Page 14 of Falling for My Shifter Enemy

Slowly, Theo turns his head, and his amber eyes meet mine. There’s something different in his gaze now—something almost soft. Almost tender. He steps closer, his massive head lowering until his snout brushes my hand in a surprisingly gentle nudge. The touch sends a shock of warmth through me, and the bond flares to life, humming between us with renewed intensity.

For a moment, I’m frozen. I don’t know what to do. But then, without thinking, I place my hand on the top of his head, my fingers sinking into the thick fur between his ears. His growl fades, replaced by a low, rumbling sound that feels more like a purr than a warning. He nudges me again, more insistent this time, and I realize what he’s asking.

He wants me to follow him.

I glance toward the forest, where the others have disappeared, and my heart stutters. I don’t belong out there. I can’t run with them. I’m not like them. But the bond between us pulls, stronger than ever, and I know, deep down, that I can’t turn away. I can’t leave him. Not now.

Theo’s amber eyes hold mine, and I see something in them—a promise, maybe. That as long as I’m with him, I’ll be safe. That maybe, just maybe, I belong here with him, even if I can’t shift. Even if I’m different.

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and I nod.

He turns and leads me into the forest.

The moment Theo turns and leads me deeper into the woods, I don’t hesitate. My legs move before my mind can catch up, and I find myself running after him, the cold night air whipping against my skin. He’s fast, his massive wolf form weaving effortlessly through the trees, but he stays close, never letting me fall too far behind. I push myself harder, my heart pounding in my chest as I try to keep pace with him, my feet pounding against the earth in a wild rhythm.

The woods blur around us, dark shadows and moonlit patches blending together as we move deeper into the heart of Moonlit Ridge. The pulse of the night thrums in my veins, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m part of it. The wind rushes past me, carrying the scent of pine and earth, and the sound of my own breath mixes with the distant rustle of leaves and the soft padding of Theo’s paws.

I’m not a wolf. I can’t shift. But right now, running beside Theo, I feel... free. Alive. Like I finally belong to something greater than myself.

The moon hangs high above us, its silvery glow spilling through the branches, lighting our path. Every beat of my heart echoes in my ears, every step I take feels like it’s leading me closer to something I’ve been searching for all my life. I don’t know how far we’ve run, but it doesn’t matter. The farther we go, the more everything else falls away—the pack, the tension, the fear. It’s just us now. Just me and him, running beneath the moon.

Theo slows, his pace easing as we reach a small clearing, the trees thinning around us. I stop too, panting, my chest heaving with exertion, and I press a hand to my side, trying to catch my breath. The clearing is quiet, save for the soft rustle of the wind and the distant sounds of the forest. The moonlight batheseverything in a soft glow, and I feel the weight of the night settle around us, heavy and full of unspoken things.

Theo’s wolf form is still, his amber eyes locked on me, watching. Waiting. My pulse quickens under his gaze, the bond between us crackling with a new intensity. The air feels charged, electric, as though every breath we take is feeding something wild and dangerous between us.

I take a step toward him, my heart pounding in my ears. My legs feel shaky, but it’s not from the run. It’s him. The way he looks at me—like he’s fighting something deep inside, something primal and uncontrollable. And I know, without a doubt, that I’m fighting it too. The bond pulls at me, stronger than ever, and even though I know I should be afraid of it—afraid of what it means, of what it could break—I can’t bring myself to care.

“You’re not… slowing down for me, are you?” I ask, breathless.

Theo’s only response is a low, rumbling growl, his pace unfaltering, his eyes never leaving mine.

Of course, I think, letting out a soft laugh despite myself. Of course, you’re not.

Slowly, Theo shifts back into his human form. His body moves with the same brutal grace as before, bones cracking and popping until he stands before me, tall and powerful, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The moonlight catches on his skin, highlighting the taut muscles of his shoulders and the sharp angles of his face.

My breath catches as I watch him, unable to look away. There’s something in Theo’s eyes—a wild, untamed gleam—that sends a shiver down my spine. His wolf is still close, lurking just beneath the surface. I can feel it in the way he’s watching me, his gazeraw, intense, and hungry. It’s as though he’s barely holding himself together, the primal side of him clawing to break free.

My heart races, the tension between us thickening with every passing second. The air feels charged, electric, and I can sense the shift in him, the way his body tightens, muscles flexing under the moon’s glow. His breathing is heavy, labored, and the heat emanating from him is palpable, wrapping around me like a tangible force.

And then my eyes drift lower—down the line of his strong jaw, his broad chest, and the taut muscles of his abdomen. My gaze falters when it reaches his hips, my breath hitching in my throat. His cock is thickening, growing larger as I stand there, watching him. It’s impossible to ignore, the sheer size of it making my body respond. Heat pools low in my belly, a molten warmth spreading through me that leaves me dizzy and breathless.

I feel flushed, my skin suddenly too tight, too hot. My legs tremble, and I can barely think past the racing of my pulse. Every inch of me burns with awareness, with a desire I’ve never experienced before.

Then, as if some invisible line snaps between us, Theo moves. He closes the distance between us in a single stride, his hands finding my waist with a kind of urgency that sends a jolt of heat through me. I gasp, my hands flying up to his chest, but I don’t push him away. I can’t. The bond between us is too strong now, too overwhelming to ignore.

Theo's lips crash against mine, his kiss fierce and hungry. His mouth devours mine, claiming every inch of my lips with a raw, desperate need. It's as if he's been starving for this moment, for this taste of me, and now he's devouring me whole. I taste the wildness on his tongue, the flavor of the night and the forest, and it's intoxicating.

I respond instinctively, my hands sliding up his chest, tangling in the loose strands of his hair, pulling him closer. He groans, the sound vibrating through me, and I feel a thrill of power at being able to affect him so deeply. His kiss deepens, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, and I melt against him, my body molding to his, fitting together like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.

He kisses me like he's branding me, marking me as his. His hands move over my body, possessive and hungry, as if he's memorizing the feel of my skin. I'm overwhelmed by the sensations—the roughness of his palms, the brush of his fingers, the delicious friction of his body against mine. His touch sets my nerve endings alight, and I can feel my body responding, my desire a tangible thing between us.

I kiss him back with equal fervor, my lips and tongue moving in perfect sync with his. Our kisses turn feverish, fueled by the primal energy of our run and the pulsing bond between us. It's as if the wildness of the night has seeped into our blood, driving us to this moment, this collision of lips and tongues and desperate breaths.

"I can't stop," he growls, his voice a low, primal rumble that sends a thrill down my spine. "Not with you. Not tonight."

His words ignite a fire within me, and I lean into him, my body pressing against his. Theo's hands roam over my back, his touch searing through the fabric of my shirt. He's impatient, hungry, and it mirrors the wildness I feel stirring inside.

"Then don't," I whisper, my voice hoarse with desire.

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