For a long moment, I didn’t move. I didn’t want to actually. Wrapped in Kael’s scent, pine, I felt like I’d found something I didn’t know I’d lost. Safety. Not just physical, but soul-deep.

His fingers twitched against my side, drawing lazy circles while pouting. “You awake?” he murmured.

I smiled into his chest. “Barely.”

He shifted slightly so I was looking up at him, our noses nearly touching. His eyes were sleep-hazed but still stormy and dark and damn cute. “You stayed.”

“You didn’t exactly give me a reason to leave.”

Kael grinned, slow and crooked. “I could give you one now.”

“Oh?”

He rolled suddenly, pinning me beneath him. His mouth found mine with a hunger that felt like it had waited centuries. The heat between us from last night hadn’t dimmed, in fact, it sparked faster now, more urgent. More addictive.

His lips moved down my neck, pausing at the curve of my collarbone. “You’re mine,” he said softly, reverently, as though testing the words aloud.

I arched into him, gasping. “Then take what’s yours.”

Kael growled,low and primal and what followed was slow-burning fire. He worshipped every inch of me with hands that trembled and lips that claimed my entire body. I collapsed against him, his heartbeat thundering beneath my cheek.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” I admitted, breathless.

Kael kissed my temple. “That’s because nothing about us is normal. The bond... the wolf inside you... it’s all waking up Sasha. And so is mine.”

That should’ve scared me. But instead, it made me press closer. For now, this was all I needed.

Eventually, I sat up, tugging the sheets around me. “I should get back to my room and prepare for the day.”

Kael sighed, clearly not ready to let me go. “Stay.”

“I have a job, remember?” I teased, leaning over to kiss him again. “Besides, someone’s got to keep your players in one piece.”

He watched me get dressed like a man memorizing every inch.

I opened the door to the hallway with a content sigh.

And walked straight into trouble.

*********************************************

Lucien was leaning against the wall just a few steps from Kael’s room, arms crossed, lips curled in a smirk that made my stomach twist, not in a good way.

“Well, well,” he drawled. “Doing the Alpha’s rounds this early, doc?”

I straightened, pulling the collar of my hoodie higher. “Morning, Lucien.”

He pushed off the wall and stepped closer, close enough that his scent, weirdly dark filled my nostrils. “You’re glowing, sweetheart. Must’ve been one hell of a night.”

I glared. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Speak to me like I’m just... something you can toy with.”

Lucien’s smile darkened. “Toy? No. But you? You’ve got teeth, Sasha. Fire. You think Kael’s the only one who sees it?”

“ Don't forget I'm also your Luna Lucien.... You should respect me for that at least." I said with my hands folded on my chest.

He reached out, brushing a thumb against my cheek.

I froze.

And then he was gone....slammed back against the wall with a force that cracked the paneling.

Kael.

He stood between us now, breathing hard, eyes glowing the faint silver of his wolf. Shirtless, barefoot, lethal.

“Touch her again,” Kael growled, “and I’ll break every bone in your body.”

Lucien chuckled through bloodied lips. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Alpha.”

Kael didn’t hesitate. He lunged.

They collided with the force of two storms, fists hitting each other, teeth bared. I stepped back as Kael drove Lucien down the hall, smashing him into the far wall. Lucien retaliated, slashing at Kael’s ribs with claws I hadn’t seen form.

Kael snarled and caught his arm, twisting it behind his back until Lucien howled.

“I warned you,” Kael hissed. “You don’t speak to her. You don’t look at her. You stay the hell away from my mate.”

Lucien gasped, “You can’t protect her from everyone.... It's not my fault.... I got attracted to her just the way you did”

Kael threw him against the floor hard enough to shake the chandelier above. He knelt beside him, pinning him down.

“Stay. Away.”

Lucien spat blood. “She won’t save you.”

Kael’s voice dropped into something barely human. “She doesn’t have to. I’ll burn this place to the ground before I let you near her again.”

I finally stepped forward, grabbing Kael’s shoulder. “Stop. He’s not worth it.”

Kael’s gaze snapped to mine. His breathing slowed. Then, he rose.

Lucien lay broken but grinning. “See you on the ice, Alpha.”

Kael didn’t look back.

He wrapped his arm around me and walked me down the hall, silent rage still radiating off him.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He shook his head. “You don’t apologize. Ever. He crossed the line. I drew it.”

*********************************************

Lucien

***At the locker room***

I stood alone in the locker room, bruised and bloodied. I peeled off my torn shirt and approached the mirror.

My reflection stared back, eyes sunken, lip split, a purple blossom forming across my cheek.

“ Fuck!!!!!!" I growled.

I touched the glass, smearing a drop of blood across the surface.

Then I smiled. Dark. Cold.

“You think you’ve won, Kael,” I whispered. “But you don’t know what I’ve kept for you.”

My eyes glowed, not amber but black.

Just then, my reflection shifted, for just a second. Something inhuman looked back.

And I whispered to it:

“Soon.”

“ We are gonna make him regret giving us bruises!!!!”

“ And he's little Luna..... She is ours to keep too”. I said laughing out wickedly.