I hesitate for a moment, but the allure of the steaming water proves too much to resist. As the bathroom door closes behind her, I step into the shower. The hot water cascades over me, washing away the dirt and grime from the day. The heat seeps into my muscles, relaxing them, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself breathe.
It’s then that I feel it—something stirring deep within me, raw and primal. A heat blooms in my chest, spreading outward like wildfire, igniting every nerve in its path. My breath catches, and for a moment, the world narrows to the pounding of my heart and the sensation of the water cascading over my skin.
My senses sharpen to an almost unbearable degree; the scent of lavender mingling with the steam becomes intoxicating, the sound of the rushing water thunderous in my ears. Then, like a whisper caressing the edge of my mind, I feel it—an unfamiliar presence brushing against my soul. Eira.
The name comes unbidden, carried on the steam itself, as though it has always been there, waiting for this moment to reveal itself. My wolf. She surges forward, not with violence but with a tidal wave of power and intimacy that leaves me gasping. Heat coils low in my belly, an ache both exquisite and terrifying.
The connection is overwhelming, consuming. My muscles tremble as a deep, primal energy floods through me, lighting me up from the inside out. The water against my skin feels electric, every droplet like a lover’s touch.
I press my hand against the tiled wall to steady myself, but the wave crests, leaving me breathless, shivering, alive. It’s as though every part of me—body, mind, and soul—has awakened all at once, reaching for something I don’t yet understand but can’t deny.
For a fleeting moment, I feel a surge of strength and purpose, a spark of something greater than myself. Destiny. The word hums through me like a song, each note filling the empty spaces inside me with light, fire, and an undeniable certainty that I am more than I ever thought I could be. My wolf’s presence wraps around me like a warm embrace, her voice—a low, sultry growl—echoing in my mind. “You are mine, and I am yours. Together, we are unstoppable.”
The sensation peaks, sending a shudder through me, and I collapse to my knees, letting the water wash over me as my breathing evens out. My skin feels alight, glowing from within. The steam swirls around me, the connection fading just enough to leave me grounded but forever changed.