Page 3 of Ruined Wolf

“A little, maybe. Don’t you have to be at work today?”

He shook his head. “No, tomorrow. I got today off. Here.” He sat up and began to massage shampoo into my hair, digging his fingers into my scalp.

I groaned and leaned back against him as he did it, and he laughed.

“Keep doing that, and we’ll never get out of this bath.”

I smiled as I felt his cock start to harden behind me and scooted away. “No way.” I splashed him as he reached for me. “I am way too sore. I need to recover first. You’ll have to wait a few hours.”

Maverick grinned and reached for me, pulling me back against him. “I’ll behave, I promise, but I’m going to hold you to that.” He rinsed my hair and then added conditioner, using his fingers to comb through the strands. I tried not to make any noises this time, but it felt so good being taken care of. His hands slid over my body, caressing me affectionately, and then one hand rested on my stomach.

“Well, at least feeding you is paying off,” he remarked. “You’re starting to fill out again.”

My eyes flew open, and I froze. “What?”

“I wasn’t being critical,” he replied. “You were skin and bones when you got here, and I was worried you were malnourished, but you feel healthier now.”

I laid my hand next to his over my stomach. I was filling out a little due to regular meals, but the soft curve of my belly wasn’t from Asher’s incredible cooking. I was starting to show. Fuck.

I pulled his hands away and leaned forward. “We should get out. I’m getting cold.”

I reached for the towel, wrapping it around my soaked body before I turned to climb out of the bath.

Maverick reached out and caught the edge of the towel. “Hey, I wasn’t trying to be negative. You’re beautiful any way you want to look. I was just worried about you, that’s all.”

I could see the worry in his eyes, and my heart swelled at the thought of him wanting to take care of me. It clashed against the knowledge that I was lying to his face, and I forced a smile. “It’s fine, and you’re right. I had been struggling for food before I got here, and I am feeling much better now.”

“Okay...” He didn’t sound convinced, so I bent down to kiss him, trying not to get the hem of the towel wet.

“I’m so okay that you better hurry up and get your wrinkled backside out of that bath and make me some lunch.” I winked at him and climbed out of the bath.

“Hey, Nova?” I heard a rush of water and turned to see him standing up in the bath, his glorious body on display. He turned around and wiggled his backside at me. “Not a wrinkle in sight!”

“You wish. You’re practically a prune!” I laughed as I headed into the bedroom, but it faded as I closed the door and crossed the room to the mirror hanging on the wall.

I dropped the towel and examined myself in the mirror. He was right, my body was starting to change. My breasts were larger, and my nipples had darkened slightly. I ran my hands over them. Definitely more of a handful. The slight curve of my stomach wasn’t noticeable under clothes, but now that I was looking, I could definitely see the difference. It was only a few weeks until I wouldn’t be able to explain it away as a healthy appetite, and fear filled me. When I agreed to mate with Maverick and Lucas, I knew that I was a ticking bomb, but I had somehow convinced myself that I would have more time.

My heart ached. It looked like my time was nearly up.

CHAPTER TWO

ASHER

I removed my noise cancelling headphones cautiously and listened for a moment. Silence, except for the sound of running water. I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the peace and quiet. Since Nova had mated with my brothers, they had only come out of Maverick’s bedroom to eat and go to work, and the constant sound of Nova’s moans and sighs from the bedroom down the hall was starting to grate on my nerves. It wasn’t that I didn’t wish her happiness with her new mates, because I did, but hearing her just broke my heart. Her cries of bliss when she came under their mouths and hands was like a knife to my heart now, especially since I knew how soft she felt under my hands and how divine her sweet pussy tasted. I couldn’t get her out of my head.

I understood why she’d chosen Maverick over me. He was the better choice, after all, as pack alpha and the strongest of us, except maybe Lucas, and she had him protecting her too. They were everything I wasn’t—assertive, decisive, and powerful. Why wouldn’t she have chosen them? It was logical, but that didn’t make it hurt less. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but I’d fallen head over heels for Nova, like some daft teenager, and for a while, I’d thought she might have started having feelings for me too.

A part of me felt resentful of my brothers. I had always been the one who stayed in the background and watched as other people got what they wanted, but yet again, I was the one left behind. It made sense that Nova had chosen them, but I still wished she’d chosen me instead, or as well.

I sighed and got up from my desk, stretching. There was no point in dwelling on it. What I’d shared with her was over, and I needed to try and move on, starting with finding myself another place to live. For now, though, I needed food.

I wandered down into the kitchen, moving as quietly as I could. I really didn’t feel like running into my brothers right now. I pushed open the door and ran straight into Nova. She stumbled, and I grabbed her to stop her from falling, pulling her close to my chest. She was wearing one of Maverick’s T-shirts that hung to mid-thigh, her hair was damp, and her skin was flushed. She smelled of sex and something sweet, like honey and vanilla. I felt her breasts press against my chest as she breathed in and looked up at me, her golden eyes wide and her lips parted.

Her eyes dropped to my mouth, and I had the strongest urge to kiss her. I caught the scent of her skin and then her desire. My cock hardened in my jeans, and for a moment, I considered being the man she clearly desired—the type who wouldn’t care about anyone else and who would just take what he wanted. I could drag that shirt over her head and toss it aside as I pushed her down onto the kitchen island. I could suck on those hard nipples I could see peeking through the cotton fabric and spread her legs for me. I could taste her slick, then push myself into her, taking her again and again until she was hoarse from screaming my name.

I released her before she could feel the effect she was having on me, stepping back and clenching my fists at my sides to stop myself from grabbing her. That might be how Lucas did things, but it wasn’t me. I saw disappointment flit across her face for a second, and it confused the hell out of me. It must be the omega alpha thing, but I thought that she would be more than happy having mated two alpha males. I swallowed and pushed the thought of her naked body from my mind.

“Sorry, I didn’t see you. Are you okay?”

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