Liam POV
I got into the truck, closed the door behind me, and found Haylie sitting there with flushed red cheeks, smiling back at me. She looked so adorable that I couldn't help but smile too. "So, where to?" I asked, switching on the engine.
"Anywhere but here," she replied with a playful grin.
That sounded like a plan. I knew just the right place—the waterfall I visited earlier today. It was late, so the pack members would have left by now, making it a safe spot to take her.
I pulled out of the city, driving down the dirt road that led into the woods near Cress moon town. Haylie's eyes, wide and bright green, looked curiously out the window.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice laced with nervousness.
"Somewhere special," I teased, sensing her unease from the sideways glances she gave me.
As we approached the waterfall, I brought the truck to a stop and switched off the engine.
"You're not going to kill me, are you?" Haylie asked, half-joking but clearly anxious.
I couldn't help but laugh, a smile crossing my lips. "You're too pretty to kill," I replied, watching her cheeks turn even redder. "Besides, I'm way too crazy about you to do that."
Her mouth opened slightly, but she was left speechless. I gave her a moment before getting out of the truck, walking around to her side, and opening the door. Haylie stepped out and looked around at the towering pine trees surrounding us.
"Are you one of those guys who loves the woods?" she asked with a smirk.
I chuckled. "Sort of. But you'll see why I brought you here." I took her hand, feeling the warmth of her skin, and gently led her toward the waterfall. The soft sound of water flowing mixed with the birds chirping and the gentle breeze of the late afternoon.
We stopped when the waterfall came into view. Haylie gasped in surprise. "This is beautiful," she breathed, awe in her voice.
I knew she'd love it. The waterfall was Cress Moon's's hidden gem, the water was so clear you could see the crystalline rocks at the bottom.
"A place to cool off on a hot day like this," I said, walking over to a tree where a wooden basket with rolled towels was stashed.
"How do you know about this place?" Haylie asked, joining me at the tree.
"My house isn't far from here. This spot belongs to us, so we can come and swim whenever we want," I replied, starting to take off my shirt.
To my surprise, Haylie quickly looked away, covering her eyes.
Inside my head, my wolf, Ace, was laughing hysterically. "Really, Ace?" I groaned internally.
"Don't you get it?" Ace teased. "She's shy!"
I felt my heart skip a beat. Why was Haylie looking away like that? I had to ask. "Haylie, you don't have to look away."
Her face was as red as her hair when she finally glanced at me again. "I'm sorry… I've never seen a man half-naked in front of me before," she admitted, her voice small.
My throat went dry. Ace's voice echoed in my mind again, gleeful." See? She's pure, like a flower."
Oh, crap. My face probably matched hers at this point. I had been with plenty of women before, but suddenly, I felt shy. This wasn't like me at all. I needed to pull myself together.
"If you'd like, we could take a swim," I suggested. "You could swim in your underwear, and I'll go in the water first."
Great. That didn't sound awkward at all. I mentally cursed myself for fumbling. But Haylie seemed to get the idea.
I finished undressing, leaving my clothes neatly by the tree. I stood there in just my boxers, feeling her gaze on me, but I tried to play it cool. "I'll see you in the water," I said, before walking toward the water and diving in.
The cool water washed over my flushed body as I dove deep beneath the surface of the pool.
I needed this. For the first time in a long while, I found myself feeling shy. I'd never dated anyone like Haylie before—someone so pure, so shy. I had never dated a woman who was still a virgin.
When I surfaced, I glanced over and saw that Haylie had joined me in the water.
Relief washed over me. I thought I might have to drag her in, but she was here, standing in the shallows. As I swam closer, I realized she was in nothing but her bra and panties. My eyes instinctively drifted to her, noticing her small, soft curves. She was wearing a black bra, and despite my best efforts, I found my gaze lingering there.
Inside my head, Ace was going wild. "Now, that's someone I wouldn't mind getting close to," he growled with his usual playful lust.
"Shut up, Ace," I muttered inwardly. I wasn't about to let him take over, not now.
But as I got closer, I saw Haylie crossing her arms over her chest, clearly noticing my stare. My face flushed again, the cool water doing little to calm the heat rising inside me. I took a deep breath, trying to focus on her, not just her body.
"Haylie," I said softly, hoping to ease her nerves. "You don't have to be shy around me."
