all we did when spending time together.

"You don't have to answer. We won't need separate beds, I'll sleep next to you from today on. Just the two of us snuggled up in your kings. Are you happy now?"