Alpha's Vet

Cool?

Chapter 18 – Cool?



Lara POV

I know I should be freaking out right now. Fainting, running out—it’s all supposed to be terrifying. But all I can think is… cool!

I want to tell everyone about this. Surely they already know I’m a bit weird, but cool? That seems like a normal reaction to seeing werewolves for the first time—or any time, for that matter.

Lucas hasn’t even looked at me yet. Is it because I fainted on him? I feel terrible, but it wasn’t on purpose!

“So, Lucas… mmm, sorry for the whole fainting thing on you. Oh, and the running out on you guys…” I trail off, guilt twisting in my chest. I don’t know how to make it right.

Suddenly, he shouts, “EVERYONE OUT! NOW!”

No one questions him. Everyone scrambles out, leaving just us. I try to follow, but he snaps, “NO! Lara, stay. Please stay.”

I freeze. It’s not often he says “please,” if ever.

I sit back down on the couch, waiting for the office to empty completely. Feeling small and awkward, I decide to stand up—maybe if I look taller, more in control. Wishful thinking, I know.

Lucas POV

Once the last person leaves, I close the door and start counting down in my head: 10… 9… 8…

“NEVER… ever apologize to me or anyone, do you understand me?” I keep my voice even, but my words carry the weight of a predator. “You are my Luna, and we do not apologize to anyone.”

I step toward her deliberately, like a hunter circling prey. She must understand—she is everything to me, to us, to the pack.

Every step I take, she takes one back—but the desk pins her in place.

I stop inches from her face, trying to see into her soul. To know how she feels about me. Does she see me as the monster I am?

Lara POV

My heart is pounding so loudly, I’m sure he can hear it. I try to move away, not out of fear, but because I’m terrified I’ll grab him and never let go. I get wetter with every step he takes.

His aura flickers—anger, lust, pity, sorrow… love? My head aches under its intensity.

He stops inches from me, and suddenly, he consumes me. I can smell him, feel him—it’s as if he becomes a part of me.

Logic has gone out the window. I grab him by the hair and pull him to me, kissing him.

At first, he doesn’t kiss back. Did I misread the signs? But the feel of his lips against mine is intoxicating. I pull back slightly, but he stops me.

“NO.”

Then he kisses me like he needs it like oxygen. I can’t keep my hands off him, touching, feeling. A part of me knows this is crazy—we need to talk—but I don’t care. Every nerve in my body is alive, and he hasn’t even touched me beyond this kiss. It’s already shattered me.

He’s the first to pull back, resting his forehead against mine. I can see him trying to steady himself.

“We… we… we need to talk,” he breathes.

I manage a soft, “Okay.” My brain feels fried. I realize I’m sitting on his desk—and somehow, during our kiss, I’ve taken his shirt off.

I can’t stop looking at his chest. Seriously, there should be a law against this kind of perfection. Has he been living in the gym 10 hours a day?

I’m still admiring him when he lifts me off the desk, sliding my body against his. I feel how hard he is… how ready he is.

Lucas POV

When she kissed me, I couldn’t move. I thought it was a dream, afraid to wake up. But it’s not. I know now that we need to talk. She needs to understand what she’s letting herself into. I owe her that much, even if I never plan to let her go.

I hold her hand and lead her to the couch, keeping her as close as physically possible.

“Angel, I’m sorry you had to find out like this. I wanted to take things slow, but when you ran out, I couldn’t control Lex—we thought we lost you.” My words stumble over themselves, and I see the confusion in her eyes. She doesn’t understand how empty I felt when she left.

“I don’t think we should talk right now. You need to rest first.”

“I’m not sleepy,” she yawns, big and unapologetic.

“Come, my angel. You need some more rest. We can discuss everything when you wake up.” I gently place her back on the couch, letting my scent envelop her.

She curls up against me, fragile, trusting. And I vow silently—I will never let her go.