Page 5

Arwen

I begin throwing things into a bag, wondering what I even want to bring. I don’t want any reminders of this shattered life. I want what Wilder is promising—a new start. He saved me tonight in more ways than one. I’ve always been different, and he’s given me the gift of knowledge, of what I am and what I can become.

Wilder walks back into my room as I’m stuffing things into my bag. He slips his phone in his pocket then leans against the door, watching me. Chills run through me at his hard gaze. I can’t describe it. He’s so intoxicating, like a new drug I never knew I needed but I can never live without.

“Someone will be here soon to clean up this mess,” he says coolly, like this is a normal occurrence for him and maybe it is.

“Will you get in trouble?” I ask, suddenly worried.

“No. There’s an agency called Shifter Relations that specializes in crime scene cleanups. Once they sweep through here, it will be like it never happened. And I’m sure no one will miss the bastard,” he growls the last part as if he’s still angry with him even though he’s dead.

I can’t believe there is this whole world I didn’t know about. I mean, I knew about shifters but that’s the extent of my knowledge and I definitely didn’t know there were so many. My mind is reeling from all the information that’s been thrown at me tonight.

He pulls the bag from my hands, throwing it over his shoulder as he takes my hand to pull me along with him.

“Time to go home, baby,” he murmurs in my ear.

Home. I’ve never felt like I knew what that word meant until Wilder. This man ...well, shifter, stormed into my life, turning everything upside down. I still feel like I’ll wake up tomorrow and everything will have been a fever dream.

As we walk, the neon lights of the bar dim in the distance, replaced by the comforting glow of street lamps illuminating the sidewalk. The air has a chill to it, a stark contrast to the heat of the moment we just shared back inside. My heart still races, filled with confusion and exhilaration, as I steal glances at him. His jaw is clenched, a brow arched with concern.

“What are you thinking about, Starlight?” he asks, softer than I expect. His brow is furrowed, concern etched into the lines of his ruggedly gorgeous face.

“I don’t know, it’s just ... tonight, everything has changed. I can’t go back to the way things were. I don’t want to.”

He stops suddenly, pulling me closer with both hands on my shoulders. “You won’t have to. You’re with me now.”

“Yeah, but you’re a shifter, Wilder. What if I don’t fit into your world?” I ask, still grappling with the idea.

He cracks a smile, though his eyes remain serious. “You’re all wrong, Arwen. You fit perfectly, like the moon does with the tide. We’ll find our rhythm.”

“Why would you even want me?” The question spills out before I can stop it, my voice trembling as tears threaten to spill. The insecurities Jarrod drilled into me are ever present and I don’t feel like I’m good enough for anyone.

“Because you’re extraordinary,” he replies without hesitating, his gaze unwavering. “I lost my way for far too long, and then you crashed into my life, and I realize it’s you I need. I never knew fated mates were real, but I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

I nestle against him, closing my eyes and allowing myself to believe. The shadows in my past fade as a spark ignites my soul. Maybe Wilder was right. Home wasn’t a place, it was never meant to be. It was a feeling, and I had finally found it in his embrace.

He leads me to a huge black motorcycle with “WB” inscribed on the side. My eyes widen with awe at the vehicle gleaming under the moonlight.

“Is this yours?” I ask incredulously, my voice barely a whisper.

“Yeah. Like it?” he replies, a grin forming on his lips.

“It’s nicer than anything I’ve ever seen.” I can’t help but feel inferior in my corset and jeans, standing beside this machine of power and elegance. “Are you wealthy or something?”

Wilder chuckles, the sound deep and rich, like velvet wrapping around a wooden chair. “It’s just a motorcycle. Don’t let it scare you. I am definitely not your average rich guy.”

I raise an eyebrow at his contradiction. “Is there such a thing as an average rich guy?”

He smirks, leaning against the motorcycle with a casual grace. “I guess it’s all about how you define ‘average.’ But genuinely, wealth isn’t what matters.”

I smirk back, letting a playful tone surface, “Then what does?”

