bChapter /bb159 /b

    ra’s POV

    I caught Dorian’s gaze, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken words. Theni, /ibefore I even realized what I was doing, my hand was on his shoulder, and I leaned in, pressing a quick, almost teasing kiss to his lips.

    “There,” I grinned, stepping back before I could get caught up in the heat of the moment.

    b74/b%

    His eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back toward him, his chuckle low and amused. “Cheating, huh?”

    “Guilty as charged,” I blinked, ying along. “And I cheat at poker too. You still want to y?”

    “Always.” He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “You want to start now?”

    I couldn’t deny it; I was curious about him. About his background, his life–he was an enigma. “Hold on,” I said, ncing over my shoulder as I made my way to the bathroom. “I’m going to shower first. When Ie out, you’re teaching me how to y.”

    “You got it,” he said easily, pulling out a deck of cards. “Take your time. We’ve got all night.”

    The shower was the only thing on my mind. After staying over in Thorne’s roomst night, I hadn’t had a chance to wash up. The sweat from the night before clung to my skin, and I was in dire need of a cold, refreshing rinse.

    I turned the tap, but instead of the usual soothing spray, the water sputtered, groaning loudly before it burst in all directions.

    “Ah!” I gasped, quickly stepping back, water spraying everywhere.

    From outside the bathroom, I heard Dorian’s voice, concerned. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

    I mmed my palm on the nozzle, trying to stop it, but nothing worked. The water just kepting, drenching me in the process.

    “ra?” His voice came closer, urgent now. “What’s going on? You okay in there?”

    “No!” I wiped water from my eyes, trying to keep my cool. “The tap’s broken! I can’t shut it off!”

    “Let me in.” I heard him start toward the door, his footsteps heavy with purpose.

    “Hold on!” I rushed to grab a towel, wrapping it around my drenched body before calling out, “Come in!”

    Dorian was in the bathroom before I could blink. He looked around, assessed the situation with the water now flooding the floor, and made a beeline for the sink. His hands worked quickly to turn the shut–off valve under the sink.

    The spray stopped immediately. The silence that followed was deafening.

    I stood there, still holding the towel tight around me. “Okay, so there’s a shut–off valve,” I nodded, a bit sheepish. “I had no idea.”

    “Yeah, you should always shut the water supply off before trying to fix anything.” Dorianughed, though there was a teasing edge to his voice. “I bet you’ve never fixed anything yourself, have you?”

    I flushed a little, feeling the sting of embarrassment. He wasn’t wrong, though. I did my fair share of work at Direstone Pack, but fixing things? That was someone else’s job.

    Rolling up his sleeves, Dorian crouched by the sink and started inspecting the tap. “Looks like part of it’s worn out. I’ll need to rece it. I’ll run to the hardware storeter, but in the meantime, do you want to shower in my room?”

    His gaze met mine, catching me staring. I didn’t even try to hide it. He wasn’t what I expected. But damn, if I wasn’t more intrigued by him

    now.

    b20 /b

    “Sure.” I wasn’t about to back down from this.

    His lips quirked into a smirk. “You’re staring, ra. Do I suddenly look good to you?”

    “You’re not bad,” I teased, leaning forward, brushing a damp strand of hair from his forehead. “But you’re still hard to read.”

    “Well,” he leaned in slightly, his voice low and husky, “I’m like a book in your hands. All you have to do is turn the cover.”

    I moved closer, my hand falling to his shoulder. Without.thinking, I nudged him hard. He wasn’t expecting it. He tripped backward, stumbling, and then fell right into the bathtub with a surprised yelp.

    I jumped in after him, straddling hisp, my legs spread over his. The moment my skin met his, the heat between us surged.

    His breath hitched, his eyes darkening as his muscles tensed under me.

    “…If you’re not going to kiss me right now, I’m going to be seriously offended,” he said, his voice rough, strained.

    I looked into his eyes, watching the y of emotions there. I didn’t move, my heart racing.

    Instead, I gripped his throat, just enough to remind him I was in control, and pressed his head against the back of the tub. “Who are you

    really, Dorian?” My voice was forceful, demanding.

    His lips curled into a slow, teasing smile. “Dorian.”

    “Liel,” I challenged, tightening my grip on his throat.

    I was so close, I could smell his scent, feel the heat radiating off his skin. My pulse quickened as I pressed further, desperate for answers.

    “Are you a rogue?” I forced the words out. “Are you an Alpha? Howe I’ve never met you before? Are you part of our alliance?”

    We were an inch apart, breaths mingling. His eyes were dark with something primal, something dangerous. And I was getting closer to the

    truth.

    He smiled, though there was something dangerous in it. “Alliance?” heughed, voice strained, “I have no interest in your little juvenile

    alliance.”

    My heart skipped. So he knew about it. Knew what it was.

    “You’re an Alpha!” I pressed, leaning in closer, my voice filled with urgency. “Which pack?”

    He chuckled, and my heart sank as his words hit me like a cold ssh of water. “Wrong, babe.”

    I froze, my mind spinning. The pieces weren’t fitting together. He wasn’t a rogue, and he wasn’t an Alpha, either. But who was he?

    Frustration gnawed at me, but Dorian only smiled wider, his hand moving to the back of my neck. He tugged me forward, his lips brushing

    mine.

    “If you kiss me,” he murmured, “I’ll give you a little hint.”

    I hesitated. This was a power struggle, a game of wits. But just as I leaned in, my body ready to close the gap between us, I heard the door

    open.

    “Master, this is ra’s room,” a voice–Wendy’s–called out.

    1311 Thu, 7 AU 5 b5 /b

    Hroze, every muscle locking up.

    The sound of hurried footsteps came toward the bathroom, and in an instant, the door swung open. Thorne stood there, eyes locked on the scene before him.

    His gaze fell on me, sitting in the tub with nothing but a towel around me, straddling Dorian’sp.

    I couldn’t breathe.

    The silence was deafening.

    bAD /b

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