Page 8 of Caught

His breath came in short, frantic gasps, the cold bite of panic swallowing him whole.

And then, through the blur of his fear, he finally looked up at the werewolf—

Athim.

The werewolf was a powerful, broad-chested man, straddling Evan’s hips, pinning him down effortlessly. Even in his human form, the raw, primal energy radiating off him was almost suffocating. His eyes—dark, almost black with a feral intensity—burned into Evan, deep and unrelenting.

Evan’s breath hitched. He was gorgeous. Every inch of him, from the sharp, rugged jawline to the fierce curve of his shoulders, screamed strength.

But it wasn’t just his size, his muscles that held Evan in place. It was the way he owned the moment, like he’d been waiting for this.

Waiting for Evan.

Evan’s heart thudded erratically, and he hated himself for it.

The man’s hands, still gripping Evan’s wrists with terrifying strength, seemed to burn through the fabric of his shirt, and Evan shuddered involuntarily. His body was betraying him, his pulse quickening for reasons he couldn’t explain.

There was no way in hell this should feel anything but terrifying. But the heat from the man’s body, the raw power that radiated off him, sent a pulse of heat straight to Evan’s gut. His mind screamed for him to fight, to break free, but his body wasn’t cooperating.

“Please...” Evan’s voice came out a ragged whisper, a weak plea that hung in the air between them, but he didn’t know what he was asking for.

The man’s lips quirked up, an unreadable glint in his eyes. He leaned down slightly, and Evan felt the air around them thicken.

“You're mine,” the man murmured.

Evan’s pulse skipped. The words hit him harder than any blow could.Mine. He heard it, felt it, like a command meant just for him.

Evan’s mouth went dry, his heart hammering in his chest.No, no, this isn’t me. This isn’t what I—

He barely had a moment to register the shift in the air before the werewolf’s mouth was on him. Silas leaned down, his breath hot against Evan’s skin, and dragged his mouth along the curve of Evan’s neck in one slow, deliberate movement.

Scenting him.

Tastinghim.

The intimate contact was electrifying. A wave of shuddering heat shot through Evan’s body, mixing with the sharp spike of fear that twisted in his gut. His pulse raced, hammering against his ribs as his mind struggled to make sense of the chaos.What the hell is happening?

All night, Evan had been slipping past the chaos—shadows twisting, bodies colliding in frantic, primal motion. Everywhere he turned, werewolves had been taking their fill, claiming their human prey in raw, brutal displays of dominance. He’d seen the way they mounted their chosen partners, rutting into them with unrelenting force, snarls and moans mixing in a haze of savage debauchery. It was pure instinct, pure hunger. No hesitation. No restraint.

But this was different.

This werewolf wasn't shoving him down, wasn’t taking him fast and rough like the others. He waslookingat Evan. Holdinghim still, dragging out the moment like he had all the time in the world. As if Evan was something to be examined, not just used.

A shiver ran down his spine, sharp and unwelcome. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. This wasn’t what he'd prepared for.

You're mine,the werewolf had said—and it sounded like he meant it.

“I don’t belong to you,” Evan rasped, forcing the words through a dry throat. Even as he spoke, his voice trembled.

A low growl rumbled from the werewolf. But instead of pulling away, he took Evan’s jaw with rough, possessive strength. His fingers dug in, forcing Evan to look up and meet those dark eyes.

It felt like they were burying straight through him. It was as if the werewolf could see everything. All his secrets. Every fear. Every weakness.

“I'm Silas,” the werewolf’s voice rumbled, thick and deep, vibrating through Evan’s bones.

It took Evan a moment to figure out what he'd said. His name?

“E-Evan,” he managed, the sound leaving his lips shaky and breathless. He hated how fragile it sounded. Hated how small he felt in that moment.

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