Lunas Wildfire

Building the Fire

The pack was buzzing with excitement. Everywhere I turned, people were preparing for the gathering tonight—setting up tables, stringing lanterns, and hauling supplies to the clearing. The air was alive with anticipation, the perfect backdrop for what I had planned.

The day started like any other. I rolled out of bed and stretched, my muscles tight from training the day before. My room still carried faint traces of Aaron’s scent, a bittersweet reminder of what we’d had. But today wasn’t about Aaron or the past. Today was about the present—and the Alpha who couldn’t take his eyes off me.

Carter had been busy since his return, throwing himself into pack responsibilities like the dutiful leader he was. But I knew he wasn’t immune to me. The way his gaze lingered when he thought I wasn’t looking, the tension in his jaw whenever I teased him—it was all fuel for my fire.

And tonight, I was going to push him harder than ever.

The sun was high in the sky by the time I joined Lily in the clearing. She was overseeing a group of pack members as they arranged long wooden tables beneath the trees.

“You’re late,” she called, her hands on her hips.

I shrugged, tossing my hair over one shoulder. “Fashionably.”

Lily rolled her eyes but grinned. “You’re impossible. What are you wearing tonight?”

“Something red,” I said, a sly smile creeping across my lips. “Something… unforgettable.”

Her grin widened. “Carter’s not going to know what hit him.”

“That’s the plan,” I said, picking up a string of lanterns and draping them over a nearby branch.

We worked side by side for a while, the chatter light and easy. But my mind was elsewhere, running through every detail of the night ahead. The bond between Carter and me was still new, fragile, but the pull was undeniable. I wanted to see just how far I could take it, to test the limits of his control.

“Are you sure about this?” Lily asked as we took a break under the shade of a large oak.

“Sure about what?”

“Pushing him.” She raised an eyebrow. “He’s the Alpha, Emmaline. He’s not exactly the kind of guy you can mess with lightly.”

I leaned back against the tree, a wicked smile playing on my lips. “I’m not messing with him. I’m just… giving him a little nudge.”

Lily snorted. “A nudge? You’re practically throwing yourself into the fire.”

“Maybe I want to get burned,” I said, my voice dropping to a purr.

She shook her head, but there was no real judgment in her expression. “Just don’t come crying to me when he finally snaps.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it.”

By mid-afternoon, the clearing was nearly ready. The tables were set, the lanterns strung, and the scent of food wafted through the air as the cooks prepared the evening feast.

I left Lily to oversee the final touches and headed back to my house to prepare. The walk through the pack lands was peaceful, the warm sun on my skin and the sounds of life all around. Children played in the distance, their laughter ringing out, while wolves darted through the trees, carrying supplies or messages.

But my mind was focused on one thing: Carter.

When I reached my house, I slipped inside and headed straight for my closet. I’d been saving this dress for the right moment—a deep red, silky number that hugged every curve. It was bold, almost scandalous, and exactly what I needed to make Carter lose his carefully maintained composure.

As I slipped it on, I caught my reflection in the mirror. The dress shimmered in the light, the fabric clinging like a second skin. I paired it with black heels and let my hair fall in loose waves around my shoulders.

Perfect.

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon when I stepped outside, the first lanterns glowing softly in the fading light. The clearing was already bustling with activity, pack members laughing and chatting as they gathered for the night’s festivities.

I could feel the energy building, the anticipation crackling in the air. Tonight was going to be unforgettable.

And I was going to make sure Carter knew it.