Nova wobbled, her legs threatening to fold like paper fans. Kaidan

reached out to steady her.

"That was an accident," Kaidan said overhead, breathing hard.

"Yes," She replied dazedly, "I understand."

"You were falling... I was reaching for you, and... your lips were in the way."

"Let's not speak of it again. We'll

ignore it."

Kaidan seized on the suggestion. "It never happened."

"Yes -, it was - forgettable - that is, I'll forget about it."

That seemed to clear his mind

rather quickly. His breathing slowed, and he drew back far enough to

give her an affronted glance.

"Forgettable?"

"No," Nova said hastily, "I meant I wouldn't think about it."

But he looked more disgruntled with each passing second. "That didn't count as a real kiss. I'd just started."I know. But all the same, it was very nice, so there's no need to..."

"Nice?"

"Yes." Nova smiled, liking this new side of him.

"If I have one chance in a lifetime to

kiss you," he said grimly, "I'll be damned if it's going to be second-rate. A man has his standards."

"I didn't say it was second-rate," she protested. "I said it was nice!"

"I can't have you calling my

lovemaking nice. Now I have to do it

over."

Nova felt something in her leap for

joy, as Kaidan reached out and

hauled her against him easily.

He leaned forward, about to claim her lips again, when suddenly, his body tensed. The wolf within him

howled, sensing a threat.

Nova sensed the shift. "Kaidan?" she

whispered,

Kaidan's gaze locked onto

something beyond Nova. Through the window, a pair of glowing eyes watched. The wolf.

Kaidan's instinct screamed a warning.

He broke away, his voice low and gruff. "Go to bed, Nova."

Nova's confusion was palpable.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

His playfulness was gone, replaced by his usual stoic expression.

"Nothing."

Nova searched his eyes. His mask held, every trace of what they had just shared vanished.

Reluctantly, she turned to leave.

"Nova," Kaidan called out, his tone cold, his eyes never leaving the window. "Like I said earlier, that shouldn't have happened. And it'll never happen again."

Nova paused. Her back remained

turned. But I want it to happen

again. She wanted to say that to him but was scared of rejection.

With the little dignity she had left, she retreated to the bedroom, closing the door shut.

Kaidan stood in front of the window

for a while. Willing his now full

erection to subdue, but that was impossible. Not with Nova in his bed, a few feet away, probably naked. He

groaned at the thought.

He nearly lost himself there. He

didn't think he would've been able to stop him from making love to her if he had gone in with that second kiss

His control was slipping and he

didn't like it. He can't be with Nova.

He can't make her his, not when...

He stopped himself. He wouldn't

think about it.

The glowing eyes lingered outside the window, watching.

Unable to stand with a full erection

anymore, Kaidan settled onto the couch, prepared to use his hands.

He pleasured himself. Using the

imagination of doing crazy things to

Nova is his lube. But behind his blinding desires, he was ready to spring into action at the slightest

provocation.

After a while, when he had finally found his release, he looked through the window but noticed the

wolf's eyes had vanished. He knew

it was still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting.

As dawn approached, Kaidan finally allowed himself to relax, though

only marginally. He couldn't risk Nova venturing outside, not with that predator prowling the woods. He

needed to find and eliminate the

threat before it found its way to the

cabin.

Quietly, Kaidan rose from the couch and slipped out the door,

disappearing into the mist-

shrouded forest. Nova was safer here, for now. But he couldn't ignore the

wolf's presence any longer.

Nova woke with a start, the cabin eerily quiet. She listened intently, but there was no sign of Kaidan.

Anxiety gripped her as she quickly

dressed and made her way to the

main room.

The fire had burned down to

glowing embers, and Kaidan was nowhere to be seen. Nova's heart

raced as she approached the door, peering out into the dense forest. Where

could he have gone?

Steeling her nerves, Nova stepped outside, the damp morning air chilling her skin. She scanned the

trees, searching for any sign of Kaidan. The thought of him out here, alone, facing whatever lurked in the shadows, filled her with dread. Her mind still reeled from the memory of his kiss. The way his lips

felt on hers, the way he held her so

possessively... How could he make

her feel so good and then abandon

her like that?

Her brow furrowed as she recalled

the sudden shift in his demeanor, the way the light had seemed to

fade from his eyes. Why did he

retreat so abruptly? Maybe she did something wrong; what was she thinking, provoking him like that? What demons was Kaidan grappling

with that made him so determined

to keep her at arm's length? Nova knew she shouldn't be feeling this

way towards a stranger.

But the more time she spends with him, the more she finds herself drawn to him, desperate to unravel the mystery surrounding him.

Nova moved cautiously, her feet crunching on the forest floor. The

woods were deathly silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. She strained to hear any sound that

might lead her to Kaidan, her mind racing with worry.

Suddenly, a chilling howl pierced the air, the primal sound sending a shiver down Nova's spine. She froze, her breath catching in her throat.

The hairs on the back of her neck

stood on end as she realized it was

the same wolf she had seen the

The night before.

Nova's heart pounded as she slowly turned, her gaze locking onto the

·

Massive creature emerging from the

underbrush. Its eyes glowed with a

feral intensity, its powerful muscles

rippling beneath its thick fur.

Nova felt a surge of terror, her body trembling as the wolf approached,

Its massive jaws are gaping wide.

Just as the wolf was about to pounce, another blur of motion erupted from the trees. A second

wolf, larger and more imposing than the first, barreled into the creature, its fangs sinking into the other

wolf's flank. The two beasts tumbled and thrashed, their savage growls echoing through the forest.

Nova didn't hesitate. She turned and

ran, her legs pumping as she fled back towards the safety of the

cabin. Tears stung her eyes as she ran, fear and panic fueling her every step. She burst through the door,

slamming it shut behind her and

sliding the bolt into place.

Leaning against the door, Nova's chest heaved, her mind reeling. Where was Kaidan? Her hands

shook as she realized the dangers

that lurked beyond the cabin walls, and she silently prayed for Kaidan's

sate return.