Page 7

Olivia

Regret was a bitter, familiar friend. The kind that always showed up the morning after, slipping in through the cracks in the sunlight, wrapping itself around me like a heavy, suffocating blanket.

But I refused to let it win. Not today.

Because last night had been wild. Absolutely reckless. Adrian and I had torn through every last drop of champagne, laughed, tangled ourselves in the sheets, and lost ourselves in a blur of heat and breathless moans. Over and over, until the darkness outside the window had given way to the soft gray glow of dawn.

And now, here I was—sprawled across his chest, his arm wrapped around me, the slow, steady rise and fall of his breathing a quiet, rhythmic calm. I should’ve felt awkward. I should’ve slipped out of bed, wrapped myself in a sheet, and pretended I’d never let this happen.

But I didn’t.

Because for the first time in… gods, I didn’t know how long, I felt calm. The wolf in me—the restless, snarling creature that usually spent its days half-asleep and half-furious—was quiet. Not just quiet. Content. A soft, warm pulse of satisfaction that spread through me, wrapping me in a strange, unfamiliar warmth.

Was this it? Was this the universe’s twisted way of rewarding me for finally getting back at my cheating human ex-husband? Oh, he’d taken my heart and torn it to shreds, but now… now I’d clawed my own piece of satisfaction out of this messed-up world. And damn, it felt good.

Beneath me, Adrian stirred, his arm tightening around my waist, his head turning slightly, the faintest hint of a groan escaping his lips.

“Is it raining outside?” His voice was rough, thick with sleep, that deep, gravelly tone doing dangerous things to my already fragile self-control. “I swear I can smell fresh spring rain.”

A laugh burst out of me, sharp and warm. “Nope. Sunny as hell. And in case you forgot, it’s August.”

“Figures.” His other arm slid beneath his head, a faint, lazy smirk curling at his lips. “Just my luck. Even the weather messes with me now.”

“Oh, poor mighty Alpha, defeated by the unpredictable world. I’d feel sorry for you if I didn’t have such a vivid memory of you losing control last night.”

His chest rumbled with a low chuckle beneath me, and I felt the heat bloom in my cheeks, a delicious reminder of every desperate, reckless second of last night.

I slipped out of bed, the cool air brushing against my bare skin, and I wandered into the bathroom, twisting the shower handle until a warm cascade of water burst forth, steam already clouding the mirror.

I stepped in, letting the heat wash over me, soothe the pleasant ache in my muscles. But before I could fully lose myself in that quiet, lazy warmth, the glass door swung open, and Adrian stepped in.

His tall, solid frame filled the space, water trailing down the sharp, defined lines of his chest, the intricate, swirling wolf tattoo on his bicep seeming to come alive beneath the mist. Even his ink looked smug, damn him.

“What are you doing?” I snapped, my hand instinctively pressing against his chest. “We agreed. Just the night.”

“Did we?” He leaned in, water streaming down his dark hair, those piercing eyes meeting mine with a faint, infuriating smile. “Because then I heard you moaning my name last night… again… and again… and I decided to extend the terms.”

“Extend the—” I burst out laughing, but there was a nervous, breathless edge to it. “Oh, please. You wouldn’t last. You’d drown in chaos.”

“Try me.”

His expression didn’t change, that calm, steady intensity fixing me in place as he stepped forward, the warm spray of water falling around us, and his hands found my waist, pulling me against him. His lips caught mine, hot and hungry, his fingers slipping into my wet hair, tilting my head back, deepening the kiss.

“Adrian—” I gasped, but his mouth swallowed the rest, his hands sliding lower, gripping my hips, pressing me against the cool, wet tiles.

“I like a good challenge,” he whispered, his lips tracing a slow, burning path along my jaw, down the side of my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin.

I couldn’t stop the shiver that raced through me, the low, needy sound that slipped past my lips.

“Of course you do,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady, even as his mouth traced lower, his hands sliding over my wet, heated skin.

“Plus,” he growled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble, “there’s one thing I love about chaos.”

“Yeah?” I whispered, my voice a desperate, breathless challenge. “What’s that?”

“I love it when it’s on its hands and knees in front of me,” he whispered, his voice dark, rough, hungry, “begging to come again.”

My breath caught, my pulse racing, a wild, desperate heat crashing through me. His hands gripped me, firm, possessive, and I felt my knees weaken beneath the weight of his touch, his words.

