The next morning I felt sore. I felt like I had just shifted for the first time. My head pounded, my hips and knees ached and my throat felt as dry as a desert. I groaned and rolled out of the bed, sluggishly making my way to the bathroom to down a cup of cold water. It wasn't the tastiest, but my dry throat didn't seem to care.

I yawned and decided to just get ready for the day so once relieving myself I began to brush my teeth and hair. I stripped off my pyjamas and wrapped myself up in my robe before exiting the bathroom.

"Nova?"

I jumped in surprise, my hand flying out in defence at the voice behind the bathroom door. They grunted at the impact and I opened my eyes in shock to find it was only Phoenix.

"I'm s-sorry!" I stammered.

His sleepy eyes were amused and he didn't respond verbally as I stared at him. Instead, he kissed my lips gently and murmured a good morning in that sexy sleepy voice.

"Sleep okay?" He murmured, rubbing his hands over the softness of my robe.

I nodded, swallowing harshly. "Yes, I slept great thanks. Sorry, I forgot you were here otherwise I would've been quieter."

"I was already awake when you entered zombification." He laughed.

I blushed. "I am not a zombie."

He hummed in disagreement and bent back down to kiss me on the nose. I scrunched my nose up in protest and pulled myself out of his arms to go to the door. His voice caught me by surprise, hesitating at the door.

"Oh, I had your clothes moved to my room before we got here. I hope you don't mind."

"It's a good job I don't then, isn't it?" I shook my head and closed the door.

He laughed behind me as I made my way into the walk-in closet and turned on the light. I was bathed in colours, all kinds of shades. My eyes found the neatly pressed and tailored suits on Phoenix's side, covered by glass doors and cabinets. The opposite was rails upon rails of women's clothes. I had never seen so many; this was not my wardrobe.

Dresses hung from thick glass poles, hidden and kept dust-free behind diamond glass doors. Some were kept in bags, others were lined in rows of length and colour. Next to them, I found drawers full of neatly folded tops and t-shirts, once again organised by colour. Other draws contained socks and underwear; some that had me blushing at even the thought of wearing them. Lacey thongs, see-through bras and pieces of string I assumed to be from my butt lay before me.

More rows of blouses, jackets and shoes covered the rest of the wall, stretching as high as the ceilings, this time hidden behind mirrored doors. On the opposite side to the door, at the very end of the wardrobe, lay a vanity with a large window behind it. I opened the drawers to find endless trays of jewellery, both men's and women's. I was astonished. So much had been put into this; so much thought, care and so much money.

It was raining today so I rifled through the mass of fabrics and pulled out some dark blue jeans and a black long sleeve top. I opened the underwear drawer once again and paused in hesitation. I instinctively reached for the plain cotton pair but my eyes wandered to the pretty green lace.

'Do it.' Cel purred.

I licked my lips in anticipation and pulled it from the drawers. I slipped off the robe and pulled them matching pair on. I glanced at myself in the mirrored doors and studied how it looked. The bra was a pretty dark green balcony bra with flowers along the lace to cover the important parts. The pant's bottoms were high on the hip and not too thin at the back. They really were pretty, and I loved the fact they were green.

It was my size and fit comfortably but I felt so adventurous in it. It may just be underwear, but I have never openly worn something like this before. I assumed Molly played a dab-hand in organising since she knew my sizes and preferences.

I smiled to myself, and before my inner voices could protest, I pulled on the jeans and top along with some black trainer socks. I grabbed a pair of sliders, not caring that I wore socks too, and exited the room.

I shrieked once I did, finding Phoenix standing naked beside the bed. My eyes stared at his bare ass, travelling along the curves of his spine and shoulders. Cel pushed her desires onto me, urging me to go closer. I inhaled deeply, taking in his intoxicating scent mixed with fresh deodorant. He turned slowly, his phone to his ear. I pulled my lower lip between my teeth as he did so, the skin on his sides glistening in the sunlight that came through the windows.

His eyes met mine and opened widened when he saw me. I slowly made my way over to him, my hand eager to touch the firm muscles on his back. I couldn't help but admire him, the way his body looked would never fail to appease me. His eyes darkened as I got closer, nostrils flaring as I came to a stop beside him. He ended the call swiftly and threw his phone onto the bed.

He spun around to face me completely, his hands suddenly scooping under my thighs and pulling me into him. He lifted me easily, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around his hips, a small squeal of surprise at the sudden change in gravity. He smirked at me, his face coming into my neck to inhale deeply. His lips teased at my skin, raising the hairs on the nape of my neck and arms. I shuddered involuntarily, my chest arching into him more as he sucked on the skin of my collar bone.

A small moan escaped my lips as he nibbled at the skin, his warm lips sending tingles through my body. I felt my stomach churn in anticipation. The fact that we were truly mates now without any threats meant I could have all of him. There were no boundaries, nothing in the way.

His head pulled out of my neck to stare down at me. "Nova, you are divine."

