Thirst

My nights dreaming with Zeff had come to a standstill. I've noticed his frustration in the office, sensed it in the way his eyes would linger on me, searching for answers I couldn't bring myself to give. How could I possibly admit to him that I've been meeting William in my dreams? That seeing William has kept Owen from trying to have sex with me? It's a twisted situation, to be thrilled by dream sex yet relieved to avoid it in reality. It's all very messed up.

Meeting William had become almost addictive. There's something about it that's both thrilling and terrifying, something that's fascinating yet dangerous. I never imagined myself doing the things I've done with William, this big and broad 6'2" Alpha King, in my dreams.

Owen wasn't muscular like them. He's somewhere between average and fit, but it seems like it's a standard for werewolves to be muscular, big, and strong. And so warm. God, they're so warm.

Imagine a woman like me, almost half a foot smaller, rendering a strong, muscular man to his knees. I've come to like it. William is eager, always waiting, never overstepping, following my lead like a faithful puppy. He enjoys every single bit of it, every command, every touch.

It made me realize that being in control in these dreams somehow made me feel more in control in my real life, where my consciousness seems to be missing parts, unable to remember. And while I've had my share of fun with William, unlike Zeff, who would bite me, William has never tried to. He kisses my neck, nuzzles into it, but he's never attempted a bite. Is he waiting for me to ask? He definitely loves it when I bite him, but this new sense of power… it's becoming very confusing.

"What's on your mind, my lady?" William asked as I lay on his lap, halfway through our heated encounter.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the thoughts, and grabbed his head, pulling him closer to my neck. My lips brushed over his earlobe, and he moaned softly. "Do you want to bite me?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper.

There was a thrilled gasp from him, and I felt him harden against me. "Yes," he whispered, his lips hovering close to my neck. "Can I?"

I nodded, giving him permission, and in the next instant, he sank his teeth into my neck. The initial pain was sharp, like a needle piercing my skin, but it quickly morphed into a deep, overwhelming pleasure. We both moaned, the sound mingling in the stillness around us.

A surge of energy burst from my body, a powerful wave of magic that erupted like a tidal wave. It felt like a dam breaking, releasing a torrent of raw, unbridled power that flowed out from me in every direction. William held onto my shoulders, keeping me in place as I felt this rush of emotions wash over me. I could feel my own pleasure, yes, but also someone else's, blending with mine, intensifying it. Was it William's?

Somewhere in the distance, I heard the howls of a wolf, full of pleasure and ecstasy. A deep, resonant sound that sent shivers down my spine. And in that moment, I knew—I had made a connection with him, something deep and primal, something that went beyond mere physical touch.

I woke up gasping, my neck throbbing with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. I had to muffle a moan escaping my lips, pressing my hand against my mouth to keep it from spilling into the quiet room. My heart was racing, and it took me a moment to realize where I was. I looked around and noticed Owen was not in the bed. Relief washed over me. Another night saved.

The clock read 5 a.m., and I knew there was no chance of falling back to sleep. I decided to get up and make some coffee. Maybe the mundane routine would calm my nerves. As I walked into the kitchen, I found Owen already there, leaning against the counter with a bowl of cereal in hand, his eyes fixed on his phone.

He looked up as I entered, his expression darkening slightly. "Are you mad at me?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. The coffee pot was in my hand as I opened it to add fresh grounds. "No, why?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, as if nothing was wrong.

Owen frowned, setting his phone down. "Then why have you been so cold to me these last few nights?"

I bit my lip, the dream with William flashing in my mind, and quickly shook my head to push it away. "I've just been really stressed out with this recent project, Owen. Nothing else, sorry." The lie slipped out easily, almost too easily, but I couldn't let him know the truth. How could I explain the turmoil inside me, the confusion, the guilt, and the yearning that I didn't fully understand?

He sighed, a defeated look crossing his face as he picked up his phone again. He didn't push further, and for that, I was grateful. The silence that followed felt heavy, filled with all the things we weren't saying. I busied myself with the coffee, trying to focus on the simple task, hoping it would keep the memories of last night at bay.

But no matter how hard I tried, the sensation of William's bite lingered, a reminder of the line I'd crossed in my dreams.

I sat at my desk, my fingers drumming impatiently against the polished wood. Papers and reports were scattered in front of me, but my mind was far from the patrol schedules and border activities that filled the pages. All I could think about was Liliam.

Or rather, the absence of her.

For nights now, I hadn't been able to reach her in her dreams, and it was driving me mad. The connection we shared in that otherworldly space had always been intense, a lifeline that tethered us together, even when reality kept us apart. I'd grown accustomed to it, to the feel of her presence, the warmth of her touch, the way her scent filled my senses. But now…nothing.

I closed my eyes, trying to focus, trying to sense her. But there was only a void where our bond used to thrum with energy and life. I could still feel her in the waking world—her emotions, her fears, her anxieties—they bled through the bond, but in the dream realm, she was completely out of reach.

"What's happening?" I muttered under my breath, frustration simmering beneath my skin. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging slightly at the ends as if the physical sensation could somehow ground me.

I'd tried everything—meditation, focusing on her essence, even reaching out to the other wolves who had experience with such bonds, but no one had any answers. It was as if she had built an impenetrable wall between us, one I couldn't break through no matter how hard I tried.

"Damn it," I growled, slamming my fist against the desk, causing the papers to flutter and scatter. Gaius, my wolf, was pacing restlessly within me, equally agitated by the lack of contact. It was unnatural, this emptiness. Wrong.

Why now? I wondered. Why, after everything we'd been through, after all we'd shared, would she suddenly cut me off like this? Had I done something to push her away? My mind raced, trying to recall our last few encounters, searching for any hint, any clue that might explain her sudden distance.

But nothing made sense.

"Is she in danger?" I wondered aloud, my voice a low rumble in the quiet room. Gaius bristled at the thought, a protective growl vibrating in my chest. No, I would have known if she was in immediate danger. I would have felt it.

Unless…

I clenched my jaw, the thought creeping in like a dark shadow. Unless someone else was interfering. Someone who knew how to manipulate dreams, how to block the connection between mates. My thoughts immediately went to William, the Alpha King. I'd sensed the other man's presence around Liliam more than once, felt his energy brushing up against hers in a way that made Gaius snarl with possessiveness.

Was William somehow keeping her from me?

The idea sent a surge of anger through me, and Gaius pushed closer to the surface, a low growl rumbling in my throat. If William was behind this, if he was trying to claim Liliam for himself, there would be hell to pay.