Six

Zaid didn’t wait for her to change her mind. He moved swiftly, scooping her up in his arms, feeling her soft body press against his chest. She gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, and he could feel her heart pounding against him. He held her close, and in a flash, he used his wolf speed to take her to his guest quarters, his feet barely touching the ground as he ran.

He pushed the door open, stepping inside and kicking it shut behind them. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight streaming through the window casting shadows across the floor. He set her down, his hands lingering on her waist, his gaze locked on hers.

She looked up at him, her eyes wide, her lips trembling. For a moment, she hesitated, and Zaid felt his own breath catch, the intensity of the moment almost overwhelming. Then, slowly, she reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek, and he knew—knew that tonight would be theirs, that for this one night, they would forget everything else.

~~~~

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Yasmin blinked awake, her senses slowly returning to her. Her body felt heavy, her muscles sore in ways they hadn’t been before. For a moment, she lay there, feeling the warmth of the sheets, the unfamiliar comfort of the bed. And then she remembered.

Her eyes snapped open, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned her head, and there he was—the stranger from last night, his face relaxed in sleep, his handsome features softened in the morning light. Panic surged through her. What had she done? She had slept with a stranger.

She carefully slipped out from under the covers, trying not to wake him. Her feet touched the floor silently, and she gathered her clothes, slipping them on quickly. She couldn’t afford to be seen here, not like this. Her heart pounded as she moved to the door, her eyes flicking back to him one last time. His face was peaceful, his rugged handsomeness even more evident now. A pang of something tugged at her chest, but she shook her head. This had been a mistake—one she needed to forget.

Quietly, she crept out of the guest quarters, closing the door softly behind her. She hurried through the hallways, her mind racing. She had slept with someone from a visiting pack—an Alpha, no less, judging by his aura, though his name she didn't know. But then she reasoned that it wasn't so bad. They would never meet again, after all. He would leave, and she would go back to her life—whatever that was supposed to be now.

She made her way through the woods, following the familiar path that led to her stream. It was hidden, tucked away from prying eyes, and she needed the comfort of it now more than ever. When she reached it, she let out a shaky breath, stripping off her clothes and stepping into the cool water. She sank down, letting it wash over her, trying to cleanse herself of the night before.

The water was soothing, calming her frayed nerves. She stayed there for a while, letting the gentle current flow over her, feeling the weight of her thoughts slowly ebb away. But she knew she couldn’t linger. She had responsibilities, duties that awaited her.

After her bath, she waded out of the water and found the small patch of masking herbs she kept nearby. She picked a handful, grinding them between her palms before smearing them over her skin. Their scent was strong, earthy, and it would help mask the scent of her passionate night with the stranger. She needed to make sure no one could tell what had happened.

Once she was satisfied, she dressed herself again, smoothing her old dress down before making her way back to the pack house. The reminder of Ian’s rejection still lingered in her memory, the sting of it fresh. But oddly, the sorrow was lessened, dulled somehow. Last night had been a mistake, but it had also given her something she hadn’t realized she needed—an escape, however brief, from the pain that had gripped her heart. Her night and the passionate stranger would remain a secret, tucked in the crevices of her soul.

~~~~

Zaid woke up to the soft glow of the morning sun, and the first thing he noticed was the emptiness beside him. The sheets were cold, the space where she had lain vacant. His brows furrowed as he sat up, glancing around the room, but there was was sign of her.

The bewitching brunette was gone.

His wolf stirred within him, a low growl of dissatisfaction rumbling through his chest as he felt a pang of disappointment, and was left with a feeling of emptiness. He ha thought she'd have stayed, relishing in the thought of being fucked by the Alpha Zaid, but he wasn't sure that she even knew who he was. He should've expected her disappearing act. It was just a one night stand after all.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, forcing himself to focus and shake off thoughts of her. His body and wolf felt sated in a way they hadn't been in years, as the hunger he'd felt for her was so savage that it consumed him entirely. And she had been so willing and responsive to his touch and he'd taken full advantage. The memory of her moans, her soft and supple skin, the way those lidded eyes had looked up at him as. . .

No. He clenched his jaw, forcing the thoughts away. He had pressing issues to attend to. One being Alpha Saif. The negotiations had dragged on for far too long and Saif’s greed was wearing on his patience. If Saif wouldn't see reason, Zaid would make him see it, one way or the other. He and his pack would fall in line as Zaid had no intention of leaving until it was done.

He got up from the bed, stretching as the tension in his body eased slightly and then he pulled on his clothes, looking out the window. The Moonbeam Pack was abuzz with activity, the remnants of the Red Moon festival still evident. Zaid held no interest in that. The sooner he closed the deal, the sooner he could leave this place - and leave the memory of the damning beauty who had wormed her way into his mind.

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