C3 Chapter 3

AYRA

"Hey, roomie," I heard from my bedroom doorway.

I straightened, tucking my black strands behind my ear. "Oh, hey," I said with a smile.

"I'm Seth," he said. "Can I come in?"

"Sure. I'm Ayra."

"My room is on the second floor. Looks like you have the third floor all to yourself. Prepared for the ceremony, yet?" He asked, dropping down on my bed.

I gathered my clothes, shoving them into my bag.

He held up a pink thong I missed while packing the others. "You left this."

My face heated up in mortification. "Thanks." I snatched the thong out of his hand, shoving it into my pocket.

He grinned at me. "You're cute when you blush."

"Uh, thanks. What brings you by?"

"I wanted to invite you to swim with us. There's a huge-ass pool downstairs. The others are already there. Would you like to join us?"

"Yeah. Sure. Let me just put away the rest of my stuff."

"We'll be waiting."

***

"Marry me," a redhead said, kneeling in front of me.

"Don't disturb her, Shane," a brunette said from where she was perched on a pool float.

"She's like an angel on earth," he gushed.

Seth walked over to us, shoving Shane aside. "He's a bit of a shameless flirt," he said, taking my hand. "Everyone, this is Ayra. Our new roommate. Ayra, that's Nikki, Reese, Sawyer, and Shane. Reese and Sawyer are mates."

"Hi," Reese, a cute blonde, said from where she was cuddled up with Sawyer by the edge of the pool.

"Let's do a toast to Ayra," Nikki said, paddling over to the edge of the pool where a bottle of alcohol and some shot glasses were situated.

She filled the glasses, passing them off to the rest. "To Ayra!" She said, throwing the liquid back.

"To Ayra!" The rest chorused, downing their shots.

"Thanks," I said, taking a seat on one of the loungers.

"I'll introduce myself properly. I'm Nikki. I'm a human."

"Humans are allowed in here?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes. Alpha Nathaniel is that generous. He doesn't care if you're human or not. I happened upon him shifting one night I was out camping in the woods with a friend. He sorta kidnapped me, but that's the best thing that has ever happened to me. I don't have to pay bills to stay here."

"You never mentioned that," Shane said.

"I told you the day we went to Bethel's baby shower. Were you not listening?" Nikki asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Huh, I better go, um, see ya," Shane said before dashing off.

"Have you contacted your human friend?" I asked.

"Yes. I told her I reconciled with my estranged parents, and I live with them now. You next, Reese. How did all three of you get here?"

"Our pack was raided. We were able to escape. Sawyer and Seth tried to attack Nathaniel. They failed. Miserably," she added with a grin.

"I thought he was trying to attack us. You were badly injured from the previous attack. We were protecting you. Sue us."

Nikki smiled, jabbing his side. "I never said I wasn't grateful. It's just funny." She turned to me. "Long story short, he took pity on us, and when we said we wanted to stay, he put us under probation. What's your story?"

"I don't remember."

They all shared a look before Seth cleared his throat.

"Doesn't matter. What matters is that you're here. We should have another toast to that."

***

NATHANIEL

I could feel my blood boiling as I watched his hand graze over her bare thigh for the third time.

Ayra didn't seem to notice, though. She was deep in a conversation with Nikki, so she didn't notice the way Seth watched her with interest in his gaze.

Ayra dipped a foot into the water hesitantly, but before she could pull away, Seth tossed her into the water.

For a second, I thought she'd drowned when she didn't break to the surface. I'd just about lost my shit and was ready to march over to them when she swam to the surface with a smile on her face.

She looked breathtaking with her long black hair cascading down her back. I didn't have to go close to her to know those expressive blue eyes of hers were filled with happiness.

She did laps around the pool, Seth following her at every turn.

I was irritated at him, and most especially at myself. I didn't do jealousy. That wasn't me at all.

Was I possessive? Definitely, but that was only with a claimed female of my choice, not a she-wolf I barely knew.

