Chapter 17

I thanked Damon for his honesty before he and Maya left. "It helps to know I'm not the only one who finds him confusing."

When they were gone, I wandered through the cabin, exploring. It was much bigger than it looked from outside, with several bedrooms besides the master suite. I found an empty one at the end of the hall and made a decision. There was no way I was sharing a room with Kieran tonight, not after how he'd treated me.

The bedroom was smaller than the master but still nicer than any room I'd ever had. The bed was covered in soft blankets, and the window overlooked the dark forest. I grabbed my backpack and headed for the attached bathroom.

I stripped off my clothes, desperate to wash away the day's events. The shower was huge with multiple jets, but when I turned the handle, scalding hot water shot out. I jumped back with a yelp, my skin instantly turning red where the water had touched.

"Stupid fancy shower," I muttered, gingerly adjusting the temperature.

As I was rinsing shampoo from my hair, I heard something—footsteps in the bedroom. I froze, listening intently, my heart racing. For a moment, there was silence, and I wondered if I'd imagined it. Then I heard them again, soft but definite.

Was it Kieran? Had he come looking for me?

I quickly finished my shower and wrapped myself in a towel, my wet hair dripping down my back. I stood by the bathroom door for a minute, gathering my courage before stepping into the bedroom.

The room was empty, but something on the bed caught my eye—a folded piece of paper that hadn't been there before. I approached cautiously and picked it up.

It was a note from Maya:

Lena,

I'm so sorry you got stuck with such a jerk for a mate. I wish I could help more, but I honestly don't know what to do. Damon says Kieran isn't usually this bad, but that doesn't excuse how he's treating you. Call me if you need anything—day or night. You're not alone in this pack, I promise.

Love, Maya

I clutched the note to my chest, blinking back tears. Having a friend here meant more than she could know.

Looking through my backpack, I realized I didn't have any clean pajamas. With a sigh, I pulled Kieran's t-shirt back over my head. It fell to mid-thigh, covering enough to be decent. His scent wrapped around me again, comforting despite my anger at him.

I climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to my chin, staring at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Kieran—the intensity in his amber eyes when he'd found me at the hunt, the possessive way he'd held me in the cabin. My feelings for him were a tangled mess that I couldn't make sense of.

On one hand, I was furious at how he'd treated me—the abandonment at the bonfire, the jealousy over my brother, the hot-and-cold behavior that left me constantly off-balance. On the other hand, when he touched me, something inside me came alive in a way I'd never felt before.

I must have been lying there for an hour, my mind racing, when I heard voices in the hallway.

"Let her be, Kieran." It was Damon's voice, barely above a whisper. "She's probably asleep by now."

"I just want to check on her," Kieran replied, his deep voice unmistakable.

"Haven't you done enough tonight?" Damon sounded exasperated. "Give her some space."

"She's my mate." Kieran's voice was firm, unyielding. "We should be sleeping in the same bed. It's natural."

"Natural?" Damon scoffed quietly. "Nothing about how you've treated her today has been natural. You've been a complete—"

"I don't need another lecture," Kieran cut him off. "I care about her. That's all that matters."

The doorknob turned slowly. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I heard the door open and someone step inside. Then silence.

"Kieran..." Damon's voice came from the doorway.

"Go to bed, Damon," Kieran said softly.

The door closed, and for a moment, I thought they'd both left. Then I felt the mattress dip beside me. Kieran lifted the covers and slid in next to me, his body radiating heat. Slowly, carefully, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against his chest, his breath warm against my neck.

I should have been angry. I should have pushed him away. But something about being in his arms felt so right, so safe, that I couldn't bring myself to move. His scent enveloped me completely now, making my wolf purr with contentment.

I couldn't keep pretending. I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him. In the dim light from the window, I could just make out his features—the strong jaw, the amber eyes that watched me carefully.

"Go to sleep, dear," he whispered, his fingers brushing a strand of damp hair from my face. "We'll talk about tonight tomorrow."

I wanted to argue, to demand answers now, but exhaustion was pulling at me. I turned away from him again, but I didn't move out of his embrace.

As I drifted between wakefulness and sleep, my mind replayed everything that had happened since I'd met Kieran just hours ago. How could someone make me feel so many contradictory emotions in such a short time? One minute he was cold and distant, the next he was holding me like I was the most precious thing in his world.

I needed answers. Tomorrow, I would make him explain himself. I would make him understand that he couldn't treat me this way, mate or no mate. I deserved better.

With that resolution firmly in mind, I finally surrendered to sleep, Kieran's steady heartbeat against my back like a lullaby.