AURORA'S POV

Did I make a bad decision coming here? I couldn't tell, but I knew I was going to find out.

Cold seeped through my bones as my drenched clothes clung to my skin.

We were both soaked from the rain, and with the way it thundered, it didn't seem like it wasn't going to stop anytime soon.

"Are you okay?" Kole asked behind me, and I stiffened.

Slowly, I turned to see him standing over me with a towel and a shirt. I curled my arms around myself and nodded.

His expression was unreadable as he handed me the clothes. "You should wear this."

Silence.

"Look, I'm trying to be nice, so why do you have to be so difficult? Or do you want to freeze to death?" Kole snapped impatiently when I didn't answer.

I lowered my gaze as I took his clothes. "I'm sorry for bothering you. I promise once the rain stops, I'll leave."

Kole let out a short breath and shoved his hands into his pockets. He straightened up, looking at me like I was ridiculous.

"Did I complain to you?" he asked in a calm tone that still held a bit of annoyance.

My gaze shifted from the clothes to his house.

It didn’t seem like a place an average high school student could afford—his parents must be rich.

"You live here all by yourself?" I asked.

He hummed, tilting his head. "Is there a problem?"

I didn’t say it, but something twisted inside me. Since he lived alone, he had the freedom to do anything he wanted.

I couldn't help but wonder how many girls he'd brought here. I pressed my eyelids together and moved toward the bathroom to go change.

After shutting the door, I dropped the clothes on the edge of the sink and tried to reach for my zipper, but it wouldn’t budge. I leaned back, thinking about my mom.

Despite our differences, she always helped me zip my dresses. I wondered how she was doing, if she still felt bad about everything.

I shook my head, not wanting to think about my mom, and pushed myself away from the sink, turning the doorknob to meet Kole and maybe ask for help.

"I already told you—I think the Coyotes are involved." Kole exhaled, massaging his temples. I stepped forward, trying to piece together whatever he was saying.

There was a long pause, and he gave subtle nods here and there.

Then his voice continued.

"I found her, but it’s not what I was expecting. The Goddess would play such a mind game on me. And besides—she’s a freaking human. I just can’t…"

Kole's eyes met mine and widened when he realized I was at the door. He pressed the end button on his phone and tossed it aside.

"How long have you been standing there?" he frowned.

His eyes were so intense I couldn’t think about anything else as my hand tightened on the handle. "I wasn’t listening to your conversation. Don’t think I even understand what you’re saying."

Kole's shoulders slumped, his elbows resting on his knees. "Why haven't you changed yet?"

I swallowed hard. "My zip. It’s stuck. I was wondering if you’d…"

Kole's gray eyes turned to mine lazily, and my lips thinned.

"Come closer, then," he gestured.

As I moved, my toes dragged across the floor until I stopped right in front of him.

Kole kept his eyes locked on mine and leaned back slightly, like he was taking in the sight before him. "Not bad."

I caught a small smirk as he swung to his feet, his tall frame towering over me. The urge to maintain distance clawed at me.

His hand grabbed my arm. "What’s the matter, hmm? Feeling scared?"

I gulped. With Kole I was experiencing things I shouldn’t. Feeling things I couldn’t explain. I liked Ethan, but this felt so different—and so wrong.

But fear? Not with him.

"I’m not," I muttered.

Kole’s hand tightened over my arm as he spun me around, my back pressed against his chest. His heat radiated into me, and I closed my eyes, suddenly not wanting this feeling to end.

His hands rested on my shoulders, caressing gently. I felt his nose bury into my hair as he inhaled deeply.

"Why do you have to smell so good? It’s infectious."

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out when Kole’s hand crawled over my neck, drawing me closer.

Zip.

I felt my gown loosen around me, slipping down my shoulders. For a moment, I thought I should turn away—run to the bathroom, cover myself but I bit my lip, stifling the low moan rising in my throat.

Kole’s palm settled warm and steady against my back, fingers brushing lightly over my skin.

Goosebumps prickled everywhere, and I shivered despite the heat between us. His lips trailed to the small of my back, pressing slow, wet kisses along my spine that sent electric tremors through me.

I knew I shouldn’t let this happen. Ethan and I had just broken up. I was supposed to be healing—not throwing myself at the most notorious player in school.

But my body wouldn’t listen. Every brush of his fingers felt like fire. Every kiss made something deep inside me ache and twist.

I clenched my fists, ready to shove him away before I became just another of his conquests. But when I turned, his gaze caught mine—and everything froze.

There was something raw in his eyes. Hunger, yes. But also confusion, frustration—something desperate and…and helpless.

His lips crashed onto mine, rough at first, then softer—like he was trying to calm himself. He pressed forward until there was no space left between us.

One of his hands wrapped tight around my waist, the other slid up to cup my jaw, tilting my face so he could kiss me deeper.

I gasped against his mouth, and I found myself melting in the moment. My hands flew up around his neck, clinging, trying to keep up with the intensity.

He groaned low, the sound vibrating against my lips. Then he lifted me effortlessly off the floor. My legs clamped around his waist, and he tightened his hold, breathing heavily like he was fighting for control.

“Fuck,” he rasped against my mouth. “You have no idea what you’re doing to me.”

I blinked, dazed, heart thundering in my chest. There was this strange heat in my veins, a pull I couldn’t explain.

“Kole,” I whispered. “We shouldn’t…”

His forehead dropped to mine. He shut his eyes tight, breathing ragged.

“I know,” he muttered. “But I can’t—”

He swallowed hard, his voice cracking.

“I can’t stay away from you.”

He leaned in again and I closed my eyes. Maybe this was exactly what I needed—a hot, sexy distraction.

Our lips met again, and it was even more electrifying than the first time. My fingers dug into his hair as his lips trailed toward my neck.

“Mate.”

My ears perked up at that strange word, but I was too high on ecstasy to care.

It started as kisses, but then I felt a sharp pain digging into my neck, and my eyes snapped open.

“Kole, what are you doing?” I moaned.

Hearing my voice, he pulled away immediately, panting hard like he’d just woken from a trance.

I blinked twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Faint light glowed in Kole’s eyes, and his face was clenched like what seemed like a beast's.

“Kole, your eyes—”

Smash!

I jolted, swallowing down the rest of the words when a loud, shattering sound shook the entire building. Kole jumped from the bed, grabbing me and shoving me behind him before I could speak.

“Don’t move,” he growled,

Again, it was almost like that of a beast's! But I was way too scared to care about that.

My breathing became uneven. What the hell was happening?!