31. Chapter 31

Chapter 31

-Reese-

A s soon as I put some distance between me and Rosa, I began to feel a little better, and last night, while she slept, I managed to find an unoccupied room to sleep in. But by the time I finally drifted off, it was very late.

A sudden knock startled me awake, and in my daze, I reached out, momentarily expecting Rosa beside me. My disappointment was obvious when I found the space empty, but the knocking persisted. With a groan, I sat up, rubbing my eyes, feeling the exhaustion weighing heavily on me, along with a persistent inner turmoil.

With each subsequent knock, my irritation grew. I tossed aside the covers, clad only in my underwear, and flung open the door in frustration, not bothering to dress. To my surprise, it was Naomi standing on the other side.

She let out a startled gasp, quickly averting her eyes and holding up a tray as if to shield herself from my half-naked state. I couldn’t decide if I appreciated her gesture or not. Did I want Naomi to see me like this? Arms crossed, I leaned against the doorframe, noticing the deepening blush on her cheeks.

“I was instructed to bring you some food,” she murmured.

“By whom?” I inquired.

“Your mother. She wished to speak with me this morning.”

“About what?”

“Our connection,” she whispered.

“What did you tell her?” I asked.

“It’s complicated.”

I couldn’t argue with that assessment. It was indeed complicated. “And so she sent you to find me?”

“She said I’m relieved of all duties today,” Naomi explained.

“Why?” I inquired.

“To... be with you.” She slowly raised her gaze to meet mine. My heart quickened as I gazed into her eyes, a mix of fear and curiosity reflected in them.

“I see. I thought we agreed to take a break for a week,” I murmured.

“She believes we should continue exploring our connection.”

“Does this mean you’ll stop suggesting we reject each other or maintain our distance?” I pressed.

She shrugged.

“I’m not going to speak those words or distance myself from you,” I declared.

“It might bring you freedom,” she suggested.

“Perhaps I don’t desire freedom,” I admitted, noting the shock on her face. Quickly, I shook my head, unwilling to delve into such discussions while half-dressed.

“Come in,” I instructed instead.

She appeared somewhat apprehensive, yet obediently followed my instructions into the room. As I closed the door behind her, my eyes lingered on her figure as she made her way to the small coffee table in front of the TV. Dressed in dark attire from head to toe, she seemed to blend into the background, but a shift occurred within me. The dress, though modest in length, hugged her curves enticingly, igniting a desire to reach out and touch her. My hands tingled with need as I moved closer, feeling the pull intensify with each step.

Just as she set the tray down, she turned abruptly, nearly colliding with me, emitting a startled squeal upon realizing my presence.

“How did you manage that?” she whispered, casting a glance to where I had been moments before.

I reached out, grazing her soft braid with my fingertips, her intoxicating scent filling the confined space. Almost instinctively, I leaned in, my lips hovering tantalizingly close to hers, but she turned her head away. A low growl escaped me, not meaning it to, but I struggled to control myself around Naomi. This wasn’t my usual behavior, and as I held her close, I realized the significance of the gesture, despite having touched her before.

“You leave me dizzy,” I confessed, watching as she slowly turned to meet my gaze.

Stepping back to create some distance between us, I sighed.

“Well, I suppose you’re mine for the day,” I stated, walking away to get dressed.

“The entire day?” she questioned.

“My mother wouldn’t have relieved you of your duties otherwise.”

“But you have work,” she pointed out.

“Then I suppose you’re joining me,” I replied.

“Where to?” she inquired, a hint of fear creeping into her voice.

“Everywhere I go today. It’s essential to check on the pack and the territory for any issues,” I explained.

“And I’m expected to accompany you?”

“Yes, as the other Luna, understanding pack management is crucial,” I affirmed.

“But I’m not trained for this,” she protested.

“Then consider today the beginning of your training,” I declared.