Page 26 of The Blood Moon Hunt

A smile curves the edge of my lips. "Did he now?"

She watches me carefully, her body tense, as if she’snot sure whether to trust me. Smart girl. But I can work with that.

“I’ve been looking for you,” I say, my voice low, soothing. “You’ve been running for so long. Don’t you think it’s time to stop?”

Her brows furrow, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. She’s confused, scared, and I know she doesn’t fully understand what’s happening to her. But I do.

“You’re stronger than you realize, Selene,” I continue, my voice smooth as I close the distance between us. “You’re not like the others. You have power—real power.”

She shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t know what I am.”

I reach out, my hand brushing against her arm, and I feel the spark of energy between us. It’s intoxicating. “I do,” I murmur, leaning in slightly. “You’re more than just a participant in this Hunt. You’re the prize. The one we all want.”

Her breath hitches, and I can see the confusion flicker in her eyes, mingling with something else—desire. It’s faint, but it’s there, and I know I can use it.

“Don’t fight it,” I whisper, my hand sliding down to her wrist. “You feel it, don’t you? The pull between us. You’re drawn to me, just like I’m drawn to you.”

She stiffens, but she doesn’t pull away. “Lucien, I...”

“Let me show you,” I cut her off, my voice low and coaxing. “Let me help you understand your power.”

I can see the hesitation in her eyes, but I also see the curiosity—the need to know more, to understand. And then, she nods, just slightly, but it’s all the permission I need.

I move closer, my body pressing against hers as I lower my head, my lips brushing against her ear. Her breath catches, and I feel the heat between us rising, the tension thickening with every passing second. But as I draw her in, something hits me—Damien. His scent lingers on her skin, faint but unmistakable, and it sets my blood on fire.

The realization that he’s already touched her, been close to her, makes my muscles tense. Fury coils inside me, dark and possessive. He had no right. He’s crossed a line, and now I’m left with the need to erase every trace of him, to wipe Damien off her completely.

“You’re mine,” I growl, my voice lower, more primal. My hand grips her waist tighter, pulling her flush against me as if I can crush the memory of Damien with my own presence. I lean into her, my lips grazing her neck, inhaling her scent, needing to replace it with mine.

"Whether you know it or not," I whisper fiercely, feeling my control slip, my desire to claim her overpowering the need for subtlety. I want to mark her, to show her thatno oneelse can have her.

She shivers against me, but I can’t tell if it’s from the tension or the coldness of my words. Either way, I don’tcare. Right now, all I want is to rid her of anything Damien left behind.

My lips hover near her skin, my hand gripping her harder, and I can feel the power humming beneath her surface, mingling with the heat between us. But it’s not enough. I need more—I need to make her mine completely, to erase everything she’s felt with him.

For a moment, she resists, her hands pressing against my chest as if she’s going to push me away. But then, her resistance falters. Her power surges, and I feel it—like a rush of heat coursing through my veins, intoxicating and overwhelming.

Her lips part, and I close the distance, capturing her mouth in a kiss that’s both possessive and desperate. She tastes like fire and something wild, something untamed. And I want more.

But just as the kiss deepens, I feel it—her power rising, not just in response to me, but against me. It’s fierce, like a storm building beneath the surface, and I realize too late that she’s not as helpless as I thought.

Her hands push against me harder, and with a surge of strength, she breaks the kiss, stepping back, her chest heaving, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and defiance.

I stare at her, my heart pounding, my mind racing. She’s stronger than I expected. But that only makes me want her more.

“You’re not like the others,” I say again, my voicerougher now, tinged with frustration. “But that doesn’t mean you can fight me forever.”

Her eyes flash, and for a moment, I see the power in her, the raw, untamed force that I crave.

“I won’t be claimed,” she says, her voice steady, but I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.

I step forward, closing the distance again, my hand reaching for hers. “We’ll see about that.”

Chapter

Sixteen

LUCIEN

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