Drake's POV:
As I walked away from her, every step felt like a small victory. I could practically feel the tension radiating off her, the frustration bubbling beneath her skin. And yet, despite the satisfaction of having the upper hand, I couldn't ignore the pull I felt to turn back, to finish what we had started. Every instinct inside me screamed to claim her, to give in to the bond that had been pushing us together since the moment we met. But no—not yet.
She needed to know that I wasn't someone she could play with. She had to understand that if she wanted to test me, I would test her right back. This was a game of power, of control, and as much as I desired her, I wouldn't let her think she could manipulate me so easily. Not after the stunt she pulled with Marcus. She had to learn that there were consequences.
I could hear her breathing behind me, still ragged and uneven. The sound made me smile, knowing I'd left her on the edge, desperate and aching. Good. She deserved that, after the games she'd been playing with my mind and body.
But even as I relished in my victory, the truth gnawed at me. This was more than just a game. Leila wasn't like anyone I'd ever met. She was fierce, independent, and there was something about her that I couldn't quite figure out. It kept me on edge, made me wonder if there was something deeper to her resistance—something darker she was hiding. She was guarded, and as much as I wanted to break through her walls, I had to be patient.
She had to trust me first. And I couldn't force that, no matter how much I wanted to.
I stopped just before reaching the door, letting out a slow breath as I turned to look back at her. Leila hadn't moved from where I'd left her, her body still pressed against the wall, her hands resting at her sides now. Her eyes were locked on mine, blazing with a mix of anger and desire that sent a thrill through me.
"Don't think you can always win this game, Drake," she said softly, her voice laced with warning. "You might have the upper hand tonight, but I'm not done yet."
I smirked, leaning against the doorframe, my eyes never leaving hers. "Oh, I'm counting on it, sweetheart. I like a challenge."
Her lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile, and for a moment, I could see the fire in her eyes—the same fire that had drawn me to her in the first place. She was unpredictable, wild, and I knew that whatever came next, it was going to be one hell of a ride.
But that was exactly what I wanted. Leila wasn't someone who could be tamed, and I didn't want to tame her. I wanted her raw and fierce, to meet me head-on in this game of ours.
"Goodnight, Leila," I said, my voice low and teasing as I pushed open the door. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well."
She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest, still leaning against the wall. "Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be just fine."
I chuckled softly, shaking my head as I stepped outside, letting the door close behind me. The night air hit me like a cool wave, but the heat between us still lingered in my veins, pulsing through me with every heartbeat.
Tonight, I had shown her who was in control. But I knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
As I made my way back to my room, the thought of what was to come kept my mind racing. Leila was a force to be reckoned with, and I knew she wouldn't back down easily. But that was what excited me. She was unlike anyone I'd ever known—unpredictable, fiery, and so damn tempting. I wanted her, body and soul. But more than that, I wanted to understand her, to break through those walls she kept so carefully built around her.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new games. And I was ready for whatever she threw my way.
The night air had done little to cool the fire raging inside me. Leila was like no one I had ever encountered—wild, unpredictable, and maddeningly enticing. She wasn't a woman who could be easily subdued, nor did I want her to be. No, what I wanted was for her to come to me willingly, to crave me just as much as I craved her. But it had to be on my terms.
I pushed open the door to my room, the cool darkness enveloping me as I stepped inside. I could still feel the echo of her presence lingering on my skin, her scent, the sound of her breathing, the look in her eyes when I had left her wanting. It thrilled me and frustrated me in equal measure. Leila was a challenge, one that I couldn't easily conquer, but that was part of what made her so captivating.
As I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind couldn't stop racing with thoughts of her. The way she'd toyed with me earlier, flirting with Marcus in front of the entire pack, testing my patience, daring me to lose control. And then when I had turned the tables on her—when I'd left her breathless and wanting more—it had taken every ounce of restraint not to take things further.
She had brought out something in me that I had never felt before. It wasn't just the bond, although that was powerful enough on its own. It was something deeper, something primal that made me want to possess her completely, to claim her as mine in every way possible. But I couldn't rush it. Not until I had her trust. Not until she opened up to me about whatever darkness she was hiding.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'd continue this dance. I had a feeling Leila wasn't going to make things easy for me, but I was ready for it. I'd show her that no matter how much she pushed, no matter how much she tried to control the game, I was always one step ahead.
I couldn't help but smile to myself as I finally drifted off to sleep, knowing that the real fun was only just beginning.
---
**The Next Morning**
I woke up early, my mind still buzzing with the anticipation of what was to come. Today was the day I'd push her a little further, see how far I could make her unravel without completely losing her trust. I wanted to see if she'd continue to fight me, or if she'd start to let down her guard—just enough for me to glimpse the real Leila beneath the fierce exterior.
I found her in the pack house, sitting with Nelly and a few other pack members, laughing at something Nelly had said. The sight of her laughing, her guard down for just a moment, sent a pang of something unfamiliar through me. She looked… happy. Relaxed in a way I hadn't seen before.
It was a stark contrast to the woman who had been driving me insane with her games last night. But as soon as her eyes met mine across the room, that familiar spark returned. She straightened up, the playful smile on her lips turning into something more guarded. She was back in the game.
