Page 22 of Caught

Evan swallowed hard, heat curling in his stomach. "I have a lot of questions," he admitted, his voice quiet but firm. "We’re mated… but I don’t even know your last name."

Silas laughed, the deep sound vibrating through Evan’s back. "There'll be plenty of time for that tomorrow."

Before Evan could protest, sharp teeth grazed his throat. His breath caught. Silas bit down—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to send a shock of sensation rippling through him, straight down to where he was still stretched and sensitive. A gasp escaped him, unbidden, his fingers clutching at Silas’ arm.

"You’ll meet my whole pack," Silas murmured against his skin, lips dragging over the fresh bite mark. "They’ll love you."

Heat rushed to Evan’s face. The idea of being introduced as Silas' mate made him squirm, equal parts embarrassed and strangely… intrigued.

But then Silas bit him again, and Evan’s mind emptied like a flipped switch. A shudder racked his body, pleasure and something deeper twisting through him. He hadn’t bee willing to face this about himself. That he could like it. That he could crave it.

Silas hummed in satisfaction, dragging his tongue over the fresh mark, soothing the sting. Evan should’ve had more questions. He should’ve demanded answers.

But right now, wrapped in Silas’ arms, with the night air cool against his flushed skin and the warmth of his mate anchoring him, he let it all go.

Tomorrow could wait.

Tonight, he was exactly where he needed to be.

Chapter ten

Evan

One year later

Evan’s lungs burned as he tore through the moonlit forest, heart hammering, adrenaline surging. Leaves and twigs whipped at his skin, but he barely registered the sting. He’d trained for this, spent a whole year preparing, learning every shortcut, every hidden path. He knew this land better than most wolves now.

A rustle in the underbrush made his pulse spike. He whipped his head around, catching the glint of golden eyes.

A massive wolf emerged from the shadows, its muscles coiled tight, ready to spring. Evan tensed—

Then the wolf caught his scent, hunched its shoulders, and slunk off.

A grin tugged at Evan’s lips.

But his humor was short-lived. A howl shattered the night: low, deep, and close enough that the sound vibrated through his bones.

Evan's stomach flipped. He knew that howl.

He bolted. His legs pumped harder, his breath came in sharp gasps—

But he’d barely covered ten feet before a force like a freight train slammed into his back.

The ground rushed up to meet him. He hit the dirt with a grunt, a heavy weight pressing him down before he could scramble away. Warm breath ghosted over his neck, sending a shiver through his spine.

Above him, Silas loomed, all raw strength and predator’s grace, his dark eyes burning with hunger. Moonlight gilded the hard planes of his body, the ripple of muscle, the sharp edges of his smirk. Evan struggled underneath him, his heart racing, body thrumming with a thrill he loved.

"You’ve been teasing me all night," Silas rumbled, voice rough with dark amusement. His fingers locked around Evan’s wrists, pinning them to the forest floor. "Running, hiding, playing hard to get."

Evan smirked, even as heat curled low in his stomach. "If you can’t even catch one little unarmed human, maybe you’re not the big, tough alpha you think you are."

Silas' eyes darkened. "You want to test that theory?"

Evan’s breath hitched. The weight of Silas, the heat of his body—everything about this moment sent a thrill through him. They both knew how this would end. They’d known since the first step of this so-called chase.

But Evan still bared his teeth in a defiant grin. "Catch me again and find out."

Silas yanked Evan to his feet, his grip unyielding, his strength effortless. Before Evan could catch his breath, he was shovedback against the rough bark of a towering tree, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs. A sharp gasp escaped him, but beneath the shock, anticipation coiled tight in his chest.

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