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“We can’t turn back the clock, but we have here and now.” I take a step closer. There’s barely an inch between us now, reminding me again of that night on the cliff. I long to capture her lips with mine, to not let this moment go again but I have to be certain that this is what she wants.
“I’m scared,” she whispers, a crease forming between her brows as she looks up at me.
Screw it.
I feather a light touch over her cheek, and sigh a breath of relief when that pained look vanishes.
“You don’t need to be.” The words are barely a whisper, only meant for the two of us. “We can face any obstacles together.”
“But Glenda—”
“Is scared of the shifters,” I finish for her, only causing her brows to furrow. “Our new Alpha is mated to the Whitlock Alpha. We’re finally starting to unite, and she won’t dare stand against both packs on her own.”
Her lips tremble as she looks up at me with hope. Warmth floods my chest at that look, igniting my whole body with the all-consuming sense of conviction. This is it.
“There’s no going back, lionheart,” I murmur, combing my fingers through her hair and cradling her head. My heart pounds in anticipation with her so close. “Once I have a taste of you, I’m yours.”
“There’s never been any going back, Greyson.” She presses up on her toes to bring her lips even closer to mine. Less than an inch separates us now and as she speaks, the caress of her breath on my skin nearly drives me wild, and has my wolf begging me to claim her. “I’ve been yours from the start.”
My lips descend upon hers, both of us moaning the second they touch, all of the tension and uncertainty fading away into nothing. I take my time exploring every inch of her mouth before my tongue delves in, caressing her in long, languid strokes.
She’s perfect, and she’s mine. My wolf howls in approval, rejoicing at his partner finally being his.
My other hand wraps around her waist, pressing her chest against mine and molding our bodies perfectly. I want this moment to last forever. Her nails press into my back, clinging to me desperately as though she’s scared I might be ripped from her arms at any moment. I want to reassure her that I’m not going anywhere, but her kiss is intoxicating and I doubt even if I was struggling to breathe right now it couldn’t tear me away from her.
I’m about to turn her, to press her back against the column of the gazebo and explore as much of her body that I can in the empty gardens when an ear-piercing scream splits through the morning air. We both freeze, our lips parting a hairsbreadth as we watch each other. I nearly press my mouth back against hers, sure it must’ve been the wind whistling through the trees when it sounds again.
The pained screech splits through my head, freezing my blood in my veins, then the sound slowly fades until it sputters to a gurgled rasp.
We aren’t alone, and whatever else is out here just killed someone.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Aria
IgripGreyson’sbacktighter and pull my magic around me as one of the best days in my life quickly shifts to one of the worst—because that agonized shriek was almost certainly someone dying. Shouts echo from the front of the school, but it’s too far to make out exactly what they’re saying.
“We have to—” I start but my words are cut off as Greyson attempts to shift me behind him.
I reluctantly release him, but stay firmly planted in front of him, unwilling to indulge his protective behavior. I can more than take care of myself which is something he’ll need to learn, and I’d rather that be sooner than later.
“The protective stuff is cute, but it’s not going to work.” I huff, checking to make sure there isn’t anything around us. I’m about to murmur the spell and sweep the area when a soft tuft of fur brushes up against my ankles. I stumble a step back, an attack spell on the tip of my tongue when I register the fur is black.
It’s the same black cat I saw down by the lake the other day.My familiar.
My lips part and I’m about to ask her what’s happening when she winds her way through Greyson’s legs, nuzzling close like she can’t get close enough.
“Uhh, Aria,” Greyson says carefully, his eyes flicking between the cat that’s already getting on my nerves and me. “You see a cat too, right?”
“Yes,” I say on a breath of annoyance. “Are you actually going to talk to me this time?”
“This is ...?” Greyson trails off, not needing to finish the question. There’s no hint of disappointment in my small feline familiar, only a flicker of pride in his gaze that I’ve found her.
“I believe so.” I hum in disapproval as she continues to ignore me and rubs against Greyson’s leg again. “Obviously something is happening that is important to me and my path, so are you going to give me any sort of hint of what I should do?”
“You don’t need my help,” a female’s voice sounds in my head, mysterious and seductive. “But if you want it in the future, you must prove yourself to me today—prove that you deserve the power that’s been bestowed upon you.”
Her words sober me completely, my attitude fleeing in an instant.
