It feels almost like slow motion as I fall directly into his arms, our lips touch. Time stands still as we both freeze, unable to react. I almost feel his lips move and mine attempts to move in unison when I pull back immediately. That did not just happen.
We both stared at each other, trying to comprehend what had just happened and we both had just done. I’m about to speak when he beats me to it and his voice almost shrieks.
“You perv! You did that on purpose.” He clears his throat as my jaw falls open.
Me! Me! Perv?!!!
“ You pulled me to you.” I accuse them of pointing.
“I was trying to keep you from hitting a tree, Miss I don’t look where I’m going.”
I turn to see it is indeed true, a large tree trunk was right in front of me and I would’ve hit it if not for him.
“Oh, I didn’t know that. How could you call me a perv over something as little as that?!”
“Little?! Do you go around kissing people?” His voice gets lower at the end of the question, losing its playfulness.
I stutter, heart beating a mile a minute as he steps closer to me, making me take a step back and another and another… until I’m standing with my back to the tree, unable to move anymore.
He comes close to me, his low voice in my ear, deep and sending shivers down my spine, tickling me in ways I should not be getting tickled. Putting both hands on either side of me, trapping me between the hard tree trunk and the hard muscles of his body.
“Cher… I don’t know if I can handle you being that far away from me. Being away from me at all…”
“Luke… we shouldn’t…”
He brings his hands up to my face trailing it down to my lips. I put my hand out to try to stop him but it is futile as it instead caresses his hard abs causing him to take a deep breath in. We shouldn’t be doing this, I shouldn’t be doing this. What am I doing? I keep asking myself.
“It’s getting harder everyday. My wolf… is gaining control more easily, harder to keep in check. I… I might just go feral at this rate…”
It’s hard for me to think with him this close to me, his scent, his voice reverberating through me, turning my insides into mush. Everything in me is screaming at me to give in. It’s like I could almost feel, taste how good it’ll feel… but I couldn’t, not if I wanted my future…
“I can’t… I can’t give in, we’ve come this far.” I say avoiding his gaze.
He tilts his head down his finger under my chin tilting my head up towards him. His hair tickles my brow as it falls off his eyes. Our eyes locked and his eyes saying everything his mouth wasn’t, wanted to.. but couldn’t. A part of him still has logical reasoning as his eyes look pitch black.
“Your heart betrays you. Why is your heart beating so fast?” He whispers on my lips.
“I want you, so badly, my wolf cries, claws at me every night, wanting to feel you, taste you.”
My insides quiver at the sound of longing in his voice. I want him too, I know it. I’ve wanted him for so long I..—
His ears peek up at a sound I can’t hear.
I open my mouth to talk and he puts his hands to his lips signaling me to stay quiet. His eyes scan the woods around us. Body immediately changing into defensive mode.
After a few seconds he takes his hands off either side of me, releasing me.
“We need to leave.”
He takes my hand in his and starts walking, I’m still a bit disoriented, legs like jelly as I try to keep up stride with him, my leg bangs on something.
Luke stops short and turns to me, making sure I’m okay then he looks down. His eyes register surprise at what is on the floor.
“Don’t look.” He whispers.
But it’s too late. I already look down and it looks to be a large stone. It takes a bit for my human eyes to register what I’m looking at as the only light available to us is the one from the moon.
A large stone covered in blood sits in front of me as what looks like fresh blood trails off from it. The stone is round and shiny with blood having what looks to be sharp edges around.
Luke crouches down, swiping the stone, as his eyes follow the trail of blood. His eye color changes to yellow as his body tensed as though picking up on sounds again. He looks at me, eyes narrowing, ready in attack mode, whoever or whatever was here just recently and judging by the sounds he was listening to, whatever was out there whether the victim or the perpetrator was close by, and that wasn’t a good sign.
“I need to get you home.” He says getting up quickly. Grabbing my hand and dropping it immediately like he just had a second thought. He picks me and throws me over his shoulder. Immediately he begins running at a superhuman speed, footsteps thumping faster than ever. The situation is dire, as we move I can’t help but wonder what changes it’ll mean for the pack and the town as a whole.
