Page 5 of Wolf Mate's Forbidden Fire
I stepped closer, my heart pounding, my hand brushing his arm before I could stop myself. His skin was warm, the muscle hard under my touch, and a spark shot through me, like the air itself was charged. “What do you mean, too close?” I said, my voice softer now, my fingers lingering on his arm. “Like what happened the other night? Because I felt something, Omer, and I know you did too.”
His breath hitched, and he grabbed my hand, not pulling it away but holding it against his arm, his grip firm. “You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, his voice strained, like he was fighting himself. “That kiss, it wasn’t just a kiss. You’re my mate, Aurora. My wolf knows it, and it’s tearing me apart. But it’s forbidden. If we give in, the Fire could burn Esoterra to the ground.”
I swallowed, my pulse racing, his words sinking in but not enough to drown out the heat between us. “Your mate?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “What does that even mean? And why does it sound like you’re more scared of me than I am of you?”
He let go of my hand, stepping back, his eyes dark and stormy. “I’m not scared of you,” he said, but his voice shook slightly. “I’m scared of what you do to me. You’re human, Aurora. My pack would tear me apart if they knew how I feel. And the Fire, it’s not just a story. It’s real, and it’s dangerous.”
I crossed my arms, my skin still tingling where he’d touched me. “Then why tell me any of this? If it’s so dangerous, why not just let me stumble around in the dark?”
He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Because you’re too damn stubborn to stop. You’re already too close to the truth. I thought maybe if you knew, you’d leave. But I can see that’s not happening.”
“Damn right it’s not,” I said, stepping closer again, my voice firm. “I’m not here to ruin your world, Omer. I just want to understand it. Help me, or I’ll keep digging on my own.”
He stared at me, his eyes searching mine, then shook his head. “You’re going to get us both killed,” he said, but there was a hint of a smile, like he couldn’t help but admire my nerve. “I have to go. Stay away from the deep woods, Aurora. For your own sake.”
Before I could argue, he turned and slipped into the trees, his form blending with the shadows. My hand was still warm from touching him, and my heart wouldn’t slow down. I stood there, the clearing silent except for the hum in the air, and tried to make sense of it all. Shifters. A forbidden bond. A fire that could destroy everything. It was too much, but I wasn’t backing down.
I hiked back to the cabin, my camera heavy around my neck, my mind racing. Inside, I locked the door and sank into my chair, pulling a dusty book from my bag. I’d borrowed it from the university library, a collection of Pacific Northwest legends. I flipped through the pages, my eyes scanning for anything that might explain what Omer had told me. I found it near the back, a faded chapter about Esoterra’s “beast folk,” shifters who lived in secret, bound by laws to avoid humans. The text mentioned a curse, a fiery force tied to forbidden unions, said to have burned whole forests centuries ago. My stomach twisted. The Forbidden Fire. It wasn’t just Omer’s warning, it was in the book, real enough to make my skin crawl.
I glanced at the wolf totem on my desk, its carved eyes glinting in the lamplight, mirroring Omer’s. I picked it up, turning it over in my hands, the wood smooth and warm. It felt alive, like it carried a piece of him. I set it down and grabbed my journal, my pencil moving fast as I sketched the runes I’d seen in the book, jagged symbols that matched the ones I’d glimpsed in my dreams. My hand shook slightly, but I kept going, determined to piece it together. Omer could warn me all he wanted, but I wasn’t leaving Esoterra. Not until I understood the shifters, the Fire, and why my heart kept pulling me back to him.
Chapter Six
Omer
I stood at the edge of a secluded cave, its entrance cloaked by tangled vines and jagged rocks, the air thick with mist and the faint glow of moss clinging to the walls. I’d left a note at Aurora’s cabin, slipped under the wolf totem, asking her to meet me here. My plan was clear: lay out the danger of the Forbidden Fire and convince her to leave Esoterra before the pack or the Fire tore us apart. My wolf was restless, her scent of wildflowers and cedar still haunting me, pulling at my instincts. I paced the cave’s slick floor, water dripping from stalactites, my boots echoing in the stillness. The glowing moss cast a soft green light, giving the place a dreamlike haze, but my nerves were on edge. I had to stay focused, keep her at a distance, no matter how much my wolf craved her nearness.
Footsteps crunched outside, and Aurora stepped into the cave, her flashlight beam cutting through the mist. Her eyes, fierce and bright, locked onto mine, her camera slung over her shoulder, her jacket dusted with pine needles. She looked ready for a fight, her jaw set, her posture defiant. “You’ve got somenerve,” she said, her voice sharp, bouncing off the stone walls. “A cryptic note? Really, Omer? If you’re trying to scare me off again, it’s not happening.”
I crossed my arms, keeping my distance, though my body ached to close the gap. “I’m not trying to scare you,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the pull in my chest. “I need you to understand what’s at stake. You’re digging into things that could get you killed.”
