Moonlight Run

A Bet Of Bets

Celeste had really outdone herself this time. Hunter was impressed, mostly because he was currently stuck in a luxury cabin in the middle of nowhere with her, thanks to a bet she had suggested and lost.

To make things worse, their packs were in on it.

It all started with a bet (obviously). It always does with them.

The town square was buzzing, a crowd had gathered, murmuring in excitement. Hunter did not like the way Celeste was smirking at him.

"Hunter," she drawled. "Fiancé."

Hunter crossed his arms. "Celeste."

"Care to make things interesting?"

Lisa, standing nearby, visibly winced.

Hunter sighed. "What now?"

Celeste pulled out a piece of paper and waved it dramatically. "I've written a list of challenges. If I win, you have to do anything I say for an entire week."

Hunter smirked. "And if I win?"

Celeste hesitated, looking a little too pleased with herself. She said, "You get to pick the consequence, anything at all."

Lisa choked. "Celeste, no."

Celeste ignored her.

Hunter raised a brow. "Anything?"

Celeste nodded, confident in her victory.

Hunter shrugged. "Alright. Let’s do this."

And that, folks, is how Celeste sealed her own fate.

The challenge turned out to be a ridiculous obstacle course, created by Celeste, of course, because it was designed to make Hunter fail spectacularly.

There was only one problem, she sucked at it, too. Within minutes, she had had her faceplanted into the mud. She had tripped over her own feet and gotten tangled in a literal rope trap (that she had personally set up)

Hunter, on the other hand, breezed through the course.

By the end, Celeste was covered in dirt, looking like a feral raccoon, while Hunter stood victorious, not even winded.

Celeste glared. "I hate you."

Hunter smirked. "I win."

Celeste crossed her arms. "Alright, Alpha. What's my punishment?"

Hunter leaned in, voice low and teasing. "You and I are going on a trip."

Celeste blinked. "A trip?"

"A romantic getaway. Just the two of us."

Celeste sputtered. "Romantic?!"

The entire town erupted in cheers.

Lisa shook her head. "You walked right into this."

Celeste turned to the crowd. "Nobody's actually going to make me go, right?"

At first, there was total silence, then Alpha Thomas, the most respected elder in town, clapped Hunter on the back. "We’ll make sure you both go, don’t you worry, son."

Celeste’s eyes widened in horror. "Alpha Thomas! You...you can’t be serious!"

The town, on the other hand, was very serious, and by the next morning, Celeste was dragged onto a plane.

By noon, they had arrived at a remote luxury cabin.

By evening, Celeste was standing in the middle of the cabin, arms crossed, while Hunter looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"Well," Hunter said, grinning. "Looks like we’re stuck together for the weekend."

Celeste glared. "This isn’t over."

Oh, it absolutely was.

The cabin was disgustingly romantic. It had a romantic feel to it with a roaring fireplace, one huge bed, and absolutely no Wi-Fi.

Hunter immediately relaxed. "This is nice."

Celeste scowled. "This is a trap."

Hunter stretched, completely at ease. "Don’t fight it, sweetheart, just accept defeat."

Celeste gritted her teeth. "I will never accept defeat."

Two hours later, Celeste found herself trapped in a towel, standing in the bathroom, because the shower door had jammed.

Hunter, standing outside, was smug. "Need help?"

"I’m fine!"

"Are you sure? Because it sounds like you’re..."

Then, a loud THUMP and Celeste groaned.

Hunter tried not to laugh. "Did you just fall?"

"Shut up, Hunter."

Later that night, a storm rolled in, causing the power to flicker at first and then went out completely.

Celeste grumbled. "Of course this happens."

Hunter lit some candles. "Guess we’ll have to keep each other warm."

Celeste pointed at him. "Don’t."

Hunter smirked. "What? It’s a valid suggestion."

Celeste refused to acknowledge the way her pulse raced.

A loud BOOM shook the cabin, and Celeste jumped.

Hunter chuckled. "Scared?"

Celeste huffed. "Of course not."

Then, another boom, this time it was closer, and Celeste grabbed Hunter’s arm without thinking.

Hunter froze.

Celeste realized what she was doing.

Hunter’s voice was low and teasing. "Are you sure you’re not scared?"

Celeste scowled. "Shut up, Hunter."

He grinned. "Make me."

Celeste had half a mind to. She wanted to shut him up, that is, with her mouth, but instead, she pushed him away. "Go get more firewood or something."

Hunter chuckled. "Whatever you say, sweetheart."

Celeste hated how much she liked that stupid nickname.

The next morning, the storm cleared, be that as it may, Celeste was still desperately trying to win and came up with one last bet.

"If I can beat you at poker," she said, "I get to pick where we go next."

Hunter leaned in. "And if I win?"

Celeste hesitated. "What do you want?"

Hunter’s voice dropped dangerously low. "A real kiss."

Celeste immediately regretted everything. "Fine, you've got yourself a deal."

Lisa would have yelled at her.

Now Celeste was pretty confident that she would win, but Hunter was a poker master.

Now, who do you think would win this bet?

Ten minutes later, as the game got underway, Celeste began to lose spectacularly.

Hunter, grinning, leaned closer. "You owe me something, sweetheart."

Celeste, heart racing, knew she had no escape. "Fine."

Hunter cupped her cheek, and this time, she didn’t bolt. Instead, she leaned in and kissed him back.

Celeste hadn’t expected to actually enjoy it, but the moment their lips met, her breath hitched, and a slow warmth spread through her, curling in her stomach.

Hunter's hand slid to the small of her back, tugging her closer, his body radiating heat in the cool cabin air. His lips moved against hers with a teasing slowness, as if savouring the moment, like he had all the time in the world. It was infuriatingly gentle at first, coaxing, tempting, and making her dizzy.

Celeste, stubborn as ever, wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, so if he wanted slow, she’d give him something else entirely.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss, pressing against him with a reckless sort of urgency. Hunter let out a surprised sound, a half chuckle and a half groan, but still, he didn’t stop her. Instead, he matched her intensity, his grip tightening as he backed her up against the edge of the poker table. The cards scattered to the floor, forgotten.

He tilted his head, breaking the kiss just enough to murmur, “Didn’t take you for the type to lose so gracefully.”

Celeste, breathless, narrowed her eyes. “Shut up, Hunter.”

He smirked, thumb brushing over her bottom lip. “Make me.”

Without a second warning, she did just that.