Page 20

I wake up to two things: the distant chatter of the camp coming to life and Jaslyn curled against me, warm and soft and entirely too tempting. Her breath is steady, her body relaxed, and the last thing I should be thinking about right now is how damn good she feels.

But my body doesn’t get the memo.

My arm is draped around her waist, and her hair tickles my jaw as I shift slightly, trying—and failing—not to make it worse. Morning wood is bad enough, but add in the fact that I can feel the curve of her hip pressed against me, I’m officially screwed.

You’re an alpha. Get a grip. This is not the time .

Except Jaslyn stirs, and when her body brushes against mine, all rational thought goes out the window. My hand tightens reflexively on her waist, and she makes a soft sound, something halfway between a sigh and a hum, that hits me straight in the dick.

She’s awake now, and her body shifts against mine again as she stretches lazily. I’m torn between praying she doesn’t notice and hoping she does.

“Morning,” she grumbles, her voice husky with sleep.

“Morning,” I manage, though it comes out rougher than I intended.

She tilts her head back, and her green eyes catch mine. There’s a hint of mischief there, like she knows exactly what kind of hell I’m in right now. Her lips curve into a small, sleepy smile.

“You okay, Alpha? You look tense.”

Her teasing tone pulls a low growl from me, and I tighten my arm around her just enough to press her back against me. “You know damn well why.”

Her smile widens, but she doesn’t pull away. If anything, she leans into me. Her body fits against mine like she was made for it. My wolf snarls in approval, and I’m suddenly very aware of how easy it would be to forget the world outside this tent entirely.

“I could move,” she offers, though there’s no sincerity in her tone.

“Don’t you dare.”

Her laughter is soft and low, and it sends a shiver down my spine. I’m already losing this battle, and she knows it. Before I can talk myself out of it, I adjust my position, turning her toward me. My hand cups her jaw, and her breath hitches as my thumb brushes over her cheek.

“Jaslyn.” Her name comes out as a warning and a plea all at once.

She doesn’t respond—not with words, anyway. Instead, she leans in and brushes her lips against mine in a kiss that’s soft at first, but it doesn’t stay that way.

The moment her hand slides up to tangle in my hair, the last of my restraint snaps. I pull her closer, deepening the kiss as my other hand finds her waist. Her body presses against mine, and the warmth of her skin under my touch is enough to drive me out of my mind.

She makes another sound—this one softer, needier—and it’s like pouring gasoline on a fire. My lips move to her jaw, her neck, trailing kisses that leave her breathless. Her fingers curl in my hair, pulling me closer, and I let out a low growl as my teeth graze the sensitive spot just below her ear.

“Gray,” she whispers, her voice shaky but full of need. Her nails rake lightly against my scalp, and I swear I could lose myself in her completely.

My hand slips under the hem of her shirt, brushing over the curve of her hip, and her breath catches.

“Jaslyn, we—” I start, but she cuts me off with another kiss, her lips demanding and insistent. I can feel her smile against my mouth, and it’s maddening and perfect all at once.

“Keep quiet,” she urges against my lips. “Unless you want everyone out there to know what we’re doing.”

Her words send a rush of heat through me, and my hand slides higher, tracing the outline of her waist. She shivers under my touch, her body responding to me in a way that makes it damn near impossible to think straight.

I’m about two seconds away from forgetting where we are entirely when a loud shout cuts through the air outside the tent.

“Gray! Jaslyn! Get out here now!”

The moment shatters, and we both freeze. Our breathing is heavy and uneven as reality comes crashing back. Jaslyn pulls back just enough to meet my gaze. Her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are swollen from kissing.

“What the hell?” she complains, clearly just as annoyed as I am.

I take a deep breath, trying to rein in the frustration—and the lingering heat—before I answer. “Sounds like Theo.”

Her brow furrows, and she sits up, tugging her shirt back into place. “This better be good.”

Reluctantly, I follow her lead, adjusting myself as discreetly as possible before stepping out of the tent. Outside, I spot Theo near the campfire, waving us over.

“What’s so urgent?” I call out as we approach.

