bChapter /bb87 /b

    bra’s /bbPOV /b

    Froze, the bshock /brunning like le through my veins as Thorne’s lips brushed against mine.

    My wolf screamed inside me desperate, hungry, and demanding. But this wasn’t right. It wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.

    There’s grip on my waist tightened, his hands pulling me closer, as his body knew no other desim than to im mine. He lifted maily, cing me on the desk with a possessive hunger that made my heart race and my thoughts scatter.

    I could feel the heat of his body against mine, his breathing faster now, desperate. And then I felt it. Hard, unmistakable. The unmistakable pressure. of his erection pressing into me, and thated myself for the way my body responded. His hands began to move lower, tracing my thighs with intent.

    I grabbed his wrist before he could go further

    “What are you doing?” I barely managed to whisper, breathless.

    His eyes were wild, pupils dted, almost glowing with desire. “You said we were sex partners,” he raspedb, /bba /bgrin pulling at his lips. This is what see partners do, right?”

    The words struck me like a p in the face. Iughed, but it was bitter, sharp.

    “Beally?” I scoffed. “This isn’t about sex, Thorne. This is just your way of trying to stop me from going out with Raelyn, isn’t it?”

    Ishoved him away and bjumped /boff the desk, my pulse pounding in my chest, a mixture of anger and humiliation burning in my veins.

    Was this really how he saw me? A body to be imed?

    bHis /bbeyes /bglinted with amusement as adjusted my clothes, trying to regain some sense of dignity. “We are sex partners, Thome,” I said, my voice trembling but Erm. “Partners That means mutual consent. And if I don’t want this? If I don’t want you right now?

    His face darkenedb, /bba /bbwicked /bsmile btwisting /bhis lips. b“/bbYour /bbody bsays /botherwise”

    My cheeks burned. Damn it. He was right. The truth was, my body was betraying me. It was true I was turned on. But that didn’t mean I wanted him.

    “So what?” i shot back, locking eyes with him. “You turn me on, yeah. I give you that. But that doesn’t mean you can have my heart.”

    His eyes namowed. “Ralen, huh? Is that who you think can have your heart?”

    A fire ignited in my chest. “That’s what I’m going to find out btonight/b”

    I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I turned on my heel and headed for the door, leaving Thome’s taunting gaze behind. As bI /bbpassed /bhim, my hair whipped through the air, carrying the faintest trace of my scent.

    Then, just like that, I was gone.

    The cool night bair /bhit my skin as I climbed the mountain outside Craglen Fortress. When I reached the summit, Raelen was already wahing

    He had set

    tup a small nket under the sky, a perfect canvas of stars overhead. The wind was bsharp/bb, /bcanying the scent of pine and the distant brush /bof a

    bstreami /b

    A basket sat next to the nket, and so candlelight flickered fromnterns ced carefully around us. It was the most bpeaceful/b, serene setting, and for

    moment, I could almost forget everything that had happened before.

    “I’m so d you came Railen said, his voice warm, inviting. He took my bhand /bband /bhelped mesele on the nket, his beyes /bsoft in the candlelight,

    I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “bIt’s /bba /bdate, Ralen. Why wouldn’te?”

    He handed me ba /bss of champagne, and I took a small sip, letting the bubbles fier against my tongue. “Well, I’m just lucky you’re here fonight

    The pasy charm in his words made me feel lighter, something I hadn’t felt in a long while. Unlike Thorne, Ralen knew how to talk to me wither me feel like a prize to be won

    We sat infortable silenceb, /bsipping our drinks, Eventually, Raelen broke it.

    I’m sorry for what Bex did,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of regret.

    I shook my head, dismissing his apology. “It’s not your fault, Harlen. And I’m sorry too, I know you and Bex were close”

    Raelen’s gaze became distant, a faraway look crossing his face. “Yeah. Like brothers. When I became Alpha of Ferreach Pack, it wasn’t easy. A lot of the elders thought I was too young for the position. if it weren’t for my bloodline. He let out a breath, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t have made it. But Ber. he was the one person who always had my back.”

    I could hear the weight in his words, the depth of his bond with Ber

    He looked at me, his expression tomber. “bDo /bbyou /bthink Thome will sentence Bex to death after everythingb?/bb” /b

    I felt ba /bbpang /bof sympathy for him. “I don’t know, Raelen.” My voice softened. “But it’s not Thorne’s decision alone. You’re Bex’s Alpha In the end, youb‘ /bhave to decide what happens to him,”

    Raelen gave a bitterugh. “But Bex hurt the alliance, and Thorne is the leader of that alliance. If there’s anyone who would want to pass judgment, it’s him.”

    I didn’t know how to respond to that. There was an awkward silence between us, both of us feeling the tension of the situation.

    After a moment, Raelen sighed heavily. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bring all this up tonight. That’s not why I wanted byou /bhere.”

    I gave him a smallb, /breassuring smile. “Then why did you want me here?”

    He looked at me, his gaze suddenly intense. His face was inches away from mine, his bbreath /bwarm on my skin. My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t. help but notice how close he was, how perfect this moment felt.

    Raelen’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ve had a whole speech prepared, but think I just bsay /bit now.”

    I tensed, my breath catching in my throat. “What?” My voice came out shaky.

    Raelen reached into his pocket and pulled something out. He opered his hand, revealing a small ring made of straws and wildflowers.

    My heart raced.

    b“/bbWill /bbyou /bbe my Luna, ra?” he asked, his voice barely ba /bwhisper.

    The world seemed to stop around me, I stared at the ring, my breath stolen away by the weight of his question.

    bAD /b

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