~Jane~The first thing I became aware of was warmth. The steady heat pressed against me, wrapping me in a cocoon that made it impossible to tell where I ended and Nathan began. I stirred slowly, my head shifting just slightly on the solid plane of his chest. When I lifted my gaze, I found him already awake. His striking blue eyes were locked on me, as if he'd been watching me sleep. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but there was something deeper beneath it- an intensity that made my heart race before I could even think. For a moment, I just stared back, letting the silence between us say more than words could. The memories of last night came rushing back, flooring me with warmth that curled deep in my stomach and left my skin tinging. Everything was changing inside me. I still had questions. Doubts whispering in the back of my mind like ghosts I couldn't banish completely. The fear of losing him, of not being enough, of the danger of Zander's threat of taking me awa
~Jane~His mouth scorched a path down my throat, and my breath shuddered out, breaking against the heat of his touch. My fingers tangled in his hair, desperate to keep him close—desperate to hold onto the way he made me feel: alive, wanted, burning.“Nathan…” My voice broke—half plea, half warning—but his hands only tightened at my waist, steady, grounding.“I’ve got you,” he whispered against my skin, the words melting into the frantic beat of my pulse.His lips slowed, not pulling away, just softening. As if he knew I needed air. His forehead pressed gently to mine, our ragged breaths tangling in the narrow space between us. For a moment, all I heard was the thundering rhythm of my heart, the quiet promise in his touch.Then his hands shifted, coaxing me backward, guiding me with a tenderness that contrasted the fire simmering between us. My knees brushed the edge of the mattress before I even realized he’d moved me there. The world tilted as I sank onto the bed, Nathan following, h
~Jane~The drive home blurred past in a haze of heat and silence, every mile thick with unspoken words. Nathan's hands never strayed from the wheel, but the weight of his presence filled every inch of the car. I didn't trust my voice, didn't dare break the fragile thread holding me together, so I started out the window, clutching the hem of my shirt to keep from reaching for him. When the packhouse finally came into view, my breath caught. The familiar stone and timber stood tall against the fading light, but tonight it didn't look like safety. Tonight it looked like temptation. Nathan eased the car up the long drive, slowing as he reached the circular front. Gravel crunching beneath the tires, steady, deliberate, like his heartbeat pulsing in sync with mine. Jay's car pulled in close behind us, his presence a reminder that we weren't completely alone- though my body screamed that none of it mattered. The engine cut off, and in a sudden quiet, my pulse roared louder than ever. I sw
~Jane~The truth was, it hadn't been easy. The past two classes had felt endless; whispers trailed after me, and questions kept running through my head. And I still had no answers. But by the last bell, I'd been more than ready to run straight back to Nathan. "It was... a lot," I admitted softly, my gaze dropping for just a second before I forced it back to his. I drew in a breath and let the words spill out, eager to tell him more. "I actually did some training today," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I usually sit in the bleachers with Jay while I watch the other students train. But today Couch had me join in the training. One of the girls showed me some defending moves- simple things, but it felt good to finally try. She was patient and walked me through slowly. And then..." I said, taking a second before continuing. "She had me go up against one of the other girls. I probably looked ridiculous, but at least I kept my balance." Nathan's eyes held mine like he was memor
~Jane~I shifted in my seat, heat thundering. The question wouldn't leave me alone. My fingers tightened around my pen until I finally lifted my hand, startling even myself. "Yes, Miss Foster?" Mr. Nelson's brows rose, his tone encouraging. I swallowed, nerves twisting in my chest, but forced the words out. "Mr. Nelson... is it possible for someone's wolf to awaken, even for just a moment, before they've reached their seventeenth year?" A few students glanced my way, curious, but Mr. Nelson only gave me a measured look, as though he'd been waiting for someone to ask. "That is... an unusual question, Miss Foster." He leaned against the desk, folding his arms. "In all of our history, there are no recorded cases of a wolf awakening before the age of maturity. The Moon Goddess set that boundary for a reason. The bond between human and wolf must be strong enough to bear the connection." My stomach sank. No recorded cases. Then what had happened to me? "But," Mr. Nelson added, more car
~Jane~My lungs still burned as I left the mat, every breath heavy with the effort of the sparring match. My arms ached, my legs trembled, and my shirt clung to me with sweat. But underneath all of that, a strange warmth settled in my chest- something I hadn't felt in a long time. Pride.I sank onto the bench, grabbed the towel someone had passed me, and wiped my face. My muscles screamed, but I couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at my lips. I wasn't perfect, not even close, but I hadn't run. I hadn't backed down."Alright, ladies and gentlemen- lockers!" Couach's voice carried across the gym, firm but not unkind.Inside the locker room, the air cooler filled with the sharp scent of deodorant and shampoo. The chatter of the girls filled the space as everyone began peeling off sweaty clothes and tugging on jeans, skirts, or whatever they had for the rest of the day. I slid onto a bench in front of my locker, pulling my bag closer.As I changed back into my regular clothes, I let my m