Page 56 of Wolves of the Rising Moon

Even if I lived forever.

My mouth waters, and I can’t take my eyes off Drago’s now-covered groin.

Because that towel doesn’t do athingto cover what he’s packing.

I guess it tracks.

He’d look silly with an average dick on a giant body.

Plus, I rode him like a horse all the way back to the compound yesterday, so it’s only fitting he should be hung like one.

Chapter18

Spank Bank

Look,I know just as well as you that shifters don’t view nudity the same as humans.

Butcontextstill matters.

It’s not like we just stepped out of our fur. In fact, if he’d still been asleep on the end of the bed and I’d needed to get up, I would have grabbed a sheet to wrap around myself.

Because context, but also because we have feelings for each other and that makes casual nudity averydifferent animal. At least for me, while I’m still so confused about the whole thing and not in shock like last night.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were still asleep.” He’s still glued in place. So am I, but he doesn’t look nearly as embarrassed as I must. “I can shift back if you prefer.”

I’m finally able to drag my gaze away from the poor man’s crotch and lock eyes with him.

I really want to say yes. Ask him to bring back the big, cozy wolf beast. Everything was easier like that. Drago was easier to like in his fur. It’s how he’d saved me, watched over me through the night, and even kicked my other mates out when they became too stressful: in his fur.

In his fur, he wasn’t covered in reminders of his transgressions, and that meant I didn’t have to confront any of it.

His question still hangs in the air, but my gaze follows the gnarled scars from the top of his eyebrow, across his cheekbone, and down his neck. They travel over one pec and shoulder, down his arm, and across half his stomach.

I imagine if I asked him to turn around, they’d be on half his back too.

“H-how did you get those?” I ask, unable to help myself.

Drago is quick to answer and does so without inflection. “It’s a side effect of taking on alpha magic.” He’s still locked in place and his tone doesn’t give away anything about what’s going on in his head.

I clasp my hands loosely in front of me, stifling the urge to go to him and touch the scarred black bands wrapped around his forearm. “Does it hurt?” My words come out softer than I intend, a near whisper.

His weighted gaze warms my cheeks, quickens my heart, but I don’t meet it. “Currently, no.” He pauses, deliberating whether to continue. “But taking on alpha magic hurts like you wouldn’t believe.”

The admission surprises me, and I let my next question tumble free before I overthink it and chicken out. “Does it hurt the alphas?”

Drago sighs and takes a step toward me. It’s the first time he’s moved. But it’s short-lived because whatever is going on in his head makes him think better of it. He retreats, going still once more. “I take their lives quickly, painlessly. And only with their permission.” Again, his tone gives nothing away. He might as well be talking about his grocery list.

“Permission?”

“The transfer doesn’t work if they don’t offer their power to me. If they don’t sacrifice willingly.”

And the weight, not of his gaze but of his admission, sinks deep into my chest.

“They volunteer?” I ask to be sure.

“They do.”

I finally drag my gaze away from the cords of scars circling his arm and meet his dark eyes. “So you don’t…”

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