Caitlyn's POV
Raymond grabbed my hand and pressed me against the wall. My eyes dropped to his legs, and I couldn't believe what I saw.
"Are your legs… better?" I asked carefully.
"My legs were never injured," he said.
We were so close I could see the light stubble on his chin and the curve of his lashes.
"But—"
"It was all an act," he said.
"Then…"
"I couldn't let people know I was fine. It would've given them more ways to come after me. Do you understand?" His voice was calm, but it carried weight.
"I'm sorry for scaring you," he added. "I planned to tell you, just… not like this."
I lowered my head and said nothing. My thoughts were a mess. I liked him—really liked him—but I didn't know this side of him.
"In the human world, they'd call me a mobster," he said. "I run my own group, but it has to stay hidden."
"Is it for revenge?" I asked. His face was calm, but there was sadness in his green eyes.
Suddenly, it all made sense—the unease I'd felt, the fear—it wasn't just about his secrets. It was about being deceived.
"Yes," he said. "My parents didn't deserve what happened to them. My sister was only seventeen when she died. In two days, it would've been her birthday. She might've met her wolf, maybe even her mate."
His voice broke enough to reveal the pain beneath it.
My chest tightened. We were so similar. We both carried losses that had shaped us. We'd both been abandoned by our first mates.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked. I understood why he kept it from me, but it still hurt.
"I want you to have a choice," he said. "My life comes with enemies and danger. If you became my Luna, you'd be dragged into that, too."
"I didn't want to take that choice away from you. So I pretended to be a crippled rogue. If you wanted to leave, I wouldn't have stopped you.
My heart pounded. He'd been thinking of me the whole time. Even when he could've pushed me away, he didn't.
"I thought you hated me…" I hesitated, not knowing how to continue. Should I ask why he didn't touch me that night?
"I didn't want you to regret it," he said. "But that was then."
"And now?" I asked, looking at his eyes.
He smiled, brushing his fingers over my cheek and then my lips.
"Now, you're not going anywhere," he said.
Before I could respond, he kissed me. It wasn't like before—no teasing, no hesitation.
This kiss was intense and demanding as if he was pouring everything he couldn't say into it.
His tongue swept across mine, pulling me deeper into the moment and leaving me breathless.
He bit my lips gently, like a warning but also like a promise.
I had to admit—he was incredibly good at this.
I tried to keep up with him, but my head was spinning, and I was gasping for air when he finally pulled away.
He laughed. "You're adorable. Can't even handle a kiss."
"Who says I can't? I'm just not ready," I shot back, grabbing his collar and pulling him down for another kiss. To prove myself, I pressed my lips to him, but it didn't take long before I was breathless, my legs trembling.
He leaned in close, his warm breath brushing against my ear. "Go to the bathroom," he murmured.
Before I could respond, he pulled me into his arms.
Water ran over us, steam curling around our bodies as the heat grew. The sound of the water mixed with our heavy breaths, creating a rhythm that drew me in.
The air was thick with the scent of fir and rain, stronger and richer than before. It clung to my senses, making my cheeks burn as I breathed it in.
Lily's voice rose within me, full of excitement. "Mate!"
Every sense came alive, every nerve tingling under Raymond's touch as if nothing else existed but this moment.
"I usually use scent-masking perfume," he said, his lips brushing against my ear. "But from the moment I saw you, I knew you were my mate."
His teeth grazed my earlobe, making me shiver. The truth hit me hard—I had found my second mate. And it was him.
Anger flared inside me, and without thinking, I bit down on his chest, leaving a mark. Raymond hissed, a sharp breath turning into a soft laughter.
"I didn't mean to deceive you," he said.
I wanted to say something, but his lips pressed against mine again, cutting off my words.
This kiss was deeper. My skin tingled under his touch, and every movement sent waves of pleasure through me.
Lily felt the same pleasure.
My feelings for Raymond earlier now made sense—our bond had been there all along, hidden beneath his scent.
I quickly realized how much my body responded to him. Even a simple kiss was enough to make me wet.
I couldn't help but moan, tilting my head back as a new, desperate need took over. My arms wrapped around his neck and I whispered in his ear, "Please… I need you."
The emptiness inside me became unbearable. When my thigh brushed against him, I felt the hardness of his arousal, and my whole body trembled.
Heat surged through me. My hips moved on their own, seeking contact, seeking him.
Raymond's grip on my waist tightened. His hand slid lower, squeezing my bum firmly, his green eyes dark with lust.
"Beg me," he said, his voice low and commanding, every word a spark igniting something deep inside me.
I could feel the heat spread across my skin. I couldn't stop myself. My body betrayed me, pressing closer to him as I whispered, "Please… I want you."