Noah blinked awake, stretching inside Micah’s hoodie. His eyes drifted to the nightstand.

  His phone.

  He hadn’t turned it on in three days. He couldn’t handle the nonstop news about the incoming invasion of the Devil’s Triangle. The last time he’d checked, the police were already searching people’s houses.

  How long could they really stay hidden?

  He sat up, looked around—then froze.

  Micah stood awkwardly in the doorway.

  Noah’s cheeks instantly heated. “M?Micah?! What are you doing here?”

  Micah’s ears turned bright red. “Good morning,” he said, completely ignoring the question.

  Silence.

  Noah motioned for him to come closer, but Micah only sat at the edge of the bed, keeping distance. Another sharp pang hit Noah’s chest.

  “Micah… are you okay?” he asked softly.

  Micah didn’t answer. Instead, he crawled closer until their faces were inches apart.

  “What are you doing?!” Noah yelped, trying to scoot away—only for Micah to pin him down, arms above his head.

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  “Kael told me this position is the most effective at convincing humans,” Micah said, dead serious.

  “What the hell?! Why would you listen to him? Get off me!” Noah squeaked, wriggling helplessly.

  Silence stretched between them. Noah’s face burned.

  “I should probably go… the others will be hungry,” Noah muttered, trying to escape.

  Micah held him still. “Don’t worry. They’re fed.”

  He fed them? What?

  “I wanted to talk to you…” Micah whispered, cheeks glowing.

  “O?okay…” Noah said, staring anywhere but at the unfairly attractive werewolf hovering over him.

  “I’m tired of you avoiding me.”

  “What?! You’ve been avoiding me! What are you talking about?”

  “I have,” Micah admitted. “But for a good reason.”

  Noah laughed bitterly. “What good reason could you possibly have to—”

  “You’re my mate.”

  “…The hell are you talking about?” Noah snapped. “Is this a joke?”

  “No.”

  Noah wanted to dismiss it—but something in Micah’s voice made him pause.

  “Fine. Mate, lover, whatever. That still doesn’t explain why you’ve been avoiding me!”

  Micah’s face burned hotter. “It’s embarrassing.”

  Noah wanted to yell, but Micah sounded so fragile.

  “It’s my instincts.”

  “That doesn’t explain anything, you idiot!” Noah struggled again.

  “Stop testing my self?control…” Micah muttered, looking away.

  “W?what?”

  “You smell really good right now.” Micah leaned down.

  “GAH! What does that mean?! What are you, a vampire psycho?!” Noah shrieked.

  “Noah… I’ve been avoiding you because I don’t want to hurt you. Since you’re unmarked… you’re incredibly appealing.”

  Noah’s breath hitched, face blazing.

  “W?what do you want…?” he whispered.

  “Simple. You.”

  “That’s not helpful…”

  “I want to bite you.”

  “Oh.”

  WHAT?!

  “Does it hurt…?”

  “No. The opposite, actually…”

  Micah buried his face in Noah’s neck, teeth sharpening.

  “Are you going to…?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I won’t do it until you want it. Not because you feel obligated.”

  “Micah… I—”

  “Big brother!!! Someone’s at the door!” Nico burst in, catching them in the most compromising position imaginable.