Chapter 6 : Kiss

"It's nothing." Matthew's voice came out hoarse, his hand still pressed against the mark on his neck. His eyes darted between Mia and the door, like a cornered animal searching for escape.

Mia's fingers trembled as she finished buttoning her shirt. Her wolf prowled beneath her skin, growing more restless with each passing minute. Without her medication, the barrier between her human side and her wolf nature grew dangerously thin.

"The pills," she managed through gritted teeth. "Please."

Matthew's face hardened, his earlier shock replaced by something cold and distant. He gripped the pill bottle in his pocket until his knuckles turned white. "This isn't happening. We're not I can't be "

A wave of dizziness hit Mia. She steadied herself against the wall, her vision blurring at the edges. Her wolf scratched and clawed, demanding to break free.

"Matthew, I need them. You don't understand what happens when "

"Stop." He cut her off, backing toward the door. "Just stop. This is some kind of mistake. The marks—they must mean something else."

Sweat beaded on Mia's forehead. Her nails lengthened slightly, threatening to turn to claws. "Please don't leave with those pills."

But Matthew was already moving, his steps quick and unsteady. "Stay away from me. Whatever you think this is it's not real."

He yanked the library door open, nearly stumbling in his haste to escape. The pill bottle rattled in his pocket as he disappeared down the hallway, leaving Mia alone with her increasingly unstable wolf.

She slid down the wall, wrapping her arms around her knees. Her whole body shook with the effort of maintaining control. Without her medication, it was only a matter of time before her wolf took over.

…

Mia's footsteps echoed through the mansion's halls as she tracked Liam's scent. Her wolf's presence pulsed stronger with each step, making her movements jerky and uncertain. She found him in his private study, surrounded by medical texts and patient files.

Liam didn't look up from his work. "Get out."

"I need the spare keys to Matthew's room." Mia pressed her palm against the doorframe to steady herself. "He has my medication."

"Not my problem." Liam's pen scratched across paper, his shoulders rigid.

Her wolf surged forward, and Mia's vision flashed gold. She stumbled into the room, knocking over a stack of files. Papers scattered across the floor.

Liam's head snapped up, his dark eyes narrowing as he took in her trembling form. "You're shifting."

"The pills keep my wolf contained." Mia's voice came out rough, almost a growl. "Matthew took them. Please"

"And why would he do that?" Liam stood, his movements measured and precise as he circled his desk.

"Because we " Mia's breath hitched. "Something happened. The mate marks appeared."

Liam froze. His expression shifted from dismissive to dangerous in an instant. "What did you say?"

"I don't have time to explain." Mia's claws pressed against her palms, drawing blood. "The keys. I need them now."

"You're lying." Liam advanced on her, his presence filling the room. "Matthew isn't your mate."

"Look at my neck." Mia tilted her head, revealing the fresh mark. "I'm not asking you to believe me. I'm asking you to help me before I lose control."

Liam's gaze locked onto the mark, his jaw clenching. The keys jingled in his pocket as he stood there, measuring her desperation against his doubt.

…

Liam strode down the hallway, his footsteps sharp against the marble floor. The guard at the security desk straightened as Liam approached.

"The master keys." Liam held out his hand, brooking no argument.

The guard hesitated for only a moment before retrieving the ring of keys from a locked drawer. Liam snatched them and turned on his heel, not bothering with further explanation.

Mia followed at a distance, her movements growing more erratic. Her wolf pushed against her consciousness, making each step a battle for control. The mansion's walls seemed to close in, the elaborate decorations blurring into meaningless shapes.

When she reached Matthew's door, her hand shook so badly she could barely grip the handle. The door swung open with a soft click.

The sight that greeted her stopped her in her tracks. Liam sat on Matthew's bed, his sculpted chest bare under the dim light. He'd positioned himself with calculated grace, one leg stretched out while the other hung off the edge.

"Looking for these?" Between his fingers, he held up a small white pill.

Mia's wolf surged forward, recognizing the threat in his posture despite her desperate need for the medication. "That's not—where's Matthew?"

"Does it matter?" Liam's voice dropped lower as he shifted on the bed. "I have what you need right here."

The pill gleamed as he rolled it across his knuckles, his dark eyes never leaving her face. Her vision swam, the edges tinting gold as her wolf fought harder for control.

"Come get it." His lips curved into a predatory smile. He held the pill out, forcing her to step closer if she wanted to reach it.

Mia's claws dug into her palms, drawing fresh blood. The scent of Liam's skin filled her nostrils, mixing with the metallic tang of her own blood. Her wolf howled inside her head, recognizing something in his scent that made her human side recoil.

Liam's eyes glittered with dark intent as he crooked a finger, beckoning her closer. "Don't you want it?"

Mia took a hesitant step forward, drawn by the promise of the pill. Her wolf's instincts warred with her human desire for control. The air between them crackled with tension.

"That's it." His voice dipped lower, turning velvety. "Let your wolf come out and play."

Mia inched closer, her heart pounding. She could smell his unique scent—a blend of spice and something wilder that made her head spin. Her gaze locked onto the pill, cradled in his strong, slender fingers.

"That's what you need, isn't it?" Liam teased, his lips curving in a sinful smile. "To be tamed. To surrender to something stronger than you."

She lunged, desperate to grab the pill. But he was faster. He hooked a finger around the strap of her tank top, yanking her forward until their chests nearly touched.

"Not so fast." His breath tickled her ear, his lips hovering perilously close. "You haven't earned it yet."

"I need it." Mia's voice came out rough with need , reflecting her inner turmoil.

His hand trailed down her spine, making her shiver. "But do you want it?" He pressed a kiss to the shell of her ear, his warm breath washing over her. "Do you want me?"

Mia swayed on her feet. His words ignited a fire in her that clashed with her wolf's desperation for control. She wanted the pill, needed it to stave off the shifting that threatened to consume her. Yet, in that moment, she wanted something else too something that scared her just as much.

"Say it." Liam nipped at her earlobe, sending shivers down her spine. "Tell me what you want."

The room spun around her as her wolf howled in frustration. The pill slipped from Liam's grasp, tumbling to the floor unnoticed. Mia's eyes closed as she drowned in his touch. Her body betrayed her with its response, yearning for his kiss, for the feel of his skin against hers. It went against everything she knew, against the warnings whispered by her wolf.

Their lips met in a clash of need and desire. A groan rumbled in his throat as he devoured her mouth, tasting her with a hunger that mirrored her own.

Liam's hand tangled in her hair, holding her in place as he deepened the kiss. Mia's fingers dug into his shoulders, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. Their breath mingled, their tongues dancing in a savage rhythm.