That incident put Luke on edge, he dropped me off at home that night with stern instructions not to go out alone anywhere without him. Noctis was fast approaching and whatever this new threat was they needed to curb it by the festival. Having werewolf hunters lurking around when the wolves were most active in giving info their primal instincts did not seem like a good idea. Luke had informed his father and brother about what we saw that night, as well as other important pack members. From what he told me, they were keeping the information within the inner circle first in order to not cause a mass panic. So far, trackers were already sent out to figure out whose blood it was, and word was sent to neighboring pack to find any missing person and tell them to be on high alert. People in town were not yet aware of these dangerous predators in their midst and Cillian was taking great measures to keep it that way for the time being. My parents and I have noticed tighter protection around
“Stop it.” He growls once we’re out of earshot.I stop, my head swiveling back to him. “What?”He sucks in a breath. “That.” Shaking his head Luke walks towards me. “I respect you too much as my friend to not do what I want to you right here.”If I were lighter I’d have gone bright red like a tomato.“I can hear your heart beat from here, feel you take in breaths, smell you… from here.” Taking in a deep breath as his eyes shift from wolf to human.My knees almost give way. The manner which he is staring at me, like I’m a piece of candy his parents confiscated from him on Halloween. Leaning close to my ear he lets out another agonized breath. “I would take you right her right now if you’d just let me. Say it and I’m turn your uterus into my carnival tour, i respect you too much to do it without that.”I let out a shuddered breath trying to take a step back as his hands moves to my waist immediately, keeping me in place.“Luke, please, we’ve… we…”“Don’t make me wait any longer Cher, p
Raina’s intentions whatever they were, innocent or innocent adjacent. She really knew how to pick them.Donnie the pilot. Hello, Captain.He wasn’t bad looking at all. Tall, taller than me for sure. Donnie looked at least six feet with an athletic build, not the type you get from regularly running through the forest in the moonlight but definitely one from running hours on a treadmill. This Pilot wasn’t sitting on a plane all day, his well toned look as the clothes cling to his body in the right places was indicative of regular exercise and a disciplined lifestyle.He’s probably one of those people who have a ton of eggs in the morning.… he could have my eggs in the morning…whoa, whoa, rein it in Cheryl.I look around as if any one could read my thoughts at any moment. Face burning in embarrassment. He is not looking at me but I can almost feel Luke chiding me. As though by some way he just knows.I put my head back down to weaving the flowers for the decorations. Things with Luke w
What?Luke darts out, panting, as if being chased.I have to bite my lip to keep from audibly gasping.What is he doing here?“What’s wrong, is there anything out there?” Donnie attempts to turn.“No!” I half yell. Luke has disappeared back into whatever tree trunk he managed to fall out of.“I was just taken aback by your question?”“How did you get into drinking Matcha?” He asks quizzically.“What?” He chuckles, “ you’re so distracted, what’s outside there?”I immediately grab my phone as he turns to send a quick message to Like along the lines of ‘what the fuck are you doing?”Dropping it quickly as Donnie turns back to me.“There’s nothing there.”“It was probably nothing,” I shrug. “We should go, are you done with your coffee?”“uh, yeah…”Donnie pays for our beverages and we set out.“You know you never answered the question..”I look at him quizzically.“Is there something going on, with you and the brother in law?” Donnie asks, referring to Luke.And I scoff, probably not con
It was him, it had to be.The mysterious werewolf I had met under the full moon. I had never felt such a strong connection with anyone before. It was really him.My best friend… my mate…I found herself standing on a moonlit runway, surrounded by the roar of engines and the smell of fuel. Luke, dressed in a sleek pilot costume, emerged from the shadows. His eyes gleamed with a fierce inner light, and his sharp jawline was accentuated by the leather jacket.With a sly smile, Luke approached me, something about his movements fluid and predatory. He took my hand, and walked us towards a vintage plane, its propellers spinning lazily. As they reached the aircraft, Luke turned to me, his eyes burning with intensity.Without a word, he pulls me close, our lips meeting in a fiery kiss. I felt the world spin around me as Luke's hands explored my body, his touch sending shivers down my spine. Feeling every bit of everything I imagined it would feel like being with him. His touch was firm but te
Luke's hands are on my waist, pulling me closer, his breath warm against my neck. Our lips meet in a kiss that feels electrifying, my body responding with a longing I can’t control. Just as his hands start to wander again…“Cher!” Luke’s voice is urgent, cutting through the haze of sleep and desire. I sit up quickly, heart pounding from both the remnants of the dream and the unexpected interruption.“Newton’s missing,” Luke blurts out, his face pale under the dim light of the moon wafting through my curtains. “I need your help.”My heart skips a beat. Newton, the sweet, young boy who’s like a little brother to me. Missing? The words hit me like a punch to the gut.“What do you mean he’s missing?” I step back, motioning for him to come inside. “Where could he have gone?”Luke steps in, running a hand through his messy hair. “I don’t know. They said he was playing with some of the other kids close to the woods and he probably wandered off, but by the time they realized he was gone. We’v