I wanted her to feel comfortable, not self-conscious. She was beautiful, inside and out, and I needed her to know that.
Gently, I reached out and took her arms, pulling them away from her chest. I brought them up to rest around my shoulders, her soft hands settling there as she gasped quietly. I could feel her nervous breath, her body tense.
I moved even closer, my body pressing gently against hers under the water. I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her carefully, aware of how delicate this moment was.
Her skin was impossibly soft against mine, and I felt the heat of her nervousness, but also something else—trust.
We stood there in the water, close enough to feel the warmth of each other's skin, surrounded by the soothing sound of the waterfall. I wanted her to feel safe with me, to know that she didn't need to hide.
"You're perfect, Haylie," I whispered, my voice barely louder than the rushing water around us.
Her emerald eyes met mine, wide and searching, as if she wasn't quite sure how to respond.
Here's a revised version that keeps the essence of the original while enhancing the flow and description.
The tension in her body eased a little as she looked at me, her innocence shining through. I swallowed hard, feeling my pulse quicken. Being here, surrounded by water with her so close in just her bra and underwear, made it hard to keep my thoughts in check.
I didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Haylie was different from anyone I'd met; her innocence was rare, and I wanted to protect that.
Forcing my mind away from my racing thoughts, I broke the silence with a smile. "How good are you at swimming underwater?"
Haylie's brows furrowed slightly. "I can hold my breath for a bit," she said, her curiosity piqued.
Taking her hand, I said, "I want to show you something."
We swam further into the deeper part of the water, stopping at a spot where sunlight filtered down, illuminating the rocks below. I motioned for her to hold her breath and follow me.
We dove beneath the surface, moving toward the bottom where the sunlight made the crystal rocks shimmer in brilliant colors. I glanced over to see her face light up as she picked up a few, marveling at their beauty.
Her red hair floated around her like a halo, and in that moment, she looked enchanting, every movement graceful.
As my eyes drifted across the rocks, I spotted a small heart-shaped white stone, its soft glow reminding me of Haylie and her pure heart. I picked it up, just as I noticed Haylie heading back to the surface.
I stayed under a few moments longer, appreciating how being part wolf let me hold my breath for much longer.
When I surfaced, Haylie was smiling, her hands filled with stones. "These are beautiful!" she said, her green eyes gleaming with excitement.
I swam closer, extending my hand to reveal the white heart-shaped stone. "I found something for you."
Her eyes widened with surprise and delight as she took in the small stone. "Liam, it's beautiful," she whispered, her emerald gaze sparkling.
Her whole face lit up as she held the stone, staring at it for a few moments. "This stone reminds me of you," I said softly, watching as a blush crept across her cheeks.
I moved closer, lifting my hand to her face, feeling the warmth of her blush beneath my fingertips.
She looked so adorable, and with the sunlight filtering through the pine trees, she appeared almost angelic.
My heart raced, each beat stronger than the last, as I leaned in, close enough to feel her warm breath against my skin. Gently, I let our lips brush together before leaning in fully, capturing her in a soft kiss.
Being in the water, kissing Haylie, felt like a dream. She wrapped her arms around my neck, her legs circling my waist beneath the water, and the taste of her was intoxicating—cool and sweet.
I could feel our breaths quickening as we got lost in each other, and my wolf, Ace, was practically wagging his tail with excitement.
I let the kiss trail down her jawline, savoring every soft moan that escaped her lips, and as I reached her neck, the scent of daisies filled my senses. But when I opened my eyes, a shock ran through me.
There, faintly imprinted on her neck, was the shape of a wolf—a mark I recognized all too well. My wolf, Ace, was somehow on her skin.
I pulled back, heart pounding as I whispered to Ace in my head, *"Are you seeing this?"*
Ace sounded as stunned as I was. *"Dude, this is weird. She's human, and I have no idea why she has my mark."*
I looked at Haylie, and confusion must have shown on my face because she asked, "Liam, what is it?"
"Why do you have a wolf mark on your neck?" I asked, feeling a mix of confusion and awe.
Her eyes went wide as she touched her neck, looking alarmed. "What? What do you mean?" she stammered, searching my face for answers. Panic flickered in her expression, and she asked, "Are you sure you saw a mark?"
