Just a kiss

Eleanor Pov

The soft hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filled our pack grand dining hall, but the roar of my wolf cover it all. She had been dormant for years never spoke—until tonight.

Mate. The word had slammed into my mind the moment I walked into the room, locking eyes with him. Nickolas.

My heart raced the moment I saw him and I’d forced myself to look away almost immediately. It couldn’t be true. It shouldn’t be true. Nickolas wasn’t mine. He belonged to Delilah.

Now, as I sat at the far end of the table, I couldn’t stop my eyes from straying to where they sat together. Delilah was perched close to him. She laughed lightly as she leaned toward him, her hand brushing his arm.

My stomach twisted painfully. I clenched my glass tighter, as I tried to control myself

This isn’t real, I told myself. It can’t be real.

But my wolf was relentless. She growled and whined, clawing at the edges of my mind, demanding that I look at him. That I claim what was ours.

He’s not ours, I snapped back at her.

My gaze betrayed me again, as my eyes drifting toward them. Nickolas wasn’t paying attention to Delilah. His posture was stiff, his jaw tight, and his eyes... they were on me.

The moment our eyes met; my heart lurched. I quickly looked away, my cheeks burning.

This is so unbearable for me.

I reached for my glass again, my hand trembling slightly as I brought it to my lips. My wolf growled louder; a low, insistent sound that made it impossible for me to focus on anything else.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Delilah lean even closer to him, she was whispering something into his ear. He didn’t react, but the looking at her sent a fresh wave of pain through me.

I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t sit here and pretend everything was fine while my wolf howled and my heart broke.

I pushed back my chair and stood abruptly. I avoided meeting anyone’s eyes. “Excuse me,” I murmured.

I turned and walked away as I needed to escape, to breathe.

The moment I entered the hallway, I broke into a near run, heading for the restroom. My wolf growled in protest, urging me to turn back, to return to him, but I ignored her.

Once inside, I shut the door and leaned against it, I tried to catch my breath. I couldn't control myself.

I gripped the edge of the sink and starred at myself in the mirror. 

“What is happening to me?” I whispered.

I stared at my reflection for what felt like an eternity. My wolf had finally gone quiet now, but the weight of her earlier growls still lingered.

I turned on the tap, letting the cool water run over my hands before splashing it onto my face. 

"Get it together, Eleanor," I told myself, gripping the edge of the sink. "He’s not yours. He never was. This isn’t real."

I took a deep breath, I straightened and turned toward the door, ready to return back to the dining hall. But as I opened the door, I was totally shocked.

I saw Nickolas stood at the narrow hallway. His eyes were locked onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us moved. 

“Alpha Nickolas,” I finally managed to say something. “What are you doing here?” I asked him.

 “I could ask you the same thing,” he said.

“I needed a moment,” I replied, my hand still gripping the door handle. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

“So did I.” The way he agreed caught me off guard. 

“Eleanor... what’s happening between us?” He asked.

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. How could I explain something I didn’t fully understand myself? The bond and the pull were undeniable for me, but it was also impossible.

“I don’t know,” I finally whispered. 

“But it doesn’t matter. You’re here for Delilah.” I spoke.

He was silent for a moment and took a step closer. His scent—earthy and masculine—wrapped around me, making it impossible for me to avoid him. “Is that what you believe? That this... this connection actually means nothing to us?”

I shook my head; I took a step back. “Yes, it can’t mean anything. You belong to Delilah.”

“I belong to no one,” he said firmly. “And neither do you.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. I locked my eyes on him, I was unable to look away. The bond between us kept increasing, pulling me closer despite every rational thought screaming at me to run.

“Nickolas,” I whispered.

He closed the distance between us in a single step, He cupped my cheek with his hand. 

“You feel it too,” he said. “Don’t deny it.”

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I shook my head. “I can’t. This isn’t right.”

But even as I spoke the words, I didn’t move away. I couldn’t. The pull was too strong to avoid.

His thumb brushed against my cheek, wiping away the tear that had fallen. “Eleanor,” he called out my name.

I couldn't stop myself; I leaned into his touch. And then, his lips found mine as he started kissing me.

The kiss was electric. His hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as his other arm wrapped around my waist. I lost myself to him, I slowly tangled my fingers in his hair as the world around us disappeared.

It was desperate and raw, a clash of emotions we could no longer contain. My wolf howled in approval, and for the first time, I let myself feel the bond without fighting it.

When we finally broke apart, we were breathing heavily, our foreheads still pressed together. 

He looked into my eyes. “These changes everything,” he said.

I nodded, though I felt bad for what we’d just done. “I know.”

But even I felt guilty, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it.

Nickolas locked his eyes onto mine, “Eleanor,” he called out.

I should have stepped back, should have put distance between us. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. The bond between us was too strong.

“This isn’t right,” I whispered.

His hand came up to cup my cheek. “Then why does it feel like it’s the only thing that is right?”

“Nickolas…” I began, but my words were swallowed by his lips as they met mine.

The kiss was slow at first, tentative, as though he was giving me the chance to pull away. But I didn’t. Instead, I leaned into him, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer until he made sure there was no space left between us. The kiss deepened.

We stumbled backward into the small bathroom. His lips moved to my jaw, then to my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

His hands suddenly found the zipper of my dress, pausing as though giving me one last chance to stop him. But I didn’t want to stop. Not anymore. I nodded, and he slowly slid the fabric down, his eyes never leaving mine.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

His hands were warm as they explored my exposed skin, his touch was gentle and possessive. My wolf stirred, her approval a low hum in the back of my mind. For the first time, I didn’t fight her. I let myself feel everything—the bond and our connection.

Time seemed to slow as we gave in to the pull between us. Each touch, each kiss was deliberate.

When it was over, we lay together. The bond between us felt stronger now.

 I suddenly remember about the gathering, and I sat up suddenly, reaching for my discarded dress. “I need to go,” I said.

He didn’t stop me, though the look in his eyes said he wanted to.

I adjusted my dress and smoothed my hair, avoiding his gaze as I opened the door cautiously. But the moment I stepped out, I was shocked.

“Eleanor?”

I heard Deliliah’s voice. She was just a few steps away.

My stomach twisted into knots. “Delilah,” I said, forcing a smile. “What are you doing here?”

“I was looking for Nickolas,” she said. 

“Have you seen him?” She asked.

My pulse quickened. Behind me, I could feel Nickolas’s presence.

“No,” I lied, my voice was too quick and shaky. “I was just… taking a moment to myself.”

Delilah her gaze on me for a moment not too long. “You look flustered. Are you feeling, okay?” She asked.

I nodded quickly, stepping out into the hallway and shutting the door behind me, praying she wouldn’t ask to go inside. “I’m fine. Just… the heat from the party.”

She seems convinced, her attention shifting back to her search. “If you see him, let me know.”

“Of course,” I said.

As she walked away, I let out a shaky breath, my heart still racing. Behind the door, Nickolas was still there, hiding.