Demon;

Eva lay breathless on the carpet, her body still trembling from the intensity she had just experienced. Kael had satisfied her with such mastery that Eva felt completely undone; his fingers and lips had carried her to heights she had never known before. The heat between her thighs still burned, her core quivered, the wetness a testament to how thoroughly he had melted her from beginning to end.

She could barely catch her breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her skin was flushed from head to toe, a blush that started at her cheeks and descended to her exposed breasts. She was both embarrassed and lost in a pleasure-drunk haze, her mind clouded with ecstasy.

Kael moved up her body with predatory grace, his amber eyes gleaming with satisfaction and possessive hunger. He reached for the blanket and gently draped it over her bare chest, protecting her modesty, though his gaze had already seen and memorized every curve.

Then he positioned himself above her, his muscular arms framing Eva's body, caging her in. His weight pressed down on her, solid and warm, anchoring her to the moment. Eva looked up at him, utterly defenseless against him in every sense, still dazed from the pleasure he had given her.

Kael's hand rose to caress her hair, his fingers threading through the ash-blonde strands with infinite tenderness. The gesture was so gentle, so full of love, that Eva's heart constricted.

Eva found herself studying his face, those high cheekbones, the strong jawline, the sensual curve of his lips. But what captivated her most were his eyes. Those amber eyes that had haunted her dreams for years. Now, looking into them up close, she could see so much more.

Pain. Ancient and deep, like a wound that had never fully healed.

Longing. Raw and desperate, as if he had been waiting for her across countless lifetimes.

And... Love. Pure and overwhelming, directed entirely at her with a breathtaking intensity.

This was the man from her dreams. The phantom lover who touched her in sleep, whose face she could never quite recall upon waking, but whose presence always felt like home.

Why? Why did she feel this inexplicable connection to him? Why did every cell in her body recognize him, yearn for him, trust him? Am I really his soulmate?

The sense of belonging to him, how natural it felt, terrified her.

Eva gathered her courage, her voice coming out small and uncertain.

"I feel like I'm being swept away by all of this," she whispered. "Like I'm inside a fairy tale. Both frightening and enchanting." She paused, her brow furrowing. "But I'm on a path whose ending I don't know. And that... that scares me."

Kael's expression softened impossibly. He brought his fingers to her lips, tracing the swollen, kiss-bruised curve with reverence.

"I'm always with you," he whispered, his deep voice wrapping around her like velvet. "I will never leave you, little one. Never."

Despite her fears, Eva found herself smiling. It was absurd, really. She barely knew this man, this creature, yet she trusted him with a certainty that defied logic.

His gaze, his touch, even his laugh and scent... everything was familiar. As if her soul had known him long before her mind had.

This terrified her. This feeling. As if she couldn't exist without him.

The first rays of dawn began filtering through the windows, painting the mountain house in soft golden light. Darkness was retreating, and with it, Eva knew, Kael would have to go as well.

Kael noticed the changing light. Gently, he brought his fingers to Eva's eyes, tenderly closing her lids.

"It's nearly time for me to go," he whispered into her ear, his breath warm against her skin. "Sleep now, little one. Rest."

Eva felt the warmth of the fireplace, the solid comfort of Kael's body against hers, and the gentle caress of fingers in her hair. She felt safe. Protected. Cherished.

Her consciousness began to slip away, pulled down by exhaustion and peace.

"Kael..." she murmured sleepily.

"Shh," he soothed. "I'm here. Sleep."

And she did, surrendering to the peace his presence brought.

Kael remained motionless for several long moments, watching Eva sleep. Her face was peaceful now, relaxed in a way he had rarely seen since she arrived in this cursed town. His mate. His woman. After centuries of waiting, she was finally here, finally his.

But then his body tensed.

His enhanced hearing caught distant sounds. Footsteps. Heartbeats. The metallic click of weapons being readied.

His ears twitched, able to hear the whisper of movement in the forest. His skin prickled with warning, every instinct screaming that danger bells were ringing.

His eyes flared, amber irises filling with an otherworldly gleam as the wolf rose to the surface.

He slipped silently from Eva's side, making sure the blanket covered her completely. He stood, magnificently naked, his muscular body taut with deadly intent.

