Alec.
I woke up before the sun.
The soft glow of morning light crept through the curtains. I blinked into the brightness, dragging a hand down my face. I was awake, but my thoughts were still caught somewhere between sleep and that moment last night… when I almost lost control.
For a moment, I just laid there, staring at the ceiling, hoping the ache in my chest would ease. It didn’t. It never has ever since I realized that Sadie is my mate. The scent of her still clung to my skin, though we hadn’t touched. Not really.
Goddess, the way she looked last night—standing in the soft glow of her bedroom, wearing nothing but a tank and cotton shorts, her hair still damp from a shower, her eyes wary and wanting all at once. The way her breath hitched when I leaned in to kiss Aspen. The way her