And I knew I was lost.

“Fine,” I whispered, my fingers clawing at his shoulders, pulling him closer, my mouth finding his again, a fierce, hungry kiss. “Extended terms. But don’t blame me when you can’t keep up.”

He laughed, that low, rough sound that sent a thrill racing through me. “You’ll wish I couldn’t keep up.”

And then his hands were everywhere—tracing the slick, wet heat of my skin, his mouth capturing mine again, fierce, consuming, his touch demanding and possessive.

Chaos and control. Wild and ordered. I didn’t know who I was in that moment, but I didn’t care. Not with the way his hands claimed me, the way his body pressed against mine, the way his voice slipped into that low, commanding growl that made my entire world shatter.

Steam clung to the bathroom mirror, swirling and fading as Adrian and I stepped out of the shower, his arm still wrapped around my waist, his lips trailing one last teasing kiss along my shoulder. I laughed, shoving him playfully away, and he caught my wrist, pulling me back against him, his wet hair dripping onto my cheek.

“Careful, chaos. Keep smiling like that, and I’ll start thinking you actually like me.”

“Oh, please.” I snorted, wriggling out of his grip and grabbing a towel, wrapping it around myself. “Like you? That’s a stretch. I just appreciate the free room service.”

“Room service?” He chuckled, rubbing the towel over his hair. “Funny. I thought I was the one serving you all night.”

“Modest too.” I shot back, and he laughed again, that low, warm sound that seemed to wrap around me like the steam still curling in the air.

I was just pulling on a fresh pair of jeans and a loose white shirt when a sharp, rapid knock echoed from the door.

“Liv! Liv, are you awake? It’s me, Sophie!”

“Shit.” My heart jumped into my throat. “Why is she here so early? We agreed to meet for lunch around one—”

“It's one fifteen.” Adrian’s voice was infuriatingly calm, and I turned to see him already slipping into his pants, his shirt hanging open, revealing the sharp lines of his chest. “Maybe you should work on your time management.”

“Shut up.” I hissed, shoving him toward the bathroom. “You need to hide.”

He arched a dark brow, crossing his arms over his chest. “Hide? In my own hotel?”

“Oh, come on. Do you really want to explain to the bride-to-be that you spent the night… mounting her sister?”

His lips twitched, that dangerous, smug smile threatening to resurface. “ Mounting ?”

“You know what I mean!” I whispered, frantically running my fingers through my wet hair, trying to look even remotely put together. “And besides, take advantage of screwing a Zeta. We don’t get that post-Alpha glow, so no one will know I’ve been with you all night.”

“Is that so?” His smile widened, and I hated how it made my stomach twist. “Should I be offended?”

“Are you going to argue with me, or are you going to hide?”

Another knock, a little more frantic this time. “Liv? Are you okay?”

“Coming!” I called, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

Adrian sighed, shaking his head, but a faint, amused smile tugged at his lips as he stepped back toward the bathroom. “Fine. But you owe me.”

“Oh, I owe you?” I hissed, yanking a hair tie off the nightstand and pulling my damp hair into a messy bun. “Please. Consider this your payment for all those snide comments you love so much.”

His grin didn’t fade. “You know, you should really wipe that smile off your face before you open the door. People might get suspicious if they see you happy.”

I shot him a glare, but my heart was pounding too hard to think of a decent comeback. The bathroom door clicked shut, and I took one last deep breath before yanking the main door open.

Sophie stood there, a bright, worried smile on her face, her hair perfectly curled, her pastel sundress making her look like she’d just stepped out of a magazine.

“There you are! I was starting to think you overslept.”

“Me? Oversleep?” I forced a laugh, leaning casually against the doorframe. “I was just… uh… freshening up.”

“Perfect! I figured we could grab lunch, maybe do a little shopping before the rehearsal dinner. Unless you’re too tired?”

“No, no. I’m… wide awake.”

Her gaze swept over me, and for a second, I worried she could see right through me. But then she smiled, looping her arm through mine.

“Great! Let’s go.”

I cast one last glance over my shoulder as she pulled me out into the hallway, the faintest smile tugging at my lips.

Adrian’s words echoed in my mind.

Wipe that smile off your face. People might get suspicious if they see you happy.

Well, it was too late for that.