The preparations for Noctis are in full swing, and the pack house is bustling with activity. Pack members come and go, carrying supplies, decorating the backyard with lanterns and garlands, and setting up tables laden with food and drinks. The air is filled with excitement and a sense of anticipation. The new moon is a time for celebration and renewal, a powerful night for werewolves to embrace their gifts.I watch from the porch, my thoughts a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The Noctis celebration is something I’ve been looking forward to, but this year, it feels different. My new job as a flight attendant starts soon, and the tension between Luke and me has only grown since that night we found Newton.Marissa bustles past me, her arms full of decorations. “Cheryl, can you help string these lights over the trees?”“Sure,” I say, taking some of the lights from her. As I start hanging them, I catch sight of Luke across the yard, talking with a few pack members. His eyes meet mine
“Hey! Let go!” I shout, my voice echoing through the trees.“Quiet,” the figure growls, his breath hot and foul against my skin. The fear grips me tightly as I struggle, but he’s too strong.Just as I’m about to scream again, a familiar growl rips through the night. The figure’s grip loosens, and I look up to see Luke in his wolf form, his eyes glowing with a fierce protective light. He lunges at the attacker, powerful and swift.The attacker stumbles back, his face a mask of shock and fear. “You shouldn’t have come here,” he hisses before fleeing into the darkness.Luke shifts back to human form, his face a mixture of concern and relief. He rushes to me, his hands trembling slightly as he reaches out. “Cher, are you okay?”I nod, my voice shaky. “I’m fine, thanks to you. I was so scared.”He pulls me into a tight embrace, his warmth a stark contrast to the cold night air. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you come out here alone.”“I needed to clear my head,” I say softly, holding ont
As we all moved to the reception area, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and chatter. Raina and Callum were recounting their own milestones, and Cillian was engaged in a deep conversation with some of the pack members. The sense of unity and celebration was palpable, and it felt like the culmination of so many struggles and victories.I took Cheryl’s hand, pulling her gently aside from the crowd. “Can we talk for a moment?”She looked at me with a mix of curiosity and amusement. “Sure, what’s up?”We walked to a quieter corner of the airstrip, where the sound of the crowd was a distant murmur. I glanced around to ensure we had some privacy before turning back to her. “I just wanted to say how incredibly proud I am of you. This day, this achievement—everything you’ve worked for—it’s amazing.”Cheryl’s cheeks flushed with a pink hue. “It means a lot to hear you say that. I’ve worked so hard, and sometimes I wasn’t sure if it would all be worth it.”“It’s more than worth it,” I sai
We settled onto the couch, my head resting on Luke’s shoulder as he flipped through the channels. He landed on a cheesy action movie that promised endless explosions and improbable heroics. The sheer absurdity of it all was exactly what I needed to distract me from the tangled mess of emotions that had been swirling inside me.Luke grabbed the remote and turned up the volume, the sound of gunfire and dramatic music filling the room. “Prepare yourself,” he said with a grin. “This is about to get incredibly ridiculous.”I laughed, feeling the tension in my shoulders begin to ease. “I’m ready. After today, I think I can handle just about anything, including whatever this movie throws at us.”He pulled me closer, his arm wrapping around me in a protective cocoon. “I’m not sure if I should warn you that there’s going to be some serious plot twists or just let you be surprised.”“Surprise me,” I said, snuggling in against him. “I could use a good laugh.”As the movie progressed, it quickly
The evening felt like the perfect reunion. My parents sat comfortably on the couch, their familiar presence filling the room with warmth and ease. The scent of Luke’s takeout still lingered in the air, mixing with the smell of freshly brewed tea. My mother, Muna, looked more relaxed than she had in months, her dark hair tucked behind her ear as she chatted animatedly with Luke about the city. My father, Ray, though still recovering from the injury inflicted by the wolf hunters, was a quieter but solid presence, his health having visibly improved since the last time I saw him. The sight of him sitting there, looking healthy and at peace, made my heart feel full."You know, Cheryl," my dad began, breaking from his usual quiet demeanor, "there was a time I wasn't sure I'd get to see this—us sitting together like this. I owe a lot of that to you."His words hit me like a soft blow to the chest. I smiled, though there was a lump in my throat. "Dad, you don’t owe me anything. I was just doi
