"He stepped closer, and my wolf leaned forward. I stepped back mostly to remind us both who was in charge."
The winding road from Roanridge's outskirts twisted like it was designed to keep sane people away. Luckily, sanity and I had parted ways a long time ago. The deeper I drove into the wild heart of the Appalachians, the taller the pines loomed, standing like an army of gossiping old men waiting to see what trouble I'd drag home this time. The air was thick with damp earth, cedar, and that crisp bite of mountain cold that had a way of clearing your head unless your head was already a mess, in which case, good luck.
My cabin waited in a clearing, half-hidden by ancient trees, the sort of place that whispered Leave your problems at the door. Dark cedar logs, weathered and solid. Slate roof that had seen more winters than I cared to count. Smoke curled from the chimney like it had nothing better to do than make me feel safe.
The porch creaked under my boots in a familiar complaint, like Oh, you're back already? Inside, the place smelled of pine, leather, and me, which, not to brag, is a damn fine scent. Exposed beams, stone hearth, dark leather couches, it was rugged comfort with a side of "yes, I could survive the apocalypse from here, thank you very much."
Dinner was simple steak, roasted vegetables, and rosemary from my herb garden. Wine from the cellar. Blues playing low on the radio. Everything is perfectly peaceful. Which should've been my first red flag. Because nothing stays peaceful in my life. Hours later, fire low, shadows stretching long across the walls, I was halfway through convincing myself to sleep when Black stirred. One moment, calm. The next? Restless, whining, claws scraping at the inside of my skin, and then came the low, haunting call.
Not just any howl. His fucking wolf's howl. That damn Alaric Vayne's. The Alpha King and the man my wolf wanted to roll over for like some lovesick mutt.
I froze, wineglass halfway to my lips, then slammed it down harder than necessary. Black whined again, needy, desperate, and I swear if he'd had control of my legs, I'd already be halfway to the sound.
I paced, boots thudding. "No, we are not doing this tonight."
Black disagreed loudly, and I put my coat on, checked on the Security system because I may be irrational, but I was not stupid, and then I was out in the forest, cursing under my breath the whole way. The moon spilled silver through the branches, the air cold enough to bite. My pulse hammered, partly from adrenaline, partly from the stupid, irritating thrill of knowing exactly who was waiting. And there was the damn menance Alaric Vayne, shirtless, like the forest itself had decided to gift-wrap temptation just to spite me. Muscles catching the moonlight. Golden eyes locking onto mine with that damn smirk that said, Yes, I know you want me.
"You really can't stay away," I called, stopping a few feet short.
He had the nerve to grin wider. "You called me, little wolf. You just don't realize it yet."
"Funny," I shot back, "I could've sworn I was enjoying a quiet night alone before someone decided to howl his way into my backyard."
"That wasn't a howl," he said, stepping closer. "That was an invitation."
I snorted. "Then I'm officially rescinding it."
His smirk didn't falter, of course, it didn't. "You can rescind all you want. Your wolf already answered."
Black practically preened inside me, traitorous beast. "This is my territory," I snapped, holding my ground. "My life. You don't just waltz in and take what you want."
Alaric's eyes burned hotter, his voice dropping low enough to make my spine tingle. "Maybe it's time you stopped pretending you don't want to be chased, little wolf."
I hated that my breath hitched and the forest went quiet, like even the trees were leaning in to hear the ending. The space between us wasn't much, but Alaric made it smaller anyway, moving with the kind of predator's grace that made my instincts scream danger and my wolf sigh finally.
I held my ground, and mostly because backing up would've felt like surrender. "You're too close," I said, my tone sharp.
He tilted his head, eyes bright. "And yet, you haven't moved an inch, little wolf."
"That's because I'm deciding whether to punch you or call pest control, and taking the unwanted beast out of my territory would be a pleasure."
He chuckled low in his chest. "If I were a pest, you'd have swatted me by now."
"Don't tempt me." I snapped at him, but he kept circling, forcing me to turn with him so I wouldn't give him my back. I hated the way it felt like a dance, slow, deliberate, charged.
"Your pulse is racing," he murmured, his voice brushing over me like a hand.
"It's called adrenaline, genius. Fight-or-flight." I responded in defence.
"Strange," he said, stepping just close enough that the heat from his bare skin reached me. "I don't smell fear."
My jaw tightened. "Maybe you should check your sense of smell as it's probably clogged with your ego."
That earned me a grin, sharp and knowing. "You're cute when you're lying."
I scoffed, but my damn wolf was wagging his metaphorical tail, soaking in the attention. Useless creature.
Alaric leaned in, not enough to touch, but enough to feel the magnetic pull of him. "Do you know what I hear when you talk like this?"
"Annoyance? Boundaries? A very clear 'go home'?" I raised one eyebrow.
"I hear a challenge." His smile turned wicked. "And I love a challenge."
The worst part? My breath had gone shallow without my permission. I stepped sideways, breaking his circle, and jabbed a finger at him. "Whatever game you think this is, you're going to lose, Vayne."
His eyes dropped to my mouth for one infuriating heartbeat before meeting mine again. "Little wolf, I already won the second you came to me."
"I am deciding whether to punch you or find the biggest stick I can and beat you with it." I huffed.
One side of his mouth lifted. "Violent. I like it."
He moved again, slow enough that my wolf tracked him like prey, except my wolf wasn't thinking attack, and He was thinking claim and Useless traitor. Alaric's hand brushed mine just a feather-light graze, accidental if you were gullible enough to believe it. I wasn't, but my pulse still tripped.
"You're warm," he murmured, almost to himself.
"Shocking. That's what happens when blood circulates."
He ignored me and leaned in, not touching, but close enough that the faint heat of his breath ghosted my cheek. My wolf surged forward, shoving against my control.
"You smell—" He inhaled slowly, eyes half-lidded. "—better than you should."
My spine stiffened. "I'm filing a restraining order in my head as we speak."
He tilted his head, closing the last inch to scent my neck, slow and deliberate. My fingers twitched with the urge to shove him back, except my wolf was shoving me forward instead.
"You can growl all you want, sweetheart," he said, voice dark silk. "Your wolf already told me the truth."
I swallowed hard. "What truth?"
"That you're mine."
My laugh was sharp and ugly, but it didn't hide my racing heart. "Keep dreaming, Vayne. I bite."
His smirk was pure trouble. "So do I."