Zira groaned as the cold spray of the shower beat against her aching muscles. Thirty-six hours. Thirty-six hours of being stuck in a room with Isaiah while she had her way with him repeatedly. Now her body reminded her she was still human. At least the part that mattered.
“Zira? We need to hurry,” Isaiah yelled from the other room.
“Do I have to talk to the whole council,” Zira asked over the sound of the shower. “Like every member will be there?”
“No, not all of them,” Isaiah yelled. “Just…Faulkner.”
They decided to try to keep their distance from each other. Her heat was finally simmering down enough to get ready for the meeting she was dreading, but it was still present. The coolness from the shower was keeping it at bay. She wanted nothing more than to spend another day in bed with Isaiah, but the council were adamant about this meeting. Hopefully, they were ready to speak about Arias’s condition and find ways to help him.
The shower curtain opened, breaking her from her thoughts as Isaiah stood there holding a towel out for her. His dark trousers complimented the light gray shirt and dark suede loafers. Though, her eyes focused on the way his shirt opened at the top, showing off a small bit of his chest. An image of her ripping the shirt and running her tongue across his pecks flashed before her, making her breath come out a bit ragged.
“Zira, focus,” Isaiah said, snapping his fingers, trying to hide a smile. “We have to hurry. I would like to get back to Arias and the pack as soon as possible. My mother can only entertain him for so long.”
“Right, right,” Zira said, nodding. She stepped out of the shower and grabbed the towel from him. Their fingers barely grazed each other when she felt a spike in her body’s temperature and her heat trying to crawl itself back out. The contact startled her as she fell back.
“Zira!” Isaiah reached for her.
“No,” she yelled, almost cowering away from him. She closed her eyes and focused on the coolness of the tub. “I think it’s best if we minimize touching each other. We need to make it through this meeting, right?”
She gave him a half smile which he returned. “Right. This heat is no joke. I’ve heard stories but never knew it was this…intense.”
“Me and you both,” Zira laughed dryly.
Zira started to dry herself off and like a third eye she could feel his gaze on her. She looked up and saw him leaning against the doorframe, watching her with a smile.
“Sorry to stare. Just in awe that you’re actually here. Like…this.”
“Isaiah…”
Zira spoke his name as more of a warning. This wasn’t helping her case and he knew it, and by the grace of the Moon Goddess, someone knocked on the door. Though Zira was a bit relieved, Isaiah didn’t make a move to get it. They stood there with her half-dressed and him only a foot or so away. Isaiah’s eyes traveled down her body before making it back to her eyes. She could see them flashing between gray and blue before turning around. Zira needed him to leave, at least until she had better control.
“Aren’t you going to get that,” Zira asked breathlessly as they heard another knock.
“Do you want me too,” Isaiah asked in a guttural whisper, taking a step towards her.
He was close enough that she could feel the warmth coming from his body or maybe it was from her heat. Either way, neither were helping her, trying to rear its ugly head. Isaiah could faintly smell her arousal. His body grew taut as his own need to have her again started to rise. Devon was urging him to take her right here. Surprised, he still had the energy. Just one more step and he could…
“Isaiah, are you in here,” a woman’s voice called out from the room.
Isaiah shook out of his daze and turned towards the door as Zira let out a breath of relief. She quickly dried off and hurried to put on her clothes while Isaiah dealt with their intruder. She could hear them through the door as she dressed.
“Fine,” Isaiah said, “we will be there shortly.”
“Oh, I don’t mind escorting you. Is she ready?” Zira walked out of the bathroom and saw Lana. Lana gave her a once-over before smiling.
“Ready,” Zira smiled. “The sooner we get this over with the better.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Lana said.
If she was going to make it through this meeting, they had to hurry. She wasn’t sure how long she had before her heat took over again, but she knew she wanted to be far away from anyone who was unmated. They followed Lana through the palace to their destination.
They entered a room that looked more like a study with books lining the walls as far as the eye could see. There was a long table surrounded by uncomfortable-looking chairs and in the air was the scent of something savory. That caught Zira's attention.
