Sasha

I was alone in the kitchen, Kael had left me after he got a call from the IceLord's coach.

I was craving something spicy. Maybe it was the weather, cold, misty, with the kind of bite that made your bones feel hollow, or maybe it was just… the thought of Kael.

It always send shivers down my spine... "Ahhhhh that wolf has definitely done something to me " I shouted and laughed at my behavior.

I opened a drawer and reached for a chili pepper, slicing it in half with the knife, the heat of its scent rising like a challenge in the air.

“Careful,” came a deep voice behind me. “You're playing with fire.”

I froze.

Not from fear.

From recognition. Kael.

I turned slowly, already smiling. "Good. Fire's the only thing that wakes me up."

Kael leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, eyes dragging across me with that unreadable hunger again. He was shirtless, muscles rippling beneath tattoos. His scent hit me, dark pine and strawberry flavor..... Maybe I could taste his lips already...

My wolf stirred beneath my skin.

He walked toward me slowly, like a predator. "What are you making this time, my worlds best chef. I can't even sleep without you close " . He smirked.

I looked back down at the peppers. "I wanted something hot, something that'll taste similar to you ." I winked.

His chuckle was low. "I could help with that... Those eyes "

Heat flushed my cheeks, but I kept my focus, picking up the pan and turning on the flame.

" I still can't believe you cook?" he said, stepping behind me.

"Is that so shocking?"

He didn't answer. Instead, his hands came to rest lightly on my hips, guiding me backward into the solid wall of his body. His warmth consumed me instantly. I tensed, but didn't pull away.

"You’re full of surprises, Sasha."

I flipped the peppers into the pan. "Maybe you'll get to know all of them, if you’re lucky."

Kael growled softly, his mouth brushing the curve of my neck. “I want to know everything. Every scar, every dream, every lie. Especially the ones you tell yourself."

I turned in his arms, the sizzle of the pan forgotten.

His eyes were so tempting.

"Why me, Kael?" I asked. My voice came out smaller than I meant it to. "Out of all the wolves, all the girls you could’ve had...why me?"

He touched my chin, lifting it.

"Because you’re not afraid to challenge me. Because your soul feels like war and peace all at once. Because the moment I saw you, I knew. You weren’t just any wolf. You were mine."

And then he kissed me.

Not the slow, delicate kind. But the kind that burns me completely.

The kind that makes you forget your name and remember your destiny.

Our mouths moved in sync, desperate and knowing, like we were trying to memorize the taste of something we might lose tomorrow. His hands gripped my waist tighter as he lifted me onto the counter, knocking over a bowl of flour. It spilled everywhere on the floor, on his chest, and in my hair.

We laughed against each other's lips.

"You’re a mess," I murmured.

"And you love it."

He kissed down my jaw, to my neck, and I moaned softly, threading my fingers into his hair. The pan behind us hissed, forgotten.

"I do love it," I whispered. "And I love..."

He pressed a finger to my lips. "Don’t say it. Not yet."

I swallowed.

Not yet.

But He knew what I was about to say.

Meanwhile…

***The Rogues***

The city lights offended them.

One of the rogue wolves, a tall, lean male with a jagged scar running down his eye... Cain, growled low as he stepped out of the truck. “Disgusting,” he spat. “So much human filth."

“We don’t draw attention,” another muttered, a shorter female wrapped in a hooded coat. “The Alpha said we wait until the tournament. Then we strike in between.”

They made their way down an alley, dodging lights, sirens, and drunken laughter from humans. The human city was alive and blind. Perfect.

“Found it,” someone said from ahead. A run-down building with broken windows, boarded doors, and just enough roof to offer shelter for them.

Cain sniffed the air. “We wait. But not for long. The moment the games begin, this place will drown in blood.”

He smiled cruelly.

Sasha

***Back at the Mansion ***

I was still breathless when I slipped out of Kael’s room later that night . I needed air. Maybe coffee. Definitely space to clear the storm raging in my chest.

But something prickled at my senses.

A presence.

A warning.

Kael always said to trust my wolf. So I did.

I turned toward the hallway, heart racing.

That’s when I saw it.

Just a blur....

A shadow sliding past the hallway mirror.

Too tall to be a player.

Too silent to be human either.

I froze, the air tightening around my lungs.

Was I being watched?

Was someone....

Then the shadow vanished.

I backed away slowly, eyes wide.

Something was coming.

And Kael had no idea, I'm sure of that.

I was now too scared to go into the kitchen to get coffee.

" Sacha you left the room” I heard kael's voice from behind me. I turned and ran towards him, hugging him like a little girl scared like she has seen a ghost.

“ what's wrong Shasha " I said holding me tight as I hugged him tighter.

“I think I saw the shadow again Kael”

“I'm not comfortable with this” I added still buried to his chest.

"Wanna go check it out" Kael said, giving me an assuring look.

Just then, he held my hands and we walked downstairs.

Some players were still awake.

Some playing video games.

Everyone was distracted in one way or the other.

Just then one of them sighted us.

“Kael is here” he whispered and their ears were sharp enough to hear it.

“ Greetings Alpha and Luna ” they chorused while bowing and it felt weird in my opinion.

“ you all can raise your heads " Kael said in a commanding tune.

They did as instructed and kael spoke up.

“ Your Luna has been seeing strange shadows for the past few days, and now I give you all an order to get to the button of this."

“ A shadow??"

" What kind of shadow did she see”

I heard a lot of mumors, but just then I realized the absence of someone....