Kellan steps into the room, and it's like everything else shrinks in comparison. His massive figure dominates the space, making it feel suddenly smaller, more intimate. My inner wolf, utterly unhelpful as always, leaps to attention the second he enters, sending heat pooling through my body.
"Kellan." I greet him, but the way it comes out—a little too breathy—makes it sound far more suggestive than I intended. Or maybe I did intend it. I can't even tell anymore.
"It smells amazing, my little flame—" His voice is smooth, but it falters the moment his gaze lands on me. I can practically see the shift in his eyes, the flicker of raw desire that overtakes him so fast it's almost laughable. This past month has been a constant tug of war between us—dates, late-night conversations, long runs with our wolves under the moonlight. I may not know every detail about this incredible, dangerous man, but I know enough to want him, to crave him. The moon couldn't have picked a more perfect mate.
He clears his throat, trying—and failing—to regain composure. "I swear upon the moon, you must love teasing me, little flame." His voice is rough, filled with barely contained hunger as he takes a seat at the table, eyes lingering on me a moment too long.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I reply, feigning innocence as I start to serve him. Every movement is deliberate, designed to pull his attention—leaning forward just enough so that my chest brushes near his face, watching with satisfaction as his eyes follow shamelessly. The heat between us is undeniable, and I love every second of it. It's like a game, one that's growing more dangerous by the day, but I can't bring myself to stop.
We eat in relative silence, exchanging small talk, but the tension is so thick it's almost suffocating. Every glance, every brush of our hands feels charged, like a spark waiting to ignite into an inferno.
"How's the painting coming along?" he asks casually, but there's a tightness to his voice that betrays him.
I shrug, smiling to myself. "It's... okay, I guess. Abstract, really." My laugh is light, but the atmosphere is anything but.
He chuckles at that, a deep, rich sound that sends a jolt of heat straight to my core. Damn him. The way that laugh gets to me, the way my body reacts without permission, is maddening. And of course, he notices. His eyes snap to mine, sharp, knowing, like he can sense the shift in my scent. He knows exactly what he's doing to me, and I can see that dark satisfaction flicker across his face.
Being an Alpha, especially an Alpha Prime, means his senses are heightened beyond anything I could imagine. He knows. He can smell the desire rolling off me in waves, can probably hear the quickened beat of my pulse. We've been dancing around this for weeks now, pretending like we don't notice the pull between us—the magnetic force that draws us closer every single time we're together.
It's almost unbearable.
"Ahem," he clears his throat again, his voice dipping lower, more serious now. "In two days... we get to mate."
The air practically crackles with the weight of his words. My wolf stirs, eager, pushing me to close the distance between us. My body hums with anticipation, and I meet his gaze, feeling the burn of his eyes on me.
"Yeah," I reply, my voice steady despite the fire building inside me. "I'm looking forward to it."
His eyes darken, a dangerous glint flashing through them as he leans back, sipping from his wine glass slowly, deliberately. "I'll make sure to pay you back for all this teasing," he promises, his voice low and edged with desire, the kind that sends a shiver down my spine.
I can't help but watch the way his lips touch the rim of the glass, the way his throat moves as he swallows, and it only makes me want him more. The ache between my legs grows more intense, my wolf practically howling inside me. This playful, torturous dance is going to break me.
"I'm counting on it," I whisper, my voice laced with anticipation. My gaze locks onto his, and the unspoken promise hanging in the air between us is almost too much to bear.