I tried to grab it. Yet, he simply raised his hand higher, keeping it out of reach.
He was six feet three tall, whereas I was only five feet five tall.
I stretched onto my toes, fingers swiping at nothing but air. After the day I’d had, my patience was running on fumes.
“Seriously?” I glared up at him. “What is this? Holding it for ransom? Is that what you’re after, Mr. Alpha?”
Then his hand – the one holding my bracelet – tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.
My breath hitched.
Those golden wolf eyes burned into mine, sharp and steady. His scent hit me next – pine smoke, deep and grounding, curling around me like it had every right to.
“You’re not crying,” he murmured. “No bruises either.”
I blinked, thrown off.
His smirk deepened, slow and deliberate. “I came all the way here just to bring this back. Think you could show a little gratitude?”
I fumbled. “You could’ve… I don’t know… called?”
Then, it hit me – I didn’t even have his number.
I cleared my throat. “Dinner, then. My treat. Call it a thank-you.”
His brow arched. “Dinner? At this hour? Is food the only thing rattling around in your head?”
“What, you expecting me to say something else?”
The words were barely out of my mouth when Luis moved.
One blink, and no man was standing in front of me – only a massive wolf, fur black as midnight, golden eyes glowing like twin moons.
That pureborn Alpha pressure rolled over me like a storm, thick and suffocating. My lungs forgot how to work. If Mila is awake right now instead of stuck in that deep sleep… yeah, she’s probably just as shaken as I am.
Luis crouched low, lowering his massive body until his shadow swallowed mine. “Dare to come with me?”
I stared at him, rooted to the ground.
He tilted his head, sharp teeth flashing like he was amused. “Scared I’ll bite?”
He leaned closer, voice low enough to make my skin prickle. “Not like it’d be the first time.”
My face lit up like fire. Every memory of that night came rushing back, and I wanted to sink straight into the pavement.
I had no idea why, but I was always tense around Luis. Perhaps it was that overwhelming Alpha dominance of his, as if he didn’t just enter a room, but dominated it.
“I… I should just stay – “
His voice sharpened and commanded. “Deanna, just get on if you want your bracelet. I’m not going to ask you twice.”
I bit my lip and mounted his back, fingers grasping his smooth fur.
Luis let out a low growl.
Then, we moved.
Luis shot forward, a dark blur slicing through the moonlight, paws skimming the earth like he barely needed it. His speed was unreal – like Nyra’s own shadow tearing across the night sky.
The world smeared into streaks of silver and black. My heart hammered so hard it drowned out everything else.
No one warned me that riding a full blooded Alpha would feel like this – wild, terrifying, and thrilling. My palms were slick, fingers tangled deep in his fur just to hang on.
“Luis…” My voice wavered, my grip tightening. “Maybe… slow down a little? We’re not running a race.”
Luis’ POV:
Deanna’s voice drifted from behind me, softly trembling just enough to catch my attention.
“Relax. I’ve got you. No way I’m letting you fall.”
She seemed braver than she probably felt. I slowed down anyway, just a notch – no point in scaring her half to death.
The mountain road stretched out ahead of us, glowing faintly under the moonlight. My wolf eyes picked out every flicker of movement – shadows shifting, leaves stirring, the glint of dew clinging to the grass.
“Deanna,” I called back, my voice low and steady. “Look up.”
She hesitated for a second, then tilted her head like I told her to.
Above us, the sky was endless – thousands of stars burning bright, the moon glowing like silver fire. Even the forest below looked alive, breathing under Nyra’s light. It almost felt like she was watching over us.
The cold wind tore past, sharp enough to sting, but it only made the run sweeter. I couldn’t help it – a grin broke across my face.
“Take it in while you can,” I said, then pushed my pace. My paws struck the ground hard, carrying us higher, faster.
…
Deanna’s POV:
I swear my heart was about to leap out of my chest.
This wasn’t running. This was flying.
Everything around me blurred – the trees, the ground, the night air. I held on tight, grinning so hard my face hurt. Who knew this could feel so good?
Luis dashed through the forest like a shadow, leading us to the peak. He stopped, and I gently slid off his back. My knees felt a bit wobbly, and my heart was still racing from the ride.
The air up here was different – crisp, cool, and laced with pine scent.
As I was catching my breath, he had already reverted to his human form. Without hesitation, he put an arm around my waist and carried me toward the viewing platform.
My voice came out soft. “Uh… Luis? You can put me down now.”
He did, slow and easy, then shoved one hand in his pocket like we hadn’t just sprinted up a mountain at breakneck speed.
I turned to the view and forgot how to breathe.
The city spread out below us, a shimmering blanket of lights against the darkness. From this height, it appeared quiet and orderly, almost magical.
I leaned against the railing, taking a moment to absorb everything as my heartbeat gradually slowed. It was the first time I’d ever experienced such speed, and it truly drained me – in the best way – ridding me of all the tension and negative feelings. For once, my chest felt light.
Luis popped open a bottle of beer – no clue where he even pulled it from – and held it out to me.
“Thanks,” I said, grinning as I took it.
One long gulp later, the fizz burned down my throat and lit me up from the inside.
“Better?” His voice was calm, almost teasing.
“Way better,” I admitted, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. “That was insane, but in the best way.”
He smirked. “Sometimes, a little wild is the cure for everything.”
I looked up at him – tall, steady, and maddeningly composed – like that wild run hadn’t even left a scratch on him.
I wondered, Why bring me all the way up here? What’s really going on in that Alpha head of his?
Still, whatever it was, I wasn’t about to wreck the moment by asking.
I responded, “Thanks, Luis. I needed this. For real. Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve ever done something this reckless.”
He tilted his head, amused. “Thank me? What’s it going to be? Dinner again?”
I smirked. “Not dinner.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them. My heart was pounding so loudly it had to be illegal. I turned back to the city fast, praying he didn’t hear it.
From here, the city looked like a glass palace glittering at our feet. I let out a quiet laugh. “This view’s unreal. Think I can yell?”
Luis arched a brow. “Yell? What are you, some baby wolf practicing your first howl?”
I shot him a look. “Hey, don’t knock it. Yelling clears the soul.”
“You’ve never done it before?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Nope. Figures I never needed it.”
I mused, Of course, he didn’t. He’s a pureborn, the Alpha of Mooncrown Pack – nothing ever shakes him. Meanwhile, I? Yeah… whole different story.
Right then, he looked straight at me and nodded his head toward the view. “Go on. I’m not stopping you.”
That was all I needed. I cupped my hands around my mouth, sucked in the cold night air, and let it rip.
“Ahhhhhh! Jake, you pathetic excuse for an Alpha!
“Peggie! Jillian! You two can choke to your death!”
The words flew out, raw and loud enough to scrape my throat, but it felt incredible. It was like I’d just thrown a mountain off my chest.
Luis glanced at me, his mouth twitching like he was fighting a grin. “That’s it? You’re tapped out already?”
I laughed breathlessly and shook my head. “Yeah, I’m good.”
For a split second, his expression shifted. I couldn’t help but wonder, Does he want to yell too, but won’t admit it?
I waved him over and teased, “Go on, try it. You’ll see – it’s addictive.”
Then, his hand came down on the back of my head in this ridiculously casual pat, and I just froze.
Before I could react, he turned toward the city, cupped his hands, and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Deanna! You little menace!”
Deanna’s POV:
After Luis shouted into the city, his eyes crinkled into a teasing smile. “Not bad at all.”
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