Chapter 7
1107 Words
The moment the car door shuts, the world feels smaller.
Too small.
Miles starts the engine, but neither of them speaks. The low hum of the vehicle fills the silence as he pulls away from the curb.
Casey stares straight ahead.
She can still feel his mouth on hers.
Still feel the almost.
The streetlights flash through the windshield, casting brief streaks of gold across his face. His jaw is tight. One hand grips the steering wheel. The other rests on the center console — close enough that if she moved her hand just a few inches…
Don’t.
Her wolf stirs restlessly inside her chest.
The space inside the car fills with something thick and warm — his scent wrapping around her, deep and masculine, laced with something sharper tonight.
Want.
“You’re quiet,” he says finally.
“So are you.”
A corner of his mouth lifts slightly.
“I’m driving.”
“You can drive and talk.”
He glances at her, and that look alone makes her stomach flip.
“I’m concentrating.”
Her breath falters.
“On the road?” she asks carefully.
His gaze drifts down her body for a fraction of a second before returning forward.
“Not entirely.”
Heat creeps up her neck.
She shifts in her seat.
Big mistake.
The movement pulls the sweater slightly lower on one shoulder.
Miles exhales slowly.
“Casey.”
The way he says her name sounds like a warning.
“What?” she whispers.
“You’re doing that on purpose.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
His hand tightens slightly on the wheel.
She turns to face him fully now.
“Why are you acting like I’m trying to seduce you?”
He lets out a quiet, almost disbelieving laugh.
“You think you’d have to try?”
Her breath catches.
The car grows very quiet again.
“You’re killing me,” he says under his breath.
Her pulse jumps. “I thought you said you’d be patient.”
“I am.”
His voice lowers.
“This is me being patient.”
The weight of that settles deep in her stomach.
A red light stops them.
The car idles.
The silence changes.
It thickens.
Slowly — deliberately — Miles turns his head.
His eyes drag over her face.
Down to her lips.
Back up again.
“You’ve been fighting this all day,” he says quietly.
She swallows. “So have you.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw.
“You have no idea.”
The light turns green.
He doesn’t move.
A horn sounds behind them.
He drives forward again, but the tension has shifted into something sharper now.
“You’re afraid,” he says after a moment.
“I’m not afraid.”
“You are.”
His tone isn’t mocking.
It’s certain.
“I don’t want to be just another girl,” she blurts.
The words fill the car.
Heavy.
Honest.
His grip tightens on the steering wheel.
“You think that’s what you are to me?”
“I know how girls look at you.”
“I don’t care how girls look at me.”
She shakes her head. “You say that now.”
He suddenly pulls the car into a quiet overlook at the edge of town.
Gravel crunches under the tires.
The engine turns off.
Silence crashes down around them.
Her heart slams against her ribs.
“Miles—”
He turns fully toward her now.
“Look at me.”
She does.
And whatever she sees there steals the air from her lungs.
“Every girl in this pack could line up tomorrow,” he says evenly. “And it wouldn’t matter.”
His hand lifts slowly.
This time, he does touch her.
Just his fingers against her chin.
Tilting her face toward his.
“You’re not another girl.”
His thumb brushes lightly along her jaw.
“You’re mine.”
The word sends a dangerous shiver through her.
Not possessive in a cruel way.
Possessive in a claiming way.
In a fate way.
Her breathing turns uneven.
“I haven’t claimed you,” he continues softly. “I haven’t marked you. I haven’t pushed you.”
His gaze darkens.
“Don’t confuse my restraint for lack of want.”
Her entire body responds to that.
The bond hums between them — stronger now in the enclosed space.
Her wolf presses forward, restless, needy.
“One month,” he murmurs. “And you’ll feel this the way I do.”
Her eyes widen slightly.
“How do you feel it?”
His jaw tightens.
“Like I’m constantly standing too close to fire.”
Her breath trembles.
“And right now?” she whispers.
His gaze drops to her mouth.
“Right now,” he says quietly, “I’m trying very hard not to burn.”
The words settle between them.
Heavy.
Her hand moves before she can stop it.
She grips his shirt again — just like outside her house.
A small sound escapes her throat when his other hand slides to her waist.
Not inappropriate.
But firm.
Anchoring.
“You need to decide something,” he says softly.
“What?”
“Whether you’re afraid of me…”
His thumb presses slightly into her hip.
“…or afraid of yourself.”
Her heart pounds violently.
The truth sits right there.
She’s not afraid of him.
She’s afraid she’ll stop fighting.
Afraid she’ll give in.
Afraid she’ll want him too much.
“Miles,” she whispers.
He leans closer.
Not kissing.
Just hovering.
Close enough that their breaths mix.
“Tell me to stop,” he says.
She doesn’t.
His forehead lowers gently to hers.
The bond pulses.
Strong.
Hungry.
Then—
His phone vibrates sharply in the cup holder.
The sound slices through the moment like a blade.
They both freeze.
He exhales slowly and pulls back just enough to glance at the screen.
His expression shifts.
Alpha.
Controlled.
Serious.
“What is it?” she asks quietly.
He doesn’t answer right away.
Instead, he starts the engine again.
“Miles?”
He looks at her.
Something guarded has slipped into his eyes.
“Change of plans.”
Her stomach drops.
“What happened?”
He puts the car into drive.
“Dad wants to see us. Now.”
Us.
Her pulse spikes again.
And suddenly the dangerous intensity shifts into something else entirely.
Something bigger.
Something pack-level.
As they pull back onto the road, Casey realizes something terrifying—
This isn’t just a date anymore.
And whatever waits at the pack house…
Might change everything.
- Writer
