CHAPTER FIVE

Tia's POV

Earlier, my paws pounded the forest floor as I ran, the thrill of the hunt coursing through my veins. I'd caught a scent and I was ready for my prey.

I remembered how worried my sister was about me leaving alone for some reason. Lately, there'd been disappearances of werewolves, but I knew I'd be okay. I was a werewolf that could fight. No kidnapping wolf was going to intimidate me. I didn't tell my father though, because he'd give his usual face of disapproval. There's a reason even the littlest things were done in the group, and while I understood it, it didn't mean I wanted to follow the rules.

I loved the solitude of hunting alone, the freedom that came with it. My senses heightened as I got closer to my prey. I was excited. Finally, a win today! Dad would be happy even though he'd scold me a bit.

Just as I was about to pounce, a rustling in the underbush caught my attention. I turned around, ears perked up, wondering if it was another prey. I heard my hunt run away from my grasp, but I was curious to see what it was that interrupted me. And then I got mad when I took in the scent. I knew who it was.

I really wanted to curse. What did he want?! I might reach a point where I actually really, really almost hate Kael soon.

A familiar majestic gray wolf with piercing yellow eyes stepped closer. My instincts told me to be wary, wondering if he was going to attack. Was he one of the people taking werewolves? I felt a bit worried, but still annoyed. The minute our gazes met, I felt an inexplicable pull. A pull I was trying to fight because it was so unexpected.

Kael padded closer, his tail waggling slightly, and the tension I felt seemed to be going away. We sniffed each other, our scents mingling in the air, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was all so intoxicating. I wanted to go closer.

The world around me began to shift and blur a bit, as I felt a strange sensation. A few strange sensations, rather. I wasn't focusing on my environment, just him, but I was able to feel my body almost rearrange itself inside out. Then I blinked and looked down.

I was in my human form.

What'd happened was a transformation and I knew I didn't do that. At least not intentionally. As I made to move, I stumbled to the ground, disoriented as I tried to get comfortable in my sudden appearance of legs.

But then I paused.

“Legs," I croaked.

I looked down, sobering up immediately as I realized that I was standing on two legs instead of four. And I was naked.

My eyes widened as I frantically tried to cover myself, hands crossing over my chest, then me forcing my legs closed. Then I proceeded to close my legs, using one hand down, one hand up across my chest.

I turned around, searching for something, anything, to wear. And that's when I saw him. When I remembered his presence.

Kael was standing a short distance away, dressed in pants. He was tall, chiseled, and with his eyes still glowing yellow for some reason. From what I knew, his eyes were gray.

He approached me calmly, a gentle smile on his face, and held a shirt. “Here," he said softly. “You can wear this before you find your clothes."

I paused for a few seconds before gingerly grabbing the shirt, but accidentally touching his hand in the process. I felt sparks go through my body, my heart racing.

I watched him smile before he turned around, giving me space to feel less shame as I wore his shirt. It was big on me, but I was thankful for that. It was covering everything I wanted covered.

“I'm done," I announced when I got up, brushing the sand and grass from my body.

Our gazes met again, and I felt that pull again. I watched him glance at his shirt on me, and saw him gulp. The intensity was too much to handle, but I had a feeling mine was the same way.

Without thinking, I walked closer to him, head slightly raised up and watched as he leaned in, meeting me halfway, our lips meeting in a tender, exploratory kiss, one of his hands grabbing my hair and the other around my waist. My senses were suddenly overwhelmed. I wanted to climb on top of him, to take in more of the scent of his hair, the feel of his skin and to taste more of his lips. I felt so unsatisfied. I felt so hungry. It was like nothing I'd ever experienced before.

More, more, more, more! my brain kept chanting.

My heart rate was going crazy. Touching him made me feel hotter than I'd ever felt before, and I knew he was feeling the same way, especially with the way he kept groaning.

This was so perfect.

I gasped softly as I felt him trying to lift the shirt I had on, and just as I was about to let him, I paused as a thought came into my head, then suddenly pushed him away. I pulled away from him when he tried to grab me again, my heart pounding in my chest.

I touched my lips as I screamed silently in my head.

“Oh my God," I whispered. “Oh my God, what am I doing?!"

“Tia," I heard Kael call me, but I turned away from him, trying to get away from him. I knew if he got any closer to me, I would jump him. I would be very willing to let him do whatever he wanted with me, too. And I knew I shouldn't do that.

And I knew at this point why I wanted to do all of that. I felt my chest hurting a bit as I was pulling from the bond.

It was wrong.

“This is wrong," I said aloud, my voice shaking, as I moved away from his touch when I looked at him.

He looked surprised, then hurt. And that hurt me.

“I have to go home," I whispered. “I need to… I need to go home."

“Tia, you can't," he pleaded. “We need to talk about this."

I shook my head, stepping away from him. “I need to go home," I repeated.

Then I turned away and ran, his shirt still on me, while ignoring his eyes on me and him calling my name.

I shouldn't have kissed him. How could I have kissed him? He's from the Crescent Shade Pack! What was I going to do when my father found out? This wasn't supposed to happen.

She'd thought her mate was going to be someone from her pack. But it ended up being someone who's not just from her rival pack, but their beta Kael Cameron.

She felt her heart hurt and his lips burn from the memory of their kiss as she went home.