Page 7

Maya

The forest hums with life as the Howling Pines Pack gathers beneath the full moon. Moonlit Ridge stretches before us, the towering trees casting long shadows over the clearing. The scent of pine, damp earth, and wolves fills the crisp night air. The energy is electric, running through me like a current, urging me to shed my human skin and embrace the wild.

But I'm distracted.

I told myself I wouldn't be. I told myself I wasn't waiting for him.

Yet, here I am, standing at the edge of the pack, scanning the treeline for any sign of him.

"Maya." Olivia appears beside me, her knowing smile too perceptive. "You're going to get whiplash if you keep looking around like that."

"I'm just being vigilant," I mutter. "You know, with the hunters and everything."

She snorts. "Right. The hunters. Nothing to do with a certain brooding CEO?"

Before I can respond, Theo's voice rumbles through the gathering. "Listen up!" His commanding tone draws every eye. "With hunters in the area, we're keeping tonight's run tight. Two hours max. Enforcers will maintain the perimeter." His dark gaze sweeps over us. "No lone wolves tonight. Stay with your assigned groups."

The pack shifts restlessly, their excitement tempered by the weight of danger pressing against our borders. I should be focused. I should be grounding myself in the moment.

But then I catch it—the scent of pine and storm on the wind.

My stomach clenches, my pulse kicking up as I turn toward the trees. And there he is.

Adrian Blackwell stands at the edge of the clearing, his imposing figure drawing every eye to him. He isn't dressed in his usual sharp suits—tonight, he's in a simple black t-shirt and dark sweatpants, his presence just as commanding as ever. The pack quiets, shifting uneasily at the sight of him. A lone wolf. An outsider.

"Blackwell." Theo's voice carries a hint of challenge. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Maya extended an invitation," Adrian replies, his tone measured and controlled. His storm-gray eyes find mine for a fraction of a second before returning to Theo. "I hope that won't be a problem."

"Oh, did she now?" Ethan's teasing voice carries across the clearing as he shoots me a playful wink. "Getting cozy with the corporate wolf, Maya?"

I feel heat rise to my cheeks, but before I can respond, Theo cuts in. "Stand down," he orders, though his stance remains tense. He studies Adrian for a long moment before nodding. "Your help is... appreciated. But you run with us, you follow pack rules."

"Understood." Adrian's gaze drifts to me again, longer this time, and something hot and electric sparks in my chest.

"Since when does he join pack runs?" Olivia whispers.

"He doesn't," I whisper back, trying to ignore the way my wolf stirs at his presence.

Theo rolls his shoulders, breaking the tension. "Alright, let's run!"

There's a rustle of fabric as everyone quickly strips, leaving piles of clothes scattered across the clearing. I slip behind a tree to remove my own clothes, folding them neatly on a low branch—a habit my mother drilled into me since childhood.

When I step back into the clearing, the shift is already rippling through the pack. Bones crack, muscles stretch, and fur erupts as my packmates shed their human forms. The air fills with the sound of paws hitting earth, bodies vibrating with the primal need to move.

I let my own change take me, the shift rolling over me in a familiar wave of heat and pressure. When I land on all fours, my wolf surges forward, eager and free.

From the corner of my eye, I see Adrian step away from where he's placed his clothes. And then he shifts.

A collective pause sweeps through the pack. His wolf is massive—bigger than any of ours. His fur is a striking pale gray, almost silver under the moonlight, and his presence commands attention. He's a predator, a true alpha, and even the most dominant wolves in my pack hesitate at the sight of him.

I don't.

I step forward, my sleek, dark wolf locking eyes with his. His storm-gray gaze holds mine, and something passes between us—a challenge, an invitation, a promise. My wolf responds instinctively, drawn to his power even as my human side rebels against the pull.

Theo howls, signaling the start of the run, and the pack surges forward. I launch myself into the forest, my paws barely touching the ground. The world blurs into streaks of moonlight and shadow.

And then he's there, running beside me. Not too close, but close enough that I can feel the power radiating from him, can sense the way his movements mirror mine. It's too natural, too right—this synchronicity between us.

I push myself faster, trying to outrun both him and the dangerous thoughts crowding my mind. But I can feel his presence behind me, steady and unwavering, like a shadow I can't shake.

