LOGINAnna’s POVMy eyes opened slowly, and for several seconds I simply stared at the ceiling, hoping my mind would be kind enough to give me something else to think about.But it didn’t.The moment I closed my eyes again, I could feel Kael’s hand against my cheek, his fingers at my waist, the warmth of his lips against mine. I remembered everything and my heart gave an uncomfortable thump.I opened my eyes again.“Oh, God.”I rolled onto my back and covered my face with both hands.Why did we kiss? More importantly, what does it mean?Kael had never told me he liked me. He had never said anything that could be mistaken for a confession, and yet there had been something in the way he always looked at me that I couldn’t simply dismiss. Something had changed between us, and I knew I wasn’t imagining it.But did that mean he actually had feelings for me?And if he did…What did that say about me?I swallowed hard.Because I couldn’t pretend I hadn’t felt something too.I had spent months telli
BENEATH THE MOONLIGHTI followed Kael deeper into the territory, growing more curious with every step.He barely spoke as we walked, but strangely, the silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt intimate. Every now and then, his hand brushed mine as we moved along the narrow path, and each accidental touch sent a small spark through me.“How much farther?” I finally asked.“Not far.”“You’ve said that twice.”“Because you keep asking.”I smiled.The trees gradually grew thicker around us until the familiar paths disappeared behind us. Moonlight slipped between the branches in pale silver streaks, illuminating the ground beneath our feet.Then Kael stopped and I nearly walked into him.He turned around,“We’re here.”I looked up at him and frowned.All I saw was a rocky section of the forest.“Here?”He stepped toward the rocks and pushed aside a curtain of vines I hadn’t noticed before.Then an opening appeared.My mouth fell open.“You have got to be kidding me.”Kael
After everything that had happened the night before, I should have been embarrassed enough to avoid him for at least a few days. Instead, the moment I remembered his arms around me, the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek, and the way his voice had softened when he told me he worried about me, warmth crept up my neck all over again.And then there was the way he had looked at me before leaving.I pressed my face into my pillow for a moment, silently groaning.What was happening to me?I had spent weeks telling myself that Kael’s concern meant nothing. That his constant attention was simply part of being my Alpha. That the strange pull I felt whenever he came near me was something I could ignore if I tried hard enough.But lately, ignoring it had become almost impossible.Especially after last night.By the time I made my way outside, I had managed to convince myself that working would keep my mind occupied. I had been assigned to maintain some of the equipment around the eastern
Kael’s expression immediately changed.And instantly,I wished I could take the words back, but it was too late.His brows drew together. “What?”“You heard me.”“Anna…”“Does that mean you had her in your room today?”The question came out sharper than I intended.His eyes searched my face, and something almost like realization flickered through them.“You’re jealous.”“No!I am not.” I frowned. “You are.”“I am not jealous.” I turned my face away, refusing to look at him.He let out a quiet breath.“Nothing happened between Vanessa and me.”I glanced at him despite myself.“She came to speak with me about something concerning the pack. That’s all.”I raised a brow.“You expect me to believe that?”“Yes.”I scoffed softly.His expression softened for only a second before the frustration returned.“You’re angry because you think something happened between Vanessa and me, while you’re standing here covered in another man’s scent after disappearing into the forest with him.”“We didn’t do an
Anna’s POVBy the time Desmond and I returned to the territory, the moon had climbed high enough into the night sky to cast a pale silver glow over the trees. The territory was unusually quiet, the kind of quiet that only came when most of the pack had already retired for the night. Because even the usual sounds drifting from the main building had faded, leaving only the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of a night bird.I climbed down from Desmond’s back, my feet touching the ground as I straightened my clothes and tried to gather my thoughts. Desmond decided to give me another ride back, and somehow, that only made the experience in the forest feel even more vivid in my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about the rush of the wind against my face, the darkness slipping past us between the trees, and the strange thrill that came with trusting him completely as he carried me deeper into the woods. I had never imagined I would enjoy something like that, much less feel so f
The deeper we walked into the forest, the quieter everything became. As the sounds of the territory slowly disappeared behind us until there was nothing but the rustling of leaves beneath our feet and the occasional call of some night creature hidden somewhere among the trees. Desmond never let go of my hand, and somehow, that simple touch made the unfamiliar darkness feel less intimidating.“Where exactly are you taking me?” I asked.“You’ll know when we get there.”I sighed. “You really enjoy keeping me guessing.”“Maybe.”He said with a smile.The moonlight filtered through the branches above us, leaving silver patches across the forest floor. Desmond seemed completely at ease, moving through the darkness as though he knew every tree and every hidden path.Eventually, he stopped.“We’re here.”I looked around.“This is it?”He released my hand and stepped back.“Not quite.”Before I could ask what he meant, I watched his body change.His bones shifted beneath his skin, his shoulders br







