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Chapter 8 - When the Fire Goes Quiet

Kael

She kissed me like she wanted to burn.

Furious. Desperate. Beautifully broken.

Her mouth crushed mine, tongue sweeping in, hands threading through my hair like she needed to anchor herself or be swallowed whole. Her body trembled against me, heat radiating from her skin like a fever, a wildfire roaring through every breath.

And the bond—gods, the bond—was awake now. Alive. Screaming.

It surged between us like lightning, crackling through every nerve in my body. My wolf snarled beneath my skin, muscles twitching with the effort it took not to shift, not to mark, not to take her right here, right now.

"Seraphina," I groaned into her mouth, even as my hand gripped her waist, pulling her flush against me. "You don't know what you're doing."

"Yes," she whispered, her voice ragged. "I do. I need you."

I felt her thighs part slightly around my hips, her hips grinding forward, a gasp escaping her lips when the friction sparked. Her scent—sweet, wild, ripe—wrapped around me like a drug.

And it was taking every ounce of control I had not to give in.

Her heat was full now. Peaking. The transformation was near. She didn't know it yet, but her wolf was seconds away from pushing through, from ripping her apart in pleasure or pain.

I backed her into the wall, lips never leaving hers, one hand tangling in her silver hair while the other slid down, gripping the back of her thigh, pulling her higher against me.

She moaned into my mouth, and that sound—that sound—broke me.

"You don't understand what this means," I rasped as my mouth trailed down to her neck, to the place where my fangs ached to bite. "If I mark you, there's no going back."

Her hands fisted in my shirt. "Then don't stop."

But I did.

I froze.

My lips hovered just above her pulse, feeling it thunder against my skin. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, sweat glistening along her collarbones. She was radiant in her ruin, eyes glassy with need and frustration.

"I can't do this," I whispered.

Her whole body tensed. "Why not?"

"Because when I mark you, it won't be just for the bond." My voice broke. "It'll be for me. Because I want to own you. All of you. Body. Soul. Heart. And if you let me touch you like this when you're not sure—when you're still angry—then I'll never forgive myself."

Tears welled in her eyes.

And still, her lips trembled. "I don't care. I need you."

"You need relief," I said, though my voice cracked. "You're in heat. Your body's confused. But this? This bond—it's not just instinct. It's forever."

She blinked quickly, jaw tight, but her legs slowly lowered from around my waist. Her fingers curled into fists at her sides.

"You don't get to decide what I feel," she said. "You don't get to tell me what's real."

"I'm not," I whispered. "I'm begging you… to choose it. Not just survive it."

We stood there, hearts racing, breath tangled, silence stretching long between us.

I saw the war in her eyes. Rage. Grief. Desire. Everything she hated about me and everything she couldn't stop needing. The heat inside her was tearing her apart. I could feel it.

My wolf was already howling. Ready to snap.

But I had to be stronger.

I had to be better.

Because if I took her now—if I let instinct win—I'd never know if it was real.

And I wanted her real.

Her fingers brushed my chest. Her lips parted like she wanted to speak. And for a second, I thought she might choose me anyway.

Instead… she stepped back.

"I can't think," she whispered. "Everything hurts."

"I know."

"I want you… and I hate that I want you."

That gutted me more than anything else ever had.

"Then I'll stay away," I said, even though my soul rebelled at the words.

"Liar."

"I'll try."

She looked away.

And gods help me, I wanted to chase her. To tear down every wall she put between us and claim her in every way possible. But I didn't.

Because I'd made her a promise.

And I wouldn't break it.

I watched her walk away—her heat dragging behind her like a stormcloud—and I stood there, fists clenched, jaw tight, eyes closed.

Waiting for the fire to quiet.

But it didn't.

Not even close.

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