After tossing me a towel and a water bottle to where I’ve collapsed on the grass, Emeric still stands shirtless above me. There’s not even a drop of sweat or at least a sign he exerted any of his rippling muscles today. I wipe the sweat from my brow as I down the water in long gulps.
When I look up again, Emeric is sitting next to me on the grass as a strand of his sandy blonde hair falls over one of blue eyes. I reach up and sweep the hair out of his eyes without thinking.
I pull my hand back abruptly, like I just touched a hot fire.
Emeric grins cockily as he studies me. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” I sit on my hands, so I don’t do anything else stupid.
“We’ve just spent the entire day together. I pushed you to the limit of what your fragile human body can handle.”
“Can we please stop pointing out that I have a fragile human body? I’m well aware that I can’t shift.”
“I’m sorry.” He sighs, leaning back on his elbows. We both stare up at the fading sun dipping below the trees just beyond the stone walls that surround the massive backyard we’ve been training in all day. This place is a fortress of thick stone walls, but I don’t know if they are just meant to provide privacy or actually keep anyone out. A shifter in his wolf form could easily jump it, so could a vampire, and a witch could blast through the wall.
I look back at the mansion of glass walls that face out into this backyard. I keep expecting to see Ambrose’s golden eyes staring out the window each time I do. But if he’s watching us, he disappears before I spot him.
“What is going to happen to Ambrose? Are the others going to try to kill him for killing Baelor?”
A dark chuckle leaves Emeric’s throat. “No, Ambrose is the most powerful alpha that exists. No one would be foolish enough to try to take him on. They’d end up dead just like Baelor.” He pauses. “Well, Nyx might be the only other alpha stupid enough to challenge Ambrose, but he’d lose. The others respect the hell out of Ambrose and know he’s the only real hope we all have of breaking the curse.”
Nyx—my heart jumps into my throat before I remember that Emeric can hear every beat of my heart and change of my respirations.
“But you don’t have to worry about any confrontation happening anyway. The other alphas all went back to their respective territories until the next full moon.”
“How will the next alpha of Baelor’s pack be chosen?”
“There will be a challenge the day before the next full moon. Their beta will be in charge of the pack until then. And usually the beta becomes the next alpha, but not always. Whoever wins the challenge will become alpha at the full moon ceremony.”
“Is that how Ambrose became alpha? He challenged someone?”
Emeric bites his bottom lip. “It’s really not my story to tell.”
I frown, staring at Emeric intently. Warmth spreads through me as I stare into his crystal blue eyes. A lump forms in my throat as I let my gaze dip down across his bare chest. I swallow it down quickly, but I can’t hide how my cheeks pinken, or my heartbeat quickens.
Emeric frowns as he stares at me, and I know he notices my body’s reaction.
I open my mouth to ask what’s happening to me. Why I’m so attracted to him, but he speaks first.
“It’s the curse.”
I take a slow deep breath, hoping it will ease the hot, tingling ache starting in my core and working itself wild through my body. But all it does is give me an inhale of his crisp, clean scent. The tingle turns into an unquenchable ache.
“The longer you go without completing the marking ceremony, the worse these symptoms will get. The other males will go wild, trying to make you their mates, and you will become intensely attracted to every male around you. It’s meantto confuse you, to prevent you from finding your true mate, and keep the curse alive.”
I bite my lip and clench my fists to keep from jumping Emeric’s bones. “How do I know that Ambrose is my true mate?”
“I can’t answer that. Only the two of you can.”
“Well, that’s not helpful.”
Emeric chuckles and every muscle in my body trembles trying to keep from touching him, kissing him, choosing him.
“Don’t do that,” I grit out, closing my eyes and trying to block the feelings out.
“Sorry. It’s why it’s so important that you are ready to complete the marking ceremony by the next full moon.”
I grind my teeth together as the agony overtakes me. Sweat drips down my brow and off the back of my neck, and my hands become clammy.