She wasn't even mine. I hadn't claimed her yet.

'Well, what are you waiting for?' A voice whispered in my head.

I gripped the railing tightly in my hand. What was wrong with me? Why did the thought of claiming her feel right to me?

'Kai, you up for that run?' I asked through our mind link.

He replied a few moments later. 'Sure.'

'Good. Meet me by the woods.'

A run was exactly what I needed. It would help take my mind off of her, and hopefully, I'd have a clear head when I was done.

Only that was easier said than done.

***

"Is the party up to your liking?" I asked, placing a hand on Ayra's shoulder.

She swiveled around with a beaming smile. "It's amazing. The people have been amazing. Plus, I like that it's by the beach. It's casual."

"Want to go by the water?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Hell no. It looks scary. Who knows what could be lurking in those dark waters?"

"I didn't say you had to get into the water. Your limbs have to be killing you from the swim you had earlier on."

"How did you know about that?" She asked.

"I was watching you."

Fuck. That made me sound like a creep, but she said nothing about it.

"Shall we?" I asked, holding my hand out to her.

She slipped her much smaller one into mine. "I've heard nice things about you. Not a single bad word against you. Seems like you've won the heart of the people with your generosity."

"Hm. Most of the people here were either rejected by their pack, or they have gone through a tough time. I believe in second chances."

Something I hadn't had when I was kicked out by lair.

"That's nice of you. Many of these people would be homeless without you. You feed them, clothe them."

"Enough about the pack. Tell me about your day."

"It's been great. I'd like to stay here even after I regain my memory. It's peaceful, and as I said before, the people are amazing. They've been nice. I got invited to two baby showers. Nikki is sure there'll be many more to come."

"I'm glad you're enjoying your stay."

"Nathaniel… Can I call you that? Do I have to call you Alpha?"

"Nathaniel is just fine."

"Great. How did you find me? I wanted to ask you that earlier, but I got carried away."

"I found you by a waterfall. You were bleeding from your side, and you lunged at me. You must have been exhausted because you passed out on my chest. That's all I know about."

"Do you know how I got there?"

"There was a car in the woods. A couple was mauled by two poisoned werewolves. Their innards were cut open. The werewolves who did it were found dead by the car. We suspect you were also inside that car. We were hoping you'd tell us how they died, but… "

"I lost my memory," she completed with a sigh.

"Don't be sad about it. Your memory will return soon. If not in a few days, then in a few weeks. Have your senses returned yet?"

"Not yet. I hope they do sooner rather than later."

We continued the rest of the walk in silence, occasionally passing by a few pack members that greeted me.

I didn't miss their lingering gazes on my hand that held Ayra's. No doubt that would be a topic of discussion tomorrow, but I didn't care.

The run had done shit to contain my thoughts. If anything, it worsened it. As I prowled deeper into the woods, I wondered what she was doing with Seth.

Had she finally noticed his attention and given in? He was a good-looking werewolf, after all.

This close to her, her citrusy scent filled my nostrils, sending my demon wild. By now, we were already by the water.

It was quieter, but I could still hear the dull thumping of the music from the party.

"Nathaniel, I… "

She swallowed her words as my lips crashed down on hers. I pulled her against my chest, deepening the kiss. She reciprocated just as passionately, her arms winding around my neck just as I hoisted her up.

She kept her legs locked around my waist, her fingers clawing at my neck. I could feel myself hardening against her. She had a dress on, allowing me access to her.

I pressed deeper against her, a moan escaping her lips as my throbbing shaft slid against her cleft.

My demon roared in my head, urging me on. I could feel myself giving in to my desires. My claw shot out of my finger and I yanked away from her immediately, placing her on her feet.

She was still disorganized from the kiss, not understanding why I'd pulled away. Not able to take the confusion in her eyes, I turned on my heels, running as far away from her as I could.

What had propelled me to act that way? I was losing control of my demon all because of her, and I didn't like it.