Page 36 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

Julia nods, but her expression remains troubled.

"My entire career is riding on this wedding, Adrian. If it falls apart, I'm finished."

The raw vulnerability in her voice strikes something deep within me. For the first time, I truly see beyond her controlled exterior to the fear driving her, not just of failing at her job, but of failing herself.

"You didn't come this far to fail now," I whisper. "We'll find the tiara. The wedding will happen."

Our eyes meet across the small space, and something shifts between us, a connection that feels deeper than our arrangement, more real than our pretend relationship.

Julia's eyes grow heavy, her breathing becoming slower as fatigue overtakes her again. I rise from my chair, extending my hand.

"Come on," I say gently. "You need real sleep, in a real bed."

She allows me to guide her to the bedroom. The room holds our scents, mingled together.

Like they should.

I mentally shake the dangerous thought. I can’t allow myself to think like this. Not when Julia still thinks I’m only pretending.

There’s no more pretending for me.

My wolf purrs as I help her sit on the edge of the bed. Kneeling, I remove her shoes, setting them neatly aside. It's such an intimate gesture that I feel her breath catch. I retrieve my flannel shirt, which she left neatly folded on the pillow this morning—what feels like a lifetime ago. I hand it to her and she accepts it without saying a word.

Julia looks up at me from the bed, those big, beautiful eyes haunted by fatigue. Her hands fidget on the flannel shirt and my cheeks color with an instant burn.

“Sorry,” I mutter, then turn my back to her.

I hear the sound of rustling fabric, and soon, her clothing is discarded on the ground beside the bed. I try not to look at it, try not to notice how her scent becomes stronger, more enticing. And I fail miserably. My wolf leans against my control, pushing me to turn around and claim what’s rightfully ours.

I control the beast, but barely. I really should leave.

When I hear the blankets folding back over her body, I turn around. And immediately wish I didn’t. Julia sits in the bed, her hair in disarray, my flannel shirt so big on her small, curvy body.

"There are extra blankets in the closet if you get cold," I say, the words almost choking me. "I’ll be right next door if you need anything."

Julia looks up at me, her expression soft with exhaustion but tinged with something else I can't quite name. Longing? Lust? Are those my feelings I’m projecting onto her?

"Thank you for taking care of me."

"Get some sleep," I say, turning toward the door. "We'll figure this out tomorrow."

Then I feel her fingers close around my wrist, light but electric. The touch stops me instantly.

"Stay with me," she says, her voice barely audible. "Please."

I turn back, shocked at her words. My wolf rises all the way to the surface, the beast roaring in approval. I see the way her eyes enlarge and her jugular pulses with a sudden heartbeat increase.

She sees it, too. My wolf, its eyes shining. The beast inside the man, lurking just under the surface.

Julia looks up at me, eyes heavy with exhaustion but lucid and clear. I sit carefully on the edge of the bed, taking her hand in mine.

“Lie down with me.” Her full lips lift in a half smile. “Just until I fall asleep.”

"Okay," I say, settling more comfortably beside her. "I'll stay."

Julia's lips curve in a small, grateful smile as she leans back against the pillows. Her hand remains in mine, a link between us that feels increasingly like something I'm not ready to name.

My wolf, however, has no such reservations. It settles contentedly, watching over her as her breathing grows deep and even. For now, that's enough.