I approached her slowly, keeping my expression neutral even though every part of me wanted to pull her aside and continue what we had started the night before. But I had to play this carefully. I couldn't let her see just how much control she had over me. Not yet.
"Good morning," I said casually, standing just behind her chair.
She glanced up at me, a small smile playing on her lips. "Morning, Drake," she replied, her tone light, but there was a hint of something else in her eyes—something that told me she hadn't forgotten last night either.
Nelly, ever oblivious to the tension between us, beamed up at me. "Drake! We were just talking about the pack's training session this afternoon. Leila here was saying she might join us."
I raised an eyebrow at that, my gaze shifting back to Leila. "Is that so?"
Leila shrugged, the picture of nonchalance. "Why not? I could use the exercise."
The challenge was clear in her eyes, and I couldn't help but smirk. She was baiting me again, and as much as I knew I should be careful, I couldn't resist. "I'd like to see that," I said, my voice low as I leaned in just a little closer. "I'm sure you'll put on quite a show."
Her eyes darkened at my words, and I knew I had hit the mark. But before she could respond, Nelly chimed in again, oblivious to the tension between us. "Oh, it'll be great! Leila's tough—she can handle anything."
Leila shot Nelly a grateful smile, and I could see her slipping back into that easygoing facade, hiding the simmering intensity between us. She was good at that—at deflecting, at playing it cool. But I wasn't going to let her get away with it today.
"Looking forward to it," I said, my voice dripping with anticipation. "I'll be watching closely."
Her smile faltered just a fraction, and I knew I had gotten under her skin. Good. Let her wonder what I had planned. Let her feel the same anticipation, the same tension that had been driving me mad since the moment we met.
Today, I'd push her just a little further.
The afternoon sun beat down on the training grounds as pack members gathered for the session. I stood near the edge of the field, arms crossed over my chest, watching as they sparred in pairs, their movements quick and precise. My attention, however, was elsewhere—locked on Leila.
She stood across from Lucas, her eyes sharp and focused as they squared off. She had changed into a fitted black tank top and leggings that clung to her curves in ways that made it impossible not to notice. But it wasn't just her appearance that held my attention. It was the way she moved—fluid, controlled, dangerous. There was no mistaking it—she had been trained, and trained well.
Lucas, my beta, was no slouch when it came to combat, but even he seemed to be taken aback by her skill. They circled each other, waiting for the right moment to strike. And when it came, Leila didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, her movements a blur as she feinted left before sweeping his legs out from under him. Lucas hit the ground hard, but before he could recover, she was on top of him, her arm around his neck in a perfect chokehold.
A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd, and even I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. She was fierce—every bit the warrior I had suspected she was. But more than that, she was showing me exactly what I needed to see. She wasn't just testing me—she was proving herself, whether she realized it or not.
Lucas tapped out, signaling his surrender, and Leila released him, standing up with a grin. She extended a hand to help him up, and he took it, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Well, damn," Lucas said with a laugh as he dusted himself off. "You weren't kidding, Nelly. She's got some serious skills."
Leila shrugged, playing it off as if it were no big deal, but I could see the gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. She knew she had made an impression—on Lucas, on the pack, and most importantly, on me.
I pushed off from where I was leaning and made my way toward them, the pack parting around me as I approached. Leila's eyes flicked to mine, and I could see the challenge there, daring me to say something, to react.
I stopped in front of her, my gaze steady. "Impressive," I said, my voice low enough that only she could hear. "But let's see how you do against me."
Her lips curved into a slow smile, her eyes glinting with that same dangerous edge that had drawn me to her in the first place. "You sure you want to do that?" she asked, her tone teasing but laced with confidence. "I wouldn't want to bruise your ego."
I chuckled softly, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. "My ego's just fine, love," I murmured. "But let's see if you can back up that mouth of yours."
Without warning, I moved, faster than she could anticipate. I grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm behind her back in a smooth motion, pulling her against me. Her breath caught, and I could feel her body tense in surprise. But she didn't back down. Instead, she shifted her weight, trying to break free, her movements as calculated as ever.
We struggled for dominance, and for a moment, it was like a dance—our bodies moving in perfect sync, neither of us giving an inch. But I had the advantage. I was stronger, and I could feel her muscles straining as she fought to gain the upper hand.
Then, just as quickly as it started, I let her go. She stumbled forward, catching herself before spinning around to face me, her chest rising and falling with exertion. Her eyes blazed with a mixture of frustration and something else—something darker, something more primal.
"You fight well," I said, my voice rough with a mixture of admiration and desire. "But you'll never win against me."
Her jaw tightened, and I could see the fire in her eyes, the challenge still there. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice steady despite the obvious tension between us.
I stepped closer, my eyes locked onto hers, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "I'll always win when it comes to you, Leila. Always."
The tension between us crackled like electricity, and for a moment, I thought she might push back again. But instead, she just stared at me, her eyes searching mine, as if she was trying to figure out what game I was playing.
Then, just as quickly as it had built, she broke the stare, stepping back with a smirk. "We'll see about that," she said, her voice light but with an undercurrent of challenge.
She turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding and my mind racing. Leila was proving to be far more than I had ever expected. But I wasn't going to let her win this game—not yet. If she wanted to push me to the edge, I'd push her right back.
And when the time came, she would know exactly who was in control.