threat at Tamsin's border. Lola stood frozen, her thou

e safe rooms," Jessica urged, pullin

Mike," Lola murmured, g

ows what he's doing. Our job is to st

hispered conversations she'd overheard-the wa

pot in the corner, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of Alpha Mike

acted gaze. "You're worri

re how to respond. "I

all do, but Alpha Mike needs w

ew reality. She was here, yet powerless to ai

-

it swung open, revealing Alpha Mike, his face marked with smudges of dirt and blood, but his stan

commanding. "The vampires have retreated for now.

la could see the exhaustion in his e

r Lola to follow him. She hesitated, glancing a

d. "He wouldn't ask un

rkened halls until they reached his quarters. Once

asked, his tone s

e replied, surpris

many battles, faced countless threats... but this on

a connection in his w

tly. "I can't let them take this pack. A

at the vulnerability he showed, a glimp

g, she stepped

ek. She felt the warmth of his touch, and for the first time, she grabb

ueled by the intensity of the night's events. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer as she melted into his embrace, he spinne

k onto the sheets. His hands roamed her body, gentle yet

k with emotion. "I... I've wanted t

, her fingers tracing his huge. "T

h moment. For a brief time, they forgot about the battles, the vampires, and the danger

-

his chest, listening t

pected," she said softly, t

rumbled through his chest.

ook at him. "I don't know. But no

"I didn't want to care, Lola. I told myself that

trand of hair from his face.

ze intense. "Yes.

k, her thumb stroking his skin

e saw the man beneath the Alpha, the one who carried the weight of

e, a knock sounded at the doo

voice from the other side. "T

ng. He looked down at Lola, his eye

ng him from her emb

d to her one last time before heading

y. She wanted to fight, to stand besid

he corridors until she reached the training grounds. There, she saw him-Alpha Mike, in the mids

la grabbed a fallen spear, throwing it toward the attacker. The

dening as he saw her. "Lola

sit back," she re

of pride in his gaze. "Then stay close