Theo doesn’t seem to notice the tension, or maybe he’s just too excited to care. “Jade got something. A vision.”

“What kind of vision?” Jaslyn questions.

“Mountain range,” Jade announces with triumph. “I saw a mountain range with three peaks and a narrow pass between them. It felt… close. Familiar.”

“Familiar how?” I ask, crossing my arms.

“Like I’ve been there before,” Jade replies. “Or near it, at least. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s within a day’s travel.”

Jaslyn glances at me. “Looks like we’ve got our next move.”

I nod as the tension from earlier melts into something sharper, more purposeful. “Let’s gear up. We’ve got a portal to find.”

The closer we get to the mountains, the more Jaslyn withdraws into herself. She’s walking just ahead of me with her shoulders stiff and her movements sharp, like her body’s ready to spring into action at any moment. She doesn’t say much, and when she does, her tone is clipped. Focused.

“Are you going to tell me what’s got you wound up, or do I have to guess?” I ask, stepping closer so we’re walking side by side.

“I’m fine,” she replies without looking at me.

“You’re not fine,” I counter, keeping my voice low so the others can’t hear. “You’re about as fine as a wolf caught in a trap.”

Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t respond.

“Jaslyn,” I press, “talk to me.”

She stops abruptly, and I nearly bump into her. “What do you want me to say, Gray? That I’m nervous? That I can feel the magic in these mountains clawing at me like it’s alive? That this whole thing feels wrong?”

“Yes,” I say simply. “That’s exactly what I want you to say if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“We’re close. Let’s just get this over with.”

The others don’t seem to notice the shift in her mood. Jade and Isadora are quietly discussing the logistics of the sealing ritual, while Theo and the warriors scout ahead. But I can’t shake the unease creeping through me, mirroring Jaslyn’s.

By the time we reach the base of the mountains, the energy in the air is almost suffocating. The familiar scent of pine and earth is replaced by something putrid and acrid, like burning sulfur. My wolf snarls in protest, and I catch the faintest flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye, though when I turn, there’s nothing there.

“This is it,” Jade announces, pointing to the mouth of a cave nestled between two jagged peaks. The entrance is wide and dark, and the shadows inside seem to writhe like living things.

“You feel that?” Jaslyn asks, glancing at the other witches.

“Yeah,” Isadora replies grimly. “That’s definitely demon energy.”

“It’s stronger here,” Jade adds. “Like the cave is amplifying it.”

“Any signs of animals?” Theo asks.

“None,” I reply, scanning the area. The forest around us is eerily silent, and I don’t like it one bit. “Nothing alive would want to be anywhere near this place.”

“That makes five of us,” Jaslyn mutters under her breath.

Jade and Isadora exchange a glance before nodding. “We’ll seal it down,” Jade announces. “If we trap the energy inside, it won’t be able to spread or attract more demons.”

“Do it,” I tell them. “We’ll keep watch.”

The witches move to the entrance of the cave. Jaslyn lingers for a moment, her green eyes locked on the dark mouth of the cave before stepping forward to join them. They form a loose circle with their hands outstretched as they begin to chant in unison.

The air grows heavier with each word, and the magic swirls around them like an invisible storm. My wolf bristles at the sensation, but I force myself to focus, scanning the tree line for any sign of movement. Theo and the warriors fan out with their weapons at the ready, but the forest remains unnervingly quiet.

Until it isn’t.

A guttural roar erupts from the cave, so loud and sudden that it feels like the ground shakes beneath us. My heart lurches as a massive shape bursts from the darkness—a demon covered in black, chitinous armor. Its glowing yellow eyes fix on Jaslyn before it moves with terrifying speed, closing the distance in seconds.

“Jaslyn, move!” I shout, already lunging toward her.

She reacts just in time, throwing up a glittering barrier of magic that barely holds as the demon slams into it. The force sends her stumbling back, and her hands tremble as she struggles to maintain the shield.

“Gray!” she gasps, her voice edged with panic.

“I’ve got you!” I growl, shifting mid-stride and leaping at the demon with all the strength I can muster. My claws rake across its side, and it lets out a screech of rage, turning its attention to me.

