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With a perfect break in the crowd, I can see all of her. Her beautiful dress hugging her waist before flowing to the ground to her dark brown hair tied back in a braid accented with flowers. Stepping into the crowd, ensuring I don’t catch her attention, I step one row behind her. I want to observe her until I’m ready to reveal myself.

The back of her dress drops down to the bottom of her lower back, revealing the smooth rose-pink skin I’ve only dreamed of touching, kissing, and tasting. My mouth waters as I think of peeling it off of her. Unwrapping her like a present meant only for me.

Her petite shoulders gently move with her breathing, but even I can see the magic is beginning to work on her. It’s in the subtle deepening of the pink hue of her skin, in the way her breaths are coming in and out a tad faster, and the bumps slowly popping along her back.

My eyes roam down that opening along her back, imagining tracing my fingers down her spine as her soft gasps fill the room around us. She shivers, almost like she felt it. Her head turns slowly to the side as I step into the crowd and out of her line of sight.

The elders walk forward along with each of the pack leaders, something I could care less about right now. I should be up there, along with Xavior but there is only one place I want to be right now, and it’s not there. She’s listening with rapt attention so she doesn’t notice when I move right behind her. An arm's length behind her, I breathe in her scent. Her thunderstorm over an ocean scent has a spicy tinge to it tonight.That’s new.Taking a deep breath in, I hold her scent in me. There’s a floral musk that hasn’t been there before. Seems her wolf is right under the surface too, ready to come out and play.

That’s the thing about Bestiare that nobody remembers. Our wolf side takes over our human form and lets their instincts and desires control them. There won’t be concerns for age, clothing, and those around you. Only whatever is drawing you towards the person of your choice.

Silas finishes a speech I didn’t hear a word of. There is nothing that’s going to break my focus on her, not even the responsibilities that I hold dear any other time. Maybe Calix is right, I’ve never thrown away my rules for anyone, especially a woman. No other woman has drawn me in like her. But, I can’t have her. At least not yet, she’s only seventeen. I can’t have her, but fuck if I don’t want to snatch her and make her mine right now.

Mymate. Myobsession. My reason forbreathing.

Like a wave washing over me, something settles deep inside me. As though acknowledging it finally righted every wrong in my life.

“Fuck, about time you see what’s been in front of you this whole time.”

Doesn’t change anything. She won’t feel the same way yet. She might feel drawn to me, but she won’t see it for what it is.Fuck.Itmight be worse knowing it, and not being able to do anything about it.

My fingers reach out, a hair's breadth between her skin and mine, wishing I could just touch her. What does her skin feel like? Is it as smooth as I’ve imagined? Will her skin pebble as I move my fingers along it?

With her breath hitch as I explore her body? Is her hair silk like it looks like? Will she love me running my fingers through it or gripping it?

My head shakes as I take a step back. The magic is pulling so hard, I’ve never had thoughts this strong before. My logical side is trying to push against the beast side of me. I can feel the battle inside. The smart, respectable side trying to step back from her, put distance between us. To remember that she doesn’t know what’s happening or if she would even feel the same. But the beast side is determined, it knows what it wants,her.

Everyone starts clapping and I know what's next. I can already feel it building. The shaman, elders, and others are already weaving the magic into the air. My chest thumps as the drums slowly build the music. The second the area glows in hues of orange and yellow, I know what’s coming. But, I want to see what she does. When her wolf takes over, will she let go or will she fight her?

The crowd moves to the fire and I let a few people come between us, only to ensure she doesn’t see me before it’s time. I’m not worried that Selene will see me, I’ve proven many times that I can move around her without her actually spotting me. It’s her wolf I’m worried about. The one who will spot me, as I’m sure she will be looking for me.

Our wolves always know before our human sides figure it out. The elders will say it’s because they have no inhibitions in their way like human emotions and age. Wolves live by the instincts that keep them alive.

The thump, thump, th-thump of the drums is rattling my soul as Calix steps forward.

“It’s time Caelon.”

“I’m not ready yet, Calix. She doesn’t know.”

“I won’t do anything to scare her, but her wolf knows. I can feel her already. She’s ready.”

“Be gentle.”

I watch in rapt attention as her chest thrusts out and her head falls back. He’s right. It’s time. Her wolf is now running the show. Like a domino knocking over the next one, each person’s gasps ring out one by one around the bonfire as their wolves, lions, bears, and more take over. Each person is now in their beast's control.

Calix pushes forward as I take a step back. I’m nervous about what he’ll do, but I have to hope that he won’t do anything rash.

He moves through the crowd, never taking his eyes off of her. Like a predator stalking his prey, he weaves around people without bumping into a single soul. People are moving to their desired partner, but there is only one person for us. Everyone else doesn’t exist to us, especially right now.

She doesn’t move, doesn’t dance. She’s only standing there while her friend dances in front of her. Why isn’t her friend moving on to find her own partner? When Selene doesn’t move, even with her friend’s prompting, we know exactly what’s happening. She hasn’t given full control to her wolf. They’re stuck.

A smirk breaks across our face, our elongated canines poking out as we move in for the kill. Sliding up right behind her, welean in close to her ear, knowing the second Calix speaks she will recognize his voice.

“Tell me little one, why aren’t you dancing like the others?”

She spins around quickly, her hand across her chest as it rapidly rises and falls. We say nothing else as she looks over us. We designed the wolf mask to look exactly like our actual wolf form. We wanted her to recognize it, to wonder why. Her silver eyes begin wandering down our body before they snap to us. They are glowing like the moon high above us. Fitting with her name meaning moon.

She slowly moves towards us and we know already who won the battle, and it wasn’t Selene.