Page 6

6

EVE

I perched high among the branches, gripping the rough bark to keep myself steady. From up here, I could barely make out the forest floor below, where thin beams of moonlight sliced through the leaves, scattering patches of brightness on the ground.

I’d been waiting in this spot for hours, since the end of Alpha Grayson’s dinner. The dinner had been the usual display, like Grayson was some sort of king and his immediate entourage the royal family. The whole estate was lit up, tables set with silver platters and crystal goblets, food piled high like we were celebrating a victory instead of holding on to scraps. Every Heraclid who mattered was there, dressed in their best, falling over themselves to impress him and his son. They toasted, laughed too loudly, all to keep in Grayson’s favor, as if his approval might somehow protect them from the reality many Heraclids faced on the outer edges of the territory.

I’d sat through it, stiff-backed and silent, watching the whole show from the far end of the table. Grayson’s speeches, his sharp smiles, his way of nodding like he was some magnanimous ruler—it made my skin crawl. And yet, the pack devoured every bit of it.

I played my part, pretending not to notice the empty compliments, the way they treated him like he was untouchable. That seemed to be enough to keep Damian in line, though that bitch-wolf Sable continued to stare at me like I was an enigma she was desperate to figure out. The way she sidled up to Damian made me sick. She was the only thing that had made me squirm, and I was relieved when I could finally sneak out.

And I ran. Ran to the very edge of Heraclid lands. I was ready to spend the night in the tree, hoping that would keep me safe from anyone roaming in wolf form. I waited and waited, starting to question why I ever thought that was a good idea. It wasn’t like he was going to come back to the same place two nights in a row. He wasn’t looking for me the way I was looking for him.

And then he appeared.

The wolf moved with a grace that belied his size, muscles rippling beneath a coat the color of rich earth. He circled the base of the tree, his movements both impatient and purposeful. Every so often, he’d pause, lifting his head to sniff the air, scanning the branches. A low whine escaped his throat, and he placed his front paws against the trunk, claws scratching lightly as if testing its strength.

I held my breath.

Up close, he was even more imposing than I remembered from the visions—a blend of unadulterated power and restrained energy. There was no question he was the wolf who infiltrated my visions, the one who might hold the key to my freedom.

As I crouched above him, a pulse of feeling broke through my senses, steady at first, then flooding in waves that knocked the air out of me. His emotions struck like gusts of wind, stirring something deep within my own chest. I was feeling his feelings.

He surrounded me, pulling me in. I hadn’t seen that coming.

I gripped the branch tighter, bracing myself, but it didn’t help. Every inch of me was picking up on his emotions, his instincts, even his confusion, as if they were seeping through the air between us, demanding I pay attention. My skin tingled, my pulse quickening, and the completeness of it was unsettling. In the past, I’d felt flickers of emotions from Heraclids through the pack bond—loose drops of ideas, feelings, minimal at best.

This, however, was consuming . Invasive. Impossible to shut out. The force of it wrapped around me, and I felt exposed, wondering if he could sense my own thoughts just as clearly.

The intensity made me hold my breath, a thrill sparking through me even as I tried to control it. What kind of wolf was he, to make me feel this way? I’d never had another’s feelings settle over me like this, real as my own heartbeat. And it was then, with his gaze locked on to mine, that I realized how dangerous it was to be here. Not because of the threat he posed—but because of the way he made me feel. I couldn’t lose sight of why I was there.

He is my way out.

Carefully, I shifted my weight, the branch swaying slightly beneath me. His ears twitched at the sound, head snapping upwards. Our eyes met through the lattice of leaves, and a jolt shot through me. It was as if he could see straight into my soul, peeling back layers I’d long kept hidden. For a heartbeat, I forgot to breathe.

I couldn’t let myself be drawn in.

The power radiating from him was palpable—even from this distance, it pressed against my senses like a tangible force. If I could harness that, perhaps I could finally break the chains holding me captive within the Heraclid pack.

He circled the tree again, more agitated. The soft whines had ceased, replaced by a low rumble that vibrated through the air. He wanted me to come down. Whether it was out of curiosity or something more primal, I couldn’t tell.

I considered my options.

Approaching him directly was a risk. I knew nothing of his temperament beyond the glimpses the visions had granted me. But staying hidden wouldn’t get me any closer to my goal. I needed to make contact, to find a way to gain his trust—or at least his interest.

“Looking for something?” I called down, keeping my tone light but edged with confidence.

He froze, head tilted upwards. The force of his stare sent a shiver coursing through me, but I held firm. I wouldn’t show weakness.

“You’ve been following me,” I continued. “Or perhaps I’ve been following you.” A half-truth, but it might pique his curiosity.

He huffed, a cloud of breath visible in the cool night air. To my surprise, he stepped back. His muscles tensed, and in a fluid motion, the wolf began to shift.

I watched, transfixed, as fur gave way to skin, limbs reshaping until a man stood where the wolf had been moments before. He was tall—taller than I’d remembered even—with dark hair that fell in tousled waves around a face etched with strength and something else. Something guarded.

“Who are you?” His voice was deep, resonant, carrying easily to where I sat above, and it cast a shudder through me. Heat ran through my veins and I felt lightheaded. Not good when sitting precariously in a tree while the man who can decide your fate awaits your reply below.

