Alexander leaned closer, completely captivated.
“There are books here as well, if you prefer reading,” Slove said politely, gesturing toward a neat stack placed on a small table nearby.
Alexander barely glanced at them. He sank deeper into the recliner, eyes glued to the glowing screen.
“I’ll cut your hair now,” Slove said softly.
Alexander gave a small nod.
Behind him, Slove worked quietly, the soft rasp of a comb sliding through Alexander’s damp hair filling the room as he trimmed the dark strands. Loose locks fell silently to the marble floor.
Alexander closed his eyes, the steady rhythm of the grooming lulling him.
A while later, Slove stepped back. He gathered the fallen strands of dark hair from the floor and straightened the thingshe had laid out earlier. When everything was neat again, he turned to Alexander.
“I'm done,” he said, bowing his head. “I’ll take my leave now. Have a good rest, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you,” Alexander replied absently, his body languid and relaxed.
Chapter 5
Boaz
Red eyes stared at him from the darkness. Boaz tried to scramble away, panic clawing at his chest, but strong arms locked around him, dragging him against a hard, warm chest.
“Don’t move,” the voice murmured against his ear, low and dark.
The command sent a shiver through him.
Then he felt them. Fangs brushing against the side of his neck.
For a split second the touch was almost gentle, ghosting over his skin, before the sharp points sank in.
Heat exploded through him, the pain twisting into something dangerously pleasurable. A rush of fire spread from the wound, racing through his veins until his entire body felt like it was blazing from the inside out.
Boaz gasped and jolted awake. His heart slammed violently in his chest as his hands shot out, grasping empty air.
His eyes snapped toward the rocking chair across the room. For one terrifying second, his pulse stuttered as he half expected to see the vampire sitting there in the shadows… watching him.
But the chair was empty.
Boaz sucked in a shaky breath, trying to calm the frantic pounding of his heart. Then he shifted under the covers and froze. His cock throbbed painfully, tenting the sheets. He stared down at it in horror.
“Fucking hell,” he said hoarsely.
Dragging a hand down his face, he shoved the covers aside and swung his legs out of bed. Sleep was clearly impossible now. He headed straight for the back door, already reaching for his wolf.
The shift came over him the moment he stepped outside. Bones cracked and slid violently out of place. Muscles stretched and twisted beneath his skin, reshaping themselves. Exhilaration surged through him as his wolf pushed forward.
Moments later, a large black wolf hit the ground running, disappearing into the forest. Boaz surrendered completely, letting his wolf take control.
The mindless sprint through the trees dulled his thoughts, each pounding step against the forest floor driving the nightmare from his mind. For a while, there was nothing but the wind in his fur and the damp earth beneath his paws.
As dawn crept over the horizon, the sky softened into pale streaks of orange and yellow. Mist hung low between the trees, curling around trunks and drifting lazily over the forest floor. And his wolf finally turned toward home.
When he stepped into the cabin, he felt relaxed. He dressed quickly, pulling on his worn work clothes, then grabbed his hat from the hook beside the door. There was no point wasting thecool morning hours. The sun would climb fast, and the fields would turn hot before long.
On his way down the path, he passed pack members heading in the same direction—tools slung over their shoulders, woven baskets ready to gather the tea leaves that were ripe for harvest.