(Amaia)

Now that is beyond embarrassing. I did clean myself, but this sharp sense of smell these werewolves have is going to be the death of me.

Embarrassment has me in its claws as I weigh my words before uttering them.

"You don’t know my story, it’s complicated. And Alnitak knows, I am not hiding anything from him."

Rahria continues to stare at me, uncertainty remains apparent in her eyes.

"I am not interested in your story, just don’t hurt him. Don’t make the mistakes I did." She shakes her head. "Look, I am not trying to be high and mighty, just giving advice from personal experience. And don’t worry, I won’t rat you out."

With that she turns and walks away, leaving me wondering. I know Alnitak will be utterly broken if he finds out that I have been hooking up with Rigel, even though he now has an idea that Rigel might be my mate.

I can’t do this to him. Seeing that he is still celebrating with the team, quietly, I leave so I can head back and take a bath.

Reaching my room, I quickly grab another pair of jeans and a comfortable hoodie and head to the bathroom. I flip the small pink handle down that Kacir has installed on the bathroom door. Whenever it’s down, it shows that I am using the washroom so he knows and doesn’t have to check or knock.

Rubbing myself thoroughly with soap I remove every trace of Rigel’s scent and my womanly juices from my body.

Before I can open the showerhead and drench myself under the cool water, there is a small knock on the washroom door.

Is it Kacir? He never knocks, he always knows I am in here.

Carefully, I take a step closer towards the wooden door and Alnitak’s scent wafts inside from under the door, sending a shiver running down my naked body.

"Amaia?" He says urgently from the other side of the door.

"Yes!" I call out, standing near the door with soap covering me.

"Are you taking a bath?" He shyly asks. My heart does a quick happy flip flops inside my chest.

"Why?" Butterflies flutter in my tummy.

"Can we take one together?" His reluctant voice comes, making my cheeks burn.

Suddenly such blinding pain erupts in my thigh. The damn curse mark burns as if I am being branded again. It doesn’t want him in my proximity.

The last time he saw me naked was in the dark, but now I won’t be able to hide the curse mark, he will notice. Also, those punctured wounds Rigel has left me with today. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"...I am almost done. Maybe another time." Pain laces my voice and I sense the disappointment trickles down the bond between us.

"Okay, I am waiting outside," he dejectedly says and I hear his footsteps receding.

I return under the shower and turn it on. The water comes raining down and I quickly wash away the soap.

Grabbing the pink towel, Kacir has gotten me, I pat my body and hair dry. Like an affectionate brother, he believes I love pink, which always makes me smile, but I have never corrected him.

I quickly dress myself and rush to the door and throw it open, only to be welcomed by a sight that has my heart stopping for a mini second.

Alnitak is sprawled on my bed, his weight balanced on his bent elbows and long legs spread, feet on the ground. He tilts his head just a smudge, watching me with that predatory look that werewolves naturally carry.

"You didn’t let me bathe with you." His mouth forms a cute pout, and his big, bright eyes take on that puppy look. "I am all sweaty from the game."

I take a tentative step towards him and suddenly he extends his foot and nudges the back of my legs, making me fall over him.

I flail and he catches me in his strong and comforting arms, adjusting me between his legs, squishing my body against his.

My face hovers just above his. The mischief twinkles in his honey-warmed eyes.

"And you didn’t come to me when I won. Why?" His hand pushes away my long wet hair, which has come tumbling down on both sides of my face.

What excuse am I supposed to give him?

"I went to get popcorn and fell, my clothes got soiled and I didn’t want to meet you like that," I lie. I have been lying too much these days.

The feeling that follows fills me with disgust; lying to a mate is never easy, and it invokes the worst feelings in one.

His other hand crawls into my hair, gathering it. He grabs the back of my head and slightly pulls my head back. That is becoming his signature move, he loves holding my hair like that.

"You think I care about some dirt?" He possessively asks and I quickly shake my head.

"That’s my good girl."

His good girl???

The very thought makes my cheeks burn, as my stupid heart decides to send all the blood to my face.

"Did you like the game?"

"I loved it, the way you used your power and scored. It was the most interesting game I had seen."

Boys used to play Moonball back in my old pack but none had powers like the hybrids here.

His smile brightens at my words. "You mean that?"

I placed both my hands on his handsome face. "I do, champ. You did well."

"That’s exactly why I have a surprise for you." His other arm lazily crawls over my waist and he presses me into his athletic body, making me feel all those hard ridges and muscles.

My heart beats rise like the mercury in a thermometer under the scorching sun.

"Surprise?" I ask.

And he raises his face an inch more so every distance between us ends. His tender lips graze against mine and the place between my legs clenches with a delicious pain.

"Yes, we are going out today. Alnilam allowed us to visit the bazar and do some shopping and I am taking you with me," he happily says.

Claiming my lips he flips my body and buries me in the soft mattress before climbing over me. He begins to hungrily devour and I am in for it.