Chapter 37

Kelvin's POV

The entire walk back to the house, all I could think about was dragging Laura deeper into the woods and making her scream my name.

It was ridiculous, really. How seeing her handle a gun had done something to me.

The way her body had stilled, the way she had surrendered to instinct without even realizing it.

It was intoxicating.

She was intoxicating.

Uncle Killian was still laughing, clearly pleased with the outcome of his little test. "Told you she had it in her," he said, nudging me with his elbow. "Took a bit of prodding, but once she let go, she was a natural."

I grunted in response, barely hearing him. My focus was still locked on Laura, who walked a few steps ahead, her fingers tightening and loosening around the rifle as if trying to convince herself that what had just happened wasn’t real.

She was struggling with it, the idea that she had just taken a life.

She didn’t realize yet that she had done exactly what she was meant to do.

Hunt.

Survive.

Kill.

A slow smirk tugged at my lips. There was something primal about watching someone discover that part of themselves. The raw, unfiltered power beneath the surface, waiting to be set free.

And damn, I wanted to be the one to set her free. To remind her of her lost memories and implant new ones.

I wanted to take her back into the woods, away from everything.

Just the two of us.

I wanted to press her against a tree, feel the rapid rise and fall of her chest against mine. I wanted to hear her gasp when I ran my fingers over her skin, teasing, taunting, until she was trembling for me.

And then, when she was breathless and desperate, I wanted to make her scream my name so loud the whole damn forest would know who she belonged to.

The image burned in my mind, almost too vivid, too consuming.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to focus, to rein it in.

It's not time yet.

She wasn’t ready for the truth. Or for me.

But soon.

Laura didn’t know it yet, but she had stepped into my world. And there was no going back.

She could fight it all she wanted.

Deny it. Resist it.

But I had seen it in her eyes.

The hunger. The darkness.

She would come to me.

Eventually.

And when she did… I’d devour her.

The scent of roasted venison filled the dining hall, rich and savory, mingling with the faint smokiness of the fire crackling in the fireplace. Plates were set, drinks poured, and silence filled the space.

But all my focus was on her.

Laura sat across from me, her fingers curled tightly around her fork, her expression unreadable. She hadn’t touched her food yet. Hadn’t even looked up.

She was still thinking about it.

I could see it in the way her shoulders tensed, the way her eyes flickered toward the plate as if the meat itself might whisper accusations.

I smirked and cut into my portion. The venison was tender, cooked just right. I speared a piece with my fork, lifted it to my mouth, and took my first bite.

Then, without breaking eye contact, I murmured, “Thank you for dinner.”

Her fork froze mid-air.

I saw the moment it hit her, the sharp inhale. Guilt? Anger?

Her lips parted, then closed again.

She was struggling. Torn between instinct and emotion. Between what she thought she knew and what she was becoming.

Uncle Killian chuckled, clearly enjoying the show. “Hell of a shot you made, girl. Perfect kill.”

Laura’s jaw tightened. “I didn’t do it for this.”

I tilted my head, watching her. “And yet, here we are.”

She swallowed hard, gripping the fork like she wanted to throw it at me.

I took another slow bite, savoring the moment.

She thought this was about the deer.

But it wasn’t.

It was about control. Power.

She didn’t realize yet, but the moment she pulled that trigger, something inside her had shifted.

Something I wanted to push further.

I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice just enough so only she could hear. “Did it feel good?”

Her breath hitched.

Bingo.

She jerked back, as if burned, her face flashing with something close to horror. “What?”

I smirked. “Nothing.”

She didn’t want to believe me.

And from the way her pulse fluttered in her throat, she didn’t believe that she did either.

This was going to be fun.

Laura was rattled.

She kept glancing at me as she climbed the stairs, her fingers gripping the wooden railing a little too tightly. She wanted to run from whatever was clawing at her mind, but she couldn’t.

And I wasn’t about to let her.

So, I followed. Step for step.

She stiffened but didn’t say a word, her pace quickening as if putting more space between us would make a difference.

She reached the top of the stairs and turned down the hall toward her room. I smirked, amused by how she kept sneaking glances over her shoulder, her brows furrowing in suspicion.

Why are you following me?

She didn’t ask, but I could see the question dancing on her lips, trapped behind teeth clenched too tight.

I let her struggle with it, enjoying the way she squirmed as she walked.

She reached her door and yanked it open, stepping inside so fast it was almost cute. She barely turned before shoving the door back, trying to slam it in my face.

I caught it. Easily.

Her eyes widened as I pushed forward, stepping into the room, the door clicking shut behind me.

Trapping her.

She backed up instinctively, but I followed, closing the space until her spine pressed against the wooden dresser, her breathing uneven.

“Why are you—”

I placed my hands on either side of her, caging her in.

Her words died.

The heat between us was electric, pulsing, and I saw the exact moment she realized she had made a mistake.

Letting me get close.

But it was too late for that now.

I leaned in, just enough to make her inhale sharply. “Running away won’t change anything, Laura.”

Her throat bobbed. “I’m not—”

I tilted my head, eyes locked onto hers. “Aren’t you?”

Silence.

She clenched her jaw, trying to mask the chaos swirling in her gaze, but I saw it. Felt it.

I reached up, dragging a single finger down the side of her arm. She shivered, but whether from my touch or something deeper, I wasn’t sure.

“You felt it, didn’t you?” I murmured, my voice low. “The power. The rush.”

She flinched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I smirked. “Liar.”

She sucked in a breath, her hands pressing against the dresser as if it could keep her grounded.

But she was already slipping.

I could feel it.

And soon…

She would fall.

Right into me.