Bound by the wrong werewolf

Chapter 7 :The Risk We Take

I stood on the roof of an abandoned warehouse overlooking the pack estate, the cool night wind pushing against my face.

Below, the lights of Eclipse Ridge stretched into the distance, peaceful from up here. It was almost enough to fool anyone into believing life was simple.

It wasn't.

My thoughts kept circling back to one person.

Serena.

No matter how many times I told myself to stay away, I couldn't. Every hour without seeing her only made the pull stronger.

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a slow breath.

This was dangerous.

One mistake would cost us everything.

Yet here I was... planning another meeting.

I laughed bitterly at myself.

Years ago, everyone in the pack knew exactly who Kael Voss was.

The reckless one.

The hockey captain who spent as much time throwing punches as he did scoring goals. I loved the rush of a fight, whether it was on the ice or in the streets afterward. Rules had never meant much to me, and eventually the pack had grown tired of cleaning up the messes I left behind.

Exile was supposed to change me.

Instead, it only made me harder.

Until Serena.

Somehow, she reached the part of me I thought had died years ago.

Around everyone else, I still felt like a weapon.

Around her...

I wanted to be gentle.

I wanted to tuck loose strands of hair behind her ear.

To make her laugh.

To keep every ugly thing in the world away from her.

The thought almost made me smile.

She had no idea what she was doing to me.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and typed a short message.

Meet me in the back garden in twenty minutes. I need to see you.

I stared at it for a second before pressing send.

There was no taking it back now.

The garden was quiet when I arrived.

Moonlight spilled across the stone paths, while the hedges cast long shadows over the flowers. I stayed hidden beside one of the larger bushes, listening to the distant sounds of guards changing shifts.

Every passing second stretched longer than the last.

Then I heard footsteps.

Light.

Careful.

She came into view, wrapping her cardigan tighter around herself as she looked over her shoulder.

When our eyes met, relief flashed across her face before worry quickly replaced it.

"Kael," she whispered sharply. "What are you doing? Damien is inside. If someone sees us..."

I reached for her hand and gently pulled her deeper into the shadows.

"I needed to see you."

She shook her head.

"No... you wanted to see me. There's a difference."

"I've been thinking about you all day."

"That's exactly the problem."

She placed both hands against my chest, trying to create some distance between us.

"This has to stop."

Her voice was firm, but it wasn't convincing either of us.

"I'm married to your brother."

The words landed like a punch.

"I know."

"You should leave."

"I can't."

Her eyes searched mine.

"Why?"

I swallowed.

"Because pretending I don't feel this is becoming impossible."

She looked away.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Finally, she whispered, "Last night shouldn't have happened."

"I know."

"It was wrong."

"I know."

"You made me believe..."

Her voice cracked.

"You made me think you were Damien."

The guilt settled heavily inside me.

"I did."

"I'll never forgive you for that."

"You don't have to."

She looked back at me, anger shining in her eyes.

"Then why?"

"Because I couldn't stand the thought of him having you."

The confession hung between us.

"I've wanted you for longer than I should have. Watching the two of you together..." I shook my head. "It destroyed me a little more every time."

She stared at me, her expression unreadable.

"You're selfish."

"I know."

"Reckless."

"I've heard that before."

"And impossible."

A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.

"That too."

She tried not to smile back.

Tried.

Instead, she sighed.

"I don't understand you."

"I barely understand myself."

The honesty in my voice surprised even me.

"I've spent years hurting people without losing sleep over it. But with you..." I paused. "I'm terrified of being the reason you cry."

Her expression softened.

Just a little.

"You make me angry."

"I know."

"You confuse me."

"I know."

"And somehow..." she whispered, "...I can't stop thinking about you either."

My heart skipped.

The distance between us suddenly felt too wide.

I took one slow step closer.

She didn't move away.

Another.

Now only inches separated us.

"I hate this," she admitted, her voice trembling.

"I know."

"I hate that I feel something when I'm with you."

I reached up carefully, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face.

"Then don't think."

Her eyes searched mine.

"Just for one minute."

She closed the remaining distance herself.

Our lips met in a slow, hesitant kiss.

Not rushed.

Not desperate.

Just two people losing a battle they both knew they should be winning.

For a few precious seconds, everything else disappeared.

The pack.

The lies.

The danger.

Then a voice shattered the silence.

"Serena?"

She pulled away so fast she nearly stumbled.

Heavy footsteps crunched against the gravel path.

Marcus.

Damien's Beta.

"The Alpha's looking for you," he called. "Are you out here?"

Serena's face drained of color.

She grabbed my arm, panic flashing in her eyes.

We were out of time.

And if Marcus took one more step...

He would find us together.