Page 57 of Scarred Savages
Still, an undercurrent of tension is humming beneath the surface—stolen glances, lingering touches, the weight of unspoken desires hanging heavy in the air.
I can feel it building. It makes me nervous… but also excited.
Despite Axel’s stunt my first night, and the whole Damien blow-up, nothing else has happened.
Oli and I have been making out, but he hasn’t pushed me to do anything else. Hudson said they’d give me time, but I thought I’d be thrown into some sordid rotation schedule after a day or two.
Having them court me is nice.
But it also means I’ll be fully in when it happens.
I won’t be able to blame them for forcing me.
And… I kinda want something to happen.
One evening, as I’m helping clear the dishes, Hudson’s deep voice cuts through my thoughts.
“Luna, a word in my office, please.”
My stomach flutters with nervous anticipation as I follow him down the hall. Once inside, he gestures for me to sit.
“How are you settling in?” he asks, his intense gaze on me.
“Fine,” I reply, trying not to fidget under his scrutiny. “Everyone’s been… kind.”
Hudson nods slowly. “Good. But I sense there’s something on your mind.”
I hesitate, unsure how to bring it up. Then I blurt it out. “When does it start? The… servicing part of our arrangement?”
A small smile tugs at Hudson’s lips. “Eager, are we?”
Heat floods my cheeks. “No! I mean… I want to know what to expect.”
Hudson leans forward, his expression turning serious. “Luna, nothing will happen that you don’t want or aren’t ready for. We may be shifters, but we’re not animals.” He pauses, then adds with a wry grin, “Well, most of the time.”
“But the agreement…” I begin.
“The agreement gives us time,” he interrupts gently. “Three years, remember? There’s no rush.”
I nod, feeling both relieved… and strangely disappointed.
“That being said,” Hudson continues, his voice dropping to a low rumble, “when you are ready, don’t hesitate to let us know. Any of us.”
With that, he dismisses me, leaving me to stew in my thoughts as I return to my room.
Later, as I crawl into bed, I can’t shake the feeling that everything is about to change.
* * *
I pry open an eye and find myself ensnared in a vice grip, struggling against the weight pressing me down. My breath catches—not solely from the lack of air, but because I recognize the arms encircling me.
Axel.
Who else would be in my bed uninvited?
His solid chest forms an unyielding wall against my back, his long legs intertwined with mine. A part of me is tempted to elbow him in the ribs, but another part can’t help but revel in the warmth radiating from him.
It’s nice, even if I’m about to pass out from lack of oxygen. His scent is pleasant, something masculine and woodsy. Even in slumber, his presence feels palpable, a mix of danger and unexpected solace.