I offered a faint smile. “Just a traveler passing through.”

“These lands aren’t safe for wanderers.”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance despite the quickening of my pulse. “I’ve found that nowhere is truly safe.”

He seemed to consider this. “You’re on Orion territory.”

“These are Heraclid lands.” I glanced around deliberately.

“These are my lands,” he rumbled, the sound making my collarbone vibrate, and I caught my breath.

So the man of my visions was from Orion. The Orion that Grayson so hated. Somehow many pieces fell into place. “The lines seem blurred to me.”

A hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You should come down.”

“Perhaps I like the view from up here.”

“Or perhaps you’re hiding.”

“From you?” I arched an eyebrow. “Should I be?”

He took a step closer to the tree. “That depends on your intentions. ”

This was it—the opening I needed. “Maybe I’m seeking an alliance,” I said carefully. “A mutual benefit.”

He crossed his arms, muscles flexing subtly. “What could you possibly offer the Orion pack?”

I leaned forward slightly, letting a strand of hair slip over my shoulder. “Information. Insight into the Heraclids.”

At the mention of the rival pack, his expression hardened ever so slightly. “And why would a Heraclid share such things?”

“Who said I was one of them?”

He hesitated. “You’re not?”

I let my silence answer for me, a calculated move. Let him wonder. Let him question.

“Come down,” he repeated. This time his tone was less commanding, more entreating.

“Only if you promise not to bite,” I quipped.

His mouth twitched, as if he’d almost smiled but thought better of it. “No promises.”

Against my better judgment, I began to descend, moving carefully from branch to branch until my feet touched the forest floor and I was up close to him. The air between us crackled with unspoken energy. I tilted my head back to look him in the eye.

“Better?” I asked.

Standing before me, he was as much wolf as man, his powerful form entirely unabashed in his nakedness. He had arms that could snap me in two if he wanted, but I knew he wouldn’t. I could feel his attention tracking over me, intense and unbroken, and it set off a strange, almost feverish heat that pooled low in me. A sheen of perspiration covered me, and I bit my lip to keep the throbbing need between my legs in check.

I struggled to focus, to keep my thoughts sharp and my intentions clear, but he made it nearly impossible. I traced the lines of his body, following the paths of muscle across his chest, down his arms—broad, strong, marked by intricate tattoos. They wove together along his bicep, symbols I couldn’t fully understand but I could tell carried meaning. Each line of ink hinted at something more, something hidden, a story woven into his skin like visible secrets.

I clenched my braid tightly, grounding myself. He was so close now I caught the scent of evergreen and ocean clinging to him. It drew me in, each breath stirring a need to close the inches between us, to let his strength anchor me.

So much depended on my control.

We were connected, frozen in place. Finally, I closed my eyes, the weight of it too much to bear. His presence pressed against me, not as a threat but as two forces meant to meet.

It was unmistakable—a draw I’d felt in visions, yes, but here, it was as real as my pulse. It made me sway on my feet.

A small sigh escaped my lips, and I caught myself, clinging harder to my braid to keep steady. It didn’t stop the sensation from sweeping over me like the slow, heady crash of a wave, spreading through my limbs, leaving me feeling strangely bare under his unwavering focus.

The visions warned me , I told myself. They knew he had power beyond all others.

Nothing had truly readied me for the way his presence seared against me, igniting me, turning me into someone I didn’t know I was.

When I opened my eyes, I found his still locked on mine. There was no doubt in him, no hesitation, as if he knew something I didn’t.

I rolled my shoulders back and forced myself to sound confident. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

We stood there, two strangers bound by something neither of us fully understood. It would be so easy to let my guard down, to believe that perhaps he could be more than a means to an end.

I couldn’t afford that luxury.

He crossed his arms. “What’s your name?”

In the distance, a faint howl echoed—a sound that sent a chill down my spine. The Heraclids were on the move. My time was running short.

“I have to go,” I said abruptly.

His expression tightened. “Will you be back?”

“Tomorrow?” I didn’t know how I could find a way to get out of the Heraclid city, much less escape the watchful eye of Damian, but I could try.

“I’m in the human city tomorrow.” His face clouded over. “But again. Soon.”

“If I can.”

I meant it.

“I have to go.” I pulled up the sides of my dress, ready to run.

He reached out as if to stop me but flinched just before touching my arm. “Be careful.”

The proximity of his hand sent a jolt through me.

The energy rolling off him sank into me and was impossible to ignore. It smoothed over jagged edges and set off a thrill I could feel all the way to my fingertips. My wolf stirred, curious, waking up inside me like she’d been waiting for this, for him. I couldn’t help the small smile that crept across my face, surprised at how alive she felt—a part of me finally breathing.

I took a breath, feeling my pulse hammer as his presence soaked into every inch of space between us.

“I’ll find you again,” he said.

Without another word, I turned and slipped back into the shadows of the forest, leaves whispering underfoot. As I moved away, I couldn’t help but glance back. He stood where I’d left him, a solitary figure amid the towering trees, watching.

I hated the hope that was taking root in my soul. I pushed it down, focusing on the path ahead. There was much to do, and trust to build. For the first time in a long while, the odds felt ever so slightly on my side.