Noah.

I stepped away from her, not because I didn’t want her. Damn, I wanted her more than I had ever wanted anything.

My entire body was still burning from the feel of her lips against mine, from the way she had leaned into me instead of pushing me away. The warmth of her was still lingering on my skin, and every instinct inside me screamed to close the distance again.

But I had to pull away.

I had to.

If I didn’t, I wasn’t sure I would be able to stop.

I turned my face from her, trying to steady my breathing. I could still taste her, still feel the softness of her beneath my hands. The urge to take a step back toward her, just one, was almost unbearable.

I didn’t want her to hate me.

That fear sat heavier in my chest than the desire.

I was scared she would hate me.

She had rejected me countless times before. Each time had carved its own quiet wound into my pride, into my heart. I had learned to swallow it. To act unaffected. But it always hurts.

And if I let myself lose control now, if she thought I was trying to force myself on her...She would hate me for real.

Not just push me away.

Not just hesitate.

She would hate me.

The thought made my jaw tighten painfully. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

I ran both hands through my hair, gripping it for a second as if the physical pressure could release the frustration clawing inside me. My chest rose and fell heavily. I felt restless in my own skin.

And despite trying not to...My mind betrayed me.

I imagined her beneath me.

Her fingers clutching at me the way they had earlier. Her legs trembling beneath me, her breath uneven as she whispered my name, not in confusion, not out of fear, but in want.

Holy shit.

The image hit me so hard I had to shut my eyes briefly.

I wanted all of that, I wanted her, not just the kiss, not just the closeness, all of her.

But I couldn’t dare to entertain those thoughts.

Not like this.

Not when emotions were already tangled and fragile.

I didn’t want her surrendering to me because the moment was intense, because we were overwhelmed, because the air felt charged.

I wanted her to willingly give herself to me because she loved me.

Because she chose me.

Not because she was carried away.

That difference mattered more than anything.

I exhaled slowly, trying to regain control.

I was still wrestling with my thoughts when I felt it....Her arms wrapping around me from behind.

The contact was soft and unexpected.

Her hands slid around my waist, holding me gently as if she was the one trying to steady me now.

"Are you okay, Noah?" she asked quietly.

Her voice was close to my back.

Warm.

Concerned.

But instead of calming me, her touch only stirred the wolf inside me further.It reacted to her closeness. To the way she pressed lightly against me. To the softness of her breath through my shirt.

"You seem lost," she added softly.

Lost.

That was one way to describe it.

I clenched my fists tightly at my sides, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to control the surge of desire that threatened to undo everything I had just tried to fix.

I couldn’t turn around too quickly.

Couldn’t let her see how much she affected me.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

And just like that, the tension shifted, as guilt slammed into me instantly.

Fuck.

She thought this was her fault, she thought she had done something wrong, when in reality, she had done nothing but respond honestly.

She hadn’t pushed me away, she hadn’t looked disgusted, if anything, she had accepted me.

And here I was, acting like she had crossed a line, she didn’t do anything wrong, I was the one struggling.

The one fighting himself.

Slowly, I turned toward her.

Her arms loosened as I faced her fully. She looked up at me, her eyes searching my face again, the same way she had earlier when she checked for injuries.

There was so much concern there.

So much sincerity.

It made my chest ache.

How could she look at me like that and not realize how deeply she had rooted herself inside me?

Without thinking too much, I lifted my hand and gently cupped her chin between my fingers. Her skin was warm and soft. I tilted her face up slightly so she couldn’t look away.

"You didn’t do anything wrong, Maria," I said, my voice lower now, steadier, but thick with everything I was trying to hold back.

I leaned closer to her as I spoke, drawn to her warmth like I had no will of my own.

"It’s just that I... I..." The words refused to come out.

They sat heavily in my chest, rising up to my throat only to choke me into silence.

Shit.

Why was it so hard to say?

I could fight an entire pack without hesitation, could command without fear, but standing this close to her, with her eyes fixed on mine, I felt stripped of all certainty.

I bit my lower lip tightly, trying to steady myself, trying to suppress the sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss her again.

Because the closer I was to her, the more impossible restraint became.

Then her hands moved.

Slowly.

They came up to my chest, resting there, her palms warm against me. I felt the soft caress through the thin fabric of my shirt, and my breath faltered instantly.

"You what, Noah?" she asked softly.

Her voice wasn’t accusing, It wasn’t impatient, It was curious, it was gentle.

Her golden eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I was completely lost.

There was something about her gaze, something open, searching, that made it impossible to look away. I felt as though she could see through me, through every layer of pride and restraint, straight into the part of me that belonged only to her.

I couldn’t think, I really couldn’t breathe properly as the tension between us thickened again, heavy and electric.

And before she could say anything more, before I could lose my nerve entirely, I closed the distance.

I claimed her lips instantly, the kiss wasn’t hesitant this time, it wasn’t restrained, It was desperate.

Hungry.

I devoured her mouth like a man starved, my hand sliding to her waist, pulling her flush against me. My other hand cradled the back of her head, holding her close as if I feared she might slip away.

My tongue brushed against hers, deepening the kiss without pause.

Damn it.

She tasted just as intoxicating as before, soft, warm, addictive.

Every small sound that escaped her only fueled me further. I tilted my head slightly, seeking more, wanting more, exploring the curve of her lips as though I could memorize them.

I just wanted to explore her lips longer.

To lose myself completely in her.

To forget restraint.

To forget fear.

But even in the heat of it, that voice inside me didn’t disappear, the one that reminded me why I had pulled away earlier.

With effort—painful effort—I broke the kiss.

I pulled back suddenly, my chest rising and falling heavily, her lips were slightly parted, her breath uneven. For a second, neither of us spoke.

I stared into her golden eyes, they were darker now.

Warmer.

And that look in them nearly shattered my resolve.

"I love you, Maria," I said, the words finally escaping me before I could stop them. My voice was rough, but there was no hesitation this time. "And I don’t want to hurt you."

The confession felt raw.

But it was the truth.

Before doubt could creep in, before she could question it, I leaned in and kissed her again.

This time, I expected to lead, to guide, but she surprised me.

She kissed me back.

Not softly, not cautiously but with the same intensity, the same fire burning Inside me.

Her hands slid up around my neck, her fingers tangling lightly in my hair as she pulled me closer. Her lips moved against mine with equal passion, matching every movement, every shift.

For a split second, I froze in shock, then my hands tightened instinctively around her waist.

The realization hit me hard.

She wasn’t just responding.

She was choosing to.

Her body leaned into mine, her kiss deep and certain. There was no hesitation in her now.

Only heat.

Only desire.

My heart pounded violently against my ribs, and I couldn’t help but to think;

Does she love me?

I really wanted to ask her instantly but then her fingers tightened slightly at the back of my neck, and I felt the world narrow again to just her and me.

Her breath.

Her warmth.

The taste of her lips.

And in that moment, more than anything, I wanted the answer to the question burning inside my chest.

Does she love me the way I love her?