Chapter 16
Lyra’s fingers curled loosely in Jake’s grip, his warmth grounding her in the quiet hush of the woods. Her heart thudded against her ribs, too loud in her ears. She glanced up at him. His gaze held hers, steady and open, without pressure.
He meant what he said. She could feel it.
“I don’t even know if I can shift anymore,” Lyra whispered.
His brows drew together, concern flickering across his face. “You can. She’s still there. It’s just going to be… difficult. Painful, probably. Like the first shift all over again.”
She bit her lip. The first few shifts for a werewolf were always agonizing. She didn’t look forward to going through that again.
“I pushed her so far down that there are times I can barely feel her. What kind of werewolf does that?” She looked away, blinking fast as her vision blurred.
Jake’s grip tightened slightly, just enough to hold her steady. “One who was trying to survive the best way she knew how.”
That cracked something inside her. She didn’t know what to say, so she just stood there, breathing unevenly, her chest aching.
“I’m sorry,” Jake said softly, drawing her eyes back to him. “I didn’t know what to do when we were kids. I should have done something. I should have protected you. I’ll always regret that.”
The sincerity in his voice cut deeper than any accusation. She hadn’t expected him to say it. Not like this. Not now, when she still wasn’t sure what she wanted from him or from any of
this.
“It wasn’t all you,” she murmured. “It was the whole pack. The taunting, the bullying. The way they treated me over something I couldn’t control. I never really stood a chance.”
Jake’s jaw clenched, and he looked away. “I hate that you had to go through that. I wish I could change it.”
A silence stretched between them. Her hand was still in his. She hadn’t even noticed. When she looked down, their fingers were still tangled, his thumb brushing gently across hers.
“You said something earlier,” she said. “About your wolf. That he’d want to run with his mate.”
Jake nodded, meeting her gaze again. There was something in his eyes now. Something warm and almost tender. “Yeah.”
1/4
Chapter 16
“What’s his name?”
“Rome. Yours?”
“Juno.” She hesitated. “What… what does Rome think of me?”
He didn’t answer right away. He stepped closer, slow and unthreatening, until he was barely a breath away. His hand lifted, then paused before touching her face.
She didn’t flinch. She didn’t move at all.
His fingertips grazed her cheek, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “He thinks you’re incredible. The most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.” He let out a soft breath. “And I agree with him.”
Her breath caught.
“You’re not bothered by my scars?” she asked, her voice low.
His eyes darkened, his voice just as quiet. “No. I think they’re beautiful, just like you. Proof of how brave you were at such a young age. Proof of everything you’ve been through.”
His fingers gently trailed over the scars on her face. She wanted to pull away. She never let anyone touch them. But no one had ever spoken about them the way he was. No one had ever suggested they could be anything other than ugly and twisted.
“My father said you had more courage at five than he did at thirty,” Jake murmured, following the longest of the scars down to her chin.
She didn’t know what to say. The tightness in her throat made words impossible anyway.
He leaned in slightly, dragging his lips down her scar. Just the softest brush of skin against hers, but enough to set her whole body aflame. Her hands jumped to his chest as she leaned into him. He placed a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Lyra’s breath shuddered through her. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her palms, steady and strong, matching the rhythm pounding in her chest. His scent wrapped around her, sharp and dizzying.
She didn’t move. Didn’t pull away. Part of her wanted to close the distance completely, to feel his mouth fully against hers like she had that morning. But another part hesitated, afraid of what might happen if she did.
Jake didn’t press. His hands rested lightly on her waist, not pulling her in, just waiting.
“I’m scared,” she admitted, the words escaping before she could think better of them.
2/4
His hand shifted slightly. “Of me?”
“No. Not exactly.” She dropped her forehead against his chest. “I’m scared of trusting this. Of letting myself want something and getting hurt. Of believing that maybe… someone could
want me.”
He exhaled slowly, his chin resting gently on top of her head. “I’m not going anywhere, Lyra. I want this with you.”
“You say that now.”
“I’ll keep saying it. And I’ll prove it, no matter how long it takes.” He eased back just enough to meet her eyes again. “I won’t rush you. We can move as slowly as you need.”
She searched his face, looking for any hint of dishonesty. There was none. Just that steady,
open gaze.
“Okay,” she whispered.
A soft smile touched his lips, and the tension between them eased into something calmer.
He slipped his fingers through hers again. “Come on. Let’s walk a little more.”
She nodded, and they started forward, their hands joined.
“Tell me about where you went when you left,” Jake said after a few minutes.
“I went to the humans.”
He chuckled. “I know that. But where exactly? What did you do?”
She looked up at him, frowning. “You don’t really want to hear all that.”
He smirked. “I really do. I want to know everything about you.”
She blinked, then shrugged. “Okay, if you really want to know.”
**
They walked for over an hour before Jake gently guided her back to her house. She hadn’t even realized what path they were on, but it was clear he knew these woods well.
Lyra talked about her time in the human world studying at university, then medical school, and how she fell in love with trauma surgery.
Jake listened well, asking thoughtful questions and laughing at the right moments. In turn, he told her about the academy, the trouble he got into with Callan and Russ, his first few years
3/4
A Toapter 45
as Alpha, and his frustrations with the elders.
She learned he hated how resistant the elders were to change. That being forced to take a mate was the last thing he wanted.
By the time they reached her porch, Lyra was surprised by how reluctant she felt for their time together to end. She had found him easy to talk to, something she never would have expected from the boy who barely spoke to her in high school.
Once they reached the steps, Jake turned to her. She tipped her head up, catching the soft green glow of his eyes in the moonlight.
“I should probably leave you here,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “I don’t think your father or brother want to see me right now.”
She nodded. “I imagine not.”
“Will you come to the pack house tomorrow?”
She frowned, chewing on her lip.
“I need to talk to the elders, but I also want to talk to you, with Russ and Callan, about how things are going to go. I want everyone on the same page.” He trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Plus, Megan probably needs you to fill her in. I’m sure she’s driving Cal up the wall.”
Lyra smiled at the mention of her best friend, and the fact that Jake remembered their friendship.
“Okay,” she said finally.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Around ten?”
She nodded.
He leaned in, brushing a soft, chaste kiss over her lips. She leaned into him slightly, her hands resting against his chest.
“Good night, Lyra,” he whispered before turning and disappearing into the night.
Comments
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
