Page 4

FOUR

SOL

S ol burst out of the front door of the restaurant. His jaw was clenched so tightly he could have crushed stone between his teeth. Two centuries as alpha and Prince of the Sunflare pack, and some chef had just dismissed him like a beggar at the palace gates. The afternoon sun beat down on his face, but it was nothing compared to the heat building in his chest.

He spotted the black SUV idling across the street, Joshua’s silhouette visible behind the wheel. Sol’s wolf prowled under his skin, unsettled and ready to claim what was rightfully his.

“It went that well, huh?” Joshua remarked as Sol slid into the back seat, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I take it by your expression, she fell instantly in love with you.”

Sol’s eyes flashed with dangerous intensity. “She thinks I just wasted her time. She gave me a tour of the damn restaurant thinking I was some investor.”

Mitesh turned in the passenger seat, his weathered face creased with amusement. “The Luna doesn’t recognize her alpha?”

“She’s human ,” Sol growled, tugging at his hair.

Joshua glanced in the rearview mirror. “You’re kidding. A human Luna? That’s... unprecedented.”

“Her power has only just awakened.” Sol stared out the window, recalling the fierce determination in Helena’s hazel eyes, the way her chef’s coat hugged her curves, and how her red hair cascaded down her back like living flame. “She has no idea what’s happening to her right now.”

“But you felt the connection?” Mitesh asked.

Sol’s fingers gripped the leather armrest, remembering the intense pull he felt when he saw her. “The very moment I walked in. It was like every flame in my blood reached for her.”

“Yet she kicked you out.” Joshua’s shoulders shook with barely suppressed laughter.

“She has fire,” Sol admitted, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “Her red hair—it’s like she wears our pack’s element as a crown.” His voice dropped lower. “And she has curves that would make a saint commit sin.”

Mitesh cleared his throat. “If I may, Your Highness, perhaps this situation requires more... finesse than your usual approach.”

Sol’s eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”

“You’ve spent two centuries commanding respect through power alone,” Mitesh said carefully. “This woman doesn’t know our ways. You can’t simply order her to accept her destiny.”

“I was perfectly charming,” Sol protested.

Joshua snorted. “As charming as a wolf with a thorn in its paw, I’m sure.”

Sol leaned forward. “I’m not leaving without her. The pack needs its Luna.”

“And you need...” Mitesh left the question hanging.

Sol didn’t answer immediately. The truth was he’d seen something in Helena beyond her beauty. A strength that matched his own, and an independence that challenged him.

“I need her to understand what she is,” he finally said. “What we could be together.”

“Well, did she at least take your card?” Joshua asked, arching one eyebrow.

“Yes,” Sol murmured, a predatory grin spreading across his face. “She did.”

Sol peered through the SUV’s tinted back window at the restaurant’s front entrance. His wolf clawed beneath his skin, demanding he go back inside and claim what belonged to them. Two centuries of waiting, and now his Luna was mere feet away, completely unaware of her destiny—of their destiny.

“We should leave.” Joshua’s voice cut through Sol’s fixation. “You’re doing that thing with your eyes again.”

Sol caught his reflection in the rearview mirror—his green irises were ringed with gold, the telltale sign of his wolf rising too close to the surface. He blinked hard, forcing control.

“She’ll call,” Joshua added, starting the engine. “But right now, you’re one step away from looking like a stalker.”

“I am the alpha and Prince of the Sunflare pack,” Sol growled. “I don’t stalk. I claim.”

Mitesh cleared his throat. “With respect, Your Highness, humans have different... courtship rituals. A man lurking in a vehicle outside a woman’s workplace typically ends with restraining orders.”

Sol’s jaw clenched. “Fine. Drive.”

As the SUV pulled away, Sol cast one last look at the restaurant. Through the large front windows, he could see Helena bustling around, her red hair catching the light like living fire. The sight sent heat coursing through his veins.

“The Rancho Valencia Resort is nearby,” Joshua suggested. “Five stars. Excellent room service.”

“I don’t care where we go,” Sol muttered, though he did. An alpha provided only the best for his pack—even a temporary den deserved consideration.

