Page 36 of Once You Go Pack
The gym doors opened with a soft whoosh, and every nerve in his wolf’s body went electric. Her scent hit his nostrils like a tornado, all-consuming and powerful. His massive head snapped toward the entrance and his green eyes blazed as they locked onto her.
She stood frozen in the doorway, her golden hair pulled back in a ponytail that exposed the elegant line of her neck. Those blue eyes went wide as they took in his wolf form—nearly two hundred pounds, built for dominance and power. But instead of fear, he scented fascination and something that made his blood sing.
Desire.
“Well, hello there,” Lyra’s voice cut through the charged atmosphere as she appeared beside Mila. “Looks like someone’s been working off some frustration.”
His sister’s knowing smirk was visible even through his wolf’s eyes. She could read the tension radiating from him like heat waves and could probably smell the mate bond crackling between him and Mila.
“You know what?” Lyra continued with theatrical brightness, “I just remembered I have somewhere very important to be. Anywhere but here, actually.” She shot Mila a meaningful look. “You two... can work things out.”
The doors closed behind her with a decisive click, leaving him alone with his mate. His wolf wanted to surge forward and press against her legs to mark her with his scent, then shift back and claim her mouth the way he should have last night. But some last thread of restraint held him still.
Mila took a step closer, her movements careful but unafraid. “You’re magnificent,” she whispered, and the awe in her voice nearly shattered his control.
The transformation back to human form happened without conscious thought. Power flowed through him as bones reshaped and muscles reformed, leaving him standing before her in all his naked glory. His arousal was evident and unapologetic, his body responding to her presence with primal honesty.
Her eyes darkened as she took him in—the broad expanse of his chest, the ridged muscles of his abdomen, and the proud evidence of exactly how much he wanted her. Pink flooded her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. If anything, her breathing quickened, and the scent of her arousal bloomed between them like wildfire.
She’s captivated,he realized with dark satisfaction.She wants me.
But the part of him that remembered duty and consequences—fought for dominance. He forced himself to remain still even as every instinct in his body told him to close the distance between them.
“Mila,” he said softly. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why?” She lifted her chin with the courage that had first drawn him to her. “Because you might lose control?”
Because I might devour you.“Because I don’t know if I can be the gentleman you deserve right now.”
Something in her expression caught him by surprise—a flicker of fire that made his pulse spike. “What if I don’t want a gentleman right now?”
His hands clenched as he fought the urge to stride across the space separating them and show her exactly what kind of man—what kind of wolf—he really was.
“You don’t understand what you’re asking.” His voice was rougher now, edged with the growl of his wolf. “If you stay here, if you keep looking at me like that...” He took a step forward despite himself, drawn by an invisible thread he couldn’t resist. “I can’t promise control.”
Her response was immediate, fearless, and devastating: “Then don’t.”
The last of his restraint crumbled like ancient stone. His wolf roared in triumph as Cade moved toward her with predatory grace, every line of his naked body radiating dangerous intent. The human prince who worried about propriety and consequences was gone, replaced by the Alpha wolf who was finally going to claim his mate.
The air between them seemed to crackle with energy, the mate bond humming like a live wire beneath his skin. Her blue eyes widened as his hands came up to frame her face.
He didn’t ask permission. He didn’t need to.
The moment his lips met hers, the world exploded into a kaleidoscope of sensation. Her taste—sweet and addictive—flooded his senses, and his wolf growled in satisfaction as she melted against him. His hands slid down to grip her hips, pulling her closer until she could feel every inch of his arousal pressed against her.
“Is this okay?” he breathed against her lips, his voice rough with need.
She nodded, her fingers tangling in his hair. “Yes.”
He didn’t hesitate. His hands moved with deliberate precision, stripping her of her t-shirt and leggings, then the delicate lace of her bra and panties. Within seconds, she stood before him, gloriously bare, and he felt his breath catch in his chest. She was breathtaking—her curves soft and inviting, and her skin flushed with desire. He traced the line of her collarbone with his fingertips, marveling at the way she trembled beneath his touch.
“You’re perfect,” he growled softly , his voice thick with emotion. “And you’re all mine.”
Her response was a gasp as he cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples until she arched into his touch.
“Cade,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
He groaned low in his throat, his wolf urging him to claim and to devour. But Cade forced himself to slow down and to savor every moment of this. This wasn’t just about desire—this was about connection and trust.
