Chapter 39
The drums pounded, deep and primal, a rhythm that seeped into Evelyne’s bones, her pulse, and every sway and roll of her body.
The air was rich with smoke and laughter, with the electric hum of bodies moving in tandem beneath the moon’s glow.
And at the center of it all was Obren, his hands firm on her hips, his grip possessive as they moved together.
He was as bold and flirtatious as ever, but Evelyne wasn’t fooled. This wasn’t about charm anymore. It was a performance, one meant to needle Kaldrek. And if Kaldrek wanted to sit back and stew in silence, fine. Let him.
She wasn’t about to hold back.
Evelyne surrendered to the rhythm, letting the music move her. She tipped her head back, eyes closed, the beat pulsing through every line of her body. A smile touched her lips as she arched into each step, her hips finding an easy rhythm with Obren’s practiced touch.
Still, she felt it. That burning stare from across the fire.
She didn’t need to look to know Kaldrek was watching. His anger clung to her like smoke, jealousy simmering beneath the surface.
He’d once told her she drove him mad.
Let him unravel if he wasn’t willing to claim what he so clearly wanted.
Obren’s hands skimmed over the bare skin of her stomach, teasing and lingering, but before she could even process the contact, the fire seemed to burn hotter, the air suddenly charged with something dark.
A low, lethal voice cut through the sound of the drums.
“That’s enough.”
Evelyne turned. Kaldrek stood nearby, his posture rigid, muscles drawn tight as a bowstring. His eyes burned with something fierce and unspoken.
Obren, of course, didn’t budge. He only smiled and kept his hands firm on Evelyne’s hips, gripping a little harder. “Can I help you?” he asked, his tone all mockery.
Kaldrek didn’t answer, not at first. He just stared, the fire casting sharp shadows across his face.
“We’re in the middle of something,” Obren added, his voice low, taunting. “You’ll have to wait your turn.”
Evelyne swore she heard a low growl deep in Kaldrek’s throat. Then he stepped forward.
“I said that’s enough.”
Obren’s grin sharpened. “Does it bother you when I touch her like this? She doesn’t seem to mind. Do you, love?”
She didn’t speak. Couldn’t. Her eyes flicked between them, two alphas locked in a silent war. Somehow, she was the battlefield.
Kaldrek looked at her, just for a heartbeat, before locking eyes with Obren again.
“She’s mine.”
The words hit like a blade. Not a declaration, but a warning. A challenge. Something inside her clenched so hard she didn’t know if it was want or shock that stole her breath.
Obren’s fingers shifted against her waist, the spark in his eyes dimming just slightly. He might have been bold, but he wasn’t foolish.
Not when Kaldrek was like this.
“Fine, fine,” Obren finally relented, raising his hands as he stepped back. “Didn’t realize the birthday girl came with a leash.” His grin was all teeth, but he backed off, melting into the crowd.
Evelyne barely noticed. Her attention was locked on Kaldrek.
Mine.
The word rippled through her, awakening something buried and primal. His gaze devoured her, and she felt its pull in the quickening of her breath, the tremble beneath her ribs, the thrum of her heartbeat echoing in her chest.
“Come here.” His voice was low, his finger curling in quiet command.
She didn’t even hesitate. Her body moved before her mind could catch up, drawn to him as if by gravity.
Kaldrek’s eyes dropped to her mouth, and she bit her lip without thinking. A flicker of dark satisfaction passed over his face, like he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
Then he moved quickly—turning her in a single breath. Her back met his bare chest, his hands settling firmly at her waist like they belonged there. Their bodies found a rhythm, moving together with seamless precision as if they had always known how to do this, how to fit.
Every sway of her hips against his, every slow grind in return, sent sparks racing up her spine. She didn’t care who saw. Not the pack, not the crowd, not even the gods above. Tonight, she was his, and she wanted everyone to know it.
His grip tightened at her waist, fingers pressing into her skin like he was barely restraining something wild.
Then he lowered his head, lips grazing the shell of her ear as his breath stirred against her skin.
“Did you hear me, Evelyne?” His voice came out rough.
“You’re mine. And if another male touches you tonight, I’ll tear his throat out. ”
A tremble rolled through her as a shaky breath escaped. She knew she should be furious, should push him away and remind him she wasn’t something to be claimed. But all she could think was yes. Yes, she wanted him to say it again. Yes, she wanted his hands everywhere. Yes, she wanted him.
