Page 57 of Eclipse Sector

None of them gave me butterflies the way Cillian did.

Why can’t I just get over this stupid crush on him?I wondered while my wolf sniffed around, searching for a field to run in.This is ridiculous. He doesn’t want me. He’s made that more than clear. I need to stop thinking about him. Craving him.Wantinghim.

I growled, the sound one that had my wolf perking up with interest as she scanned the snowbank ahead of us.

Sorry,I murmured to her.I’m growling at Cillian, not at any sort of threat.

She couldn’t understand my words, but my tone placated her.

No danger,she’d basically translated.Safe to continue onward.

Our paws moved silently across the cold ground, leaving little imprints behind as we trekked along a flat stretch of land. My wolf kept glancing behind us and all around, vigilant and aware—like always.

The setting sun painted a pretty glow on the horizon, one that glittered off the icy earth.

I suppose that’s a pretty sight,I thought, admiring the colors.Although, Blood Sector has similar views during the winter.

A sigh built deep in my chest, my heart beating a slow, morose rhythm.

When I’d agreed to the mating program, I’d thought moving to Night Sector wouldn’t be bothersome at all. But I was beginning to realize that I hadn’t thoroughly considered what it meant to leave the land my wolf and I considered to be our home.

We can start fresh. Make new friends. It’s not like we have many in Blood Sector anyway.

Except it wasn’t just aboutfriends.

It was about the environment. The trees. The lush volcanic sand.The way the grass feels against my paws.

My wolf grunted at that last part and kicked at the snow beneath us, clearly understanding my thought process. She wasn’t a huge fan of this environment either.

But maybe we can learn to love it,I said to her.Let’s… let’s just try…

She released another grunt—one that expressed doubt—and started forward at a trot.

The white blanket on the ground went on for miles. It wasn’t entirely flat, but the hills were covered in snow, too.

Perhaps summers are?—

My wolf paused, the fur along the back of my neck dancing.

We’d been alone on our stroll. But now…There’s someone coming.

My animal’s pointy ears swiveled, our senses on high alert as my wolf slowly glanced to our left.

Oh, it’s you.I should have knownhewould interrupt my early evening adventure.What do you want, Cillian?

Unfortunately, my wolf’s reaction to seeing Cillian’s beast didn’t quite match the irritation underlining my tone.

Because she was practically salivating at the sight of his massive form, nearly twice the size of our own.

His beast prowled forward with a confidence that had my wolf’s tongue lolling from her mouth, her tail swishing in open delight.

Stop it,I demanded.

She didn’t.

Not that I was surprised. My wolf followed her mating instincts, which were all homed in on the approaching Alpha—the one she had considered to be hers for far too long.

Cillian and I had never actually spent time in animal form together. Oh, I’d seen his beast, but always from afar. And I doubted he’d ever actually observed me as my wolf.