CHAPTER 2: The strangers claim

He just kept staring at me. I should have scrambled to my feet and run Instead I stayed frozen as a part of me the part tired of being good, tired of waiting, tired of always doing the right thing. I wanted to see what he would do.

He studied me as his eyes never dropped to my ruined dress. They stayed on my face, as if the dress meant nothing, as if I were the only thing in the forest worth noticing. The air changed as It grew thick, charged, bowing around him.

My wolf, broken and grieving still lifted her head..

“Why are you’re running all by yourself in this territory at this hour?,” he said. Not a question.

My throat tightened. “My mate chose someone else.”

Something flickered in his eyes like understanding or something darker.

“Then he’s a fool.”

I looked away. “You don’t even know me.”

“I don’t need to.” His hand lifted as he brushed my cheek, surprisingly gentle for someone who radiated that much power. He wiped a tear from my skin. “Anyone who makes a woman cry like this doesn’t deserve her.”

My breath caught his thumb traced the line of my jaw. The touch was light but it felt like a command.

“Stay,” i murmured.  “Stay with me tonight.”

I shook my head as he leaned closer, forehead almost touching mine.

“After tonight, you’ll never see me again.”

He swallowed. “And what happens tonight?”

His eyes darkened while his hand slid to the back of my neck.

“Tonight, I help you forget.”

Every part of me screamed that this was insane. I didn’t know him but I was vulnerable, broken, making the worst decision of my life but I was tired of being the good girl waiting for people to love me. Tired of being rejected, discarded, treated like I didn’t matter for once, I wanted to feel something other than pain.

Immediately his mouth crashed against mine. I gasped into him. He tasted like whiskey and something darker, something wild as his hands gripped my waist and pulled me against him.

The hard planes of his chest pressed into me, heat radiating off his skin. He kissed me like he was starving like I was the only thing that could save him.

I kissed him back, pouring all my grief into it. All the anger, desperation, years of feeling unwanted and invisible his hands roamed my body like he owned it. He pushed me back against the tree, caging me in as he trailed down my throat, teeth grazing my pulse. I moaned as his mouth found the sensitive spot behind my ear.

“Shh.” His hand slipped beneath the bodice of my dress. My breath hitched.

“I’m going to make you forget everything,” he murmured against my skin. “Tonight, you’re mine.”

The words sent a shiver down my spine. He pulled back just enough to look at me his eyes were wild and hungry. I could barely speak as his  hands found the back of my dress. One sharp tug and the laces gave way.

The bodice loosened as the fabric slipped down my shoulders. I should have felt exposed. Instead, I felt powerful because the way he looked at me made me feel like the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

“I want to hear you,” he growled.

“W-what?”

“When I take you. I want to hear you.”

My cheeks flushed as he smiled. It was predatory, promising things I had never experienced.

“Good girl." His mouth found my collarbone, exploring every inch of exposed skin. He lifted me. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he pressed me against the tree. My dress pooled around us. His shirt came off. I traced the lines of his chest, the ridges of his abs, the powerful muscles flexing beneath my touch.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he groaned.

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Good.” He kissed me again, harder, deeper, more demanding as his hands found the hem of my dress, pushing it higher. I moaned against his lips.

“Please,” I whispered.

“Please what?”

“Please… I need…”

“I know what you need.” His fingers found me as I gasped. He soothed me with another kiss.

“I’ve got you.” His touch was masterful. He knew exactly where to touch, exactly how to make me fall apart.

“I can’t,” I breathed.

“Yes, you can.”

“I’m going to ” I shattered against him, body shaking, cries swallowed by his mouth. He didn’t stop. He kept touching me, pushing me higher, driving me mad. When I finally came back to myself, he was looking at me with that same dark hunger. I barely had time to process before he positioned himself against me.

“Wait,” I gasped. He stopped immediately.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never…”

His eyes widened. “Never?”

I shook my head while He cursed under his breath.

“Would it have changed anything?”

He studied me. “No. Nothing would change.”

He leaned down, lips brushing my ear.

“I’m going to be gentle,” he said. “But I’m not going to stop.”

His breath was warm against my ear as his body was hard against mine.

“Look at me." I met his gaze.

“I’m watching you,” he said. “Don’t look away.”

then he pushed inside me.

I cried out as he swallowed the sound with his mouth, one hand gripping my hip, steadying me. The feeling of him stretching me, filling me, claiming me was overwhelming.

“You’re so tight,” he groaned. “So perfect.”

He stayed still, letting me adjust. Then he moved slowly. Every thrust made me gasp. Every stroke made me moan. He was relentless, powerful, taking everything I had and giving back more. He pushed deeper, harder. I screamed.

“That’s it,” he growled, mouth claiming mine. “Let me hear you.”

I screamed his name or what I wished was his name clawing at his back, digging my heels into his hips. I gave him every last piece of me. His release filled me as he buried his face against my neck.

When he finally pulled back, I was trembling. For a long moment neither of us spoke. Then he pulled away completely immediately the cold rushed back in. The emptiness returned as we both crashed onto the wet soil.

I lay beside him, still half naked, still trembling, still aching. I traced his abs. I didn’t want the night to end beneath the grief, the betrayal, the emptiness, something had ignited something I hadn’t felt in years.

I didn’t know who he was but I knew one thing: tonight had changed me and some small reckless part of me hoped this wouldn’t be the last time I ever saw him.