Like a destiny I can't escape.

We run together.

The forest blurs around me as I dart between trees, my paws barely touching the ground. Behind me, Adrian's wolf keeps pace—not chasing exactly, but dancing with me through the shadows. The night air rushes through my fur, carrying his scent: sandalwood and storms. My wolf thrills at it, at him, at this game we're playing.

I leap over a fallen log, twisting mid-air to snap playfully at his muzzle. His answering growl is deep, amused, sending shivers down my spine. For someone so controlled in human form, his wolf moves with fluid grace, powerful muscles rippling beneath dark fur.

We weave through the trees, our bodies falling into perfect sync. Sometimes I lead, sometimes he does, but always we move as one. The moon bathes the forest in silver light, and my heart pounds with something more than exertion. He's so close I can feel the heat of him, his presence both thrilling and terrifying.

My wolf yearns to get closer, to nip at his ear, to feel his fur brush against mine. The urge is so strong it makes me dizzy.

Breaking away from our usual running path, I follow my instincts toward a quieter part of the forest. The sounds of the pack fade behind us. I don't check to see if he follows—I can feel him, like a shadow connected to my soul.

The clearing appears ahead, bathed in moonlight. I slow, turning to face him as he emerges from the trees. His wolf is magnificent—larger than mine, with storm-gray eyes that pierce through the darkness. He circles me slowly, deliberately, his movements pure predator. But there's something else there too, something that makes my breath catch.

I dance away when he gets too close, my tail swishing teasingly. He lunges, quick but gentle, and we tumble together in the grass. His wolf pins mine, careful not to hurt, and the rumble in his chest isn't threatening—it's possessive, wanting.

The energy between us shifts, electric and inevitable. My wolf recognizes what's happening before I do, and suddenly I'm shifting back, my human form replacing fur and claws. Adrian freezes, his wolf's eyes widening before he too gives in, his transformation smooth and controlled.

We stand facing each other in the clearing, our breaths heavy in the night air. Moonlight plays across his bare chest, highlighting the tension in his muscles. His eyes are still wolf-wild, fixed on me with an intensity that makes me shiver.

"You ran with me," I say softly, taking a step closer.

His jaw tightens. "I told myself I wouldn't."

Another step. I'm close enough now to see the flecks of silver in his eyes, to feel the heat radiating from his skin. "Then why did you?"

His hand lifts slowly, hesitating for a heartbeat before his fingers brush my jaw. The touch is impossibly gentle, at odds with his usual stern demeanor. A tremor runs through him.

"Because," he says, his voice rough with emotion, "I've been fighting this since the moment I met you. Fighting us. And I'm tired of fighting."

My chest tightens. "You know what this is. What we are."

His wolf is still in his eyes when he pulls me closer, his hand sliding to the back of my neck. His voice drops to a low growl.

“Yes.” His lips brush mine. “You’re mine.”

Then he kisses me.

It isn’t soft. It’s desperate, consuming.

His lips are firm, demanding, and I meet his hunger with my own. My hands explore the hard planes of his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles, reveling in the raw power beneath my fingertips. His heart races against my palm, a wild drumbeat that echoes my own.

He deepens the kiss, his tongue sweeping against mine, claiming me. I press closer, my body molding to his, and I can feel him—all of him—hard and ready against my stomach. A shiver of anticipation runs through me, pooling heat between my legs.

Adrian's hands roam my back, his touch possessive, igniting sparks of pleasure everywhere he touches. I gasp into his mouth as he cups my ass, pulling me tighter against him. His cock is a hot, hard brand against me, promising pleasure and danger all at once.

"You feel that?" he growls, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. "You feel what you do to me?"

I nod, breathless, my fingers digging into his shoulders. "Yes. God, yes."

He trails kisses down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin, sending jolts of electricity straight to my core. I arch into him, offering more, begging for more. His hands slide up my sides, his thumbs brushing the undersides of my breasts, teasing, tantalizing.

"Adrian," I whisper, my voice barely a sound. "Please."

His mouth finds my breast, his tongue circling my nipple before drawing it into his mouth. I cry out, the sensation shooting straight to my clit, making me ache for him. He lavishes attention on one breast, then the other, his hands roaming my body, stoking the fire within me.

