Jake’s POV: “Nah, still no word from her?” Robert rubbed the back of his head. “She’s been mad for nearly three days, hasn’t she? Deanna never stayed mad this long before. “But listen, Jake. That’s just how female werewolves are. Don’t give her an inch. She’s testing your Alpha authority. If you back down once, you’ll be backing down forever. Don’t give her that power. “I mean, come on. You’ve crossed way more lines before, and didn’t she still come running back? Begging you not to walk away? “And let’s be real. With how awkward her status is in Mistbane Pack, she can’t just leave you. If she does, they’ll probably throw her out.” That actually eased my tension a bit. Maybe she really was just throwing a bigger tantrum than usual. Even faked a d*mn kidnapping. No wonder something felt off. Then, Terence Quinn spoke, cutting straight through the noise in the room. “Jake, don’t let Robert fill your head. You went too far this time. I know the mating ceremony wasn’t real, but the way you handled it humiliated Deanna in front of every pack. “And Peggie? She’s been having way too many flare-ups this year. She got sick on your anniversary with Deanna, your birthday, Deanna’s birthday, the Harvest Festival, and even the Full Moon celebration. You were always at the hospital with her. No she-wolf would tolerate that much neglect. “I’m just saying, no matter how much Deanna cares about you, she still has feelings. Hearts grow cold. Don’t wait till she’s gone to realize what you did.” A cold smirk tugged at my mouth. “You think I’d regret anything over a woman?” Deanna leaving me? Not a chance. Even if the moon split in half and fell from the sky, she wouldn’t walk away. Still, Terence had a point. She-werewolves get jealous. And sometimes they need to be soothed. The ceremony might have been for Peggie’s sake, but it had made Deanna look like a fool. I could admit that much. I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and headed out. Inside the car, I called Axel Lawson, my Beta. “Get in touch with LA, the top werewolf designer. Have her come to Olsendreich Pack and design Deanna a wedding dress. Also, buy out everything from this week’s jewelry auction.” Deanna, I’ll give you the grandest bond ceremony anyone’s ever seen. That should make up for it. … Once I got back to the villa, I tossed my coat on the armrest and dropped onto the couch. I stretched my legs out and leaned back. A dull ache pulsed behind my eyes. Deanna had been calming my headaches with her psychic power for nearly two years now. I hadn’t had one in weeks. But today, I must have hit my limit. I shut my eyes, letting my messy hair fall across my forehead. Whatever. Just for today, I’ll let her attitude slide. She earned it. I picked up my phone and called her. It was the first time I’d ever been the one to reach out after a fight. A robotic voice answered. “The number you are trying to reach is unavailable.” She had turned off her phone. I gripped the phone tightly until my knuckles turned pale. The anger hit me like a wave. So, that’s how it is, Deanna? You really wanna play this game? You’re pushing your luck. I called Axel again, jaw clenched. “Put the wedding dress plans on hold.” … Deanna’s POV: “Wait… are you showering in the morning?” I had just woken up. And the first thing I saw was Luis walking out of the bathroom shirtless. A towel hung around his neck, and droplets of water rolled off his damp hair. His bare chest gleamed slightly in the morning light. His skin was a warm bronze, and every muscle on his body looked sculpted to perfection. He moved with calm confidence, tall and toned, with a body that seemed built for both elegance and power. My face burned instantly. My heart skipped. Luis casually dried his hair. “Who made up the rule that you can’t shower in the morning?” “N-no, I didn’t mean it like that. I just… You should put a shirt on,” I muttered, turning my head away. Luis let out a soft laugh. “Ms. Wiley, don’t be shy now. You weren’t exactly hands-off last night.” I stared at him, stunned. Seriously? How could he say that with a straight face? He had definitely done his share of touching last night. I still had the bruises to prove it. Ugh, all the biting. The soreness in my lower back flared up the moment I thought about it. I curled my fingers into my palm, trying to stay calm. We’d slept together twice, but honestly, we were still strangers. This was just casual. Adult werewolves sometimes hooked up. No strings. So why did I feel so rattled? Luis finished drying off, tossed his towel into the laundry basket, and threw on a simple white t-shirt. Then came a knock at the bedroom door. He walked over and opened it. One of the maids stood outside with a neat stack of clothes in her hands. “Sir, the lady’s outfit has arrived.” Luis took it from her, then shut the door. He turned around and came to the bed, placing the outfit beside me. “Your dress from last night got ruined. This is something clean.” As he came closer, the scent of his skin and fresh soap filled the air. It was clean, masculine, and impossible to ignore. I glanced at the clothes. Right on top sat a set of black underwear. Realizing he’d carried them over himself made my face flush even deeper. His presence was overwhelming. He didn’t have to say anything. Just standing near him made my heart race like it was trying to escape my chest. Even when I was with Jake, it had never been like this. My throat dried out. I forced myself to remember why I had spoken up in the first place. “W-We’re even now. Okay?” Luis leaned down, his face close, and lifted my chin with two fingers. A small smirk curved on his lips. “You really believe that?”