Alec’s

"You've got it all wrong," he murmurs, his voice breaking.

I blink, the words not quite registering.

"I want you," Alec says, his eyes burning into mine. "God, Sadie. I want you so badly it's killing me." His thumb brushed along my jaw, a soft, reverent touch. "But not like this."

My chest tightens. "Why not?"

“Because if I take you now, you'll think it's just the moon heat," he says, his voice thick. "You'll think that's the only reason I want you."

I shake my head, but Alec's thumb presses against my lips, silencing me.

"If we do this now," he continues, his voice rough, "it'll feel good-so good-but when the heat passes, you'll think it was just that. Just heat. Just instinct." He swallows, his Adam's apple bobbing. "And you'll regret it. And I can't. I won't let you regret something that should be special."

My breath hitches. The weight of his words pressing down on me, and it feels like my heart is being squeezed.

I am so confused. Do I dare to believe his words? To believe that that's the only reason he isn't buried deep inside me right now and not because he is still in love with Lola?

I don't have time to think much of it because a sharp, stabbing pain explodes in my belly, and I gasp, doubling over. My arms wrap around my stomach, and my knees buckle.

"Sadie!" Alec is there in an instant, catching me before I hit the ground. "What's wrong? What is it?"

I can barely breathe. The pain is like fire, scorching through my veins, burning me from the inside out.

"Nyx," I whimper internally. "What's happening?"

"This is what I warned you about," she says, her voice pained. "The moon heat. Our mate is supposed to mate us. Without that, the pain will only get worse."

Another wave of agony tears through me, and I cry out, clutching Alec's arms as he lifts me.

"Hold on," he murmurs, voice tight with worry. "I've got you."

Trees blur as Alec ran, his body a solid, steady anchor against the pain. By the time he stops, I am barely conscious, my skin burning, sweat pouring down my face.

A cabin looms ahead. Alec kicks the door open and carries me inside. He lays me on a couch, his lips pressing against my forehead.

"Stay here," he says, and disappears.

I am too far gone to respond. Every inch of me is aflame. My skin feels too tight,

too hot, and I can barely keep my eyes open.

I want him. Alec, my mate. All I want is him. All I crave is him.

1.n

Alec returns and scoops me up again, carrying me into the bathroom. The tub is half-filled with cold water, and he steps inside, pulling me into his lap. The water sloshes around us as he positions me between his legs, my back against his chest.

"Shh," he whispers, his arms wrapping around me. "I've got you."

The cool water stings, but it also soothes. I sag against Alec, my head falling back against his shoulder.noveldrama

"You're okay," Alec murmurs, his lips grazing my temple. "Just breathe, Sadie."

I whimper, my fists clutching his arms as another wave of pain rolls through me.

Alec begins to hum, his voice low and steady. "Do you remember that time you stole Piper's ice cream and blamed it on Micah?"

Despite the pain, a weak laugh escapes me. "You saw that?"

"I see everything," Alec answers, his chin resting on top of my head. "And what about the time you tried teaching a pup how to bake and nearly burned the kitchen down?"

I smile, and here I thought I had been invisible to him.

Alec's fingers trace lazy circles over my hip, his touch grounding me, soothing me.

Gradually, the pain begins to ease,

the heat lessening as the cold water seeps into my skin. Alec then lifts me from the tub and wraps me in a towel, drying me off before carrying me to the bed.

He slips in behind me, pulling me close, his heartbeat a steady rhythm against my back.

"Sleep," he whispers, his breath warm against my neck. "I'm here."

And as his arms wrap around me, holding me tight, I finally let go, sinking into the

dark, the sound of his heart the last thing I hear.