**Present – Morning**
The events of last night were still fresh in my mind as I sat in the back of the car, planning on going to the Winter Moon Pack. I couldn't help but smile to myself, remembering the embarrassment I had caused Aria earlier. Seeing her flustered face, the way her cheeks flushed whenever I teased her—it made the trouble worth it. Though I endured quite a bit of humiliation because of her drunken state, it was all part of the fun.
The way the water ran down her body in the bathroom last night, soaking through her clothes as she stood there so innocently, nearly drove me mad. There was a fire in my veins, a deep primal urge to claim her right then and there, but I had held myself back. I knew better than to rush things. Aria was still new to this world, still figuring out her feelings, and while I wanted her desperately, I had to wait for the right moment.
Patience, I reminded myself. It would all be worth it in the end.
