Page 44 of Eclipse Sector

Probably lecture me to my face about playing in the wrong league or something.

“Ugh,” I groaned, my palms covering my eyes. “This is horrible.”

Not only had I chastised him, but I now had to live with him.For a week.

“This is a nightmare. A complete and utternightmare.”

I’d been tempted to beg Benz to switch roommates with me, but I hadn’t wanted to appear weak.

And maybe a small, tiny, inconsequential part of me had wanted to share an igloo with Cillian.

But I hadn’t realized there would only be one bed. I’d expected at least two. Preferably in separate bedrooms.

Then Cillian had started posturing with Prince Lykos, something he’d been doing since we’d arrived, and I’d reacted. Their mounting Alpha testosterone had been wreaking havoc on my senses, making my legs feel weak. I’d felt my slick building, my insides roaring with the need to beclaimedby the Alpha I’d stupidly considered mine for far too long.

Which had led me to responding in the only way I’d known how—acceptance of the lodging assignments.

It was that or suffer public embarrassment by begging Cillian for his knot.

Stars, why is he even here? Couldn’t King Kieran have assigned another Alpha to protective duty?

But of course he couldn’t have; there was no one else. Lorcan had to protect Night Sector. And Cillian was the only other Alpha that could be trusted with this task.

Another growl rumbled in my chest as I dropped my hands and glared at the mattress. “I’m not sleeping next to him. I’m just not.”

And the couch was far too small for him to rest on, which meant I had to sleep there.

Because the only other option was to share the bed and that wasn’t happening.

I crept forward to test the couch cushion with my palms. It was firm, but not too firm.

“Hmm,” I hummed as I relocated our bags to the floor—Cillian’s was notably light—and considered the throw pillows. There was a blanket tossed haphazardly across the back of the sofa as well. Alas, it wouldn’t be enough to keep me warm in this sector.

Magic might have warmed the interior of the igloo to a more palatable temperature, but it was still chilly.

All the Omegas kept commenting on how it reminded them of home—a home I intended to move to with my future mate.

I shivered at the thought. The moment my skin felt the subzero climate here, I’d felt… ill at ease. Like I didn’t belong here. I’d been okay with that realization until I’d overheard all the Omegas excitedly chattering about how “homey” it felt in this sector.

Does that mean I won’t feel at home in Night Sector?I’d wondered.Will I hate it there?

The realization that I might not fit in… had left me feeling out of sorts.

That, on top of being paired with Cillian, had basically rendered me an emotional mess. One I’d taken out on him.

Blowing out a breath, I returned to the bed to take off the comforter and grab a pillow. “This will have to do.”

Thankfully, Cillian was nowhere to be found. The jerk would probably argue with me. Or worse, demand that Italkto him again—something I did not want to do.

“Stop calling me Alpha Cillian”had been his final words.

Gods, the things I’d wanted to say back to him in that moment.

How many times have you demanded I call you just that?

Trust me when I say “Alpha Cillian” is the nicer form of what I’d prefer to call you right now.

You’re chastising me for being formal now? How ironic.