4. The bed

ALICE

I sat down, settling back on my heels. My bare skin yearning for their touch. They were my men, and their presence set me on fire despite the cold night breeze caressing my skin. The difference in height between them was very slight, as if they were brothers, but once again, my blurred vision didn't allow me to see them. All I could pick up was the penetrating scent of sex permeating the air, further increasing my insatiable desire.

"Don't move, little devil," the shorter guy approached as his voice came out like a command, forcing me to remain still by instinct. He moved towards me until he was in front of me, his naked body mesmerizing me and making me lick my lips anxiously, "Fuck, you don't make it easy. Do you want a punishment?"

The heat crawled up my neck, making me clench my legs tightly. I wondered what kind of punishment it would be this time. Did I want to defy them and be punished? I just nodded my head.

"Open your mouth," he ordered, his voice laden with authority. I glanced briefly at the other man, who simply continued to show off his thick, erect cock, stroking it from top to bottom as he watched us with undeniable lust. Fuck! That was like getting a glimpse of paradise.

"Do as I say, little Devil," the man in front of me said, grabbing my chin and forcing my gaze towards him. "Open your mouth."

I did, and he put his cock between my lips. I ran my tongue around the head, and he moaned, grabbing the back of my head and going all the way down my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes as he began to thrust at alternating speeds. It wasn't gentle. It was visceral and intense. Before I could protest, he stopped, turning my body and lifting my ass to penetrate my soaked pussy.

"Oh!" I moaned, feeling the fire fill my skin and my mind melt. The hard thrusts forced my face to sink into the mattress. I turned to try and see them, but the images remained a blur. The other one came closer, stroking his cock and lifting my face, but before I could see his face clearly, the dream came to an end.

I got out of bed and saw Ali watching me intently next to me, sniffing the air around him.

I sighed in frustration and got up to go to the kitchen. I put the kettle on to make some tea. It's been such a hectic and complicated week that my mind can't seem to function properly. I asked my boss and ex-boyfriend, Emmet Collins, for a few days off to take care of my new friend and wolf protégé. It sounded crazy when I told him why I was taking time off, but Emmet understood. At least, I think he did once he stopped laughing at me.

Until Matt gave me the green light for him to return to nature, I've taken it upon myself to look after him. I couldn't leave everything on my best friend's shoulders; that would be pushing my luck, which I don't have much of. I've overcome many of my deepest fears in the past few days.

For example, when I fed the creature for the first time, I was shaking more than the branches of the trees in the typical High River storms, but I did it. He didn't attack me or growl. Incredibly, my dear wolf only seemed anxious about being away from me. If I was honest with myself, I was more afraid of Ali biting me when I tried to make him sleep outside than when I had to hand over pounds of meat for him to eat. What? My wolf should have a name; according to Matt, he's “Allie's Wolf.”

I kept hearing the raspy voice that spoke to me at Matt's clinic, especially when I was near him. I'm becoming more and more confident that I'm going crazy. Normally, I wouldn't do anything I'm afraid of, but here I am doing a series of things I usually wouldn't do: at this exact moment, this cheeky creature was sprawled out on my bed.

“Get down, Ali,” I said, gesturing for him to get off the bed on which I had just changed the sheets. It would be covered in fur, but he ignored my objection and lazily stretched out on the soft mattress.

Ali seemed to have no intention of leaving the bed, as if he had claimed it as his territory. “I'm serious,” I grumbled again, pouting. “Get off the bed. Did I set up the guest room for you for nothing?” He growled softly, and I could swear he was responding to me.

“Okay, Ali, I get it. It seems you like the bed, but I do, too,” I said, trying to stay calm. “You stay in your designated area, and I'll stay in mine. Just for today, okay? We have a deal, right?” Ali tilted his head to one side as if considering my proposal, then laid down on his gray paws.

It's only been three days, and he's already acting like a spoiled pet. I looked at the once-worn wounds on his body, now almost imperceivable. His remarkable healing ability surprised me the most; I had never seen injuries heal so quickly.

I shook my head, rubbing my temples as I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. “Okay, Ali,” I murmured, giving in to the inevitable. “You can stay, but just for tonight, got it? Tomorrow, you're going to the guest room.” Ali yawned and snuggled further into the bed as if he understood every word.

"We're going to have a serious talk about boundaries, Mr. Pushy," I muttered, turning to the stove's counter. Living in an open-concept house that gives me a view of all the spaces is advantageous at the moment.

