Page 11 of Wilder Obsessions

The moment I walk into the dive bar, I can sense her.My animal beats against my chest, wanting me to unleash him.The air is thick with the scent of sweat, whiskey, and something uniquely hers.I take a seat at the bar, my instincts alive and alert, when I see her—a gorgeous young human and something else I can’t place.She stands behind the bar, pouring drinks, and all I can think is,mine.

She’s mine.

“She’s our fated mate,”my inner beast growls, his voice a low rumble in my mind.I barely register the words as my gaze falls on her.Everything feels heightened: every movement, every blink of her lashes.It’s as if I had been half alive before she entered the frame of my reality.I search her face for any signs of recognition—an eye twitch, a scent shift, anything—but she stays neutral, confusion flickering in her vibrant violet eyes, though it lingers just beneath the surface.

“Whiskey, neat,” I finally manage to say.She pours the drink expertly, sliding it toward me with a hint of finesse.The air grows still, everything around us blurring into the background.I stare into her eyes, my heart catching in my chest.Her stunning silver hair cascades over her shoulders in soft waves, and I have to force my hands to remain at my sides, not reaching out to run my fingers through that silky softness.

“What’s your name?”I ask, hating the need to know but unable to suppress it.“It’s not every day I meet someone as intriguing as you ...Starlight.”At that, she hesitates, the air shifting between us, electric and charged.My beast paws at my sanity, willing me to make a move.

Finally, she whispers, “My name is Arwen.”

The moment the name leaves her lips, shock waves rip through me.I repeat it, “Arwen,” committing every syllable to memory.My beast becomes even more agitated now, unwilling to acknowledge the human standing by her side.

“She’s too close to that guy,”he growls, the sound echoing in my psyche.“Make her ours.”

Fucking mine.

I glance past Arwen to the man who had been chatting with her.The cocky bastard leans more toward her than necessary, charm oozing from him.I resist the urge to snarl, to mark my territory in the most primal of ways.

“What’s he to you?”I ask, my tone sharper than I intended.

Arwen raises her brows in surprise, her lips parting slightly, but I can’t read her thoughts.“He’s just a regular, harmless guy,” she replies, yet the edge in her voice states that there’s more beneath the surface.

“Harmless people don’t linger, Arwen,” I say, my voice low but firm.“He’s in your space.”

With a deep breath, she takes a step back, her eyes clouded over in thought.“You seem intense,” she remarks, a hint of humor gracing her lips, but it’s laced with uncertainty.Some other drunk human cozies up beside me, making me want to rip her hands from me.The only person allowed to touch me now is her, Arwen.I see jealousy flash through her eyes briefly before she turns to serve a different customer.For some reason, I love the fact that she didn’t like seeing that woman on me.She may not know it, but subconsciously she can feel the same pull as me.

But then my focus shifts and horror grips my heart as I notice the bruises along her neck, faint but visible under the soft glow of the bar lights.Marks of aggression, remnants of a fool’s cowardice.Anger roars to life within me, igniting a fire that demands justice.

I slam my fist down on the bar, earning a few glances from neighboring tables—a rookie mistake.I can see her flinch, tears threatening to spill as she covers her chest with her hand.The sight shatters my resolve.

“I’m sorry.It’s time for my break,” she murmurs.In a heartbeat, she pulls away, darting outside.Without thinking, my feet move, fueled by the overpowering urge of my beast, demanding possession, a primal instinct that roars louder than any logical thought.

Ours, yes.Arwen is ours to claim.

I follow her into the cold night, the air stirring with tension.I can smell the salt of her tears from a distance, sparking a fury that is as instinctual as it is emotional.She is standing against the brick wall behind the bar, her eyes closed as she sings.As soon as her song fills the air, I feel an immediate change.The melody is hauntingly beautiful, carrying the echoes of the sea and the depth of human emotion.The song is not just beautiful, it is soul-deep, resonating with my very essence.It is as if the universe itself has crafted this song just for me.My heart, which was pounding with the residual adrenaline from her running away from me, begins to slow, each beat synching with the rhythm of her voice.

The turmoil in my heart begins to settle, the grief and anger that have been my constant companions melts away, replaced by a profound sense of peace.My body, still aching from the battle, relaxes as the soothing warmth of her song spreads through me.My puma stirs within, recognizing the connection we share, the bond that goes beyond physical attraction or even emotional connection.This is something deeper, primal, and eternal.

There was something different about her, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, until now.The realization hits me like a bolt of lightning—Arwen isn’t just human, she’s part siren.She turns her head, hearing me approach, making her song fade away into the night.The loss of the melody brings back the rage I felt when I saw her beautiful, milky flesh marred with another man’s brutal attacks.

She’s telling me something, but I can barely focus on anything other than the perfection in front of me.Arwen has this natural, flawless beauty that would transcend time.Her silver hair sparkles in the moonlight, that’s how Starlight slipped from my lips because she looks like a star on earth.Her beauty is not just in her appearance but in the way she moves, the way she breathes life into every moment.

“Arwen,” I breathe, standing before her.My fingers itch to reach out, to pull her close and protect her from the pain that twists her features.

Her gaze meets mine, filled with fear and uncertainty.“It’s nothing,” she insists, a lie so thin it can shatter with the slightest breath.She bursts into tears and my animal bristles, ready to tear apart the fool who has brought her to this level.

Anger ignites a burning flame within, fueled by her pain.I will do what my beast demands.I will fucking kill the son of a bitch that hurt her, then I’ll make her see that I will cherish and keep her safe forever.The thought should fucking terrify me.I swore never again to get involved after Emily, but gods, never in my life would I have ever believed I would find my true mate.If there was any lingering doubt that she was mine, it was crushed the moment I heard her voice.

The vision of her living with another man, laying down with him every day in bed drives me insane.I won’t let that happen.I have to claim her.The beast is thrashing, demanding release.

Fucking hell.

“Don’t fucking lie to me,” I snap, my voice low and resonant.I step into the encroaching darkness, my shadow swallowing her small frame.Her tears become an electric current surging through me, igniting a burning anger deep within.I feel the primal instinct to protect her surge.The sensation is like a fierce hunger at the bottom of my soul.

“How long?”

“Why do you care?”Her light eyebrows draw together in confusion.The jealousy surges like a dance through my veins.I can feel the beast pushing against my skin, begging to claim her, to mark her, to own her.

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