Good. Let it focus on me.

The warriors join the fray, striking at the demon from all sides in their wolf forms. It’s fast, unnaturally so, but we’ve trained for this. Theo’s teeth find their mark, slicing through one of its legs. The creature staggers, its movements slowing.

“Keep going!” I shout, ducking under a swipe of its massive claws. “Don’t let up!”

Jaslyn and the witches resume their chant, their voices rising in unison as the air thickens with power. The demon roars again, but I slam into it with all my weight, driving it back.

You’re not getting anywhere near them , I snarl, sinking my claws into its throat. The creature shrieks, and its yellow eyes dim as the warriors deliver the final blows, cutting it down with brutal efficiency.

The demon collapses with a sickening thud, and its body dissolves into ash and smoke. I don’t wait to see it vanish completely—I’m already shifting back to human and spinning in circles, searching for Jaslyn.

She’s still standing, her hands glowing with residual magic as the chant reaches its crescendo. The cave entrance shudders, and a blinding flash of light erupts from within. When it fades, the oppressive energy is gone, replaced by an almost unnatural stillness.

“It’s done,” Jade announces, her voice weary but triumphant. “The cave is sealed.”

Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. Jaslyn sways on her feet. Her face is pale, and I’m at her side in an instant, steadying her before she can fall.

“Jaslyn, are you hurt?” I demand.

She shakes her head, but her hands grip my arms with a force that tells me otherwise. “I’m fine. Just… give me a second.”

“You almost died. If that thing had been a second faster—”

“But it wasn’t,” she interrupts. “I’m here, Gray. I’m okay.”

The conviction in her voice doesn’t erase the image burned into my mind of her standing there, so close to danger.

The others regroup, but the scene blurs at the edges for me. All I can focus on is Jaslyn—the pale set of her face, the trembling in her hands as the adrenaline drains from her body. My arms stay locked around her, holding her upright, but it’s my wolf that needs to be grounded. It’s still snarling, pacing inside me, haunted by how close she came to being ripped from me.

“You scared the hell out of me,” I admit.

She tilts her head to look at me, and as her green eyes search mine, I know she sees it—the fear I can’t hide.

“I’m okay,” she says again, softer this time. “Gray, you stopped it. You protected me.”

“That thing was seconds away from tearing into you,” I grind out. “Do you have any idea—” I stop as the words choke me. “If I’d been a step slower, Jas…”

“But you weren’t. You were there. You always are.”

The trust in her voice is both a balm and a blade. She doesn’t understand how close I came to losing her. Not just to the demon, but to the chaos of this whole mission. My hands tighten on her arms, and I press my forehead to hers, letting the warmth of her presence soothe the storm in my chest.

“I can’t lose you,” I admit. “Not to demons. Not to anything.”

She goes still for a moment. Then, slowly, her arms come up to wrap around my neck, and she holds me as tightly as I’m holding her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

But the words don’t stop the images flashing in my mind: the demon lunging, her shield faltering, the endless possibilities of what could’ve happened if I’d been a heartbeat too late. My wolf snarls at the memory, and I pull her closer as the fear manifests in an almost desperate need to feel her solid and alive in my arms.

“I mean it, Jas,” I rasp. “Promise me you won’t take risks like that again. I don’t care what’s at stake—your life is more important.”

Her hands slide down to cup my face, forcing me to look at her. “I can’t promise I’ll always play it safe, but I can promise you this: I’ll fight to survive.”

The conviction in her eyes steadies something fragile in me. She means it. She’s not just saying the words to soothe me, she’s making a vow. My hands come up to cover hers, and I lean into her touch, letting the knot in my chest loosen just a little.

“The others are waiting,” she points out.

I nod, but I don’t let her go just yet. “Jaslyn…”

“Gray,” she interrupts gently, her lips curving into a faint smile. “I’m here.”

But the fear doesn’t leave me, not entirely. It lingers, a quiet shadow in the back of my mind, a reminder of how close I came to losing her.

As we rejoin the group, my wolf’s instincts narrow in on one thing: protect her at all costs.