I reach between us, my fingers wrapping around his cock. He's thick and hard, pulsing with need. I stroke him, reveling in the velvety smoothness of his skin, the heat of him in my hand. He groans against my breast, his hips thrusting into my touch.

"Maya," he rasps, his voice ragged. "You're playing with fire."

I look up at him, my eyes meeting his storm-gray gaze. "Maybe I want to get burned."

His eyes darken, and he captures my mouth in another searing kiss. His hand slides down my stomach, his fingers finding my wet heat. He strokes me, his touch sure and confident, sending waves of pleasure crashing through me. I rock against his hand, chasing the sensation, desperate for more.

"You're so wet for me," he murmurs, his voice a low growl. "So ready."

"Yes," I gasp, my body trembling with need. "Adrian, please."

He guides me down to the soft grass, his body covering mine. His cock presses against my entrance, hot and hard, and I wrap my legs around him, urging him closer. He looks down at me, his eyes filled with a mix of raw desire and something deeper, something that makes my heart ache.

"Tell me you want this," he says, his voice low and rough. "Tell me you want me."

I cup his face, my fingers tracing the lines of his jaw. "I want this. I want you."

He enters me slowly, his gaze locked on mine, his body trembling with restraint. I feel every inch of him, filling me, stretching me, completing me. When he's fully seated within me, he pauses, his breath ragged, his eyes filled with a mix of wonder and desire.

"You're mine," he says, his voice a possessive growl. "Mine."

I nod, my heart swelling with emotion. "Yours. Always."

He begins to move, his hips thrusting in a steady rhythm, his body claiming mine. Pleasure builds within me, each thrust sending me higher, closer to the edge. I cling to him, my nails digging into his back, my body meeting his with every thrust.

His mouth finds mine, his kiss fierce and possessive. Our bodies move together, our breaths mingling, our hearts beating as one. The pleasure builds, intensifies, until it's all I can feel, all I can think about.

"Adrian," I gasp, my body trembling on the edge. "I'm close. So close."

"I know," he growls, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through me. "I can feel you, Maya. I can feel everything."

He adjusts his angle, his cock hitting a spot deep inside me that sends sparks of pleasure shooting through my body. I cry out, my nails digging deeper into his back, urging him on. His pace quickens, his thrusts becoming harder, more urgent.

"Come for me, Maya," he commands, his voice rough with desire. "Let me feel you come undone."

His words send me over the edge. Pleasure explodes within me, my body convulsing around him as waves of ecstasy crash through me. I cry out his name, my voice echoing through the forest, wild and free.

Adrian's body tenses, his cock pulsing within me as he finds his own release. He groans, his face buried in the crook of my neck, his body shuddering with the force of his orgasm. I hold him close, my arms wrapped around him, my body still trembling with the aftershocks of pleasure.

We lie there for a moment, our bodies entwined, our breaths slowly returning to normal. Adrian lifts his head, his storm-gray eyes meeting mine. There's a softness in his gaze, a vulnerability I've never seen before.

"You're incredible," he murmurs, his voice barely a whisper.

I smile, my heart swelling with emotion. "You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Blackwell."

He chuckles, a low, warm sound that sends shivers down my spine. "Is that so?"

I nod, my fingers tracing the sharp lines of his face, memorizing the way his skin feels beneath my touch. "That's so. Though I must admit, I never expected this. Never expected us."

His expression turns serious, his storm-gray eyes searching mine, as if trying to decipher something unspoken. "Neither did I."

It’s then that I realize—he hasn’t bitten me. And I haven’t bitten him. Here we are, still teetering on the edge of something unfinished. A choice neither of us has made yet.

I whisper, “Does this mean you want to complete the mating?”

His breath hitches, tension tightening his jaw. But before he can answer, a distant howl shatters the moment, yanking us back to reality.

The pack is calling us back.

Reality crashes in.

For a long second, neither of us moves. Then, without a word, Adrian pulls away, his expression unreadable.

The warmth of his body disappears as he shifts back into his wolf and takes off toward the sound.

I stare after him, my heart pounding.

And I wonder if that was my last chance.

If the moment we just shared is already slipping away.