Light Paused Before Touching Darkness by Orin Frost 23

Chapter 23 

“Stupid, dudes old foots?” Jake shouted the moment they reached the safety of his office tie teft lyts standing at the door and stormed across the room, knocking a chair aside.* Motherfucking meddling assvipest 

He slammed his fist into the wall. Pain shot up his arm, sharp and immediate, and the crunch told him he’d done more damage to his hand than the wall. 

“Jaket” 

“I should tear out each of their f*****g throats!” He struck the wall again. This time, the drywall cracked 

“Jaket” 

“Who the hell do they think they are, telling me what I can and can’t do?!” His fist hit the wall a third time, breaking through it. 

“Russ, take Lyra and…” 

Jake spun around. Callan was halfway into the office. Russ had a hand on Lyra’s shoulder, gently trying to guide her out. She wasn’t moving. Her gray eyes were wide with fear. 

The elders wanted to take her from him. The thought sliced through his chest like a blade. 

“She doesn’t leave!” Jake roared, charging forward. 

Callan stepped in to block him, but Jake shoved him aside without effort. Russ moved next, but Lyra raised her hand and gently pushed him back. 

“He won’t hurt me,” she said softly, just as Jake reached her. 

He cupped her face between his hands, pressing his forehead to hers. 

“Shh…” she whispered. “It’s okay.” 

Only then did he realize he was trembling. Not just shaking. His skin rippled, fur sprouting in patches. Fangs lengthened, claws forming where fingers had been. 

He was shifting. 

It had been years since he’d lost control like this. Most wolves rarely shifted unintentionall but for alphas, the risk was always there. Too much raw power simmering beneath the surface. Jake hadn’t slipped like this since his teenage years, back when he was still learnin to master his wolf. 

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*Chapter 23 

Lyra’s hands moved slowly down his chest, her voice a steady whisper. Gradually, the trembling stopped. His claws and fangs retracted, and his skin returned to normal. 

“You’re bleeding,” she said, taking his right hand gently. “It’s broken.” 

“It’ll heal,” Jake muttered, “I heal fast.” 

“Still,” she said, shaking her head. “There was no need to break yourself or the wall.” Her eyes met his. “And definitely no need to throw Callan.” 

Jake turned, remembering. 

Callan was now lounging on the couch, utterly unfazed. 

“It’s not the first time he’s thrown me,” Callan said with a chuckle. 

“Probably won’t be the last either,” Russ added as he dropped into an armchair. 

Callan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “They went for the jugular. Threatening to remove an alpha is huge.” 

“I think they’re bluffing,” Russ said, shaking his head. “The pack would be outraged if Jake were removed. Over a mate?” 

“I don’t think you’re factoring in how many pack members don’t like me,” Lyra muttered. 

“I still say it’s a scare tactic,” Russ sighed, pushing his curls back. “No offense, Cal, but your dad was a total dick.” 

Callan waved him off. “None taken. He was a d**k. I don’t know what’s gotten into him lately. He never liked the Harts much, but this is extreme.” 

“I can’t believe they think they can frame this as protecting the pack,” Russ said. “Denying the alpha his mate won’t help anyone.” 

“f*****g cowards,” he growled. “They’re afraid of what they don’t understand. They just want to punish her for existing, as if her existence is some personal threat.” 

Lyra stepped closer, brushing her fingers lightly over his uninjured hand. “You don’t have to fight for me. You act like what they said surprised you. But people have treated me this way my whole life.” 

Jake turned to her, his eyes burning. “That’s why I have to fight for you. It was never right, and it still isn’t. Things need to change.” 

She lifted a brow. “And you think you’re going to change them?” 

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“I’m the Alpha. I don’t give a damn what a bunch of crusty old bastards think they can tell me. 

Callan stood. “Give them time to cool off. Don’t make any moves tonight. If you push now, they’ll just dig in deeper.” 

Jake gave a stiff nod, his eyes never leaving Lyra. 

“Come on,” Callan said to Russ. “Let’s give them a minute.” 

The door clicked softly shut behind them. 

Silence fell. 

Jake reached for her again, running the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “I’m sorry if I scared you.” 

“You didn’t,” she said. “But your wolf was close.” 

