I shrug, pushing the food around on my plate. “Anything, really. Nature, people, whatever caught my eye.”
“We’ve got some great views around here,” Hudson says. “Plenty of inspiration if you want to get back into it.”
I look up, meeting his gaze. “Maybe.”
After that, the conversation flows around me. The men talk and joke with an easy familiarity that makes my chest ache. Ipick at my food, overwhelmed by the noise, the closeness, and the sheer presence of these large, intimidating males.
“You okay there, Luna?” Ethan’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “You’ve barely touched your food.”
I nod, forcing a smile. “Just tired, I guess. It’s been a long day.”
10
Luna
Notebook: Naked shifters at 8AM should come with a warning label. Also, oversized jackets make everything better.
Iblink, willing my bleary eyes to focus on the unfamiliar ceiling. The air carries a mix of pine and something distinctlymale—definitely not the lemon-scented room freshener I’m used to.
Down one day, only two years, and three hundred sixty-three days to go.
But hey, at least the guys aren’t total Alpha-holes.
Small victories, right?
I slide into a pair of jeans and tug on a comfy T-shirt, lacing up my sneakers as I brace myself for whatever this day might hold. Shuffling down the hall, I nearly choke on my own saliva.
Holy shit.
Hudson, Ethan, and Axel, casually stripping like it’s just another Tuesday.
My cheeks burn as if I’ve stepped too close to a bonfire.
“Um… are you guys going for a run? Can I go for a stroll in the woods, too?” My voice comes out small and breathless.
Hudson turns to me, his shirt halfway over his head, exposing a torso that’s more scar tissue than skin, but then I catch sight of his back—thick, raised lines crisscrossing his skin like he’d been whipped. Repeatedly. My stomach twists.
Tossing his shirt aside, he gazes at me, his brows furrowed. “Sure, Luna. But heads up—we’re running deep into the woods. It’s easy to get lost when unfamiliar with the terrain.”
My eyes dart to Ethan, who’s already shirtless and shedding his jeans. Next to him, Axel works his belt, a shit-eating grin spreading across his face as he catches me gawking. His pants hit the floor, and there he stands, naked as the day he was born.
My wolf perks up instantly.
Probably because she’s eager to be outside, or maybe it’s low blood sugar. Or lack of coffee.
Definitely not naked-male-related.
My face burns hotter. I should look away. I really should. But I can’t seem to make my eyes cooperate.
Sweet baby shifter.
Axel’s laugh echoes through the hallway. “What’s wrong, wildcat? Never seen a naked male before?”
“Not three at once,” I shoot back, my cheeks burning hotter.
“First time for everything.” He winks, completely nude and not bothering to cover anything. And there’s… a lot not being covered.
I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “So… the trail?”
