Page 111 of Smoke and Lure

The sound of Rudie entering behind her and shutting the door barely registered in her tired brain.

Morlie was so thankful when she finally saw the bed that she wasted zero time getting out of her sweaty, dirty clothes.She wanted to cry because she was so filthy she needed a shower and that meant it would be longer before she could crawl into the tempting sheets.

She stumbled into the bathroom and turned on the water.

Getting in, Morlie took the quickest shower ever, short of just walking through the water and back out.Soon she was out and towel dried, and because the water had awakened her just enough, she was able to focus both eyes on the bed this time.

As soon as she was beside the mattress, she dropped like lead.

At that moment, she wished she and Chanin were already claimed mates so she didn’t have to speak out loud to his assistant.

“Rudie,” she whispered, counting on the she-wolf’s keen hearing.

“What’s up?”she responded down the hall.

Morlie sighed.“Rudie, don’t wake me until the festivities start tonight.And you better have food in your hand.Or I will let my wolf bite it off.”

A chuckle echoed in the distance from within the house.“Will do.Get some rest.”

Morlie didn’t need that advice, as she dragged the blanket up her naked body and sank deeper into the mattress, her body was systematically shutting down.

Mate.The powerful and demanding voice in her mind was like a balm on a raw, deep wound.Soothing, but not healing at first contact.

Not now, Chanin.She settled deeper beneath the covers and slid the pillow over her head.

Are you alright, little rabbit?he demanded.

Morlie wasn’t sure if she answered him before sleep encased her in darkness.

Chapter Eighteen

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Finished.

Done dumping the clothes out on the bed was as far as Avalore got once she returned from the overwhelming textile building with Chumana.Avalore couldn’t bring herself to hang the items up in the closet; it was a permanent act, signaling she was staying, but she couldn’t stay.

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