I felt my heartbeat in my chest, the blood rushing through my body and down to my core. His deep voice, enwrapped with the grumble of his inner wolf was doing things to me. He released a low growl as I tightened my legs around his body, my fingers digging into his shoulder blades. It only spurred me on further as I traced my tongue up the side of his neck, to settle a nibble on his ear lobe.

His hand grabbed fistfuls at my hair and pulled my head back. I gasped at the rough feeling and he took the opportunity to embrace my lips with his own. I moaned the sensual sensations, my body alive with desire and need. I clawed at him, my hands seeking comfort from his hot skin. His tongue explored me, his fingers massaging the flesh of my ass as I stayed pressed fully against him.

One of his hands trailed up my back to run his fingers along the skin that became exposed from my new angle. They teased at the fabric, pushing my top higher as they roamed my body. They left a fire in their wake, featherlight touches running along with the lace of my bra. His hand cupped at my ribcage, his thumb tracing a circle along my breast. I gasped a moan and he groaned in response, pulling away for air.

"Nova..." He breathed.

I stared at him, my head level with his at this position. I blinked, clearing the fog of my mind for a moment as he kissed along my jaw. I felt him move and soon I was gently laid down as he placed me on the bed. He crawled on top of me, his ever-apparent nakedness catching my attention. He smirked down at me, his hands pulling up the fabric of my shirt. His face disappeared as he dropped it to place kisses along my stomach, sucking at the skin. I gasped and clenched my thighs together as he brought the infatuating feelings back.

A sudden bang had my eyes fly open in surprise and caused Phoenix to hesitate. It came again, three times, in rapid succession.

The door.

How did someone get to Phoenix's floor?

"Phoenix!" Charlie shouted. "Goddammit, don't block me out! We have a breach!"

My eyes darted to Phoenix in surprise when he growled, a threatening snarl coming from his chest. He pushed away from me, standing to his full height whilst I lay there in flustered surprise.

A breach?

Phoenix cursed, his eyes foggy as he communicated with Charlie behind the door. I pulled myself to a sitting position, watching in curiosity as his eyes grew darker. He hastily threw on some clothes but skipped on pulling on shoes. He marched over to the door and flung it open, Charlie's equally angry and serious face greeting me. He glanced at me on the bed, any ounce of carefree Charlie gone. Normal Charlie would have teased me for the way I looked, or for the apparent smell in the room. But right now, he was acting as a Beta, and he was just as scary as the day I met him at the ball.

They communicated silently again before Charlie's eyes dropped to me beyond Phoenix's shoulder. Phoenix had pivoted to stare at me as well, before they both looked at each other again, and continued their conversation.

I growled, agitated. "What is going on?"

"We have a breach," Charlie commented.

They turned to me again, their faces blank without emotion. I crossed my arms, staring back at them just as hard. They glanced at each other again, silent understanding crossing Charlie's features.

"Are you going to elaborate or just keep staring at each other?" I huffed.

A faint flicker of amusement danced in Charlie's eyes and I decided to glare at him was not my best suit. I turned to Phoenix, and he shuffled under my gaze, swallowing. I could tell that there was a lot of information so sighed and relaxed back into the headboard

"What breach? Why are you standing here? Shouldn't you be taking care of it?" I rolled my eyes.

They nodded, looking at each other again before Charlie turned and ran out of the room. Pollux came in just as Phoenix came closer and pressed a firm kiss on my lips, his hand trailed a line down my cheek.

"I will be back, stay here. It's a border breach, we don't know how far in they got." He murmured.

"Okay," I muttered, just as my brother walked into the room.

Pollux and Phoenix shared a look before my mate ran from the room. Pollux sighed once he was gone, and looked around. His nose crinkled as he observed, coming closer to me.

"You guys getting it on in here? It stinks." He muttered.

"Why are you in here?" I ignored his questions.

"Border breach, I'm here for muscle." He smirked, scanning my form on the bed. "Nice hickies you got going there."

I blushed, shaking my head at his teasing. I needed a mirror but I knew that would just develop into more teasing. I'd do it when he was gone. He chuckled but sank himself into the sofa on the opposite side of the room.

"Putting the two Lycan blood together? Doesn't sound so smart to me." I muttered.

He laughed at me, crossing his arms behind his bed as he looked around once more. His eyes landed on the television and narrowed with a smirk.

"You got Netflix?" He wondered.

I nodded, grabbing the remote from the bedside table. "Of course."

"Great." He clapped, jumping into the bed beside me. "Great way to pass time."

I laughed with him and let him decide on what to watch since I had no idea what to choose. I felt nervous not knowing the full information on this breach, but I was comforted to know the Phoenix and the pack had it covered. They were a force to be reckoned with. But I couldn't help but tune into the instinctual nagging that stayed in the back of my mind; the one that hadn't left since we came back from the castle.

Something was coming, something bad.

***

Surprise update

I had some time on my hand and figured I'd get this up for you

My puppy is coming from Romania and he isn't due for a few hours yet 💕

1 down, 4 to go! Nearly there guys

If you won 10,000 cash tomorrow what would you spend it on?

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