Love bite

Amara’s POV

The morning passed in quiet simplicity. Caden stayed close, his hand occasionally brushing mine as if he needed to reassure himself I was still there. We didn’t talk much about the dream or the bond, but his presence was enough to keep my anxieties at bay.

As we headed down to breakfast, the house was unusually quiet. Ryder and Jaxon had already left, and for once, I didn’t feel the weight of tension between any of us.

Caden and I shared breakfast in companionable silence, a rhythm falling between us as we moved around the kitchen. It felt normal—domestic even—and I found myself savoring the quiet moments, the sound of plates clinking and coffee pouring.

After breakfast, Caden leaned against the counter, watching me with a soft intensity that made my stomach flip. “What’s your plan for the day?”

I shrugged, wiping my hands on a dish towel. “Probably head to the library. Maybe go for a run later. Why?”

A mischievous grin tugged at his lips. “Just making sure you’re not planning to avoid me.”

I rolled my eyes, though a smile crept onto my face. “You’re impossible.”

He stepped closer, his grin fading into something more serious. “I mean it, Amara. Don’t shut me out again. I can’t—” He paused, his voice dropping. “I can’t take it when you do.”

The vulnerability in his voice made my heart ache. I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “I won’t. Not anymore.”

His eyes searched mine, as if he needed to be sure I meant it. Then he nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.

---

The library was quiet, the kind of stillness that wrapped around you like a warm blanket. I found a spot in the corner, surrounded by tall shelves of books, and let myself get lost in their comforting presence.

But my peace didn’t last long.

I felt him before I saw him, the familiar scent of cedar and something distinctly Caden reaching me before he spoke.

“You didn’t think I’d let you run off alone, did you?” His voice was low, teasing, as he slid into the seat across from me.

I arched an eyebrow, fighting the smile tugging at my lips. “I thought you had better things to do than stalk me.”

He smirked, leaning back in his chair. “When it comes to you, Amara, there’s nothing more important.”

My cheeks warmed, and I looked away, pretending to focus on the book in front of me. But Caden wasn’t one to be ignored.

He reached across the table, his fingers gently brushing against mine. “Hey.”

I glanced up, caught in the intensity of his gaze. “What?”

“I’m serious,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “You’re important to me. To all of us. But for me… it’s more than that.”

My breath caught, his words sinking into me like a weight and a balm all at once. “Caden…”

He shook his head. “Let me finish. I’ve been an idiot. I let my jealousy, my fear, get in the way. But I don’t want to waste another second pretending like you’re just some obligation because of this bond. You’re not. You’re… you’re everything.”

I couldn’t find the words to respond, my heart too full, my mind too overwhelmed. So instead, I reached out, my fingers curling around his.

For a moment, we just sat there, the unspoken emotions between us saying more than words ever could.

As the day turned into evening, we found ourselves back at the house. Ryder and Jaxon had returned, their presence filling the space with energy, but it didn’t feel as strained as before.

Ryder glanced at me as I walked in with Caden, his eyes softening slightly. He gave me a small nod, as if to say, We’re okay.

Later, when the four of us were gathered in the living room, the conversation flowed easily, the tension that had once hung over us lifting bit by bit.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, this could work.

---

The living room was dimly lit, the eerie glow of the TV casting shadows across the room as we settled in to watch a horror movie. Jaxon, as usual, had taken it upon himself to sit closest to me, a mischievous glint in his eye that should’ve been my first warning.

Halfway through the film, just as the suspense reached its peak, Jaxon suddenly let out a guttural growl and grabbed my arm.

“BOO!”

I screamed, nearly leaping off the couch as my heart raced.

“Jaxon!” I yelled, glaring at him as he doubled over with laughter. “You’re such an idiot!”

“You should’ve seen your face!” he wheezed, tears of amusement forming in his eyes.

Caden chuckled, though his tone was more amused than mischievous. “Serves you right for sitting next to him during a horror movie.”

Ryder, sitting silently in the corner, shot Jaxon a warning glance. “Cut it out, Jax. You’re not funny.”

Jaxon rolled his eyes but didn’t push it further, and we all tried to settle back into the movie.

---

The tension in the film had reached its peak when I decided I needed a break. My throat felt dry, and the jump scares were wearing on my nerves. Quietly, I slipped out of the room and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water.

The house was eerily quiet, the sounds from the movie muffled behind the closed door. I poured a glass of water, the cool liquid soothing against my dry throat.

Just as I set the glass down, I felt it—a hand wrapping around my stomach, pulling me back against a solid chest.

A startled gasp escaped my lips, my body tensing. But then I caught his scent—earthy, masculine, and undeniably Ryder.

“Ryder,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He didn’t say anything, his warm breath brushing against the sensitive skin of my neck as he leaned closer. The hand on my stomach tightened slightly, his possessiveness unmistakable.

“You scared me,” I murmured, my voice shaky, though I wasn’t sure if it was from fear or the sudden heat coursing through me.

“You’re too easy to sneak up on,” he said softly, his tone low and teasing. But there was an edge to it, something darker, more intense.

Before I could respond, his lips brushed against the curve of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. His teeth grazed my skin, and then, with deliberate slowness, he bit down gently, marking me.

“Ryder,” I gasped, my hands gripping the counter for support.

He pulled back just enough for his lips to hover against my ear. “You belong to me, Amara. Don’t ever forget that.”

His words sent a thrill through me, even as they left me breathless.

I turned my head slightly to meet his gaze, the intensity in his eyes almost too much to bear. “You’re impossible,” I whispered, though there was no heat behind the words.

He smirked, his thumb brushing over the spot he had just marked. “Maybe. But you love it.”

And with that, he stepped back, leaving me to catch my breath as he disappeared into the shadows.

When I finally returned to the living room, my cheeks still flushed and my heart racing, Jaxon raised an eyebrow at me.

“You okay?” he asked, though his tone was laced with suspicion.

I nodded quickly, avoiding everyone’s gaze. “Just needed some water.”

But as Ryder’s smirk flickered in my direction, I knew he wasn’t done with me yet.