Don’t fight it

RAINA

It was him- the rider in red. The one who’d won the race.

He knelt beside me, his face shadowed by the dim light. His gaze locked on mine, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

“Easy,” he said quietly. “You’re okay now.”

I shook my head weakly, a tear slipping from the corner of my eye. “No… I’m not…”

He frowned as he reached out to steady me. “Your heart rate’s too high. You need to calm down.”

I let out a shaky laugh that sounded more like a sob. “I can’t…”

He leaned closer, his voice softer now. “Yes, you can. Just breathe.”

Something about the way he said it made my wolf go still again, softening the ache in my heart. My chest still burned, but his presence felt… different. Familiar, even though I had never met him before.

“Who…” I tried to speak, but my voice broke. “Who are you?”

His eyes softened just a little. “Elias,” he responded. “And you’re lucky I saw you collapse before anyone else did.”

*******************

ELIAS

It had been years since I last raced.

Racing was never really my thing… not like it was for Zane. For him, it was everything. Winning, the crowd, the cameras. He fed off it.

Me?

I just liked the speed, the silence that came when the world blurred around me and nothing else mattered.

But tonight was different.

My wolf wouldn’t stop pushing me to come back home. I didn’t know why at first… only that the pull in my chest grew stronger every day until I couldn’t ignore it anymore. He told me I’d find someone here.

And damn, he was right.

Because tonight, I found her.

When I saw her collapse, my wolf went wild… restless, and panicked. I didn’t even think.

One second I was stepping off the track, and the next, I was running toward her, pushing through the crowd. The moment I touched her, the pain that had been twisting inside her chest… it called to me. My wolf recognized it before I did.

Mate.

I hadn’t even seen her face yet, but the bond was there… I’d spent years searching for another wolf like me, never expecting that my mate would be right here in my stepbrother’s world.

Zane’s fiancée.

I didn’t know whether to thank the Moon or curse her.

My mother never told me what I was. She died before she could. I only found out the truth when on my eighteen birthday… and it changed everything. Since then, I’ve lived between worlds.

She opened her eyes slowly, blinking up at me like she wasn’t sure where she was. I watched her sit up, still weak but trying to act strong.

“Why did you rescue me?” she asked, her voice soft and confused. “You don’t even know me.”

I looked at her, quiet for a moment. “Because, I needed you for something.” I responded.

Her eyebrows pulled together. “What’s that?”

Instead of answering, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. Then I took her hand before she could move.

“Elias, stop…”

I lifted her hand under the light. Fur was spreading over her skin, her nails turning sharp.

I hit record.

She quickly pulled her hand back. “What are you doing!?”

I kept the phone steady. “Getting proof.”

“Proof? Proof of what?”

“That you’re not human.”

Her whole body went still. I could see the fear in her eyes.

“I know what you are,” I said quietly. “You’re a wolf. Just like me.”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

“You’re what??? You're lying,” she finally whispered.

I smiled a little. “I wish I was. But it’s true. And believe me, I was just as shocked when I found out who you were.” I took a small step toward her.

“Delete that video,” she said quickly. “Please, Elias. You can’t keep that.”

“No. I finally have something I can use.”

Her eyes widened. “Use? You’re blackmailing me?”

I leaned in close until she could feel my breath. “I want you.”

She froze.

“I’ve never been with a wolf before,” I said softly. “I want to know what it feels like. The feeling of having sex with a wolf… and I want it with you.”

Her face twisted in disbelief. “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe,” I smirked. “But I know what I want.”

She stood up fast, anger shaking through her body. “You think I’m going to sleep with you because you have a video? Are you mad!?”

I didn’t even blink. “If you don’t, the world will know who you are. A wolf living among humans.”

Her jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

I looked her straight in the eyes. “Try me.”

She took a step back, her chest rising and falling fast. Her eyes darted toward the door like she was thinking of running.

I didn’t let her.

In one quick move, I caught her face in my hands, my fingers resting against her soft cheeks.

“Can’t you feel that?” I whispered. My thumbs brushed over her skin, and she shivered. “The heat between us.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

“Don’t lie,” I said, my voice dropping lower. “You feel it too, don’t you?”

Her pulse was racing, and I could feel her body trembling under my touch.

Inside me, my wolf stirred… it wanted her.

I leaned closer, my forehead brushing hers. “You can’t hide it, sweetheart,” I said softly. “Your wolf knows mine.”

Her breathing grew uneven. I could see the battle in her eyes, the way her lips trembled as she tried to resist what her body already knew.

Her wolf was calling out to mine.

Her hands were still pressed against my chest, but her grip had softened.

“See?” I whispered. “You don’t have to fight it.”

For a second, she didn’t move. Her eyes fluttered open, meeting mine… glowing faintly, just like before.

Then suddenly, she snapped out of it.

She pushed me away with all the strength she had and stumbled back, shaking her head like she was trying to wake from a dream.

“Don’t,” she breathed, her voice breaking. “Don’t ever come close to me again.”

I stared at her, surprised by how quickly she pulled herself together.

She took one step back. “Whatever this is,” she said, her voice trembling, “it’s not happening.”

She turned sharply and walked out without looking back.