Dedrick’s POV

She breathed softly, our eyes locked.

“What makes you think I want you to take me back home?” she said, picking her heels from the floor.

“I can smell it on you... the fear. You want me to protect you. You’re scared of the night,” I said, drawing her lips to mine.

“She’s human,” my wolf growled in my head.

“I know,” I replied through the mind-link.

“Admit it,” I murmured aloud, nipping at her lips.

“You need to get her out of here, Dedrick!” my wolf shouted again.

“I… want… you… to drive me home,” she finally let out, her voice breathless.

Our lips locked again. I grabbed her, carrying her out toward the closet behind the bar as I spotted another rogue devouring a human nearby.

“Let me go, asshole!” she screamed, struggling.

I closed the closet door and covered her mouth with my hand. “Quiet. There are werewolves out there,” I whispered against her cheek.

“Dedrick, you have to act now. Mark her!” my wolf demanded.

She looked at me with wide, terrified eyes—but she didn’t pull away. Then suddenly, her lips brushed mine. I grabbed her neck, the urge to taste her blood rising.

“She’s beautiful. Mark her! Make her one of us!” my wolf howled.

“I need to tell her the truth first,” I snapped, severing the link.

Her fingers traced the muscles on my chest, her eyes drawn to my face. I kissed her neck, my hand cupping her left breast while the other reached for her pants.

“We need to stop… before we get caught,” she said faintly, her eyes closing.

“I promise… you’ll never have to beg for my touch,” I whispered.

“What are you doing?! You’re too slow!” my wolf growled again, pacing.

“You have to impregnate her now, Dedrick!”

She kissed me—hungry, intoxicated.

But then a knock came in.

“Renda, are you in there?” a voice called from behind the door.

Thelma.

Her friend.

A wolf. She doesn’t know it.

“Renda, open the door. I know you’re in there,” she insisted.

Renda quickly pulled away from me. “I’m sorry. That’s my friend. She must’ve been looking for me, she sounds worried.”

She adjusted her dress and climbed through the window.

“Do you want to go?” I asked.

“I just met you…” She grabbed her bag. “I can’t... I don’t do this. Let’s just pretend this never happened.”

Her words stung. “I give you five seconds to leave,” I said, turning away.

“What?”

“If you don’t leave... I won’t be able to control myself.”

“Four.”

“Three.”

“Two—”

Before I reached one, she dashed out, slamming the door behind her.

“Too slow, Dedrick!” my wolf hissed and vanished into thin air.

“How does she not feel it? That she’s mine?” I muttered, groaning in frustration.

“The bond. The pull. The heat.”

“Because she’s human,” my wolf echoed.

“She won’t feel it until you either mark her or tell her.”

---

Renda’s POV

I ran out of the closet and into the hallway. Thelma stood there, arms crossed, her face twisted in worry.

“What the hell were you doing?” she snapped.

“I was looking everywhere for you!”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, bowing my head.

“Let’s go,” I said quickly, grabbing her hand as we walked toward the car.

“Please tell me you didn’t screw that guy in the bathroom,” she said while driving.

“No, Thelma. Just talking to him was a mistake,” I said, pulling down my sleeve.

I turned to her. “What went wrong between you two? I thought you…”

“He’s an asshole. Forget him. Just stay away from him,” she replied sharply.

We rode the rest of the way in silence.

That night…

He held my body, kissing every inch of my neck. I loved every touch, every look dripping with lust.

Next thing I knew, we were on a bed. My underwear was on the floor. His mouth was between my thighs, tasting me like he’d starved for me.

I moaned, eyes closed, melting into the heat. Then he kissed me again, and I tasted myself on his lips.

I clutched a pillow, then I woke up.

Breathless. Sweating.

Just a dream.

“Was I lusting over him?” I gasped, rubbing my eyes.

“Thank God it wasn’t real.”

Still panting, I turned toward the window and saw him.

Dedrick.

I jumped out of bed and locked the door.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered, pressing my back to the wall.

“Your dream was intense,” he said, his voice low.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I snapped, yanking the blanket around me. I should’ve been terrified, but… my body betrayed me.

“I was watching over you. It’s not safe here. And I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the closet,” he said, stepping closer.

“I… I’m fine,” I stammered, backing away.

“You feel it too, don’t you?” he asked.

I turned from him in anger.

“I bet you say that to every pretty girl in the city.”

He moved closer and gently brushed my messy hair behind my ear.

“Tell me to leave,” he said, “but this place isn’t safe.”

His touch burned.

“Why?” I asked. “You don’t know me. You don’t know my name or my story.”

“I do,” he said. “Dedrick Marks. And you… Renda Shelly. A human born with supernatural powers of the werewolves.”

My heart skipped.

How did he know that?

On my 13th birthday, my parents revealed the truth, my father wasn’t just a man, but a dragon-wolf. With horns and scales. He transformed to protect my mother, but he couldn’t save everything he loved.

He died taking a blade meant for her... for us.

I looked into Dedrick’s eyes. “I can’t think straight when you look at me that way,” I whispered.

“…with your hand on me.”

“You wonder why your body aches for me?” he murmured.

“Why do you dream about me? Why do you feel safe near me?”

I pulled away, shocked.

“How do you know all this?”

“I can smell it. Sense your fear. Your longing. Your desire.”

He leaned in. “Renda, we’re mates.”

Something inside me stirred. Like a spark of lightning moving through my veins.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Then—a knock.

“Renda, is someone there? Are you okay?” Thelma’s voice from the hallway.

I panicked.

He pulled me close, guiding me toward the window.

“I’m fine, Thelma,” I called out. “I’m just talking to myself.”

He lifted me onto his shoulders. “We need to leave,” he whispered.

“Where are you taking me?”