Page 45 of Captivated By Alphas 1, Fated (The Blood Moon Chronicle #4)

I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance I didn’t feel. “Just making an observation. The mansion has what, twenty guest rooms? And I end up next to the three of you. Interesting coincidence. Almost like someone’s setting up a very specific chessboard.”

“We’re protective of those in our care,” Jace said simply.

We reached the east wing, where the family suites were located.

Jace led us to a door midway down the hall, opening it to reveal a guest suite that was larger than our entire cottage.

A massive four-poster bed dominated one wall, while floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the storm in all its fury.

Everything was decorated in shades of blue and silver, elegant without being fussy.

“Bathroom’s through there.” Adrian pointed to a door on the right. “Fully stocked with everything you might need.”

“And if you need anything else, our rooms are just down the hall,” Cole added. “Jace is directly across, Adrian next door, and I’m at the end.”

“In case of emergency,” Jace clarified, though his expression suggested he was imagining very specific types of emergencies that had nothing to do with power outages or burst pipes.

“Right.” I nodded, suddenly desperate to be alone before I said or did something embarrassing.

Like asking why all three of them were looking at me like I was the last piece of chocolate cake at a buffet.

“Well, good night, then. Thanks for the escort and everything. I feel adequately protected from the terrifying hallway monsters.”

None of them moved.

“This is the part where you leave,” I prompted after an awkward moment. “You know, exit stage right? Make like a tree and leaf? Hasta la vista, baby?”

“Right,” Adrian said, though he made no move toward the door. “Sleep well, Eli.”

“Sweet dreams,” Cole added, his gray eyes intense in the dim light.

Jace said nothing, but his gaze spoke volumes—heat and hunger and something else I couldn’t quite name but that made my knees weak and my pulse race.

I stood my ground, raising an eyebrow in what I hoped was a passable impression of nonchalance rather than the nervous wreck I actually was. “Seriously, guys. Out. Before this gets any weirder than it already is. And trust me, we passed ‘normal’ about ten exits back.”

That finally broke the strange spell. Adrian laughed, Cole’s lips quirked in a half smile, and even Jace’s expression softened slightly.

“Good night, Eli,” Jace said finally, turning toward the door.

The other two followed, though not without backward glances that left my skin tingling. When the door finally closed behind them, I collapsed onto the bed, staring up at the canopy in bewilderment.

“What. The. Actual. Hell,” I whispered to the empty room.

What was happening? Why were three of the most eligible bachelors in the country suddenly acting like… like what? I didn’t even have a frame of reference for their behavior. It was protective and possessive and intense in a way that should have sent me running for the hills.

Instead, it made something deep inside me purr with satisfaction, like a part of me I didn’t even recognize was responding to their attention.

“Get it together, Harper,” I muttered.

I rolled onto my side, burying my face in a pillow that smelled faintly of lavender and expensive fabric softener.

The distant rumble of thunder pulled me from my thoughts.

Despite the luxury surrounding me, I felt grimy after the day’s events.

A shower would help clear my head—and maybe wash away some of the confusing feelings swirling inside me.

The bathroom was, predictably, larger than my bedroom at home.

Marble and glass everywhere, with a shower that had more nozzles and settings than a spacecraft.

After figuring out the complicated control panel (seriously, did I need a PhD to take a shower?), I stood under the blissfully hot spray, letting it wash away the stress of the day.

As I reached for a towel from the warming rack after my shower, I noticed a neatly folded stack of clothes on the marble bench, with a note propped against them.

Eli, darling, thought you might need these. The shirt is from this adorable little boutique in Paris. The shorts are Versace. You’re welcome! xoxo S

“Of course they are,” I muttered, unfolding the items. “Because God forbid I sleep in normal people clothes.”

The shorts were black silk, impossibly soft—and approximately the size of a postage stamp. The t-shirt was oversized but so thin it was practically transparent, with a neckline so wide it would definitely slip off one shoulder.

“Subtle, Sheena. Real subtle. Why not just wrap me in cellophane with a bow on top?” I held up the shorts against my hips, wincing at how little they would cover. “Did she raid a doll’s wardrobe?”

With a resigned sigh, I pulled on the shorts. They sat indecently low on my hips and barely covered the essentials. The shirt was just as bad, slipping off my left shoulder immediately and falling to mid-thigh. I looked like I’d stepped out of an R-rated anime.

“This is ridiculous,” I told my reflection. “I look like I’m auditioning for Twinks Gone Wild: The Sleepover Edition.”

My reflection offered no solutions, just the reality of pale skin, tousled damp hair, and clothing that left very little to the imagination. If any of the cousins saw me like this…

The thought sent an unexpected shiver down my spine, followed immediately by a wave of embarrassment. What was wrong with me? Why was I even thinking about them seeing me in these barely there clothes?

I padded back to the bedroom, the plush carpet soft beneath my bare feet. Just as I was about to climb into bed, a soft scratching at the door made me freeze.

“Hello?” I called softly, terrified it might be one of the cousins coming back to check on me. If any of them saw me in Sheena’s idea of appropriate sleepwear, I’d probably spontaneously combust from embarrassment.

The scratching continued, followed by a low whine I recognized immediately.

I opened the door to find Titan sitting patiently in the hallway. His tail thumped against the carpet when he saw me.

“Hey, big guy,” I whispered, glancing nervously down the hall for any sign of the cousins. “What are you doing up here? Did you get lost on the way to your dog mansion?”

Titan stood, all one hundred and seventy pounds of him, and simply walked past me into the room as if he owned it. Without ceremony, he jumped onto the bed, turned in three circles, and settled on top of the covers, looking at me expectantly.

“Oh, I see. You’re my roommate now?” I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to look stern. “Did someone send you to babysit me? Or are you just avoiding the storm?”

His tail thumped again, his massive brown eyes watching me with what I swore was amusement.

“Fine, but stay on your side,” I warned, climbing into bed beside him. “And no snoring. Or drooling. I’ve seen what you do to the living room pillows, and these sheets probably cost more than my car.”

Titan huffed in response, his massive head resting on his paws. There was something comforting about his presence—a warm, solid reminder that I wasn’t alone in this massive house with its confusing inhabitants.

I reached over to scratch behind his ears, and he leaned into my touch with a contented sigh.

“At least you’re simple,” I murmured. “Food, walks, belly rubs. No mixed signals or intense stares or whatever the hell is going on with your owners. You don’t look at me like I’m a puzzle you’re trying to solve or a dessert you’re planning to devour.”

Thunder crashed outside, closer now, and I flinched. Storms had always made me uneasy, though I couldn’t remember why. Something about the way the lightning flashed made my skin feel too tight, like I was supposed to be doing something but couldn’t remember what.

Titan immediately scooted closer, his warm bulk pressing against my side. He rested his massive head on my lap, looking up at me with those soulful eyes.

“Thanks, buddy,” I whispered, burying my fingers in his thick fur. “At least someone in this house is normal.”

I switched off the bedside lamp and lay in the darkness, listening to the storm rage outside and Titan’s steady breathing beside me.

Despite the luxury surrounding me, despite the comfort of the dog at my side, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing—that I was standing at the edge of a precipice, about to fall into something I didn’t understand.

As I drifted toward sleep, my last conscious thought was of three pairs of eyes—blue, green, and gray—watching me with hunger and something that looked strangely like recognition.