But I don't care as long as the dear old woman is somewhere safe and warm for the night with a full belly. I order her some food before she decides to take a bath, and I excuse myself.

Outside her door, I close my eyes once more, focusing on the beacon that binds me to Zhuliya.

It's stronger with her this close, and in no time, I reach the top floor that only has two sets of doors.

I'm lucky the Corona Hotel is old and doesn't require a keycard to access this level as many other places do.

For a moment, I stand in front of Zhuliya’s door, wondering what I'm going to say to her. "I'm sorry I imprinted on you, and we're now mated" seems really lackluster.

For the hundredth time tonight, I decide to just go with my gut—a very bad decision, considering everything else that's happened.

Raising my fist, I pound on the door. Muffled sounds come from within, and after a beat, it eases open to reveal Zhuliya…stark naked.

All reason flies out of my head. There's only my mate, her exquisite body, and this moment.

And just like that, the beast is unleashed.

With a feral growl, I shove into Zhuliya’s room, slamming the door shut behind me. Her velvety gaze is wide as she backs away.

Every step brings her closer to the bed until Zhuliya’s knees hit it, and she sprawls backwards on top of the cream-colored blanket.

Although her skin is fair, it’s much darker than the soft fabric she’s lying upon, but nowhere near as dark as her hair, which flairs out around her like a silken halo.

Her breasts are the same perfection as before, and with Zhuliya’s leg bent at an angle, it spreads her thighs far enough to spy the pink between them.

An eerie howl rends the air and I realize it’s me, but Zhuliya doesn’t even blink. She’s transfixed on the monster before her.

“Run,” I snarl.

At first, she doesn’t do anything, and the very small part of my brain that’s still functioning wants to shake the foolish woman.

“Why aren’t you listening to me—I said run!” My mouth struggles to form the Russian words.

A sly smirk curls her lips. “Ok, try and catch me.”

What?!

“That’s not—”

Zhuliya is off the bed before I can react and through another set of doors. I chase after her instinctively and realize there isn’t another suite on this floor. This is the only one.

The other doors I saw before lead into a large sitting area whereas the ones I knocked on lead directly into the large bedroom.

I barely register the decor, only the layout as Zhuliya speeds to the other side of the room. The area is open, broken up only by the set of stairs in the center that leads to a circle of couches.

Beyond them, a grand piano sits near some French doors that can open to a balcony overlooking the Ob River.

Behind the glossy veneer of the piano, Zhuliya crouches, her back pressed against the inlaid bookshelf behind her.

Instead of cutting through the center of the room, I skirt around the edges to where my mate “hides”.

It gives her enough time to sprint away, jumping onto the couches and bounding back to the other side exactly where I just was.

I snarl in a mixture of frustration and exhilaration. “Get over here!”

“But I thought you told me to run?” The way she sings this tells me the minx is taunting me.

“You better hope I don’t get my claws on you…”

“Or else what?”

Instead of answering, I lunge forward, this time doing what I should’ve before and cutting through the middle.

Unfortunately, the couches are not meant for someone my size to jump upon, and one breaks under my weight.

I crash to the ground with a thud loud enough to be heard in the next oblast. Zhuliya stares, a hand clamped over her mouth as she tries to stifle her giggle.

And fails.

Peals of laughter spill from behind her hand, the gorgeous sound a balm to my wounded vanity.

Suddenly, there’s a knock on the sitting room doors. Zhuliya jerks to attention while I narrow my eyes.

“I’ll answer it. Stay back.”

She glares as if she might argue but under no circumstance is anyone else seeing her naked but me.

Forcing myself to be calm and civil—no easy task—I open the door just a sliver and spy a man in a suit with a worried expression.

“Sir, is everything alright?”

“Ah, yes. I sat down on the couch and broke it. I will, of course, pay for it. I’m so sorry.”

The man gasps. “It is I who should be apologizing. Our furniture is meant for everyone. I will have this fixed immediately.”

“Tomorrow is fine.”

I’m speaking for Zhuliya, taking far too many liberties, but the plans I have in my mind for her aren’t conducive for anyone coming to fix the couch tonight.

“Of course. I will ring first. Again, I apologize and thank you for choosing Corona Hotel and Spa.”

Nodding, I simply shut the door and exhale. Thankfully, the interaction gave me enough time to get my bearings.

I can’t ravage Zhuliya—what in the great Ulu was I thinking?

Turning to apologize, something soft smacks into my face. Once, twice, and nearly a third time until I bat it away.

It’s a pillow from the broken couch, wielded by a mischievous looking Zhuliya, who’s still naked.