Wilder steps closer, worlds between us melting as he bridges that gap. His breath is warm against my face, sending shivers down my spine. “Connection. Trust. That spark.”

My breath catches in my throat as the moment lingers, almost reverent. “And what if it fades?” I don’t know why the thought terrifies me. Perhaps it’s the sudden pull I feel toward him.

“Can fated mates tire of one another?” He raises an eyebrow, a teasing glint dancing in his mesmerizing yellow eyes.

“I don’t know, can they?” I bite my lip, torn between jest and seriousness, the weight of his words pressing against the rib cage of my hope.

“Not if it’s genuine.” His tone is steady, almost commanding, and a warmth radiates within my chest. “Arwen, you’re my other half. I promise I’ll always fight for us.”

I visibly relax, letting his words wash over me like morning sunlight after a cool night. There’s determination in his gaze, a promise so powerful it nearly glows. “Okay,” I finally manage, though doubt still lingers.

“Okay?” he echoes, a grin spreading across his face.

“Yeah, just...” I look down at my chubby body then look at his perfect chiseled physique. My heart races in my throat. He could have anyone he wants.

Wilder doesn’t flinch. Instead, he reaches out and gently tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, the tenderness of his touch shooting warmth through my body. “Arwen, you’re the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen. Inside and out. Trust me.”

I feel myself blush, the night’s atmosphere shifting from uncertain tension to something warm and inviting. “I guess we’ll see how far that trust goes, won’t we?”

“Are you ready to ride?” His expression turns serious, eyes locking onto mine, expectations brewing in the air like a thunderstorm brewing behind a window.

“Ready? I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before. What if I fall?”

He leans closer, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. “Then I’ll catch you, I promise.”

I hesitate only for a moment before climbing onto the seat, a tingle of exhilaration replacing my fear. He gently places a helmet over my head, pulling the chin strap tight as if to ensure my safety. I can smell his leather jacket—an intoxicating mix of musky scent and adventure—as he shrugs out of it and drapes it over my shoulders.

“Here, put this on. I don’t want you to get a chill,” he says, his voice low and smooth, wrapping around me like a spell.

I chuckle nervously, trying to hide the way my heart flips as Wilder’s fingers brush against my arms. “If I freeze, it’ll be from fear, not cold!”

He grins, a cocky glint in his eyes. “Then hold on tight.”

With a roaring engine, Wilder brings the bike to life, the vibrations transmitting through my body. As we surge forward, the world blurs—a kaleidoscope of city lights and swirling shadows.

“What do you think?” Wilder shouts over the wind, the exhilaration in his voice cutting through my initial apprehension.

“I think it’s amazing!” I shout back, laughter bubbling up as the wind rushes past us. The streets open like a pathway through the dark, leading to places I have never imagined going. My heart thunders in my chest, a rhythm that matches the purr of the bike racing through my veins.

But buried beneath the thrill is a deeper, more primal need. Suddenly, I am achy and yearning for Wilder in a way I never thought I would want a man again. A longing as potent as the magic I feel buzzing in the air. I clench my thighs against his sides, hoping the friction will douse the insatiable fire building within me. But instead, it only intensifies the energy between us.

“Keep doing that, Starlight,” he growls, molten desire lacing his tone, wrapping around me like an embrace, “and we won’t make it back to my penthouse before I have to stop and bend you over this bike to pound into that pussy.”

His words stoke the flames of my desire, igniting my senses in a way I had long since forgotten.

Every thrust of the bike’s engine synchronizes with the pounding in my chest, each twist in the road mirroring the spirals of my yearning. The night teems with possibilities, and with Wilder’s warm laughter and whispered promises chasing the wind, I feel like I am unearthing a part of myself I thought was lost.

Taking in a sharp breath of exhilarating freedom, I turn and wrap my arms tighter around his torso, surrendering myself completely to this wild ride and to him. The city lights dance around us like ethereal spirits, urging us toward an adventure that feels both dangerous and deliciously inevitable.