Derek snapped his head around to glare at her. Kira had completely colonised his side of the bed. Her hair was a wild, chestnut thicket across the pillows, and her limbs were splayed with total abandon. She kicked him again, and then her cold toes wedged themselves firmly under his thigh as if she were staking a claim on his territory.

Then she did the unthinkable.

With a sleepy sigh, she snuggled right up against him, pressing her face into the crook of his neck.

Inside his head, Leo began to purr. It was a loud, shameless sound, like a kitten being stroked for the first time in years.

Derek froze, his muscles locking into place. Then she pushed even closer, her breath warm against his skin. He’d been with countless women in the past, but why was a simple, unconscious touch from her making his skin shiver?

He wasn’t up for cuddles, and this was an invasion of his personal space. He jerked upright and tapped her shoulder.

"Hey," he said, voice rough from irritation. "Move. Now. You’re invading my space."

"Too cold... you’re warm," she mumbled, her eyes still tightly shut. Instead of moving away, she burrowed deeper, her palm landing flat against his bare chest.

"You can use the duvet. Now move," he said, and shoved her back towards her side of the bed.

Kira cracked one eye open, still groggy, her face flushed from sleep, and she leveled a drowsy glare at him. "You big, heartless monster."

Before he could respond, she grabbed the edge of the duvet and yanked. With one violent roll, she hogged the entire thing, wrapping herself up and leaving him completely bare in the chilled air.

"What the fuck, Kira?" he hissed.

You said to use the duvet," she replied, her voice thick with sleep. "So I’m using it. Problem solved."

Derek stared at her in disbelief. She had transformed herself into a human burrito, with only her nose and a wild tangle of hair sticking out of the top. "You’ve taken the whole bloody thing."

"You’re a walking furnace," she yawned, her eyes drifting shut again. "Share the heat or suffer the cold. Your choice, Your Grumpiness."

Leo was practically laughing his furry ass off, the purr growing louder and more smug by the second. The traitor.

Derek reached over to haul a corner of the blanket back, but she let out a tiny squeak and rolled away, clutching the fabric like a lifeline. "Mine now," she declared. "Royal decree."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache already brewing. "You are impossible."

"And you’re so grumpy," she shot back, her voice muffled by the pillow. "Also loud. Some of us are trying to sleep after, you know, surviving a terrifying nightmare."

The reminder hit him like a bucket of ice water. His hand froze on the edge of the duvet. The memory of her screaming, of her sheer terror, flickered in his mind.

She peeked one eye open again, her gaze softening. "Relax, big guy. I’m not dying tonight. I’m just stealing the blankets. There’s a difference."

He exhaled through his teeth. "Go back to sleep."

"Only if you stop brooding like a disgruntled statue

"I do not brood."

"You’re brooding right now. I can see your eyebrows knitting together."

Leo chose that exact moment to purr again, deeper and more resonant than before. Derek felt the beast’s influence clouding his mind and softening his edge. He was certain his eyes were glazed and glowing in the dark now, and he saw Kira’s lips twitch into a tiny, victorious smile.

"See?" she murmured. "Even your beast votes for cuddles."

Derek forced the wolf back, fixing his eyes on the dark ceiling. "He is an idiot."

"He is smart," she whispered, scooting an inch closer despite being wrapped like a sushi roll. "Warm idiot is best idiot."

Derek didn’t move away this time or make an attempt to push her away. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant rumble of the dying storm outside.

He knew he should get up. He should prove his strength by walking out. Instead, he let out a long, defeated sigh. "Fine. Keep the damn blanket."

She made a tiny noise of triumph and, without warning, flopped her head back onto his chest. Leo practically rolled over and showed his belly in delight.

"Night, Grumpy," she mumbled, already drifting off. "And... thank you. For soothing me tonight."

Derek stared at the dark ceiling, one arm trapped beneath her, her jasmine scent curling around him like smoke, and told himself he would indulge her just for tonight.

"...Night, little wolf."

When Kira finally rolled over, consciousness returned in slowly. She stretched lazily, her arm sweeping across the mattress only to find Derek’s side empty and cool.

He must have slipped out ages ago. Typical. Probably off brooding in his study, or pounding the sand on some punishing run, or doing whatever it was grumpy Lycan kings did before breakfast. She yawned, rubbed her eyes, and finally cracked them open.

And almost bolted out of the bed.

Derek was standing right there, already dressed in his black running gear. His arms were folded over his broad chest, and he was staring down at her with that intense, unreadable gaze.

Her brows creased. What had she done now? Was he offended that she’d dared to wake up? "Good morning, Your Grace," she said, sitting up and pushing the duvet aside.

"You snore," he said, sounding dead serious.

She gasped. "What? No, I don’t!" A hot flush of embarrassment crawled up her spine. What a way to start the day.

"You do," he said flatly. "It’s soft... and distracting."

A blush rushed into her cheeks, but she couldn’t help the bright smile that followed. He should have led with the "it’s soft" part. "Thank you... I think?"

Derek stiffened, his frown deepening, as though he couldn’t fathom why the statement had made her happy. "That was not a compliment."

"Well, it sounded like one," she replied cheerfully, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

He turned abruptly, heading for the door. "Get ready. You’re joining me for the morning run."

"Oh? So we’re running together now?"

Before Derek could turn or speak, his phone rang. He fished it out, his expression darkening the moment he saw the screen.

"Hello, Declan?"

"Derek. I’m at the hospital with Connor," Declan’s grim voice came through the speaker. "Ryan was run off the road last night. That’s why we couldn’t reach him."

Derek paused, his hand on the door handle. "What? How bad is it?"

"He’ll live. But his car was forced into a ditch. He’s shaken up—his blood pressure is through the roof."

Derek glanced back at Kira, his eyes turning hard and cold. He stepped out into the hallway and lowered his voice. "This wasn’t an accident, Declan. Someone is trying to sabotage me. Get Kai to look into every lead. Now."