Thirty- four

Martha

Walking into the living room, I couldn't help but wish that I had made Star call in Alex and Lucian to join us for dinner instead.

It's tough to resist the urge to see Alex, you know? The connection I feel with him is so strong that it messes with my mind. I just want to be near him, breathe the same air, and give him everything I have. It's crazy how powerful those feelings can be!

When I stepped in, I could see Alex snatching Lucian’s queen off the board, with a sexy grin on his face, and I was glad that I came in at that moment.

Lucian was the picture of rage at being beaten, and I, on the other hand, was completely floored by Alex’s skills.

As long as I’ve known Lucian, he has always prided himself on being one of the greatest chess players of all packs. He often boasted around and it was one of his calmer moments when he played the game.

So seeing someone knock him down a peg, caused satisfaction to bloom inside my chest. It also made me proud of Alex, knowing that my mat