I mean, once I listed the pros and cons, I found that staying seemed like a better option.

But a part of me, that didn't like following rules, wanted to rebel.

I didn't want to have a werewolf council telling me what to do or submitting to their demands without a question or fight.

And the thought of having 8 kids didn't seem desirable either.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Eros' warm breath fluttered the strands of hair on my head when he spoke, startling me with his proximity and sudden appearance.

My thoughts have, once again, pulled me away from reality.

I had not even realized that Granny Ada had cleaned up the plate and cup almost an hour ago.

I looked up at him through my lashes, contemplating the words that were revolving in my head like a prayer, ready to drive me insane at any moment in time.

"Mating."

That one simple word felt like a bomb dropped into the ocean, causing the calm waves to form giant tides and sweep the sh.o.r.e clean of everything.

I regretted it the moment that word left my lips before my mind could catch up.

If I could slap myself, I would have.

But I'm not fond of pain or embarra.s.sing myself in front of Eros by proving to him that I am a psycho.

Not that I haven't embarra.s.sed myself enough in front of him.

And I know for certain that my cheeks are probably a bright shade of red now.

I was mentally berating myself for saying that.

Why in the world did I say that?

"I like that you're more forward than I am, Emi." He chuckled, thin lips quirked upwards into a handsome smile that made my heart race.

His blue eyes were staring into my own with this look of utter adoration.

And I couldn't help but feel flattered.

What did I do to deserve him and his adoration?

Did experimenting on his kind make for a good impression?

I'm joking again.

"I mean about what the council said," I muttered, feeling as if I am digging a deeper hole the more I tried to explain and becoming tongue-tied in the process.

Eros suddenly swept a hand across my blus.h.i.+ng cheeks.

Then, I could feel his entire body tense.

His hands froze midway across my cheek and his long tapered fingers rubbed against the delicate flesh.

That slight quirk of his lips became stiff, and his eyes darted from my hands to my shoulders, as if there was something on there that I couldn't see.

I could tell that this invisible substance bothered him because his brows immediately furrowed tightly together in response.

"Stay away from Zanthos, Emira," he warned.

His tone of voice was soft and his words sounded like a suggestion, not a demand or a command, leaving me feeling as if my opinion actually mattered to him.

He could smell Zanthos on me.

"I know," I reply off the bat because it did not require thought to know this.

I'm guessing that it wasn't my imagination when I said that Zanthos was a lot more dangerous than he looked.

"Do you want me to go take a shower?" I ask cautiously, glancing at Eros through the veil of my lashes.

I knew from research that werewolves were very territorial creatures that didn't like others touching the things that they considered theirs.

Zanthos probably did it on purpose to irritate Eros.

It was petty how he was willing to go out of his way to make Eros mad at every chance he got.

It probably made him feel better about the whole Lillith situation.

"You don't have to," he replied with a tight smile on his lips.

His warm hands were quick to catch my own, leading me into the bathroom and right in front of the sink.

I tipped my head to the side in question when he stood behind me, strong arms wrapped around my body like a cage of human flesh.

Eros' front was attached to my back, hot breath brus.h.i.+ng against the skin of my sensitive neck in every inhale and exhale.