Lunas Wildfire

Breaking Point

Carter sat behind his desk, his broad shoulders hunched as he scrawled his signature across another document. The office was stifling, the air heavy with the scent of ink, paper, and frustration. He’d been at it for hours, but the stack of papers on his desk didn’t seem to get any smaller.

He clenched his jaw, tapping the pen against the edge of the desk as his thoughts drifted.

Emmaline.

He hadn’t been able to get her out of his head since the night at the club. The way she moved, her body flowing to the rhythm of the music like she was made for it. That red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. The wicked smile she’d thrown his way before leaving him standing there, simmering in the shadows.

His grip on the pen tightened until it snapped.

“Damn it,” he muttered, tossing the broken pieces onto the desk.

A knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts. Aaron stepped inside, his usual easygoing demeanor tempered with a hint of curiosity. “You good?”

Carter didn’t answer right away, running a hand through his dark hair as he leaned back in his chair. “I’m fine.”

Aaron raised an eyebrow, shutting the door behind him and leaning against the frame. “You don’t look fine. You’ve been snapping at everyone all day. Even Hannah avoided you this morning, and she’s not afraid of anything.”

“I’ve got a lot on my plate,” Carter said gruffly, gesturing toward the mountain of paperwork.

Aaron smirked, crossing his arms. “Sure, it’s the paperwork. Has nothing to do with a certain fiery tease who’s been driving you insane since the second you got back.”

Carter shot him a glare, but Aaron didn’t flinch.

“She’s been doing this since we were kids, you know,” Aaron continued, ignoring the warning in Carter’s eyes. “Always loved to push people’s buttons just to see what would happen. You’re not special.”

The words stung more than Carter wanted to admit, but he didn’t let it show. “I’m the Alpha,” he said, his tone hard. “She’s going to have to learn that some lines shouldn’t be crossed.”

Aaron chuckled. “Good luck with that. Emmy doesn’t recognize lines, let alone boundaries.”

Carter stood, pacing to the window and looking out at the pack lands. The clearing was already coming to life as wolves set up for the gathering. He knew Emmaline would be there, dazzling and infuriating as always.

“She’s doing this on purpose,” Carter muttered, more to himself than to Aaron.

“Obviously,” Aaron said, pushing off the doorframe. “She’s testing you. Wants to see how far she can go before you snap.”

Carter turned, his eyes narrowing. “And what happens when I do?”

Aaron shrugged, his smirk returning. “Guess we’ll find out. But if I were you, I’d figure out how to handle her before tonight. Emmy doesn’t back down, and she definitely doesn’t play fair.”

Carter grunted, his mind already racing with strategies to maintain his composure. But deep down, he knew it was a losing battle.

The memory of her sultry smile, the way she’d looked at him like she owned him, flashed in his mind again. His wolf stirred, growling low in his chest.

“She’s going to be the death of me,” Carter muttered, his voice heavy with frustration.

Aaron laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “Yeah, but what a way to go.”

Carter shook his head, but a small, reluctant smile tugged at his lips. As much as Emmaline infuriated him, there was no denying the fire between them.

And tonight, he’d have to face her again.

By the time she finished getting ready, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and the pack clearing was already alive with activity. Emmaline slipped into her heels, her hair falling in loose waves down her back, and gave herself one last look in the mirror.

The emerald dress hugged her curves like a second skin, the color making her dark eyes smolder and her skin glow. A pair of gold earrings completed the look, catching the light with every movement.

“Carter,” she murmured to her reflection, a sly smile curving her lips. “Let’s see how much control you really have.”