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“Of course,” Lola said immediately. She reached out and gently touched his arm, a tender gesture that offered comfort. Zander looked up at her, his gaze lingering just a bit too long. The guy was clearly smitten with her.
As the two of them shared a moment, I was glad for Zander. He needed someone like Lola—strong, determined, and caring—to help him through this difficult time. If anyone could bring back his wolf, it was her.
“Let’s give Zander some space to rest,” I murmured to Tori, who nodded in agreement. We stepped into the hallway, allowing Lola and Elliot to remain with Zander.
“Ridge,” Tori said, clutching my arm. “What if this happens to more of our pack? What if Giselle’s plan succeeds, and we all end up like Zander?”
I felt the fear in her grip, and I pulled her against my chest, resting my chin on her head. “We won’t let that happen,” I said with a growl. “Whatever it takes, we’ll protect our pack and put an end to Giselle’s madness.”
“Promise me,” she pleaded, taking a step back to search my eyes.
I opened my mouth to reply, but Elliot spoke first. He must have come out of the room without either Tori or me noticing.
“Your word, Ridge,” Elliot said as he walked over, his voice strained. “Promise you’ll do everything in your power to stop the witch. I don’t want to watch any other shifter go through what Zander has.”
“From the depths of my soul, I promise,” I said, responsibility settling heavily upon me. But I meant every word. I would fight to my last breath to save those I cared about and restore peace to our community.
“Thank you,” Tori said softly, a hint of relief shining through her eyes, even as her worry persisted.
“Let’s regroup and come up with a plan,” I said, my mind racing with possibilities. “We can’t afford to waste any more time.”
As Tori and I stepped outside, I could practically feel the excitement radiating off her. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and bright. “Ridge, this really is amazing!” she exclaimed. “If Lola can actually figure out how to help Zander get his wolf back, then maybe there’s hope for all of us if Giselle’s mass cure takes effect before we can stop it.”
Her words were like a loving blanket on my soul, soothing some of the worry that had been eating away at me. It was true. If Lola could find a way to restore Zander’s memories andconnection to his wolf, then maybe we wouldn’t have to face such a bleak future after all.
“Your optimism is infectious,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as we walked back to the car. “It’s good to see you so excited about something positive.”
Once we reached the manor, Tori didn’t slow down. Her steps were light and playful as she bounded through the front door. I watched in amusement as she began peeling off her clothes, tossing them aside with a mischievous grin.
“Hey,” she called over her shoulder. “Do you wanna go for a run?”
I raised an eyebrow at her antics, a familiar warmth stirring inside me. It seemed she wasn’t just trying to take advantage of our heightened spirits, but actively attempting to rile me up.
“Is that what you’re doing?” I asked, as I took a step toward her. “Trying to turn me on?”
Her smile widened innocently, and she shrugged. “Maybe,” she replied coyly, her eyes dancing. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Perhaps we should get a little cardio in before we go running through the woods,” I said, my own excitement building as I closed the distance between us. “You know, to warm up.”
“Sounds good to me.” Her laughter only further ignited my desire for her. “You’ll have to catch me first. Ready, Lassie?” Tori’s dark eyes sparkled with mischief as she smirked at me.
“Bring it on, Fifi,” I shot back, the corners of my mouth tugging into a grin.
Tori darted through the manor, her laughter echoing off the walls as she slipped from room to room. I followed close behind, my wolf instincts kicking in as I pursued my prey—or rather, my playful partner.
“Can’t catch me!” Tori called out, taunting me as she disappeared around a corner.
The thrill of the chase surged through me, driving me forward as I navigated the maze of the manor. “Watch me!” I retorted, rounding the corner and catching sight of Tori’s slender figure slipping through an open door.
“Is that all you’ve got, Old Yeller?” Tori taunted, giggling as she dodged my outstretched hands.
“Hardly.” I grinned, feigning offense at her nickname for me. “I’m just getting started.”
Our game evolved into a sensual dance, each of us taking turns trying to catch the other, our bodies brushing tantalizingly close in the process. As we continued to tease and evade one another, something primal stirred within me, urging me to close the distance between us.
“Getting tired yet?” I panted, the heat rising in my body as I reached out to graze Tori’s arm, only for her to slip away once more.
“Please,” Tori replied breathlessly. “I could do this all day.”
