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170
ALTHEA

I didn’t know whether to trust him anymore. Not fully. Not yet.
And yet, there I was, walking beside Alpha Collin through the fields just outside the Blood Moon pack territory. The sun was warm, the wind soft, carrying the smell of grass and wildflowers. It was… normal. Peaceful. Almost unnervingly so.
“You brought me out here,” I said, trying to sound casual. “What for?”
He glanced at me, one corner of his lips curving up mischievously. “To get you out of the pack house for a few hours. To give your wolf some air. And to… surprise you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Surprise me? You’re terrible at surprises.”
“Depends on what you call ‘terrible,’” he replied, amusement threading his voice.
We walked a few steps in silence before we reached a small clearing framed by wildflowers and sunlight. And there it was: a picnic spread. Simple, rustic, but carefully prepared. A blanket, two baskets, fresh bread, cheese, fruits, even little pastries arranged neatly on a platter.
I blinked. “You did all this?”
“Some of it,” he admitted easily. “Some Kaylie. But I made sure it was mostly me. Even the drinks.”
Heat rose in my chest—not from the sun. Not entirely.
I glanced at him. “You… you really went through all this for me?”
He shrugged, trying to look casual, failing spectacularly. “You’ve had a rough few weeks. Thought you might like a break. Plus, I wanted to see you without steel and stone around you.”
“You mean without the pack and… everyone watching?” I asked softly.
“Yes,” he said simply. And when his gaze met mine, steady and unwavering, I felt my heart hammering.
We sat down on the blanket. I tried to act composed, careful to keep distance. Alpha Collin, of course, ignored my invisible boundaries. He sat close—close enough that our shoulders brushed. Close enough that I felt the warmth radiating off him.
“You’re staring,” he said softly, with that infuriating ease of his.
“I’m… admiring the food,” I replied, fumbling for an excuse.
He tilted his head, smile tugging at his lips. “Uh-huh. That’s what they all say. My guess? You’re admiring me.”
I glared, cheeks heating instantly. “No!”
“Yes,” he said calmly. “Crimson. It’s my favorite.”
I groaned, trying to hide my blush behind the blanket.
He leaned closer, voice teasing, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. “You whimper too easily. I’m keeping track.”
“I—stop,” I whispered, flustered, yet my body betrayed me, responding instantly to the heat of him.
He chuckled softly, watching me melt, enjoying the way I struggled to maintain composure. I hated that I couldn’t.
I tried to focus on the picnic. Tried to eat, tried to distract myself with food. But every time I lifted a piece of bread, his gaze caught mine. Every time I looked up, he was there, observing, patient, teasing, like he was both predator and sanctuary.
“You know,” he said softly, leaning back slightly, “I could kiss you right now. But I won’t.”
I felt my stomach flip traitorously. “Stop… stop saying that.”
“Why?” he asked. “Because you want me to or because you don’t?”
I had no answer. I only felt the warmth of him, the pull I couldn’t resist, and the crimson heat rising again across my cheeks.
“You’re impossible,” I muttered.
“Yes,” he admitted easily. “And you’re absolutely, maddeningly… mine.”
I wanted to push him away. I wanted to run. I wanted to act like the Luna of the pack—the responsible one, the strong one.
But sitting there, the wind in my hair, the warmth of the sun, and him close enough to feel every subtle movement… I didn’t.
I let myself just sit there. Frustrated. Blushing. Melting.
And Alpha Collin? He leaned back, enjoying the view, savoring every second of my struggle, every flicker of weakness, every subtle admission my body betrayed before my mind ever could.
It was a simple picnic. A quiet afternoon. But I realized, suddenly, that it was more than food.
It was him showing me—again—that he could try to be gentle. That he could be patient. That he could tease me, push me, and still protect me.
And for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to relax, to feel… almost at home.
Almost.
Because with Alpha Collin, I knew the teasing—and the tension—was far from over.