“I haven’t lost control like that in years.” His voice was rough. “But the thought of them taking you away…” His voice cracked, and he turned away with a harsh gasp. 

She sighed. “I knew it wouldn’t go well. Still, I hoped maybe they’d changed. That things would be different.” 

Jake faced her. “Things are different, Lyra. I’m different.” 

She tilted her head. “I’m starting to see that.” 

He stepped forward, cupping her cheek. This time, when he pressed his forehead to hers, it wasn’t fury trembling through his touch. It was longing. 

“I need you to really try,” he whispered. “Try to see what we could have. Be willing to fight for this.” 

Her hands slid up his chest, fingers curling into his shirt. “I’ll try.” 

Jake’s lips brushed hers once, then again. It wasn’t demanding. It was soft, gentle. Everything he hadn’t been when he’d shattered the wall. 

She leaned into him, deepening the kiss. A soft sound escaped her throat as his arms wrapped around her. Her fingers threaded through his hair, nails dragging against his scalp and pulling a rough groan from him. 

He stepped back, pulling her with him until his legs hit the couch. He sat, drawing her lap. She straddled him, and he buried a hand in her dark, lush hair, pulling her mouth to a searing kiss. His other hand gripped her hips, dragging her against the hard line of h 

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arousal. 

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She whimpered into his mouth as she ground against him, the skirt of her dress sliding up her thighs. He bit her bottom lip, tugging it between his teeth before trailing kisses down her throat. He nipped her skin, hoping he left a mark. He wanted everyone to see how badly he wanted her. Maybe it wasn’t an official mark, but he still wanted her to wear something that 

said mine. 

His hand slid up her chest, palming her breasts through the fabric of her dress. She moaned, leaning into his touch as he kneaded and tugged. The scent of her arousal filled the room, driving him wild. 

“Jake,” she gasped, her head falling back as his tongue dragged along her skin. She tasted just as sweet as she smelled. 

He slid his uninjured hand up her thigh, pushing her skirt higher until his fingers brushed over the satin of her panties. She jolted at the contact, reminding him just how untouched she still 

was. 

“Can I touch you?” he asked, his breath ragged. 

“Please.” She shuddered, her lips finding his again. 

He slipped his fingers beneath the fabric, tracing the slick seam of her s*x. 

“You’re so wet,” he groaned, his middle finger circling her c**t. She gasped, her forehead pressing into his. 

He slid lower, pushing his finger inside her. She clenched around him, her body tight and hot. She buried her face against his shoulder as he began to move his finger in and out of her, slow and steady. She whimpered, shuddering into his neck. 

“You okay?” he asked softly, brushing a kiss to her ear. 

“Yeah,” she moaned, rocking her hips against his hand. 

He added a second finger, and she arched against him when his thumb found her c**t again. Her breath came in harsh pants, her body trembling in his arms. She was going to come quickly, he could tell by her breathing. It reminded him again of how inexperienced she was, how untouched. 

His c**k was so hard it hurt, but he didn’t slow his hand. 

“Look at me,” he demanded roughly. He found the back of her neck with his free hand and forced her head up, her forehead pressing into his again. 

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“Open your eyes,” he growled, “Look at me when you come. I want to see it.” 

“Goddess,” she gasped. 

“No,” he snarled. “You say my name when you come. You’re mine. No one else’s.” 

And she did. Her eyes fluttered, but she kept them open like he demanded, staring into him as she came apart on his hand, crying his name. He continued stroking her, whispering her name, peppering kisses over her throat, her cheek, her ear. His hand worked to drag out the last bits of her pleasure until she finally sagged against him. 

He withdrew his hand, putting his wet fingers in his mouth and sucking her juices off them, tasting her delicious musk. Her eyes widened, but she said nothing as she watched him withdraw his fingers. 

She slid her hand between them, pushing against his erection, but he caught her wrist, pulling 

it away. 

“Not right now,” he murmured against her forehead, damp with sweat. “I’m fine. Just relax.” 

Lyra closed her eyes and he leaned back into the couch, holding her tightly against him. 

There was so much working against them right now, but he didn’t care. As her breathing steadied, her fingers tracing patterns over his chest, he realized that he wasn’t going to be able to let her go. 

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