The freshly patched wall reminds me how this week started. I need to find Caroline and let her know I’m okay and not angry. I’m sure she’s feared the worst during my absence.

If even one of them gave a damn, they’d have already been here and doing that for me. They’re just worried about what they need from me, and I go running to make it happen, regardless of the personal costs.

“I make things too easy for them,” I decide as I shuffle my feet to my private bathroom and flip on the shower.

I don’t even wait for it to warm up. I’m out of my cape and under the cool spray, soaking in the feel of the first shower I’ve had since Caroline crashed through my room.

A hint of frustration finds me when I keep reaching for the shampoo and finding it missing from its perch. I swear, I can’t do anything right these days.

I start to crack open an eye to find it, when I feel hands in my hair and smell the strong scent of my apples…which usually don’t smell strong at all.

I also smell…Arion.

I think.

How is that possible?

“Let me take care of you, sweet monster. The wolf should have done this for you instead of selfishly taking more from your body,” he murmurs.

Since I’m so exhausted, I decide not to even bother arguing.

His bare body presses against mine from behind, as his fingers work magic against my scalp.

“Tasking the omegas with telling you your new fate. Leaving you to tend to your sore body all on your own…”

A tremble wracks my body when his cool breath blows against the scars on my back. I have no idea why the hell that feels so good.

“He’s already failing to be a good mate. I’d be so much better. Should my monster come forth for you to be my bride?”

My eyes fly open, and I stare up at the ceiling like it’s going to save me from this conversation.

“Please tell me you’re joking,” I grumble.

“It’s closing in on midnight. I could really let loose if that’s what you prefer. Or you could let me enjoy a taste, and I’ll patiently wait for you to choose me all on your own,” he says in that soft, alluring way that has me swaying.

“I couldn’t get the rest of the night off from ex-boyfriend duty?” I ask on a defeated breath, allowing myself to enjoy the fact he’s washing my hair for me.

“Idun told them about my spying. You’re free from your gypsy promise,” he tells me, abruptly shifting gears.

I glance over my shoulder, unsure what to say, as his slate gray eyes linger on my chest.

He licks his lips as he steps in closer, pressing his front solidly against my back, while those gray eyes turn black.

If my vagina wasn’t overworked and underappreciated, I’d probably be a weak fool already coiled around him.

I’m so pathetic.

Really, I am.

“Are they mad?” I ask him.

He shrugs a shoulder. “Not terribly, no. Mostly because they don’t want Idun winning. I think that’s their main incentive for being reasonable. I’m going to need you to smooth that over for me when you’re feeling up to it.”

My head falls back to his shoulder, and I turn in his arms, too exhausted to do much else.

I’m standing up by sheer determination alone.

He starts working the conditioner into my hair, as I wrap my arms around his waist to use him like a crutch, even as my eyes start to droop.

“You can’t be serious about me being your bride, Arion. You’re just acting impulsively because of whatever life-altering thing Emit’s just done that has wolves bowing at my feet. I’m assuming being his mate comes at a severe cost to myself, doesn’t it?”

His lips brush over my head, as he rinses out the last of the conditioner. I bite back a moan when he starts massaging the soap into my back, his fingers working over my fresh scars that are highly sensitive in very weirdly erotic ways.

“There will be an official mating ceremony and announcement, I’m sure. Everyone will know you’re his. He’ll see to that. I wanted you for my bride long before he took you as his mate,” he goes on, his hands moving down to my ass.

I’d knee him in the balls, but everything he’s doing is helping to take the ache out of all my sore, overused muscles. Another content sigh escapes me.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” I grumble in reminder, fighting off a yawn that finally wins and stretches my mouth wide in a very unattractive way.

Arion smiles down at me like he finds it cute. I swear, they’re fucking with my head again.

“Of course it’s life-altering, Violet. You chose to be his mate—”

“My options were limited,” I remind him.

“Even still, you chose to be his mate. You fully submitted to him during his claim, which is something Idun never did, obviously. Ridding yourself of his mark will be painful for the both of you, and apparently it’ll leave him a shattered mess until his wolf finds a new mate to claim.”

I peer up at him after that remark, and he stares down at me.

Old horror movies flit through my mind, thinking back to Dracula searching endlessly for his bride through extreme measures. I was one of those weird girls who got mad at the chicks he kidnapped to make his bride, because they judged him for being a monster.

I know. I have issues. I’m aware.