Being his luna

7

The moment the door to his office closed behind her, Adrian Black exhaled sharply, his fingers curling around the edge of his desk. Ella Carter—Miss Carter, he reminded himself—had slipped under his skin the moment she’d stepped into his classroom. It had started with something simple, a glance, a faint tug of attraction that had quickly turned into an uncontrollable pull.

And now, she was on his mind, constantly.

He couldn’t focus on his work. He couldn’t focus on anything.

Adrian stood up from his desk, running a hand through his dark hair in frustration. There was no denying it anymore. The full moon was close, and with it, the hunger that gnawed at him. It had always been difficult to control the wolf during these nights, but something about Ella made it harder. It was like a magnetic force drawing him closer to her, and he couldn’t ignore it any longer.

He needed to cool down.

Without a second thought, Adrian strode toward the shower in the back of his office. The sound of the water hitting the tiles was soothing at first—cold and crisp against his overheated skin—but the moment the steam started to rise, the tension in his body only grew stronger.

He closed his eyes and let the water run over him, trying to block out the images flashing in his mind. Her soft voice. The way she’d tucked her hair behind her ear, avoiding his gaze as if she already knew the effect she had on him. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way she smelled, the way she moved, the way she existed. There was something about Ella—something ancient and intoxicating.

His hands gripped the edges of the shower, his breath quickening. The heat of the water only amplified the burn in his chest, the gnawing need.

He had never been this…out of control before. Not with anyone. Not with any woman.

His hand slid down his body, instinct driving him as his mind replayed the way she looked at him. Her soft, hesitant gaze had ignited something deep within him, something primal.

Fuck, he thought, closing his eyes as he allowed the fantasy to consume him. He imagined her in his arms, pressed against him, her lips brushing his skin as she gasped for air. His heart pounded in his chest, and his wolf snarled inside him, demanding to claim her.

But he knew better.

He knew what would happen if he let this go too far. If he let his desire take over, if he let himself believe he could have her. He was an alpha, bound by ancient rules and instincts. The pack would never allow it. And worst of all—he knew the consequences.

It wasn’t just a matter of desire. It was a bond. A claiming.

Imprinting.

If he allowed himself to get too close, if he let his wolf take over, he could imprint on her. And once that happened, she would be his in ways she could never escape.

The thought sent a shock of fear through his veins.

Stay in control, Adrian.

But the thought of Ella—her soft skin, the sweet innocence that radiated from her—drove him wild with need. He could almost feel her beneath his hands, her body warm and soft against his own. Her scent filled his lungs, intoxicating, pulling him further into the spiral.

A sharp knock at the door pulled him out of the haze. He froze, his body stiffening as the sound of footsteps entered the room.

“Adrian?”

It was Derek, one of his betas. Adrian exhaled slowly, trying to push down the surge of frustration. His wolf growled in response, but Adrian tamped it down with a silent warning.

“I’m busy,” Adrian muttered, his voice rough. He quickly turned the water off, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist.

Derek didn’t seem to care. The door swung open, and Derek stepped inside, a serious expression on his face. Behind him, two other betas—Caleb and Lucas—were standing in the hallway, their faces tense.

Adrian’s heart raced, but he didn’t show it. He stepped toward his desk, trying to regain control. “What is it?”

Derek hesitated, his eyes scanning Adrian’s face before settling on him with a knowing look. “You’ve been distracted,” Derek said, his tone low. “More than usual.”

Adrian stiffened. “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, Derek.”

The beta stepped forward, lowering his voice even further. “It’s not just that, Adrian. We can smell it.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. He knew where this conversation was going.

“You’re being pulled toward her, aren’t you?” Derek asked, his voice almost a whisper. “You need to be careful.”

Adrian’s pulse quickened. “Stay out of this.”

But Derek wasn’t backing down. “You’ve been on edge since the moment she stepped into your class. I can’t ignore it, and neither can Caleb or Lucas.”

The other two betas nodded, their expressions tight.

Adrian clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. “I’m aware of the risks,” he said through gritted teeth. “But I can handle it.”

“You’re not handling it.” Caleb’s voice was sharp. “The full moon’s coming. You’ve already crossed a line, and if you don’t pull back now, you could—”

“I know,” Adrian cut him off, his voice low and dangerous. “But I won’t imprint. I can’t imprint. I won’t let that happen.”

Derek’s eyes softened, but the warning remained clear. “You need to be careful. If you get too close, it might not be something you can stop.”

Adrian’s breath hitched at the thought. Imprinting wasn’t something that could be reversed. Once it happened, Ella would be bound to him for life. She wouldn’t have a choice.

And for all his control, Adrian wasn’t sure if he was ready to let that happen—not yet.

But as the betas left, their words echoed in his mind, and for the first time in years, Adrian felt a deep, gnawing fear. He could feel the pull to her growing stronger with every passing minute.

And if he wasn’t careful, Ella Carter might just become the one thing he couldn’t walk away from.