She stepped closer, her flashlight dropping to her side, her eyes narrowing. “You keep saying that, but you’re not telling me everything. Shifters, Forbidden Fire, some ancient curse? I’m not leaving until you give me the full story, Omer. No more half-answers.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair, the mist cool on my skin. “Fine,” I said, pointing to a flat rock near the cave’s center. “Sit. I’ll tell you what I can, but you have to listen. This isn’t a game.”
She sat, crossing her arms, her gaze unwavering. “I’m listening. So talk.”
I leaned against the cave wall, the damp stone grounding me. “The Forbidden Fire isn’t just a legend. It’s a force tied to our bloodlines, our laws. Shifters and humans aren’t supposed to mix. If we do, it risks waking the Fire, a power that could burn Esoterra to ash. It’s happened before, centuries ago. Entire packs were lost. My pack, Moonridge, we live by those laws to keep it from happening again.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t back down. “And us? This… connection we feel? You’re saying it could trigger that?”
I nodded, my throat tight. “You’re my mate, Aurora. My wolf chose you, and I can’t fight it. But if we give in, if we cross that line, it could destroy everything. The pack, the forest, us.”
She stood, her boots scuffing the stone, and stepped right into my space, close enough that her scent enveloped me, wildflowers and cedar, intoxicating. “You keep talking about danger,” she said, her voice low, her fingers grazing my chest through my shirt, sending a jolt through me. “But you’re not pushing me away. Why is that, Omer?”
My breath caught, her touch like a spark on dry wood, setting my nerves alight. “I’m trying,” I said, my voice rough, my hands itching to grab her. “But you make it damn hard.”
She smiled, a small, daring curve of her lips, her fingers pressing harder, tracing the lines of my chest through the fabric. “Good,” she said, her voice a whisper, warm and challenging. “Because I’m not running from this. From you.”
I couldn’t hold back anymore. My hands found her waist, pulling her against me, and our lips crashed together, the kiss deep and desperate, like we’d been starving for it. Her hands slid under my shirt, her nails grazing my skin, pulling a low growl from my throat. I tugged at her jacket, my fingers fumbling with the zipper, and she shrugged it off, letting it drop to the cave floor. Her shirt followed, revealing smooth skin that glistened with mist, the green glow of the moss highlighting every curve. I yanked my shirt over my head, tossing it aside, and her hands were on me, exploring the scars on my chest, her touch bold and unyielding. I kissed her harder, my lips trailing down her neck, tasting the salt of her skin, the mist mixing with her scent. Her breath hitched as I nipped at her collarbone, my hands sliding lower, undoing the button of her jeans with a slow, deliberate tug, my fingers brushing the soft skin of her lower belly.
She pushed me back against the slick cave wall, her eyes locked on mine, fierce and fearless. “You sure about this?” she whispered, her hands working the zipper of my jeans, her fingers grazing me, sending a shudder through my body.
“No,” I said, my voice raw, my hands cupping her face, my thumbs brushing her cheeks. “But I can’t stop.” I kissed her again, slower, savoring the heat of her mouth, the way her tongue teased mine, sending fire through my veins. Her jeans slid down, pooling at her ankles, and I lifted her, her legs wrapping around my waist, her body pressed tight against mine. The cave wall was cold against my back, but her heat was all I felt. My hands roamed her thighs, her skin soft and warm, water droplets from the mist catching the moss’s glow, making her shine like something otherworldly. I kissed down her chest, my lips lingering on the curve of her breast, my tongue tracing slow circles until she moaned, the sound echoing in the cave. Her hands gripped my shoulders, nails digging in, and she tugged at my jeans, freeing me with a swift, confident pull. I growled, low and primal, as her fingers brushed me, teasing, her touch sending waves of need through me.
I pressed closer, my hands guiding her hips, our bodies aligning in a slow, deliberate slide. I entered her, the tight heat of her pulling a ragged groan from my chest, her gasp sharp and sweet against my ear. She clung to me, her legs tightening around my waist, her body meeting every thrust with a boldness that matched my own. We moved together, fierce and unyielding, the slick cave wall steadying us as the mist swirled, the glowing moss casting shadows across her skin. Her hands slid to my hair, tugging hard, pulling me into a deeper kiss, her tongue dancing with mine, her breath hot and uneven. I gripped her hips, my fingers digging into her skin, guiding her rhythm, each movement stoking the fire between us. Her moans grew louder, her body tightening around me, and I kissed her neck, my teeth grazing her pulse, her heartbeat racing under my lips. The bond between us burned, electric and primal, stronger than any law or curse. As we reached the peak, her cry echoed off the cave walls, her body shuddering against mine, and I followed,my growl mixing with hers, the world narrowing to the heat of her, the pulse of our connection.
We stayed there, panting, her legs still around me, my hands braced against the wall. I eased her down, her feet touching the stone, but we didn’t let go, her head resting on my shoulder, her breath warm against my skin. The mist settled on us, cooling the sweat on our bodies, and I brushed a strand of hair from her face, my thumb lingering on her cheek. “That was…” she started, her voice shaky, a small laugh breaking through. “I don’t even have words.”