“She was perfect,” Sol said, more to himself than the others. “That fire in her eyes when she realized I wasn’t who she thought.” His lips curled into a smile. “She didn’t back down. Not even when I crowded her space.”

“A worthy Luna,” Mitesh nodded.

Sol scratched his beard, recalling the scent of cinnamon and heat that surrounded Helena. The memory of her standing before him, defiant and beautiful, sent a visceral shudder through his body. “She is mine. There’s no doubt.”

“Human though,” Joshua remarked lightly, too lightly.

Sol’s gaze sharpened. “Careful.”

“It’s just an observation,” Joshua replied, turning onto the main boulevard. “The council will have questions.”

“The council can burn,” Sol snapped. “Two hundred years I’ve ruled without their interference. I won’t start now.”

Mitesh turned in his seat. “What Joshua means is that we should prepare. A human Luna is unusual. She’ll need protection—human lives are so fragile, and she has no knowledge of our world.”

Sol’s wolf settled slightly at the protective thought. Yes, Helena would need safeguarding until she understood her powers and her place. Her place at his side.

“I have waited so long for her,” Sol rumbled. “I guess I can wait one more night.”

Sol tapped his fingers on the leather armrest as they drove to the hotel. His heartbeat was still erratic from his encounter with Helena. Through the tinted window, he watched the upscale buildings of the coastal town pass by, but his mind remained fixed on Helena—her flashing hazel eyes, the way her red hair seemed alive with her inner fire, and most distractingly, those curves that had made his wolf practically howl inside him.

“I just can’t believe your Luna is human.” Joshua shook his head, navigating the SUV through traffic.

Sol’s jaw tightened. “Does it matter? She’s mine. I felt it the moment I saw her.”

“It matters for her,” Mitesh replied, his weathered face thoughtful. “She knows nothing of our world, Your Highness. The transition will be... challenging.”

Sol pulled out his phone, checking for any missed calls. Nothing. His wolf paced restlessly, urging him to tell Joshua to turn the car around so Sol could go claim her right now. Each passing minute without her phone call stoked his impatience.

“She’ll need proper training,” Sol muttered. “I’ll have to teach her everything—our ways, our history, and her responsibilities as Luna.”

Joshua looked at Sol in the rearview mirror. “And if she refuses to come back with you?”

Sol’s green eyes flashed gold. “She won’t.”

“With respect,” Mitesh interjected, “humans value choice above all else. Your usual... approach might not serve you well here.”

Sol’s nostrils flared. “What are you suggesting? That I leave my Luna behind when I’ve finally found her after two hundred years?”

“I’m suggesting patience,” Mitesh replied calmly. “A quality not commonly associated with alphas—or fire elementals.”

Sol checked his phone again, growling under his breath. His wolf was growing more agitated with each second that passed without Helena’s call.

“Has there ever been a human Luna before, Mitesh?” He leaned forward, his large frame filling the space between the front seats. “How can a human lead wolves? My pack will certainly question it.”

Mitesh turned to face him, his expression serene despite Sol’s intensity. “It’s uncommon, but not unheard of. The chronicles speak of three human Lunas in our pack’s history.”

Sol’s eyebrows shot up. “Three? In two thousand years?”

“Rare treasures are the most valuable, Your Highness.”

“But my wolves will want a Luna who understands?—“

“When you claim her properly,” Mitesh interrupted, his voice lowering, “when your teeth mark her as yours, it will awaken what has always been dormant within her.”

Sol froze, his wolf suddenly alert and listening. “Are you saying?—“

“Every Luna has a wolf inside, even those born human. The mating bite awakens it in humans.” Mitesh’s eyes twinkled. “Why do you think the Moon Goddess paired you with a fire elemental? Your wolves will be as perfectly matched as your human forms.”

Heat surged through Sol’s body at the thought of sinking his teeth into Helena’s soft skin. Of marking her as his mate for all to see. Of meeting the wolf that slept inside her.

“What will she be like?” Sol asked, his voice rough. “Her wolf?”

Mitesh smiled. “If her human form is any indication—fierce and beautiful. And quite possibly as stubborn as yours.”

