Chapter 7

• Katherine’s POV
• The first thing I noticed was the warmth of the bed beneath me. The sheets were soft, like the ones I’d been used to with Wendal, but this bed felt different—almost more welcoming. I shifted. It took me a second to remember everything—the surgery, the hospital, and, of course, Alpha Jason, Alpha James and doctor Michael. My three mates. My stomach fluttered at the thought.
• A faint sound pulled me from my thoughts. My ears picked up on the rhythmic noise of water running. It was coming from the direction of the en-suite bathroom. Someone was in there.
• I sat up a little, suddenly hyper-aware of my surroundings. Before I could fully process the situation, the water stopped, and the faint creak of a door opening followed. My breath caught in my throat as Alpha Jason stepped into view, a towel draped over his shoulders, his naked body glistening with droplets of water.
• But the towel was just that—a towel for his hair. Below that, he was completely, utterly naked.
• My eyes widened, and a gasp escaped my lips before I could stop myself. “Oh, Goddess,” I blurted out, my cheeks flushing instantly.
• Jason froze, his eyes snapping to mine as he realized I was awake. A look of surprise crossed his face before he quickly moved to grab another towel to cover himself. “Katherine,” he stammered, his deep voice slightly higher than usual. “I didn’t realize you were awake.”
• “I-I’m so sorry,” I stuttered, averting my gaze but finding it hard to keep my eyes on anything but him. “I didn’t mean to… I mean, I wasn’t trying to… Oh, Goddess!” My face burned as I struggled to form coherent sentences.
• Jason coughed, adjusting the towel around his waist. “It’s fine. Really,” he said, though he looked just as embarrassed as I felt.
• I nodded quickly, my hands gripping the sheets as if they were my lifeline. “I didn’t see anything. Well, I mean, not everything. Just a little… Okay, I’m going to stop talking now.”
• The corner of Jason’s mouth twitched, as though he was fighting back a smile. “I’ll let you get some rest,” he said, his tone gentle but still a little awkward. Without another word, he headed for the door, opening it quickly.
• Outside the door was the doctor and Alpha James discussing. When they turned, looking at a half naked Alpha Jason, all hell broke loose.
• Alpha Jason’s POV
• 1 hour earlier
• I sat at the desk in my new office, tapping a pen against the stack of untouched papers in front of me. Moving my workspace to the room adjacent to Katherine’s had seemed like a practical decision at the time. After all, she’d been asleep for most of the day, and it made sense to stay close to her in case she needed anything. But now, I was beginning to question my reasoning.
• The truth was, I couldn’t focus. No matter how hard I tried to drown myself in work, my thoughts kept drifting back to her. To Katherine.
• I sighed, leaning back in my chair and running a hand through my hair. Michael had warned me this might happen. After the surgery, Katherine had been completely exhausted, and it wasn’t surprising that she’d slept most of the day. But that wasn’t what was bothering me.
• It was the memory of her kissing Michael at the hospital. The sight of it had been like a punch to the gut, a feeling I couldn’t quite shake. It wasn’t just jealousy—it was something deeper, something primal. And it was driving me crazy.
• A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called, my voice sharper than I intended.
• The door opened, and Cecilia stepped inside, a playful smile on her lips. “Well, this is new,” she said, looking around the room. “I like the upgrade. Your old office was so… depressing.”
• I didn’t respond, my patience already wearing thin. Cecilia had a way of getting under my skin, and today was no exception. She sauntered over to my desk, her heels clicking against the floor as she moved with deliberate grace.
• “So,” she said, perching herself on the edge of my desk and crossing her legs. “How’s the new space treating you?”
• “Fine,” I said curtly, hoping she would take the hint and leave. But Cecilia was nothing if not persistent.
• Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned forward, her skirt riding up just enough to reveal more of her legs. “You know,” she purred, “you’ve been working too hard. How about a little… distraction?”
• Before I could react, she reached out, her hand brushing against my crotch. My entire body stiffened, revulsion washing over me like a wave. “Cecilia,” I said sharply, but she didn’t seem to notice—or care.
