A Warm Kiss

“What the hell are you doing?” Seara hissed, her body stiff in Austin’s warm hold.

“Making sure you don’t pass out,” Austin said easily, his crooked grin infuriating. “You looked like you were about to fall.”

“I’m fine. Let me go.” Seara squirmed, trying to break free.

“Mmm,” he hummed thoughtfully, but didn’t move an inch. If anything, he pulled her closer, lowering his face until his breath ghosted over her cheek.

Seara’s heart was pounding like crazy. She could smell him—the sharp, intoxicating scent of an Alpha wolf mixed with warmth and something raw, something that felt dangerous and safe all at once.

“Austin, let me—”

The kiss came out of nowhere.

Without warning, his lips claimed hers—soft, but full of certainty. For a heartbeat, Seara froze. Her mind screamed at her to shove him away, but her body betrayed her, melting into the moment. Seconds stretched, heavy and electric, as she let the kiss linger far longer than she should have.

Then reality slammed back. Shock and humiliation burned through her as she shoved at his chest with all her strength. “What the hell was that?”

Austin just laughed, one hand rubbing his chin like he’d won a prize. “Wow. No slap to the face? That’s what I call progress.”

“You’re insane!” Seara snapped, whipping her head away so he couldn’t see the heat flaming across her cheeks.

“Not completely insane. But I will be… if I don’t get to kiss you again.” His grin turned wicked. “And don’t even try to lie, Seara. I could taste your curiosity in that kiss. You didn’t hate it.”

Her cheeks burned hotter. She spun around, cursing under her breath. How could her own body betray her like that? She’d… she’d actually enjoyed it.

“You just took advantage of me,” she bit out.

“Damn right I did. I’m not the type to wait around when I know the other wolf wants it too.” His smirk was pure trouble.

“I don’t want you!” she shot back, glancing at him with a glare sharp enough to cut.

Austin let out a low whistle, leaning casually against a tree with his arms folded behind his head. “Guess I should apologize then… for kissing those soft, sweet lips that taste like ripe cherries.” He winked.

Seara snapped her head around. “You are shameless.”

“And you,” he drawled, “are really bad at hiding the fact that you liked it. But fine—let’s call it an emergency drill, yeah? A little life-saving exercise.”

“Life-saving?” Seara narrowed her eyes. “How the hell was that life-saving?”

“Well,” Austin said, pretending to think hard, “I was pretty sure you’d rip apart the next guy who touched you. But apparently, your lips had other plans—”

“Stop it, Alpha Austin!” Seara’s voice came out louder than she intended, her face burning like fire.

Austin only laughed harder.

Minutes ticked by, heavy with awkward silence and pounding heartbeats, before Austin finally spoke. “By the way, you should come with me.”

Seara turned, frowning. “Where?”

“To my pack lands.” His voice left no room for argument. “I was doing a solo patrol out here, hunting for rogues. You shouldn’t be in this forest alone. They could show up any second.”

“I can take care of myself,” she said flatly.

“No doubt.” Austin flashed a grin. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re prime prey for rogues. They can smell it—you don’t belong to anyone yet.”

“I don’t need your protection,” she snapped.

“Too bad,” Austin countered with a raised brow. “Because you’re getting it.”

“You can’t force me!”

Austin stepped closer, eyes sharp yet still laced with that damn teasing heat. “No, I can’t force you. But I’m not leaving until you agree.”

Seara opened her mouth to argue—when the forest shifted. Leaves rustled. The wind changed direction. And then… an unfamiliar scent sliced through the air.

Her instincts flared. Seara tensed, unconsciously edging closer to Austin.

He moved first, muscles locking tight. “Stay quiet.”

From the shadows of the brush, a massive gray wolf stepped out. Its glowing eyes burned with suspicion, lips peeled back just enough to flash sharp teeth.

Seara clutched Austin’s arm without thinking, her breath catching. The wolf radiated hostility, and for the first time tonight, fear clawed through her.

“Alex,” Austin said evenly, his voice calm but threaded with warning.

“Who the hell is she, Austin?” The wolf’s growl rumbled low and deadly.

“My Beta,” Austin murmured to Seara before speaking louder. “Stand down, Alex.”

The wolf snarled harder—and then lunged.

Seara screamed, eyes squeezing shut—

—but no teeth touched her skin. Instead, the air cracked with the sound of a vicious snarl and a body slamming into the earth.

When Seara dared to look, Austin was in front of her, standing like a wall. His body had partially shifted—eyes blazing gold, fangs glinting in the moonlight. Power radiated off him in waves, a crushing, invisible force that demanded obedience.

“Don’t. Touch. Her.” His voice was deep, guttural, shaking the ground beneath them.

Alex hesitated, then lowered himself, still growling low as he shifted back into human form—a tall, hard-faced man with short black hair and eyes sharp as blades.

“She’s not one of us,” Alex said coldly.

“And I’m your Alpha,” Austin snapped, his tone lethal. “If I say don’t touch her, you don’t. I know what I’m doing.”

Alex’s jaw flexed, but he said nothing—just stood there like a statue, his piercing glare never leaving Seara.

The chill of his hostility was suffocating, a sharp contrast to Austin’s reckless charm and easy smile.

Seara’s chest tightened. She looked at Austin—this infuriating, arrogant Alpha who had just shielded her with every ounce of dominance he possessed. Not because he had to… but because he wanted to.

“Why… why did you protect me?” she whispered.

Austin turned to her, his golden eyes fading back to warm green. No grin this time. No teasing. Just quiet certainty.

“Because I can. And because I want to.”

Seara bit her lip, her emotions spiraling. She hated that it made her heart stutter. Hated that it impressed her. But God help her, it did.

Austin had stolen a kiss earlier, had pushed every button she had… and yet, in this moment, she felt safe with him. Completely, undeniably safe.

Her mind kept flashing back to the heat of his mouth on hers, the way his breath had shivered across her skin, the look in his eyes when he kissed her—not playful, but… possessive. Real.

And worst of all? She liked it.

Damn it.

The harder she tried to fight it, the stronger it pulled her under. And when she looked at him now—at those steady green eyes, at the strength that wrapped around her like armor—something broke loose inside her. Something wild.

Seara needed certainty. Something to hold onto. She stepped closer, until she could feel his warmth, until her trembling hand rested flat against his chest, trying to calm her frantic heart.

[He’s your second chance, Seara.]