Page 42

He looks at Onyx and me, then sighs. "One hour. Then we head back."

Onyx leads me outside while Leo plans for Mara's transport. The pack grounds are beautiful. There are cabins nestled among trees, and there's a large fire pit in the center, and children playing in a grassy area.

"It's not what I expected," I admit as we walk.

"What did you expect? Wolves howling at the moon and raw meat hanging from trees?"

I laugh. "Something like that, maybe. This is... nice and peaceful."

"We try to live normally," he says, guiding me toward a path that leads into the woods. "Most of us have jobs in the city. We come here to be ourselves."

"To shift?"

He nods. "To run. To be free."

We follow the path until we reach a small clearing with a bench overlooking a stream. It's secluded and private.

"This is beautiful," I say, sitting down.

Onyx remains standing, watching me. "You've been with others."

It's not a question.

"Yes," I admit, seeing no point in lying. "After you left... the heat came back."

"I should have stayed," he says quietly. "I should have explained more."

"Why didn't you?"

He sits beside me, close enough that our thighs almost touch. "I was afraid."

"You? Afraid?" I can't hide my surprise. "Of what?"

"Of what I feel when I'm near you." His voice drops lower. "Of how much I want you."

My heart skips a beat. "Onyx..."

"I can smell other alphas on you," he continues.

I swallow hard. "My body... responds to Alphas now. It's not something I can control."

"I know." He turns to face me fully. "But it started with me..."

"Yes…" I whisper, meeting his gaze. "And I... I missed you."

The words slip out before I can stop them. I'm not used to being vulnerable to admitting need.

Something shifts in his expression and his hand comes up to cup my cheek. I lean into his touch without thinking.

"I missed you too," he murmurs.

I don't know who moves first. Maybe we both do, but suddenly his lips are on mine. I kiss him back with an urgency that surprises me, my hands finding their way into his hair to pull him closer.

He growls against my mouth, a sound that vibrates through my entire body. He lifts me up and presses me against the trunk of a nearby tree. My legs wrap around his waist instinctively, pulling him against me.

"Fuck," he breathes against my neck. "You taste even better than I remember."

His hands grip my thighs, holding me up effortlessly. I can feel how hard he is through our clothes, pressing exactly where I need him.