"That night... was that you?"

Elias stared at her and tilted his head to the side. Then, slowly, he leaned over, propping his knee on the edge of the bed. His face inched closer to her until his lips were right beside her ear, whispering something.

Lynsandra’s brows turned toward him as he drew his head back.

A smile curled on his face, his brows wiggling playfully. He was about to push himself off her when his forefeet slipped on the water she had left on the floor. Subsequently, Elias fell on top of her.

Even with his hand on her side, the accident was too abrupt.

He paused, his face hovering a palm’s length away from hers. Her breath, carrying a mix of mint and alcohol, brushed against his upper lip. Her eyes were partially open, giving her a naturally seductive look.

"I just told you," he growled under his breath, his fingers stretching into claws as his golden eyes flickered with a red undertone. "Don’t offer a feast before a hungry wolf."

It was just him and her in the barely lit room, only their breaths echoing.

She had no idea how much self-control he had to exert just being in the same room with her. She had no idea how tempting it was to tear these thin fabrics that offered little to no protection. And she had no idea how hard it was to ignore his needs, his wants... just because.

[Come on, come on! Let’s mate!] his wolf enthusiastically cheered, as if it were his dick that would get cut off once she sobered up.

Elias froze for a second when Lynsandra peeled her back off the mattress and lifted herself. His pupils constricted as he held his breath, eyes fixed on her parted lips.

But then...

Unlike what he expected, Lynsandra’s face twisted slightly, and before he knew it, hot liquid trickled down his spine. The heat that had inflamed his skin extinguished in an instant as his entire body froze.

Lynsandra clutched his shoulder, still gagging, still throwing up rainbow over his shoulder and down his back.

Elias hung his head helplessly. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Even though he was reluctant, he stayed in the same position and tapped her back half-heartedly.

"You better sleep after this," he clicked his tongue, watching her fall back onto the bed happily. "At least wipe your mouth."

Irritated, he wiped the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

[Disgusting!] his wolf roared within him. [How are you going to stand now? She just made this Alpha’s sexy back into a bowl!]

"Stop complaining, Draven," Elias grumbled, carefully crawling back with his back bent so as not to spill it on the floor. "Just shut it and don’t distract me—"

Just when he thought he was doing a good job, Elias felt something splash onto the side of his foot. When he looked, his back straightened slightly, spilling more of it.

[That’s not me, Alpha.]

"Fuc—!"

In the end, Elias had to wipe the floor with his torn shirt and then wash it. He ended up mopping half the floor. That helped ease the pent-up frustration in his groin, but just when he thought his struggle was over, he was wrong.

When he finished mopping, he came back to find Lynsandra dragging herself out of bed. Apparently, she needed to pee. So he had to help her. Then, when she was about to go back to sleep, she started complaining about the bed being wet.

Well, Elias hadn’t dried her earlier and had just tossed her onto the bed.

In the end, he had to carry her to the other bedroom. He had no patience for changing sheets.

"Finally." Elias plopped down in the chair in the room. "Who would’ve thought taking care of another being is so tiring?"

His exhaustion felt like he had been sent on a mission or to win a war. But then again, what made it so exhausting was that he was in heat. His groin hurt—that’s why.

Snapping his eyes to the bed, he saw Lynsandra sleeping happily and peacefully. Her arms and legs were spread wide, clearly claiming the entire bed.

[Let’s mate with her. Come on, she would like it!]

Again, his wolf suggested enthusiastically.

Elias ignored it for now, reaching across his shoulder as he stretched his neck.

"I guess she’s sleeping now," he muttered, jumping to his feet.

Without further ado, he walked toward the door to leave her alone. But just as he reached for the door, he heard her muttering in her sleep.

"...coffee jelly."

His brows twitched as he looked back and saw her moving slightly again. Elias buried his face in his palm, hissing through his gritted teeth.

"...damn!"

When he snapped his head up, he turned away from the door and went to the smaller bathroom connected to the room.

[Are we mating with her? Good, good! I like her! I like her wolf, too. Damn, Enlly is hot! I’ll howl for her even in the morning!]

"Shut up," Elias grumbled, keeping the door open as he showered. "You and her, both of you shut it."

He didn’t take long to shower, cleaning himself in a hurry for one obvious reason. Since his only priority right now was to get rid of the stink on his back, he didn’t bother changing into anything else.

As soon as he walked out in a bathrobe, he headed straight to the bed.

Lynsandra was just about to sit up, muttering about sweets she wanted to eat, when he jumped onto the bed. Swiftly, he pulled the blanket. Before she could react, Lynsandra was confined... like a burrito.

Elias tied the strap of his bathrobe over the blanket around her. Although the belt was clearly short, he managed it.

"Hah!" he plopped down beside her, ruffling his damp, messy hair. "I knew it. She was gonna get up."

He had already sensed it when he was about to leave. Hence, he decided to shower in the bathrobe. He knew he couldn’t take his eyes off her for long.

"I never thought..." Elias collapsed onto his back beside the werewolf burrito named Lynsandra. He huffed sharply, staring at the ceiling. "This would be so exhausting."

He weighed whether to lock her in or stay until she sobered up. But before he could decide, his eyelids grew heavier, and before he knew it... he fell asleep.

*

*

*

The next day...

Elias felt his brows knit as his eyelids flickered. Slowly, his eyes cracked open. He squinted one eye, turning away from the sunlight, only to be greeted by a pair of eyes staring back at him coldly.

"Did we..." Lynsandra moved her head, making him realize she was using his arm as a pillow. "...do it last night?"