It hit me that she had no idea. But as I looked at her, the mark was undeniably there, clear as day.
Haylie swam quickly back to the surface, climbing out of the water. I followed her, grabbing a towel and handing it to her.
She wrapped it around herself and hurried over to the truck, checking the side mirror with worry in her eyes, desperate to see what I'd seen.
Haylie POV
I moved my hair to the side, checking one side of my neck and then the other. My heart pounded wildly.
I knew what a wolf mark meant—I'd read about it. It was supposed to be a fated mark, a sign of a destined bond. But when I looked, there was nothing. "Liam, are you sure you saw something?" I asked, turning to him. He stood behind me, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and confusion.
"This is crazy, Hayls," he said, running his hand through his damp hair. "There's a wolf mark on your neck—I can still see it, even if you can't."
My eyes widened. Was I hearing this right? I suddenly felt exposed, uncomfortable in just my bra and underwear, so I walked over to the tree, letting the towel fall as I started to get dressed.
Liam followed suit, and a heavy silence fell between us as we both put on our clothes. When I laced up my sneakers, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and finally asked, "The mark you saw… what does it look like?"
He finished tying his last shoe, looked at me, then back at my neck with a furrowed brow and dark, intense eyes. "It's my wolf's mark," he said, his voice low, almost trembling with emotion. "The mark I saw on your neck—it's mine."
My mind went blank as his words sank in. "His wolf's mark…" My heart thundered in my chest, and I felt a wave of shock roll over me.
I took a shaky step back from him, unable to catch my breath, and instinctively turned away, starting to walk. I heard him calling after me, his voice echoing, "Haylie, where are you going?"
The realization crashed over me: Liam's mark was on my neck, and that meant he was my fated mate—the mark my Aunt Camila had told me about.
It was all too much, and as he called me again, I stopped, turning to face him as tears pricked my eyes. "How is this even possible?" I asked, my voice trembling. "You're the only one who can see it?"
He stepped closer, his expression a mix of emotions. "I don't know," he said deeply, his voice raw. "But I know what my wolf's mark looks like, and it was on your neck."
My breathing grew unsteady as I tried to process everything. Just then, I felt a sharp sting on my arm. "Ouch!" I gasped, instinctively slapping at it. When I looked down, I realized I'd smacked a bee.
"Haylie, are you okay?" Liam asked, worry etched across his face.
I looked up at him, my emerald eyes filling with tears. I knew this wasn't good—I was allergic to bees, and my epinephrine shot was back at home. Panic filled me as the situation began to spiral out of control.
My whole arm started to itch, and my chest felt as if it were being squeezed, pressing out all the air in my lungs.
I gasped, looking at Liam with panic in my eyes. "I… I'm allergic to bees," I managed to say between breaths. The air around me felt thick and heavy, making it harder to breathe. I collapsed to my knees, but before I could hit the ground, Liam grabbed me, holding me steady.
"Haylie, do you have anything for the allergy?" he asked, his voice laced with fear.
I tried to answer, but my tongue felt thick, and I could only shake my head. If I'd known we were heading into the woods, I would have brought my epinephrine shot. I clung to Liam's arms as my body weakened, dizziness closing in as I struggled to keep my balance.
"Haylie, I'm taking you to the truck," he said. I wanted to tell him I couldn't walk, but the words wouldn't come.
He saw my struggle and lifted me, cradling me close as he carried me toward the truck. I could see the worry in his eyes as he laid me in the seat and buckled me in, his hand lingering for a moment on my arm as he took in the hives and swelling spreading from the sting.
"Hold on, Haylie," he whispered, his voice tight with urgency. "I'm getting you to the hospital." He shut the door, then quickly climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine, the sound of it roaring to life behind me.
I leaned back, feeling my throat close further. I could barely swallow; my throat felt like it was on fire.
My wheezing grew louder, and every shallow breath scraped painfully. Liam glanced at me every few seconds, his hands gripping the wheel tightly, the worry clear on his face as he sped toward the hospital.
With my vision blurring and my eyes itchy and watering, I felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over me, the pain dulling as I struggled to keep my eyes open.
Just before I couldn't fight it any longer, I heard his voice—softer, pleading. "Haylie… hold on, please." His hand reached over, gently squeezing my arm, grounding me as I slipped away into darkness.