I nuzzled into the chest that held onto me. Prior to this, I never stopped to consider what I’d do when I found him. For the past few weeks, i turned into something unrecognizable and obsessive. Each step I took was fed by the memory of what happened that night. Somehow, I’d missed it until this moment, I thought I'd only memorized what would lead me to him. But now, pressed against him, I realize—I already knew him. I knew his scent.

Layered, with its own unique character and charm. I could perceive hints of leather, smoky and seductive. Little notes of spices which exuded a sense of confident masculinity, like well-worn gloves. His woody scents were like those of the ancient forests, robust and unyielding. Their earthy aroma, redolent with notes of cedarwood and sandalwood. And amidst all this, he smelt fresh, like the crisp morning air, invigorating and refreshing all at once.

The unexpected harmony of his scents—earthy, dark, and something unplaceably him—wove together like a song I somehow remembered. Coupled with the heat of his body, it cradled me completely. I let out the breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

I longed to stay there forever, shielded by his warmth, far from the damage I’d done and the reckoning ahead.I simply wanted to be wrapped in the unwavering warmth of his safety. The feeling that I should loathe the man who altered my reality flashed in my mind, yet I couldn’t bring myself to do so. The hands encircling my waist tightened just a fraction, tender but firm, before easing downward to set me on my feet. My hands closed around his neck instinctively, as if grasping for safety. I was afraid that loosening my grip would mean losing him—and plunging back into uncertainty. Reluctantly, I steadied my legs and stood on my own two feet—but I refused to loosen the hold around his neck. The frantic part of me clung to the idea that my blood-coated hands were the only tether keeping him near.

I knew it was hopeless—if he decided to leave, my fragile attempt to hold on would count for nothing.

An instinct deep within me recognized this male as the apex predator—the top of the food chain. Judging by how effortlessly he’d saved my reckless ass from certain death, I knew he could just as easily crush my already throbbing hands if he wanted. Still, I didn’t let go. I might as well admit to how fucked up I was because a tingle of arousal shot down my spine at the fear that thought provoked.

Nuzzling into his scent, I smiled, an indescribable feeling of contentment coursing through me, I fully embraced the fact that my mental state was far from stable, as I shamelessly relaxed into his warmth.One moment, I was basking in his embrace; the next, I was alone again—my legs trembling as they fought to keep me steady. My eyes locked onto the bane of my existence these past few weeks.

He stood, impossibly perfect against the gloom. Despite the darkness pressing in, I could still see him, sharp and clear. Looking away, he ran a hand through his hair—a clear sign of frustration—before pinning me with a deadly gaze. His blood-red eyes seemed to pierce straight into my soul. A better person might have felt fear. Threatened, even. But all I felt was a growing flame of arousal. I took a step forward, wanting—no, needing—to be closer. I was desperate to uncover more about him and his world. I couldn’t tell when my obsession had shifted into something deeper—lust, attraction—but I didn’t care to question it.

But with every step I took forward, he retreated, his fists clenched tight with barely restrained aggression. From our last encounter, I already knew he was well-built, but now I could feel the raw power radiating off him in waves.

"You came," I breathed, my voice trembling with excitement. "I knew you would. I just had to know. I wanted to understand how it could be real. When I told the others, they didn’t get it, but I knew you were real. I knew what happened in that alley wasn’t just in my head." I knew i was rambling but i was unable to stop myself.

"Logic says it’s impossible. Yet, I know what I witnessed—and the connection…"

“Tell me—how did you do it?” He asked sharply, his deep tenor silencing me.

Shocked, I froze, my rambling mouth snapping shut. He had spoken to me in the alley—calmly, almost carelessly—so why did the warm tremor of his voice now paralyze me like a spell? My thoughts tangled, tripping over themselves as I tried to grasp what had changed.

“What?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as he prowled closer. His gait was slow and steady—measured. Though a part of me wanted to step forward, instinct tugged me back, my feet retreating on their own.

“The connection you mentioned—how was it made? How were you able to remember what happened that day? Memories of this so-called 'connection' shouldn’t exist. So I’ll ask again: how did you do it? And how did you know I’d come today?”

He stood close now—so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body. I tilted my head back, meeting his eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, a quiet warning whispered by instinct. I had backed up against a wall, and with him looming over me, the moment felt eerily like a memory—like a shadow of the first night we met.

A hot rush of arousal surged through me. This male was nothing but danger—he could tear me to pieces if he wanted to. I was trapped in a dark place with him, fully aware I was at his mercy. He could do anything, and no one would ever know.

But instead of fear… instead of panic… that terrifying thought lit a fire inside me. It provoked desire. A deep, aching hunger that twisted low in my belly, tugging between my trembling legs.

My breath came in short, shallow pants as I struggled to form coherent words. He took a delicate sniff, his handsome face betraying nothing in the face of my perversion. But his eyes—

His eyes held a tunnel of secrets so deep they could devour me whole.

"You’re not afraid. You’re aroused." His voice rumbled low, thick with confusion, echoing between us like a challenge. The sound of it—so close, so intimate—brushed over my injury with his breath, and something strange happened.

My legs clamped together instinctively, and I gripped the lapels of his shirt, trying to steady my trembling body as a powerful orgasm tore through me. It was startling, not just in its strength but in how it overtook me without warning.

From the onset, I’d felt his effect on me—undeniable, consuming. I knew how deeply he stirred my obsession. But until now, I hadn’t grasped the full weight of this connection. Now that I had, I would chase it without hesitation. I’d go to the ends of the earth to feel it again.

I leaned further into him, basking in his scent as I struggled to steady my breath. Embarrassment didn’t even cross my mind—there was no space for it, no desire for it. At that moment, time stood still. The world around us faded, leaving only the rhythm of our hearts, beating in sync.

The path I stood on had led me to him. Species be damned—he was mine.

And I was going to have him.

The thrill in my chest surged—unstoppable, unrelenting and I couldn't help the smirk of satisfaction curling my lips.