Page 5

Chapter

Five

Serena followed a gently winding path to the edge of the meadow. In the distance, she spotted a grand oak tree. Theo knelt on a picnic blanket in a cool patch of shade under the canopy. Sunbeams slipped through the leaves, dancing across his face in shifting speckles of light. As she crossed the field, she inhaled the aroma of sweet clover, mingling with the scent of multicolored wildflowers.

As she approached, she noticed a wicker basket beside him. “Hey,” he said, standing. “Thank you for coming.”

“I was on my way to lunch when you messaged me. I figured… why not?” She gave him a slight smile.

Theo rose to greet her, his gaze intense—pupils dilating in a way that made Serena’s inner cougar growl. Though he wore a warm smile, she caught a hint of restlessness in his stance, like he was bracing for something.

Theo offered her a seat, opening the wicker basket. He pulled out containers that held fresh salads with mixed greens, crisp cucumbers, and sliced cherry tomatoes. Theo then retrieved two hearty sandwiches layered with roast beef and melted cheese. He arranged it all neatly on the picnic blanket.

She settled across from him as birds sang in the tree branches above. “So, your profile said you lived in Portland?”

“I just moved home to Fate Mountain,” Theo said. “Hadn’t updated the profile yet.”

She saw a flicker of something intense in his eyes. Before she even took a bite of her lunch, her inner cougar screamed.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

The words rumbled through her, coiling low in her belly and making her skin tingle with longing. Instinct told her that this man was hers, whispering that he belonged to her the way her claws and fangs did. Her heart thumped hard, torn between the sudden rush of desire and her fear of connection.

His pupils flickered from hazel to something darker—almost black around the rims—and his canines looked just a fraction too sharp when he spoke. Her pulse thudded in her ears, and for a fleeting moment, the entire meadow seemed to fade into the background. She realized he was about to move closer, and she found herself leaning in too, compelled by an unmistakable spark that felt undeniably real.

Desire surged through her in an unstoppable wave, making every ounce of caution vanish under the raw need to be near him.He hesitated for a heartbeat, then bridged the distance, pressing his lips gently against hers before slowly deepening the kiss. A bolt of electricity shot down her spine, making every nerve tingle.

She let out a soft, involuntary sound as he slipped one hand around her waist, drawing her closer. The lingering brush of his tongue against her lower lip sparked a flash of arousal deep in her belly. Her inner cougar roared in approval, a primal surge that made her toes curl and her breath hitch in her throat.

But the moment his lips shifted to her neck, something changed. His grip on her waist tightened; a low rumble reverberated against her collarbone. His hot breath fanned across her skin, sending a shiver down her spine. A sudden scrape of teeth grazed the sensitive spot at the crook of her neck. The slight pressure made her heart lurch. She felt his nails dig into her hip, lengthening as though claws were emerging.

Her breath caught. One second, she’d been lost in the taste of him—now she realized he was very close to breaking skin. So close to taking the mating bite, binding her to him forever. “Theo, stop!” she gasped, forcing her palms against his chest. She shoved him back, heart pounding. The primal fire in his eyes flickered, equal parts longing and savagery.

Panting, Theo recoiled, stumbling backward. His eyes still gleamed with predatory intensity. “Go,” he growled, his voice rough. He raked a hand through his hair, as though physically battling his bear from taking over entirely. “Please go before I do something I’ll regret.”

She blinked, shock rippling through her. “This was a mistake,” she sniped, voice shaking. She stood on unsteady legs and stumbled away, pulse roaring in her ears. The last thing she saw before she fled was Theo hunched on the blanket, eyes squeezed shut in torment, his fists white-knuckled with the effort to hold back the beast inside him.