So she gave herself to him. And gods, did he take it.
***
She didn’t want his hands to leave her, but the pack would be shifting soon.
With one last lingering glance over her shoulder, Evelyne slipped away with Alaric, the quiet weight of Kaldrek’s claim still clinging to her skin.
They walked silently toward the lodge, the night air buzzing with leftover energy.
Evelyne clutched her new book to her chest, barely registering the path ahead, her thoughts tangled in the memory of Kaldrek’s touch, the sound of his voice, and how he had looked at her like she was already his.
By the time she reached her room, her body was still humming. She drew herself a hot bath, sinking into the warmth as she scrubbed the remnants of the night from her skin, but no amount of water could wash away the way he made her feel. The way she still ached for his touch.
She must’ve dozed off, because she jolted upright when a knock came at her door, eyes blinking groggily.
Alaric?
“Just a second,” she called, stepping out of the tub and grabbing the thin robe draped nearby. Water dripped from her legs onto the wooden floor as she padded to the door, pulling it open just enough to peer outside.
But it wasn’t Alaric.
“Kaldrek.”
He stood tall. His dark eyes traveled over her intensely, and suddenly, she became hyperaware of how the damp fabric clung to her body.
“I should be shifting right now,” he said thickly.
“Then what are you doing here?” she whispered, heart hammering.
“I needed to see you first.” He stepped closer, filling the doorway, his heat swallowing the space between them.
Her pulse fluttered. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes.” His breath ghosted against her lips.
Her stomach flipped, and he went on before she could press further.
“You’re in my head. Every second of the goddamn day.
Your body, your mouth…” His hands lifted, framing her face, thumbs brushing against her cheekbones.
“You consume me,” he said, each word low and full of need.
Her breath fanned against his lips. “Then I suggest you act on it.”
A flicker of a smirk touched his mouth. Then he closed the distance and kissed her.
It was fierce and unrelenting, as if he’d held back for too long.
And she didn’t pause, not for a second. Pure lust flooded through her as he claimed her mouth.
His tongue swept in hungrily, desperate to taste every inch of her.
She melted into him, meeting his movements with equal intensity, her fingers digging into his bare chest.
He groaned against her mouth, gripping the back of her head with one hand, his fingers threading through her hair as if anchoring himself to her.
His other hand grasped the curve of her backside, pulling her flush against him.
She arched into him, the hard lines of his body making her gasp as he walked them backward, shutting the door behind him with a decisive click.
His mouth dragged along her jaw, down her throat, his tongue flicking over the rapid pulse there. “I need more of you,” he rasped against her skin. “But I want to hear you say it. Tell me what you want.”
There was no hesitation. She already knew.
“You,” she breathed. “Only you, Kaldrek. Nothing else could ever compare.”
His lips curved against her throat. “Only me?” he asked, voice dark and edged with desire.
“Yes.”.
“Good,” he growled. “Because no one touches what’s mine. And you, Evelyne… You are mine.”
Then his mouth was on hers again, and with effortless strength, he lifted her, hands firm on her waist. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around him, holding tight as he pressed her back against the wall.
He pulled back just enough to let his mouth glide down the curve of her throat, his tongue tracing fire in its wake before he bit down lightly. She moaned, the slight pressure sending a jolt of pleasure straight to her core.
A wicked chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I can’t wait to hear the sounds you make for me.”
Yes. Please. The words screamed in her mind, but all she managed was a strangled whimper. She tugged at his hair, pulling his mouth back to hers, desperate to taste him again. This time, he kissed her slower, like he wanted to savor every moment. Like he was mapping her, memorizing her.
She pressed her hips into his, seeking more. He hissed against her lips, his grip tightening. “Not so defiant now, are we?”
Of course he would tease her at a time like this. But damn it, he was right. There wasn’t a single defiant bone left in her body—she was his. Completely.
He carried her to the bed, his warmth searing through her robe’s thin, damp fabric. But even as her body burned for him, a thought surfaced through the haze.
“What about the shift?”
He laid her down gently, his body settling over hers, and murmured, “They can’t shift without their alpha.” He brushed his lips along her collarbone, his fingers tracing the edge of her robe, teasing. “They can wait.”