As I dig into the takeout, I catch Luke watching me with that soft, adoring expression that always makes my heart do a little flip. The food is good, and the company is better. After a long day of classes, this is exactly what I need—a quiet evening with Luke, no stress, no pressure, just… us.We settle into a comfortable silence as we eat, the clatter of chopsticks and the hum of the city outside filling the space. Luke’s arm rests on the back of the couch behind me, his warmth seeping into my skin. I lean back slightly, savoring the moment.“How was your day?” I ask, turning to look at him.He shrugs, his lips quirked into a half-smile. “Busy, but not too bad. Had a few meetings this morning, checked in with Callum and Raina this afternoon. Things at the pack are going well.”“Good,” I say, genuinely relieved to hear that. The pack’s been through so much, and knowing that Callum and Raina are slowly finding their footing again makes me happy. They deserve it.Luke looks at me for a
The sunlight spills through the windows, warming the small kitchen of my apartment as I stand at the counter, staring at the half-empty bag of flour. Baking was never really my thing, but after everything that’s happened, I’ve been wanting to try new things—things that make me feel normal, grounded, and more connected to life. But trying to bake cookies without knowing what I’m doing feels like an absolute disaster in progress."Cheryl?" Luke’s deep voice carries from the living room.I hear his footsteps approaching, and I turn just in time to see him leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, with that smirk that makes my stomach flip every time. His black T-shirt clings to his chest in all the right ways, and even though I’ve spent more time with him than I can count, my heart still skips a beat."What’s going on here?" He raises an eyebrow, glancing at the mess I’ve made of the kitchen—flour on the counter, the floor, and somehow even on me. He grins wider when he sees a streak
The sun’s just beginning to rise over the horizon as I pull into the small parking lot outside Cheryl’s apartment. It’s a modest place on the outskirts of the city, not too far from her aviation college but far enough to give her some space from the chaos of the pack. I kill the engine and take a moment to sit back in the driver’s seat, letting the quiet hum of the city wake up around me.It’s been a strange few months since the war ended. We’ve all been healing, some of us faster than others. Cheryl’s been pouring herself into her studies, and I can’t say I blame her. I think we all needed something to focus on after everything that went down. As for me, I’ve been doing my best to juggle a new kind of life—a life that’s split between being the Alpha of our pack and being by Cheryl’s side.Shifting between the city and the pack’s territory hasn’t been easy. I never realized how complicated it could get, managing the responsibilities of leading the pack while also figuring out how to r
The evening air is cool as it wraps around us, the early signs of autumn bringing a chill that makes me snuggle deeper into Luke’s embrace. His arms are warm and strong, holding me close as we stand on the porch of the pack house. The house itself is almost fully rebuilt now, the scaffolding mostly gone, the fresh wood standing proudly where the old had been torn away. It feels like a symbol of our own lives—patched together, but stronger than ever.I’m still riding the high of my first day at the Aviation College. The reality of it is finally sinking in. I’m really doing this. I’m going to become a pilot, something I’ve dreamed about for as long as I can remember. It feels surreal, like a part of me still doesn’t believe it’s possible. But Luke does. He’s believed in me all along.“How does it feel?” he asks, his voice soft as he rests his chin on top of my head.“Better than I could’ve imagined,” I murmur, closing my eyes and letting myself sink into the warmth of him. “I was so ner
The air is crisp as the early autumn wind sweeps through the trees, carrying with it the scent of wood smoke and damp earth. The pack house is finally taking shape again, the framework standing strong after weeks of intense work. There’s still a lot to do—windows to install, walls to paint, but it feels like progress, real progress. More than that, it feels like a reflection of where we all are. We’re all standing on firmer ground now, even if it still feels shaky sometimes.Luke’s been my rock through all of this, and it’s not lost on me how deeply we’ve both changed. Somewhere between the battles and rebuilding, we found each other in a way I never expected. Loving him has been the one steady thing when everything else was chaos. But as strong as my feelings for Luke are, there’s something else that’s been weighing on me, something I’ve been too scared to think about.I haven’t seen my parents since this whole nightmare started.When the conflict with the wolf hunters kicked into hi
Callum and Raina’s relationship is healing, too, though it’s a slower process. They’ve been spending more time together, talking quietly when they think no one is watching. Callum’s still wary—still hurting—but I can see the way he looks at her, the way his walls are slowly coming down.Raina knows that Callum needs time. She knows she can’t undo what’s been done, can’t erase the mistakes she made when she got involved with the hunters. But the way she moves around him now, careful but committed, shows how much she’s trying to make up for it. She never pushes too hard, never demands more than he can give, but she’s always there—steady, like a rock in the middle of a river. I respect that about her, even after everything that happened.Callum, though still guarded, is beginning to soften. It’s in the small things—the way he’ll linger when she talks to him, or how his eyes follow her when she’s near. I’ve known him for most of my life, and I can see the cracks forming in the wall he’s b