TWO WEEKS, FOUR DAYS INTO THE CONTRACT - SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Eve sat in the uncomfortable visitor’s chair beside her mother’s hospital bed, trying to focus on the conversation. Trying to be present. Trying to ignore the restlessness building under her skin.

"You’re not listening," Margaret said gently, a knowing smile on her face.

"I am," Eve protested. "You were talking about the new physical therapist, and what he is helping with...."

"That was ten minutes ago, sweetheart." Her mother’s smile widened. "I’ve been talking about possibly being discharged next week, and you haven’t heard a word."

Eve felt her face heat. "I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just... distracted."

"I can see that." Margaret studied her daughter’s face. "You keep checking your phone. Fidgeting. You look like you want to be somewhere else."

"I don’t.....that’s not...." Eve stopped, realizing her mother was right. She’d checked her phone seven times in the past twenty minutes. Not because she was expecting a message, but because she felt... wrong. Off. Like part of her was missing.

She’d only been away from the estate....away from them....for six hours. Six hours, and her body was already screaming to go back.

"It’s those men, isn’t it?" Margaret asked quietly. "The ones you work for."

Eve’s head snapped up. "What?"

"I’m not blind, Eve. Or stupid." Margaret reached out and took her hand. "You look different. Not just physically, though that’s remarkable...you’re glowing, sweetheart. Actually glowing, like there’s light under your skin. But it’s more than that. You’re... restless. Like you can’t settle. Can’t focus. Like part of you is somewhere else."

"I’m fine," Eve said automatically.

"You’re not fine. You’re..." Margaret paused, searching for words. "You’re like someone in withdrawal. Like an addict who needs a fix."

The words hit too close to home. Because that’s exactly how Eve felt. Her skin was too tight, too hot. Her body ached in ways that had nothing to do with soreness and everything to do with absence. She was hungry, but not for food. Restless but not tired. Everything felt wrong because they weren’t here.

"I should probably go," Eve said, standing abruptly. "Let you rest. The doctor said you need...."

"Eve." Margaret’s grip on her hand tightened. "Whatever is happening to you, whatever these men are doing to you....is it what you want?"

Eve opened her mouth to lie, to say it was just a job, just a contract. But looking at her mother’s concerned face, she couldn’t.

"I don’t know if it’s what I want," she admitted. "But it’s what I need. My body needs them, Mom. I can’t explain it, but when I’m away from them, I feel like I’m suffocating. Like I can’t breathe properly. And I know that’s not normal, I know something is wrong with me, but I can’t stop it."

Margaret was quiet for a long moment. "Does it hurt? When you’re with them?"

"Sometimes. At first. But then..." Eve’s face flushed. "Then it doesn’t hurt anymore. It feels... right. Like that’s exactly where I’m supposed to be."

"Then maybe nothing is wrong." Margaret squeezed her hand. "Maybe you’ve just found where you belong. Even if it’s unexpected. Even if it scares you."

"But it’s supposed to be temporary," Eve whispered. "Just six months. Just a contract."

"And do you think you can walk away in six months?"

Eve thought about that. About leaving them. About never feeling Damian’s hands on her skin again, never hearing Damon’s dark laugh, never seeing Silas’s intense gaze. About going back to her empty apartment, her empty life, her empty bed.

"No," she admitted. "I don’t think I can."

"Then maybe you’re not supposed to." Margaret pulled her close. "Go, sweetheart. Go back to them. You’ve been here three hours and you’re climbing out of your skin. I can see it. I’m fine....better than fine. The treatment is working. You don’t need to worry about me anymore."

"But....."

"Go," Margaret insisted. "Whatever you’re becoming, whoever they are to you....go be with them. You have my blessing. My permission. Whatever you need to hear to stop feeling guilty about it."

Eve hugged her mother tightly, tears burning her eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now go before you vibrate out of your skin."

**********

Eve called for a car service since Marcus was with the brothers. The thirty-minute drive felt like hours. Her skin was actually tingling now, a physical need that was becoming painful.

She tried to tell herself this wasn’t normal. Wasn’t healthy. Six hours apart shouldn’t feel like torture.

But it did.

By the time the car pulled up to the estate gates, Eve was practically vibrating with need. She thanked the driver with shaking hands and rushed toward the main entrance.

Mrs. Blackwood met her at the door, her expression carefully neutral. "Miss Chen. The masters are currently....."

"Where are they?" Eve interrupted, her voice more desperate than she intended.

"In Master Damian’s office. But I’m afraid they cannot be disturbed. They’re in an important pack meeting with visiting alphas from...."

Eve was already moving, heading toward the office wing. She could feel them. Could sense their presence like a beacon pulling her forward.

"Miss Chen," Mrs. Blackwood called after her. "You really shouldn’t.....they specifically said no interruptions....."

But Eve couldn’t stop. Her body was screaming for them. Six hours had felt like six days, and she was going to crawl out of her skin if she didn’t get to them now.

She reached the office door and could hear voices inside. Deep male voices discussing territory boundaries and alliance terms. Important pack business that she had no right to interrupt.

She knocked anyway.

The voices stopped. Footsteps approached. The door opened.

And there was Silas, his dark eyes widening slightly as he took in her appearance. Behind him, Eve could see the office full of large, powerful men—eight visiting alphas seated around Damian’s desk, all turning to look at her.

"Eve," Silas said quietly. "We’re in a meeting...."

"I know," she whispered, her whole body trembling. "I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be here. But I can’t...I need...."

She couldn’t finish. Couldn’t articulate the desperate hunger clawing through her system.

But she didn’t have to. Because Damian stood from behind his desk, his gray eyes locked on her face. She watched him inhale deeply, his nostrils flaring as he scented her desperation, her need.

"Gentlemen," Damian said, his voice clipped and controlled even as his eyes darkened with hunger. "I apologize, but I have an emergency that requires immediate attention. My brothers will continue this discussion in my absence."

The visiting alphas exchanged knowing looks. They could smell it too.....the arousal pouring off Eve, the answering hunger from Damian. They knew exactly what kind of "emergency" he was referring to.

One of them.....a grizzled alpha with silver in his hair....smiled slightly. "Of course. We understand completely."