Jared melted back into the crowd, and she was left alone with Adrian. The noise of the party faded to a dull roar. All her attention narrowed to the male standing before her, radiating a tension that was almost visible.
“Did you need something?” she asked, proud of how steady her voice sounded.
“I need you to stay away from him.”
“Jared? He was just being friendly.”
“He’s a young male wolf on the night of the full moon. Friendly isn’t what he’s thinking.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, and heat washed through her. “And you’re… distracting.”
“Me? I’m just standing here.”
“Exactly.” His nostrils flared, and she had the unnerving sense he was breathing her in, cataloguing her scent, her heart rate, the subtle shift in her body chemistry that betrayed her arousal. “You shouldn’t be out here in the middle of this. It’s too much stimulation.”
“What I’d like,” she said, lifting her chin, “is to experience the culture I’m supposed to be helping modernize. You can’t keep me locked away in a tower.”
“I can if I want to.”
“But you shouldn’t.” She stepped closer, into the space he’d claimed as his own. “Adrian, you can’t protect me fromeverything. I have to learn to navigate this world on my own terms, or everything we’re trying to build here will fall apart the second I leave.”
The muscle in his jaw jumped. “You don’t understand what it’s like. The moon… it amplifies everything. Every instinct. Every urge. Right now, my wolf is telling me that the male you were talking to is a threat, and the only acceptable response is to make it clear you belong to me.”
“And what are you telling your wolf?”
“I’m telling him we can’t claim a woman who doesn’t understand what that means.” His eyes held a pained intensity. “I’m telling him he’s a damned fool who’s about to ruin everything.”
Her heart softened. “You’re not a fool. You’re trying to do the right thing. But you can’t make decisions for both of us.”
“Harper—”
A collective howl rose, a wild, joyous sound that vibrated through the floorboards. It was the sound of freedom, of release, of the wolf claiming its dominion under the full moon. The pack moved as one, a flowing river of fur and muscle, pouring out the large double doors at the back of the great room and into the night.
“What’s that?”
“Moonrise. I have to run with them. You’ll stay with Irene. She’ll keep you safe.”
“I’m not scared.”
“I know you’re not,” he said, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. “But I am. The run is… intense. And I’m not in full controltonight.” He took her hand, lacing their fingers together. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through her, a primal claim that was both terrifying and deeply comforting. “Don’t talk to anyone except Irene or Coleman. I’ll be back for you.”
He gave her hand a final, possessive squeeze and then turned and followed the others. Soon, the room was empty except for her and a few older wolves who remained by the fire, their expressions peaceful. The heavy silence descended, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of moments before.
She stood there, Adrian’s last words echoing in her mind. I’ll be back for you. Not “I’ll see you later.” A promise. A commitment.
Irene came over from the refreshment table with two steaming mugs. The older woman’s expression was calm, but her eyes were sharp, missing nothing.
“I thought you could use this.” Irene held out a mug. “Chamomile. It helps with… overwhelming evenings.”
“Thank you. But you don’t have to stay with me if you want to join the run.”
“The run is for the young,” Irene said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “My running days are long over. Besides,” she added, her gaze softening as it rested on Harper, “someone needs to keep an eye on the human.”
“I’m not going to get into trouble.”
“I know. But Adrian isn’t the only one who feels protective.”
Her heart ached at the simple kindness. She had spent so long being self-sufficient that she had forgotten what it felt like to have someone worry about her for no other reason than they cared.
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the only sounds the crackle of the fire and the distant, joyous howls of the pack running wild under the moon. She found herself staring out through the still open doors, watching the moonlight spill across the lawn, looking for a glimpse of a dark wolf with golden-brown eyes.
