Page 96 of Fated to the Lone Shifter
I step out of the truck, and he follows, slower than usual. Each step looks like it weighs a hundred pounds. I guide him inside and lead him to one of the unused sleeping quarters.
“Stay here. Lock the door. I’ll bring you food, water, whatever you need.”
“And if I change?”
“Then I’ll be the first thing you see. And together we will feed.”
I close the door, but I don’t leave right away. I wait—listening for movement, for the first signs of the shift.
Because whatever happens tonight, I need him ready.
And I need to believe he’s still the man I called my best friend.
Even if everything in me is bracing for betrayal.
The hall outside where Marcus is sleeping is dark, just the low hum of overhead lights and the sound of distant voices from the firehouse kitchen. I lean back against the cool wall, pressing my palms to the drywall behind me, trying to catch my breath. The full moon is rising fast, and I can feel it in every muscle, every bone. My wolf paces just beneath the surface, anxious and coiled, ready for the night to unravel.
I close my eyes. For a second, I imagine what tonight could’ve looked like if everything had gone differently. If I hadn’t turned Marcus. If I’d gotten to Sera sooner. If we were safe—together.
My mind drifts fusing into a soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains, Sera’s warm breath tickling my neck as she sleeps curled into my side. Her hair spills across my chest, a cascade of chestnut waves that smells faintly of lavender from the shampoo she insists on using. I trace the curve of hershoulder, marveling at how this—this quiet, ordinary moment—feels like the greatest victory of my life. Outside, the world hums with the rhythm of a Saturday morning: birds chirping, the distant rumble of a lawnmower, the occasional bark of a dog. It’s the kind of day that stretches lazily ahead, unhurried and full of promise.
Sera stirs, her eyelids fluttering open, and she blinks up at me with that sleepy smile I’ve come to adore.“Morning,”she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep. I kiss her forehead, and she nuzzles closer, her hand finding mine under the covers.“You’re up early,”she teases, though we both know I’ve been awake for hours, just watching her. I shrug, pulling her tighter.“Couldn’t miss this,”I say, and she laughs, a soft, melodic sound that makes my chest ache in the best way.
Breakfast is a chaotic dance in our tiny kitchen. Sera insists on making pancakes, even though she always burns the first batch, and I take over the coffee, knowing she’ll forget to turn on the pot. We argue playfully over who gets to flip the pancakes, flour dusting our hands as we bump hips and trade jokes. The radio plays softly in the background, some old song that makes Sera sing along off-key, her voice blending with the sizzle of butter and the drip of coffee. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s perfect.
Later, we take a walk through the park, hand in hand, the sun warm on our backs. Sera stops to pet every dog we pass, cooing at them like they’re her long-lost friends, while I tease her about her obsession. She rolls her eyes but squeezes my hand tighter, her way of saying she doesn’t care what I think. We sit on a bench by the pond, watching ducks glide across the water, and she leans her head on my shoulder, her presence grounding me in a way I never knew I needed.
That night we’re watching a movie on the sofa. As the credits roll, Sera sits up, stretching her arms above her head, and grins at me.“Best day ever,”she declares, and I laugh, pulling herback down for a kiss. Her lips are soft, tasting faintly of the popcorn we’d shared earlier, and I deepen the kiss, my hands tangling in her hair. She hums against my mouth, her body pressing closer, and I feel the familiar spark of desire ignite between us.
“Until tomorrow,”I promise, my voice husky as I pull away, but Sera shakes her head, her green eyes glinting with mischief.“Why wait?”she murmurs, her fingers tracing the edge of my jaw. I smirk, letting her lead me back to the bedroom, where the curtains are still drawn, leaving the room bathed in soft twilight.
She pushes me gently onto the bed, her movements confident, her gaze burning with a hunger that matches my own.“You’re so fucking beautiful,”I whisper, reaching for her, but she presses my hands to the mattress, straddling me with a grin.“Not so bossy now, huh?”she teases, her ponytail swaying as she leans down, her lips brushing mine.
Her hands roam over my chest, her touch both tender and demanding, and I groan, arching into her.“Sera,”I warn, but she just laughs, her breath hot against my ear.“What are you gonna do about it, wolf?”she challenges, her fingers tracing the edge of my wolf paw tattoo.
I flip her effortlessly, pinning her wrists above her head, and she gasps, her eyes widening with a mix of surprise and arousal.“That,”I say, my voice low,“is what I’m gonna do about it.”
Her lips curve into a smirk, and she bucks her hips against mine, her body flush against mine.“Prove it,”she dares, her voice a whisper.
I don’t need to be told twice. My mouth trails down her neck, my teeth grazing her skin as I unbutton her shirt slowly, savoring the way she shivers beneath me.“You’re so fucking perfect,”I murmur, my lips brushing her collarbone, and she arches into me, her breath hitching.
“Noah,”she pleads, her voice breaking, and I grin against her skin, my hands sliding down to cup her ass, pulling her closer.“Impatient, aren’t we?”I tease, but I’m just as eager, my body throbbing with need.
She tugs at my shirt, and I pull it off, her hands immediately roaming over my chest, her touch electric.“You’re the one who started this,”she reminds me, her lips finding mine again, her kisses hungry and desperate.
I kiss her deeply, my tongue tangling with hers, our breaths mingling as I roll us onto our sides, our bodies pressed together. Her hands slide down, unbuckling my belt, and I groan, my hips thrusting into her touch.“Fuck, Sera,”I mutter, my control slipping as she palms me through my jeans.
“That’s the idea,”she purrs, her voice laced with satisfaction, and I laugh, pulling her closer, our kisses becoming more frantic.
We shed the rest of our clothes in a tangle of limbs and laughter, our desire too urgent to be contained. Sera’s skin is warm beneath my fingertips, her body a map I could spend a lifetime exploring. I trace the curve of her hip, the dip of her waist, and she shivers, her eyes closing as she leans into my touch.
“Touch me,”she whispers, her voice a plea, and I oblige, my fingers sliding between her thighs, finding her already wet and eager. She gasps, her head falling back as I tease her, my thumb circling her clit, my other hand cupping her breast.
“Noah, please,”she begs, her body arching into my touch, and I smirk, my mouth finding hers again as I slide a finger inside her, her walls clenching around me.
“Tell me what you want,”I demand, my voice rough, and she moans, her hands gripping my shoulders.
“You. I want you. Inside me. Now,”she pants, her eyes burning with need, and I groan, positioning myself at herentrance, our eyes locked as I thrust into her slowly, savoring the way she gasps, her nails digging into my skin.