“We have a nice spread you can take advant-”
“Food,” Zira said with excitement, interrupting Lana and moving towards the table.
She hadn’t realized how much energy her heat siphoned from her until now. Her mouth watered as she stared down at the cute tea sandwiches, roasted veggies, and a charcuterie board with an impressive selection of meats, cheeses, and fruit. On the other side of the table, she smelled the fresh baked breads, a variety of jams, and goblets that she hoped had some wine to go with her lunch. Her eyes nearly teared up from the display as she wondered which way to tackle the challenge in front of her.
“She really likes food,” Isaiah said with a laugh.
“I see,” Lana said with a quizzical expression as the sound of Zira’s eating filled the room. It was almost similar to wild animals devouring their prey. "She is quite…vocal with it, as well.”
“It’s…her way of saying she likes it,” Isaiah said, retiring to one of the chairs near a long table with Lana leaning against the side.
“Your choice in women always surprises me, Alpha Isaiah.”
“Present company included, I assume,” Isaiah said with a sideways glance.
Lana gasped, making the ‘O’ shape with her mouth as she stared down at him. She placed a well-manicured hand to her chest. “If I recall, I chose you not the other way around.”
“I’m pretty sure that choice goes both ways, Lana, but yes, I seem to attract girls with…unique personalities.”
“Right, the first mate was a crazy half-witch-wolf, and the second is the epitome of gluttony itself. How do you do it,” she asked with a mischievous look.
“It’s called love, Lana. I know it’s a strange word for you, but I’m sure this library here might have a book or two on it.”
“As my grandfather used to tell me. Love has the power to unleash secrets and secrets could destroy everything you hold dear,” Lana said.
All the playfulness drained from Lana’s face, and it became quiet between them. Only the sounds of Zira’s symphony on the charcuterie board could be heard. Isaiah felt a little guilty for saying what he said but he knew she would recover. She always did, even when they were young, he found it difficult to crack the ice surrounding her heart. They had love, well, the type of love only a teenager could understand. Then she pushed him away, saying their love was never supposed to happen. Isaiah guessed she was right as he watched Zira lovingly.
“I am glad that you found love again, Isaiah. I heard how bad it got after Alaia and I don’t want to see that Isaiah again.”
Isaiah tried his best not to remember the tragedy that was his first mate. Her long-lost infatuation nearly killed him, Zira, and his son. It was the weakest he had ever been and now he’s devoted himself to strength. Not just for Arias, or Zira, or his pack, but for himself. Isaiah felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Lana. She had a small smile on her face.
“Technically, you never saw that Isaiah. Don’t recall you visiting once since you broke things off,” Isaiah reminded her.
Lana dismissed his response with a hand. “As if you’re hurt by that. Besides, you have enough drama in your life for the both of us and I had…things of my own to worry about.”
“Right, like keeping the fact that you were a white wolf away from me.”
Lana laughed haughty at his statement. “That’s your problem. You think everyone is supposed to answer to you. Why? Because you’re an Alpha.”
“Well, that’s-”
“No, Isaiah. That wasn’t really a question, and you know I don’t bullshit,” Lana said. “What happened with Alaia and your pack was your fault. You let this so-called love blind you and because of that, you made poor decisions that put everyone in your pack in jeopardy. I’m just hoping you don’t let that happen again.”
Isaiah was taken aback by what she said. He could deny it but there was some truth in what she was saying. Lana was never the one afraid to let someone know her true feelings, no matter their position. Isaiah felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Lana.
“You know I don’t mean to be too harsh. I just…worry about you. That’s all,” she said with a smile. “You were the only one there for me when my parents passed. In the time when I was weak you made me strong. I will never forget that.”
Before he could respond, they were interrupted by a cough. He looked up to see Zira holding two plates of food in her hands.
“Do you guys need the room,” she asked, staring between the two before landing on Lana’s hand.
“Like I said, drama” Lana said as they could hear a slow growl trickling from Zira’s mouth as she made her way over to them.