Ryder POV

I wake with my back against Jolie's door and every muscle in my body screaming. Three days of sitting in the same position will do that. But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

The room's quiet now. Her scent has faded from that overwhelming heat to something softer, though it still makes my wolf pace restlessly.

I push to my feet, joints popping, and look at the bed. She's asleep finally, curled into a tight ball under the blankets. Her face is pale, dark circles under her eyes, hair ...