Chapter 4
Chapter Four
LAKESIDE LUXURY & WILD THINGS
Maya
Luna Silverpelt is breathtaking .
Not in a delicate, fairy-tale-princess kind of way, but in a wild way—like a force of nature, untamed and effortlessly graceful.
She moves with the kind of confidence that only someone completely at home in their skin— or fur, in this case —could have. Her fur is soft silver and warm tawny, thick and luxurious, catching the golden afternoon light as she gestures while talking. Her eyes are a molten amber, intelligent and sharp, full of amusement and something ancient beneath the surface.
I’ve never seen a wulver in real life before today, and I’ll admit—I thought they’d be more intimidating. And Luna is —but not in a terrifying way. More like she’s someone you want on your side, but you also do not want to cross.
Strong, poised, powerful.
And somehow still the most effortlessly chic creature I’ve ever seen.
I, on the other hand, am covered in road dust, wearing my favorite "Not All Who Wander Are Lost (But I Definitely Am)" T-shirt, and currently attempting not to gawk.
“Okay, this is ridiculous,” I finally manage as she stops in front of the most picturesque cabin I have ever seen.
Luna laughs, tipping her head slightly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Good, because it is .” I step forward, trying to take it all in. “This is insane. I get to stay here?”
The A-frame cabin is straight out of a nature-lover’s fantasy—all dark wood and modern rustic elegance, tucked along the edge of the lake like it grew straight from the earth instead of being built. Floor-to-ceiling windows reflect the shimmering water, and a wraparound deck stretches over the shoreline, complete with Adirondack chairs, a cozy outdoor firepit, and a hanging swing that I already know will be my new favorite place to drink coffee in the morning.
“Not bad, right?” Luna grins, clearly pleased. “We like to do things right in Avalon Vale.”
I’m about to agree when I see something— movement —in the water.
A ripple.
Something—or someone —gliding just below the surface, cutting through the lake like a predator.
I freeze. “Uh, Luna?”
She follows my gaze. “Mmhmm?”
I squint. “Are those?—?”
“Sirens,” she says easily, like she just told me they were fish. “Not mermaids.”
“Oh.” I nod slowly, watching as one of them tilts their head just above the waterline, glowing eyes locking onto mine from across the lake.
A slow, knowing smile spreads across their lips before they sink back into the depths, disappearing like they were never there.
Not ominous at all.
Luna smirks. “You’ll be able to tell the difference soon enough.”
“That’s… not entirely reassuring.”
She laughs and pivots. “So! You need any hookups for your van?”
It takes me a second to process the topic change. “Huh?”
“For your van.” She gestures to a sleek utility station, blending so well into the landscape that I hadn’t even noticed it. “We’ve got water and power if you need ‘em. I know you’ll be staying in the cabin, but you’re our first official guest at the glamper-grounds, so I want your feedback.”
“Oh! Yeah, water hookups would be great. Not that I need them right now, but it’s good to have options.”
“Perfect.” She shows me how to use them, double-checking everything works smoothly. “If you have any issues, let me know. Seriously. First guest and all that.”
I nod, appreciating her enthusiasm. “Noted. Happy to be your guinea pig.”
“Great! Now, since you’re here…” She tilts her head, something mischievous in her expression. “I have to invite you to our Sweetheart Wilds Festival.”
I arch a brow. “The what now?”
Luna’s tail flicks behind her. “It’s our version of a Valentine’s festival. Rustic charm, old-world traditions, a little matchmaking, and a lot of fun.”
“Matchmaking, huh?” I smirk. “You saying I need help in that department?”
Luna grins, eyes twinkling. “I’m saying you’d have a lot to write about.”
Okay. Now she has my attention.
“True.” I purse my lips, considering. “I mean, I am part of the travelogue and blog world. And this? This would definitely be a story.”
Luna winks. “Exactly.”
Inside the cabin, I kick off my boots and take my first real look around.
It’s even better on the inside.
Soft golden lighting, plush rugs over hardwood floors, a massive fireplace that crackles invitingly in the open living space. A four-poster bed draped in thick furs, looking so sinfully comfortable I almost crawl in on sight.
The bathroom? Another level entirely. A freestanding soaking tub sits by a window overlooking the lake. Marble countertops, rainfall shower, heated floors. The kind of bathroom I’d usually only dream about.
“Oh hell yes .”
For the past year, my showers have been military-efficient—two minutes, quick rinse, conserve the water tank.
Tonight?
I’m taking a bath.
Hell, I might just live in that bathtub.
I set my stuff down, unzipping my duffel bag, already looking forward to a long soak.
And yet… even with the warmth of the cabin, even with the luxury of it all, my thoughts drift elsewhere.
To the woods.
To the growly wulver who found me on the wrong road.
Ronan Silverpelt.
A shiver—not of cold, but something deeper—rolls through me.
Because if I’m honest? I felt him before I saw him. A presence like a rolling storm, heavy in the air, that scent of woodsmoke and pine that made my breath hitch.
And then I turned?—
And there he was .
The size of him. The sheer solidness of his presence. Golden eyes, sharp angles, fur bristling with restrained power.
And that growl.
My fingers brush over my collarbone, where I swear I felt it vibrate through my skin.
He was beautiful. And dangerous. And the way he looked at me—like I was something worth hunting ?—
My fingers brush over my collarbone, where I swear I felt it vibrate through my skin—the weight of his gaze, the sound of that low, gut-deep growl.
He was beautiful.
And dangerous.
And the way he looked at me—like I was something worth hunting…
A shiver rolls down my spine, and I slide deeper into the steaming water of the bath, letting the heat soak into my tense, restless limbs.
I shouldn’t be thinking about him like this.
But I am.
I can only imagine what his fur would feel like.
Would it be coarse or soft beneath my fingers?
Would it feel different over my skin?
Against my breasts?
I swallow, my breath coming a little faster, my eyes flicking to the surface of the water where the brown peaks of my nipples crest above the rippling heat.
My fingers skim over one, pinching lightly, and my breath hitches.
It’s been too long.
Too long since I’ve let myself sink into pleasure, since I’ve allowed myself to just relax.
I trail my other hand down, sliding between my thighs, parting my folds, stroking over the sensitive bud that’s begging for attention.
A soft gasp slips past my lips as pleasure pulses low and deep, a slow, pleasing ache unraveling inside me.
I circle faster, teasing, building the sensation, my body tingling with heat, my thighs tensing, trembling.
And when I finally tip over the edge, my back arching, pleasure crashing through me in slow, pulsing waves, I let out a breathless sigh, my body boneless, spent.
Just what I needed.
Just enough to clear my head.
At least—for now.
I exhale sharply, shaking my head.
Nope. No. Not doing this.
I came here for adventure, not for complications.
And Ronan Silverpelt?
Definitely not the kind of man a woman like me gets tangled up with.
Even if, for the briefest moment, I wanted to know what it would feel like… if he caught me.