Chapter Two: Moonlight Vigil
1392 Words
Thane stepped into the darkness, heaving a sigh of relief. The crisp night air cleansed his lungs, washing away the suffocating tension of the cabin.
He preferred the dangers lurking outside - rabid dogs, monstrous creatures - to the relentless questioning inside. Ava’s presence was a nuisance, a disruption to his solitude. He hadn’t spoken so much in five years, not since…
Thane’s thoughts trailed off as he scanned the forest. His senses heightened, detecting the faint scent of a predator. His wolf stirred, it’s interest in Ava piquing. He suppressed the beast’s urges, maintaining his iron grip.
He didn’t want her. He couldn’t want her.
The thought echoed in his mind.
But his gaze drifted back to the cabin, his thoughts betraying him. Ava’s face haunted him - those piercing violet eyes, that determined jaw and those sensual lips begging to be kissed. Damn!
Thane’s jaw clenched. No.
He wouldn’t surrender to his desires.
Thane’s wolf growled, impatient. He needed Ava to recover, to leave, before he lost himself completely.
Ava was a temporary inconvenience.
He’d keep her safe until she recovered.
Then she’d leave.
And he’d return to his solitude.
Uncomplicated. He wouldn’t allow himself want her, even though her nearness did things to him.
He patrolled the perimeter, his movement fluid and deadly. His boots crunched on gravel. He spotted something odd - a footprint, large and distorted, in the dirt.
Thane crouched beside the mysterious footprint, his fingers tracing the outline. The dirt revealed a distinctive shape - a wolf’s track. His heart quickened, pounding against his ribcage.
Impossible.
He was the only wolf in Pineville, the sole occupant of this isolated wilderness.
Banished from his pack, he had chosen solitude, punishing himself for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet, someone had the audacity to invade his sanctuary.
Thane’s gaze scanned the surrounding woods, his nostrils flaring as he sucked in the scents. The air was heavy with pine and damp earth, but beneath that, a faint hint of wild wolf lingered.
His instincts screamed warning, primal and raw.
Someone had found him.
His thoughts flashed to Ava, vulnerable in the cabin.
No.
….………………………
Ava paced the cabin, heart pounding. The crash outside had set her nerves on edge. What was lurking in the darkness?
She inched toward the window, peering out cautiously. The woods were thick and imposing, the night cloaking them in a veil of mystery. Ava strained to see any movement, but the shadows seemed to swallow any sign of life.
The sound of a branch snapping made Ava jump. Her gaze darted back and forth, searching for the source. Panic began to set in as she realized how alone and vulnerable she was.
Just then, a flash of movement caught her eye. She froze, her breath caught in her throat, as a massive figure emerged from the trees. It moved with a primal grace, it’s muscular frame rippling beneath a coat of coarse fur. Ava’s blood ran cold as she recognized the unmistakable silhouette of a wolf.
Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a terrified gasp. The wolf paused, nostrils flaring as it seemed to sense her presence. Ava’s heart pounded in her ears as she watched the beast intently, praying it wouldn’t notice the cabin.
After a tense moment, the wolf let out a low, menacing growl and slipped back into the shadows. Ava remained motionless, trembling. She had to get to safety, but venturing outside into the darkness was unthinkable with that creature lurking nearby.
Ava’s gaze fell upon the door, Thane had said he set traps for protection. Maybe they could keep her safe. Taking a deep breath, she steeled her nerves and made her way to the door, determined to find a way to fortify the cabin against the dangers of the night.
The cabin door creaked open just then and Thane stepped inside, his expression tight. He paused as his gaze landed on her, his jaw clenching.
“I told you to stay inside,” he said gruffly, his voice laced with irritation.
A spark of relief flickered across Ava’s eyes. “There was a wolf out there! I saw it with my own eyes.”
Thane’s eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening. “You shouldn’t have been looking out the window.”
He moved past her, his broad shoulders brushing against her - sending a jolt of electricity through her - as he made his way to the kitchen area. Ava watched him warily, a thousand questions on the tip of her tongue.
After a moment, Thane returned with a bowl of stew, the steam curling into the air. He thrust it towards her, his expression unreadable. “Eat.”
Ava accepted the bowl cautiously, the warmth seeping into her hands. Her stomach growled, betraying her hunger. As she lifted the spoon to her lips, she studied Thane’s face, searching for any sign of emotion, he was so beautiful.
Thane turned away, his movements tense. Ava could sense the coiled power in his frame, like a wildcat ready to pounce. She wondered what was troubling him, and why she felt like enveloping him in a warm embrace.
He busied himself with stoking the fire, the crackle of the flames the only sound that filled the cabin. Ava ate in silence, her eyes never leaving Thane’s back.
As Ava finished her meal, a loud crack of thunder suddenly reverberated through the cabin. She jumped, the spoon clattering against the bowl.
Thane’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. He moved swiftly to the window, peering out into the darkness. Ava watched him, her heart pounding.
“A storm is coming,” Thane said, his voice low. “We need to secure the cabin.”
Without another word, he began checking the doors and windows, ensuring they were tightly sealed. Ava set down the bowl and hurried to assist him.
As they worked side by side, their bodies brushed against each other, sending another jolt of electricity through her. Ava couldn’t help but steal glances at Thane, studying the lines of his jaw, the flex of his muscles as he moved. Something about his brooding intensity both frightened and captivated her.
Another crack of thunder shook the cabin, followed by the sudden patter of rain against the windows. Ava paused, her gaze drawn to the gloomy night outside.
“What’s out there, Thane?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Thane’s jaw tightened, his eyes filled with a haunted intensity. “Things you couldn’t possibly understand.”
Ava opened her mouth to press him further, but the cabin suddenly lurched, a powerful gust of wind buffeting the structure, Ava swayed off balance and staggered back a step. Thane snatched her reflexively and pulled her back, and momentum brought her against him. Before she could draw breath, his mouth was on hers.
His kiss was hot and fiery, like he was claiming her, branding her.
Her senses reeled as his kiss deepened, his mouth devouring hers. Heat coursed through her veins, pooling in her core. Every nerve ending pulsed with desire, begging for more.
Thane's touch was a brand, searing his mark into her very being.
As she reached around his neck for support, she encountered the edge of his hair where it curled slightly against his nape. The dark locks were cool and lustrous as they slid through her languid fingers.
His tongue sank into her as he took what he wanted, and she was lost, drowning in a dark tide of sensation.
She felt a strange pull towards him, as if some unforseen force was drawing them together. She leaned closer, her body aching for deeper, closer contact.
She wouldn't have thought a man of his size could handle her with such hunger and gentleness at once.
He deepened the pressure, one hand anchoring her hips against his, and it felt so good she could have swooned.
She moaned and pressed as tightly as possible to the hard terrain of his body... so very hard. Even with the layers of clothing between them, she could feel how aroused he was, the shape of him thick and aggressive, that she felt instantly wet.
And just like that, the storm ended abruptly as it had begun. He tore his mouth away with a rough sound, leaving her weak with pleasure.
- Writer
