The Luna's Vow

Chapter 14. The Vulnerabilities

Blake rapped his knuckles on the door of the bathroom where I was soaking for the last hour.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"You live here," I replied drowsily and stirred the hot water. Steam rose, fogging up the mirrors. It was infused with calendula, sage, ginger and whatever else the Doc specially mixed for me. The healing warmth penetrated deep into my bones and tissues, healing all the micro-ruptures and what-not. My first shift came so late in life, I had to soak for two hours after each one...or so I told myself.

"Yes, I live here," Blake said through the door. Something scraped, and I imagined him pressing his forehead to the wood. "But do you want me to come in?"

I considered it for a bit. My anger subsided, and I was still hurting, but quietly. I sighed. "Sure."

He stepped inside, bringing with him the woodsy, musky scent, and lowered himself on the side of the tub. Our bathroom was the largest I had seen in my life, but he made it look tiny. "Sorry things got heated back there."

The white tiles seemed to gleam brighter next to his ruggedness. He hadn't yet changed out of this morning's clothes, just took off his jacket and combat boots. Simple long-sleeved waffle shirt, in the same smoky-gray as his hair, showed off his muscular neck and arms, without shoving them into your face. New beard coated his cheeks, because shifting sped up its growth. It would be scraggly to the touch of my fingers...or lips.

"Is that why you stayed the heck away for so long? Because we argued?"

He shook his head. "Duties. Checked on Harold, and before you ask, the Moon Arch is secure. He did a great job."

"He always does," I said softly. "But if you keep winding his leash this tight, he'll break."

"If I didn't, he'd be on that island, killing Scarlett or pinning her, I can't even tell."

It was hard to be a Luna to my Alpha when I was laying naked in my tub, and the throbbing in my core made up for the cooling of water. I scrunched my forehead, trying to focus on the pack's affairs.

"There is a better way to combat Harold's obsession. Lift the mating interdiction, and I know of at least one she-wolf who'd jump at the chance to make him forget Scarlett." If I was smiling, thinking about Scarlett finally getting the taste of her own medicine, so what? Even if she broke her fated mate bond, she'd still feel it in her bones when Harold pinned another she-wolf, right? The Goddess would make sure of that, because Scarlett didn't deserve faithfulness, when she cheated with every breath she took.

Blake pursed his lips. "He'll just pivot to you."

"What?" I blinked away the fantasy of Scarlett chewing nails and throwing chairs around. Or logs, if she was still on that island. "What are you saying? That Harold and I...no!"

He looked so sheepish, that laughter burst out of me. "Blake, it was never like that, not for me, not for him. Hate, yes, but that one step that it takes from it to love...it's about the distance from here to Alpha Centauri."

"I must be projecting my desires on every wolf. You looking all pink and gorgeous in that tub, isn't helping keeping my head on straight, you know."

I giggled. "Just what are those desires? Tell me!"

He leaned over to kiss me so fast, he nearly tumbled into the tub. His canines and his beard scratched my upper lip as he fought for balance, but his mouth unerringly connected with mine.

Nearly wasn't good enough for me, however, so I grabbed him by the neck. "You dirty, stubborn wolf..." and then I yanked him down, into the water.