Chapter 58
Ivy Second Chance Mate
I looked at my phone, it was already past one in the morning. “Another stop? Tristan, it’s late.”
“Trust me,” he said, and something in his voice told me this was important. “There’s something I want to show you.”
We drove through empty streets, the city asleep around us except for the occasional taxi or late–night delivery truck. The air was cool against my face, carrying the scents of night–blooming flowers and the promise of dawn still hours away.
When Tristan finally pulled over, we were at the base of a hill I didn’t recognize. The incline rose steeply ahead of us, covered in wild grass and dotted with oak trees that looked ancient in the moonlight.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, but he was already off the bike and walking toward the path that wound up the hillside.
“There’s something I think you’ll love,” he said, taking my hand and tugging me along behind him.
*We climbed in comfortable silence, our footsteps muffled by the thick grass. The city fell away below us with each step, becoming a glittering carpet of lights that stretched to the horizon. The higher we climbed, the more magical it became, like we were ascending toward the stars themselves.
After what felt like forever, my legs began to ache. The heels I’d worn weren’t exactly designed for hiking, and I was starting to struggle to keep up with Tristan’s longer strides.
He noticed immediately, the way he always seemed to notice when I was struggling. Without a word, he knelt in front of me, his back presented like an offering.
“Get on,” he said simply. “It’s still a long way to go.”
I stared at him for a moment, memories of childhood piggyback rides flooding through me. “Are you sure? I’m not exactly a kid anymore.”
“What are you waiting for?” he asked when I still hesitated.
I climbed onto his back, wrapping my arms around his neck for support. His hands came up to grip my thighs, holding me steady, and the heat of his palms through my jeans made my breath hitch in a way that had nothing to do with the cool night air.
I reminded myself firmly that this wasn’t romantic. This wasiner m
20:36 Sat, Jan 30
Chapter 58
people he loved the way he always had. This was a brother helping his sister, nothing more.
But the way his muscles moved beneath my chest as he carried me up the hill, the scent of his cologne mixed with his natural warmth, the steady rhythm of his breathing, it all conspired to make me very aware of how I’d missed this side of him.
“We’re here,” he said finally, kneeling again so I could side off his back.
I dismounted quickly, trying to ignore the heat that had been building in my core during the ride. “Thank
you.”
“Are you okay?” he asked, studying my face with those perceptive eyes. “You’ve been acting strange since we left Orion’s earlier.”
“I’m fine,” I said, but even I could hear that it sounded unconvincing.
“You promised to tell me when you’re not fine,” he reminded me gently.
I nodded, but my attention was already being captured by our surroundings. We stood on a wide plateau near the summit of the hill, with the entire city spread out below us like a living map.
Every street light was a tiny star, every building a geometric constellation. It was breathtaking in a way that made my chest tight with wonder.
“Do you love it?” Tristan asked, and I could hear nervous anticipation in his voice.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, unable to look away from the view.
“This is where I come when I need to think,” he said, moving to stand beside me. “When everything feels too heavy, too complicated. This place has a way of putting things in perspective, of making you remember that your problems are just a small part of something much bigger.”
It was true. Standing here, looking out over the lights of the city where thousands of people were living their own complicated lives, dealing with their own joys and sorrows and fears, it made my own struggles. feel manageable somehow. Not smaller or less important, but just… part of the human experience.
“Let me show you another way to enjoy it,” Tristan said, and before I could ask what he meant, he was
shifting.
His human form dissolved in a shimmer of moonlight and magic, replaced by the massive black wolf that had always taken my breath away.
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€11%
Chapter 58
Even as children, his wolf had been larger and more powerful than most adults, a clear sign of the alpha he
was destined to become.
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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.