As he settled on my bed, where he insisted on sleeping, I grabbed the kettle, poured hot water into a cup, and let the tea steep. For a moment, the fatigue disappeared, replaced by the strange sensation of being exactly where I should be.

*"You're doing a good job, my mate,” the voice whispered to me again, causing my eyes to sweep the rooms in search of its source. But it was in vain. When he speaks to me, there's never anyone else, just me.

I drank the tea, savoring its comforting warmth while admiring the bright moon through the window. Again, that figure from the clinic appeared in the kitchen window. I had already alerted the local police about it, but Sheriff Morrison just gave me pepper spray, as if that would serve any purpose.

A shadow moved stealthily near the forest's edge next to my house. I instinctively approached the window to take a closer look. By having a clearer view of who was watching me, I could gain some protection or credibility with the sheriff.

In the dim light of the lamppost, I saw something that defied all notions of normality: a vaguely human figure, but of gigantic size, disappearing into the darkness of the trees. I rubbed my eyes, frightened by the sight.

My heart raced, beating irregularly. In a second, Ali was on the bed, and the next second, he was by my side, circling my body, putting me behind him, and assuming a defensive position. Okay, this didn't look good.

I started checking the doors. All locked.

Ali remained vigilant, staring at the door. The house's silence was deafening, with only the sound of the wind blowing through the window cracks. Ali stayed alert, emitting low growls and firmly in his defensive posture as if sensing some danger. He seemed to be getting larger, but that shouldn't be possible.

I approached the window again, trying to discern any movement in the dark forest. Ali stayed with me, his sharp gaze looking for the slightest sign of danger.

Suddenly, a distant howl echoed. It was a sound full of loneliness and melancholy. Upon hearing the howl, Ali emitted a deep sound, a kind of response, as if recognizing the call. His behavior changed slightly, and he assumed an anxious and expectant posture.

Is it his pack? Had they come back for him?

I looked at Ali, who seemed eager, staring at the door.

“It's okay, Ali. Come, do you want to go with them?” I said to him, trying to sound calm as I approached the door. Despite being scared that the other wolves might not be as friendly as Ali, I swallowed the uneasy feeling and scanned every corner of the house with my eyes.

Why was it hurting to think about letting him go?

If the pack came to take him, I should let him go. But this thought made my heart ache. Tears welled in my eyes, and I refused to let them fall. There was no reason to cry for a wild creature I should let go.

“NO!” the voice told me in my mind, making me freeze with my hand on the latch. Ali nudged my hand with his snout, sending electric currents throughout me. “I don't want to go now, not without you. Step away from the door, my love. You're not ready for this yet.”

I stepped away from the door as if the mysterious voice had hijacked my body. My racing thoughts tried to rationalize what had just happened.

Sometime later, I was in the bathroom as if awakened from a trance, with hot water pounding against my skin. What the hell was I doing? I blinked, confused and disoriented. The bathroom was shrouded in steam, and the sound of the shower filled the air. I touched my face, still trying to understand what happened. My last memories were hazy like a veil had been placed over my mind.

The voice in my mind, which seemed to know my feelings and decisions better than I did, intrigued me and made me uneasy. Outside, it was raining again. I wrapped my body in a towel and stepped out. Whatever was happening would have to wait until tomorrow.

Ali was sitting on the bed, but his ears perked up as soon as he saw me. He stared at me, leaning on his dark paws, while I wore a silk garment.

“I hope I'm not going crazy,” I scoffed as I finished dressing.

I gathered the scattered items around the house before snuggling into bed next to Ali, who continued to stare at me. “You are taking over my life, Ali.” The creature purred softly in a way that made my heart beat more calmly just having him near me.

I sighed deeply, looking at the ceiling as I tried to organize my thoughts. “What's happening, Ali? Who or what are you?” I whispered more to myself than to him. Ali tilted his head as if trying to respond.

The feeling of being watched prevented me from thinking rationally. The mysterious voice still echoed in my mind. Mate. What was that supposed to mean?

“If you're here to help me, then help me understand. I don't want to be in the dark, Ali.” The words gently escaped my mouth. “Help me understand. Please.”

The rain continued outside, and I closed my eyes, allowing the fatigue of the tumultuous week to envelop me. Eventually, the sound of rain and the comforting warmth of the bed calmed me down. In a state between sleep and wakefulness, I felt Ali lie down beside me, sharing his protective presence, which allowed me to slip into a peaceful sleep more quickly.