Chapter 7

A sharp knock on the door made us both jump. A familiar voice called through the wood: "Maya? Are you in there?"

Maya rolled her eyes. "It's Amara. She's probably doing bed checks like we're at summer camp."

She hopped off the bed and opened the door to reveal Amara standing in the hallway, looking immaculate despite the late hour. The future Alpha's eyes narrowed when she spotted me.

"There you are," Amara said to Maya. "I've been looking everywhere for you. It's late, and we need to prepare for tomorrow."

"We were just talking," Maya said, her earlier easy demeanor replaced by a defensive edge.

Amara arched a perfect eyebrow. "Well, you can continue your little chat in the morning. We're sharing a suite, remember? And I need my beauty sleep." Her gaze slid to me. "As do others, apparently."

I resisted the urge to touch my messy hair or check if there was chocolate on my face. Instead, I stared back at her, refusing to be intimidated.

Maya turned to me with an apologetic smile. "I should go. But I'll see you tomorrow, okay? Before the hunt?"

"Definitely," I said, trying to hide my disappointment that our time together was ending.

Maya gathered her boots and jacket, then surprised me by giving me a quick hug. "Remember," she whispered in my ear, "we've got each other's backs."

Then she was gone, following Amara down the hallway. I closed the door behind them and leaned against it, suddenly aware of how empty the room felt without Maya's presence.

With a sigh, I pushed myself away from the door and headed for the bathroom. Might as well try to relax with a hot shower before facing whatever tomorrow would bring.

The bathroom was luxurious by any standard—all marble and gleaming fixtures, with a shower big enough for three people and a tub that looked more like a small pool. I turned the shower on as hot as I could stand it and stripped off my clothes, studying my reflection in the steamy mirror.

I wasn't beautiful like Amara, with her perfect features and confident poise. But I wasn't bad-looking either. My dark hair fell in waves past my shoulders, framing a face with high cheekbones and a stubborn chin. My eyes—bright green like Ethan's—were my best feature, large and expressive. I was shorter than most werewolves at five-foot-four, but my body was toned from years of running through the forest, both in human and wolf form.

Would some male tomorrow see me and decide I was worth hunting? Worth claiming? The thought made my skin crawl.

I stepped into the shower, letting the scalding water wash over me. As I shampooed my hair with the fancy resort products, I tried to clear my mind, to find that place of calm focus I usually achieved when shifting into my wolf. But tonight, peace eluded me.

What would happen tomorrow? Would I be able to avoid being caught? And if I couldn't—if some male pinned me down and sank his teeth into my neck—what then?

I rinsed the conditioner from my hair and stood under the water until it began to cool, trying to wash away my fears along with the soap. It didn't work.

After drying off and changing into the sleep shorts and tank top I'd packed, I crawled into the huge bed, feeling small and vulnerable in its expanse. The sheets were softer than anything I'd ever felt, but they brought no comfort. I stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, longing for my glow-in-the-dark stars at home.

Would this be my last night as just Lena? By this time tomorrow, would I be bonded to someone I'd just met? Would I be forced to leave with him, to join his pack, to share his bed?

My stomach twisted with anxiety, and I rolled onto my side, curling into a ball. I thought of Maya, probably lying awake in her own bed across the resort. At least I wasn't alone in my fear and anger. At least I'd found one person who understood.

As I drifted into an uneasy sleep, my last conscious thought was of her laughing face and the promise we'd made to protect each other. Whatever happened tomorrow in those woods, I wouldn't be facing it completely alone.

And that had to count for something.