Chapter 15
1060 Words
The next morning feels deceptively normal.
Casey wakes already aware of him.
The bond hums beneath her skin — not as violent as the night before, but deeper. Settled. Waiting.
When she walks into the kitchen, Miles is already there.
Black t-shirt.
Low on his hips jeans.
Coffee in hand.
His eyes lift the second she steps into the room.
The look he gives her isn’t casual.
It drags slowly over her.
Possessive.
Assessing.
Hungry — but controlled.
“Morning,” she says, trying to sound unaffected.
His gaze lingers one second too long on her lips.
“Morning, Luna.”
The title sends heat straight through her.
Breakfast is quiet. Charged. Their knees brush under the table again. His hand rests on her thigh once — casual to anyone watching.
But his thumb strokes slowly.
Intentionally.
A reminder.
She inhales sharply, and his mouth twitches.
By the time he drives her to campus, she’s already flustered.
He walks her to the entrance like he always does now. One hand at the small of her back. Not pushing.
Claiming.
Students stare.
Whispers follow.
He doesn’t care.
“Call me when you’re done,” he murmurs near her ear before leaving.
The low tone sends a shiver down her spine.
Her day is a blur.
She barely hears her professors.
Her wolf is restless again. Not frantic. But alert.
Like it senses something coming.
When her final lecture ends, Molly practically tackles her in the hallway.
“So?” Molly demands. “Did he survive the night?”
Casey rolls her eyes. “Barely.”
Molly gasps dramatically. “Details.”
“He woke up,” Casey mutters quietly as they exit the building. “The bond is getting stronger. I think he feels it too.”
Molly’s grin turns wicked. “How strong?”
Casey opens her mouth to answer—
And that’s when it happens.
A tall, broad-shouldered guy steps directly into her path.
Human.
Attractive.
Confident.
He smiles down at her like he doesn’t know he’s playing with fire.
“Hey,” he says smoothly. “I’ve seen you around. You always leave with that black SUV guy.”
Casey blinks. “Oh—”
“But today,” he continues, leaning a little closer, “I got lucky.”
Molly freezes beside her.
Casey forces a polite smile. “I’m actually—”
“Single?” he guesses, flashing white teeth.
The bond snaps.
Not gently.
Violently.
A sharp, possessive surge floods her chest so suddenly she sucks in a breath.
The guy doesn’t notice.
But someone else does.
The air shifts.
Molly’s eyes widen.
“Uh,” she whispers. “Casey.”
A familiar scent rolls in first.
Cedar.
Smoke.
Alpha.
Miles.
Casey turns slowly.
He’s standing about twenty feet away near the curb.
He wasn’t supposed to be here yet.
But he is.
And he’s watching.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Just watching.
His jaw is tight.
His eyes are darker than she’s ever seen them in daylight.
The guy in front of her keeps talking.
“You should let me take you out sometime,” he says casually. “Somewhere better than wherever that jealous-looking guy takes you.”
The words are barely out before Miles moves.
Fast.
Predatory.
He crosses the distance in seconds.
Students part instinctively.
Even humans sense danger.
Miles stops directly beside Casey.
Close enough that their shoulders touch.
His arm slides around her waist.
Firm.
Claiming.
The human guy falters slightly but forces a smirk. “Hey, man. Just talking.”
Miles doesn’t look at him right away.
He looks at Casey.
“You okay?” he asks quietly.
But his voice is not calm.
It’s vibrating.
She swallows. “Yes.”
Only then does Miles turn his gaze to the guy.
And it’s lethal.
“She’s not single,” Miles says evenly.
The human laughs awkwardly. “Relax, dude. I didn’t know.”
Miles steps half a step closer.
The air thickens.
“You don’t need to know,” he replies. “You just need to understand.”
The guy shifts uncomfortably.
“And what’s that?”
Miles’ hand tightens at Casey’s waist.
“That she’s mine.”
The word lands heavy.
Final.
Casey feels it down to her bones.
The bond surges again — hotter this time. Stronger. Fueled by dominance and possessiveness.
The human takes a step back.
“Alright, man. Message received.”
He leaves quickly.
Very quickly.
Molly exhales. “Okay wow. I felt that.”
Miles’ focus hasn’t left Casey.
“You smell upset,” he murmurs.
“I’m not upset.”
“You’re not?”
“No.”
Her heart is racing — but not from fear.
From him.
From the way his thumb is pressing into the curve of her waist.
From the way his body is angled protectively in front of hers.
Students are staring openly now.
Molly clears her throat. “I’ll… walk myself.”
She practically flees.
Miles lowers his head slightly.
“Did he touch you?”
The growl in his voice is unmistakable.
“No.”
His nostrils flare anyway.
The bond pulses between them again — thick and primal.
“You didn’t like him near you,” she says softly.
His eyes flash.
“No.”
The honesty in that single word sends heat through her.
“You don’t get jealous?” he asks quietly.
She steps closer.
So their bodies align fully.
“I don’t need to be,” she whispers. “You’re mine too.”
That does it.
His control snaps thinner.
His hand slides from her waist to her lower back, pulling her flush against him.
Right there.
In public.
“If you keep saying things like that,” he murmurs near her ear, “I’m not taking you straight home.”
Her breath hitches.
“Oh?”
His teeth graze lightly along her pulse point — subtle enough that humans wouldn’t understand the intimacy.
“But I am very close,” he continues quietly, “to forgetting we’re standing in a parking lot.”
The bond surges.
Hot.
Alive.
Her fingers curl into his shirt.
“Then take me home,” she whispers.
His eyes darken dangerously.
“Get in the car, Casey.”
And for the first time since this started—
She sees just how thin his restraint really is.
- Writer