Joshua laughed. “The Moon Goddess has a sense of humor, giving you a mate who’ll challenge you at every turn.”

The image of Helena’s wolf formed in Sol’s mind—sleek and powerful with beautiful fur, and eyes that burned with the same defiance he’d seen today. His own wolf rumbled with approval and desire.

Joshua finally turned the black SUV into the hotel’s circular driveway, pulling up under the grand stone portico where three valets stood at attention. Sol didn’t wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop before pushing his door open, his body thrumming with impatience.

“I’ll handle the arrangements,” Sol announced, not asking but telling. He strode through the hotel’s gleaming glass doors without looking back, knowing his men would follow.

The lobby stretched before him in polished marble and crystal chandeliers, a fitting place for an alpha and his closest pack members. The scent of wealth hung in the air—fresh flowers, expensive perfumes, and the underlying musk of power that money inevitably brought. Sol inhaled deeply, letting his senses map the building.

He approached the reception desk with the confidence of one accustomed to command. “Your finest penthouse suite. Three bedrooms minimum.”

The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly before her training kicked in. “I’m afraid our Presidential Suite is currently?—“

“Check again.” Sol’s voice dropped lower as he placed his black card on the counter. “I’m sure you’ll find it’s available.”

Ten minutes later, the hotel manager personally escorted them to the top floor, babbling about amenities and services that Sol barely registered. His mind was elsewhere—on a fiery-haired chef who’d dismissed him like he was nothing.

The penthouse spread before them, all floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant furnishings. A massive terrace overlooked the Pacific, and through an archway, Sol spotted the gleaming jacuzzi big enough for six.

“This will do,” Sol stated, taking the key cards and dismissing the manager with a nod.

Joshua whistled as he wandered through the space. “Not bad for a last-minute booking.”

“I need to be alone.” Sol wasn’t asking for understanding. Mitesh and Joshua exchanged glances but knew better than to argue.

“We’ll be in our rooms if you need anything,” Mitesh offered before retreating, Joshua following close behind.

Sol headed straight for the fully stocked bar, selecting a crystal decanter of whiskey. He poured a generous amount into a tumbler, then downed it in one burning swallow. The alcohol warmed his throat but did nothing to soothe the fire in his blood.

With quick, efficient movements, he shed his clothes, dropping them carelessly on the marble floor as he made his way to the jacuzzi. His naked body—sculpted by centuries of shifting and fighting—reflected in the room’s many mirrors. His intricate tattoo on his upper right arm seemed to shimmer in the dimmed lighting, the symbols of the Sunflare lineage etched into his skin.

Sol turned the jets to their highest setting and sank into the steaming water, letting it envelop his tense muscles. He placed his phone on the edge of the tub, within arm’s reach for when Helena called.

When , not if . An alpha didn’t entertain doubt.

He closed his eyes, his mind drifting to the image of Helena, to the way her chef’s coat had deliciously hugged her generous curves. What would she look like without it? His imagination painted a vivid picture—her pale skin flushed with heat, those full breasts rising and falling with each breath, and her long red hair spread across his pillows like liquid fire.

“Damn it.” Sol wiggled in the water as his body responded to the mental image. His wolf stirred, hungry for more than just a glimpse of their mate.

He imagined pressing her against a wall, capturing her mouth with his, and tasting the fire he knew burned within her. Would she fight him at first? Or would she surrender immediately to the unmistakable pull between them? Either way, the chase would be exhilarating.

Sol’s hand drifted beneath the water, but he stopped himself with a growl. “Patience,” he muttered to himself, though the word felt foreign on his tongue. Alphas took what they wanted. They didn’t wait.

But for Helena, he would try. She wasn’t just another conquest. She was his Luna—his missing half.

Sol finally extracted himself from the jacuzzi, water dripping off his muscular form. He dried himself roughly before throwing himself onto the king-sized bed, not bothering with clothes. The silk sheets felt cool against his overheated skin.

His phone remained silent on the nightstand. Sol stared at it, willing it to ring, while his wolf paced restlessly.