• She slid onto my lap, her hands moving to unbutton my shirt as she pressed her lips to my neck. Her touch felt wrong, repulsive even. It was as though my body was rejecting her entirely.
• “Stop,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. When she didn’t listen, I stood abruptly, forcing her off me. “I said stop.”
• Cecilia’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked genuinely hurt. “ Jason—”
• “Get out,” I snapped, my patience finally breaking. “Now.”
• Tears welled in her eyes as she scrambled to her feet, adjusting her skirt before rushing out of the room. The sound of the door slamming behind her was almost satisfying.
• I exhaled deeply, running a hand over my face. The encounter had left me more frustrated than ever, but not for the reasons Cecilia might have thought. Her touch, her presence—it had all felt like acid on my skin. The only person I wanted near me was Katherine.
• I stepped out of my office, needing to clear my head. But instead of going after Cecilia, my feet carried me toward Katherine’s room. I hesitated at the door, hearing faint noises from inside.
• Pushing the door open slightly, I saw her lying in bed, eyes closed, face twisted in distress. “Wendal,” she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please, don’t embarrass me like this.”
• The words hit me like a punch to the gut. She was having a nightmare, and the pain in her voice was easy to notice. I approached her cautiously, kneeling by the bed as I reached out to touch her forehead. She was burning up.
• The moment my hand made contact with her skin, her expression softened, and the tension seemed to melt away. She relaxed, her breathing evening out as she drifted back into a peaceful sleep.
• I stared at her, my hand still hovering over her forehead. How was it possible for someone to affect me this deeply? Katherine had stormed into my life and turned everything upside down. And now, I couldn’t imagine a world without her in it.
• The faint scent of Cecilia still clung to my shirt, and I grimaced in disgust. I needed a shower. But the thought of leaving Katherine alone, even for a moment, made my chest tighten. Instead, I headed to her en-suite bathroom, determined to stay close to her.
• As I stepped under the stream of hot water, my mind raced with thoughts of Katherine. This woman, who had taken over my thoughts and shaken my very foundation, was now at the center of my world. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want it any other way.
• I wiped my hair with the towel, humming quietly as the warmth from the shower lingered on my skin. Stepping out of the bathroom, I barely registered the faint sound of rustling before I heard it.
• “Oh, Goddess!”
• Katherine’s gasp hit me like a bucket of cold water. I froze mid-step, my eyes locking onto hers. Her face was crimson, her wide eyes darting away and back again, as if she couldn’t decide whether to keep looking or bury herself under the covers.
• It took me a second to process what was happening before I realized the towel in my hand was only covering my hair.
• Shit.
• Her flustered expression would’ve been comical if it weren’t so damn endearing. The way she clutched the sheets to her chest, her lips slightly parted in shock—I couldn’t help but find it… adorable.
• “I—uh—sorry,” I stammered, yanking the towel down and wrapping it securely around my waist. “I didn’t think you’d be awake.”
• “I-I wasn’t trying to look!” she blurted out, her voice high-pitched, her hands gripping the sheets tighter. “I mean, not on purpose. I—oh, Goddess.” She buried her face in her hands, clearly mortified.
• I couldn’t stop the soft chuckle that escaped me. “No harm done,” I said, doing my best to sound reassuring. Truthfully, the whole situation was as embarrassing for me as it was for her. “Rest up. I’ll, uh, check on you later.”
• I turned for the door, eager to escape the awkwardness, but the moment I stepped into the hallway, I ran straight into James and Michael.
• Great. Just my luck.
• Michael’s smirk was immediate, his sharp gaze taking in my damp, half-dressed state. “Well, well. Look who’s been making himself at home.”
• James wasn’t smirking. His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he flicked a pointed glance at the open door behind me. “You’ve got some nerve,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
• “It’s not what you think,” I said quickly, straightening my posture and meeting James’s glare head-on.
• Michael stepped closer, his smirk fading into something more calculating. “Is that right?” His voice was laced with challenge. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks an awful lot like you’re claiming territory.”
• My wolf bristled at the insinuation, but before I could respond, Michael’s fist came flying out of nowhere.