He strode to the door and opened it, stepping onto the porch. The cold morning air struck his bare skin, but he felt nothing. All his focus was entirely on the forest, on the threats lurking in its depths.

His nostrils flared, catching scents on the wind. Humans. At least six of them. Armed. Moving with the practiced speed of hunters.

And there, another scent. Wolf. Bad blood. Joe's family.

A low, rumbling growl emerged from Kael's chest, vibrating through his entire body.

He leaped from the porch, his body transforming mid-air. Bones shifted, muscles reshaped, his skin covered with thick reddish-brown fur. Within seconds, the human form vanished, replaced by a massive wolf.

He landed on all fours, claws digging into the snow, and immediately broke into a deadly run toward the forest.

The chase had begun.

The first hunter never even saw him coming. Kael's jaws locked onto the man's throat, crushing the windpipe and severing the arteries in a single merciless bite. He released the body, let it fall, and moved to the next target.

Blood painted the pristine snow.

Another hunter raised his rifle, but Kael was faster. He leaped, his massive weight slamming into the man's chest, knocking him to the ground. His teeth tore through flesh, ripping muscle and bone. The man's scream was cut short.

Three more hunters emerged from between the trees, raising their weapons. They fired, silver bullets whizzing through the air. One grazed Kael's shoulder, burning like acid, but he didn't slow. He wasn't an ordinary alpha. He was a mystical force of nature, unstoppable, merciless.

He caught another hunter by the leg, his jaws crushing bone. The man fell, and Kael was on him instantly, tearing him apart swiftly.

The remaining two hunters began to run, stumbling through the snow in blind panic.

Kael followed them with hunter-like patience, knowing they couldn't escape. He could hear their racing heartbeats, smell their terror.

They reached their vehicle, a mud-covered SUV parked on a hidden forest trail. They climbed inside, started the engine.

But Kael was already there.

He leaped onto the roof, his claws shredding the metal like paper. The vehicle swerved wildly, the driver panicking. Kael kept his balance and reached down with his full weight, his massive claws tearing through the men in their seats...

The SUV lost control, careened off the trail. It rolled twice and landed on its side.

Kael jumped to the ground, his lips curling in a savage snarl, revealing blood-stained teeth. His heart pounded with rage, with murderous violence...

Just then, Eva jolted awake.

She sat up, the blanket falling from her chest. She placed her hand over her heart, which was pounding violently against her ribcage. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps.

"Kael!" she whispered, her voice tight with fear.

Something was wrong. She could feel it through the bond, like a dark, violent pulse echoing in her chest.

He was angry. No, beyond angry. Furiously enraged. He was in a lethal state, and Eva felt it in her own chest.

What's happening? Why is he like this? Why is he so angry? she murmured.

Eva leaped to her feet, wrapping the blanket around her naked body. The door was open, swinging gently in the cold breeze.

She ran to it, staring out at the dawn.

Everything looked calm. Snow was falling gently, covering the world in white silence. The forest was still, peaceful.

But her heart wouldn't stop pounding. The feeling of wrongness persisted...

"No," she breathed. "Something's wrong."

Moving quickly, Eva dropped the blanket and grabbed her clothes, dressing with clumsy hands. She pulled on her jeans, her sweater, her coat. She shoved her feet into her boots, not bothering to tie the laces properly.

Then she ran outside.

"Kael!" she called into the forest. "Kael, where are you?"

Only silence answered her.

The snow muffled all sounds, creating an eerie quiet. In the distance she heard the crackle of branches, the whisper of wind through pine needles, an occasional bird call. But no Kael.

Eva walked farther from the house, her boots crunching in the snow. Her breath fogged in front of her face.

"Kael, please!" she shouted. "Answer me!"

Then she saw movement in the trees.

Her heart was pounding wildly, she had seen him. But what she felt wasn't relief. It was fear.

Because what emerged from the forest wasn't the gentle, protective wolf she knew.

This was something else entirely.

Kael appeared between the trees, massive and terrifying. His reddish-brown fur was mixed with blood, too much blood. It stained his muzzle, his teeth, dripping from his chest and front legs.

His amber eyes blazed with an unholy light, wild and feral. This wasn't the loving mate who had held her so tenderly. This was a predator. A killer.

A demon in wolf's clothing.

"What happened to you?" Eva whispered, frozen in place.