Chapter 146 First real pull
Chapter 146
DARIUS
I took off after her the second her feet left the ground, but Ravenna was quicker than I had anticipated. She darted forward with a burst of speed that caught me off guard, opening up several paces between us almost instantly.
Her laughter spilled across the garden—bright, unguarded, completely free. The sound hit me square in the chest and lodged there.
I pushed harder and closed the distance in seconds. The moment she realized I was right beside her, her eyes widened in playful horror.
She waved one hand at me without breaking stride. “No! Go away! You are not winning this!”
I laughed deeply clearly enjoying this but not wanting to spoil it, so I eased off just enough to let her pull ahead again.
She dissolved into giggles, clearly delighted that she believed she was actually beating me. Her red hair streamed behind her like a flag in the wind. Her feet skimmed the grass so lightly she almost seemed to float.
Hearing her this happy, this unguarded, did something strange and wonderful to my insides. My chest felt too tight and too full all at once, like it couldn’t decide whether to ache or burst open.
The fountain came into view ahead. I could see exactly how much distance remained.
And still I held back. Let her stay in front.
Because watching her win—watching her throw her arms up in victory—was worth far more than claiming the race for myself.
She reached the stone edge first and immediately started jumping in place, spinning to face me with an accusing finger pointed straight at my chest. “You owe me a drink! I won! I actually beat you!”
My smile stretched so wide it hurt. “I am proud of you. You won fair and square. So, I owe you a drink… and ice cream.”
Her eyes went huge. “You mean it?”
“I always mean what I say to you.”
She studied me for a long beat, searching for the lie that wasn’t there. Then her whole face lit up with the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.
“Are you ready to swim?” I asked walking towards the edge of the fountain.
“Yes!” She glanced down at herself. “But I am wearing a dress.”
“I can fix that.” I tugged my shirt over my head in one smooth motion and held it out to her. “Wear this.”
Instead of reaching for it, she simply stared.
Her gaze drifted slowly over my shoulders, down my chest, across my stomach, lingering where my trousers rode low on my hips.
I grinned, slow and wide. “Do you like what you see?”
She snapped into an exaggerated scowl. “No. Absolutely not.”
I clutched my chest like she had stabbed me. “You wound me right through the heart.”
“I doubt you even have one.”
“You are lying,” I said, still grinning. “I saw you blush while you were staring.”
“I was not blushing!”
“Your cheeks went bright red.”
“Shut up!” She snatched the shirt from my hand. “Turn around. And do not dare look while I change.”
I raised both hands in mock surrender and turned toward the river. “I promise not to look.”
Behind me came the soft rustle of fabric—her dress sliding off, the faint whisper of movement. My mind spun wild images I had no right to entertain. I had to clench my jaw and force myself to stay facing forward.
“Okay,” she said after what felt like an eternity. “You can turn around now.”
I turned slowly.
My breath snagged in my throat.
My shirt swallowed her. The hem skimmed mid-thigh, leaving her long, smooth legs bare. Legs I suddenly, desperately wanted to run my hands over. My eyes dropped even lower before I could stop them.
“Pervert!” she shouted. “Eyes up here!”
I snapped my gaze back to her face and gave her my most shameless, seductive grin. “Sorry. Could not help myself. You look incredible.”
“I look ridiculous.”
“You look perfect.”
Before she could argue, I launched myself into the river. The cold slammed into me like a fist, sharp and bracing. I welcomed it. Needed it to douse the fire licking through my veins.
I swam to the edge where she stood, hesitant, toes curling against the stone.
“Come on.” I held out my hand. “I will catch you.”
“It looks really cold.”
“It is freezing. But that is part of the fun.”
She took my hand, tentative at first. I guided her in.
The instant the water touched her skin she squealed and launched herself at me, arms locking around my neck, legs wrapping tight around my waist.
I caught her easily, pulling her flush against me.
Then I leaned in, brushing my nose along the delicate curve of her ear. “You smell sweet.”
Her eyes flew wide. She started smacking my chest. “Pervert! Pervert! You are such a pervert!”
But she was laughing—really laughing—even as her hands rained playful hits. That sound warmed places inside me I had forgotten could feel warm. It made me feel lighter than I had in months.
I started laughing too.
“I am letting you go now,” I warned.
“Do not you dare—”
I released her and dove under before she could finish.
I glided beneath the surface until I reached her treading legs, then gently caught her ankles and tugged her down.
I let go at once and kicked back to the top. We broke the surface together, both gasping, both grinning like idiots.
Then the laughter exploded out of us echoing through the garden.
“That was not fair!” she protested, still smiling so wide her eyes crinkled.
“All is fair in love and swimming.”
She went quiet for a second, expression shifting to something more serious. “How many girls have you brought here to do this with?”
I held her gaze, letting her see every bit of truth. “You are the first.”
She scoffed. “You are bluffing.”
“I am not.” I drifted closer through the water. “I have never brought anyone here. Not even pack members. This place has always been mine and Dorian’s secret. And now it is yours too.”
“I do not believe you.”
“I know why you would not. But it is the truth. You are the first person I have ever wanted to share this with.”
She fell silent again, those hazel eyes searching mine like they could peel back every layer I had ever built.
“Just say what is on your mind,” I said gently.
“I have got nothing to say.”
I did not believe her, but I did not push. Instead, I sent a splash of water her way. She gasped. Then fired one right back. And just like that we were at war: splashing, laughing, shouting over the spray.
Ravenna squealed and yelled at me to stop, but the grin never left her face. Atlas surged forward inside me, wild with the need to play with our mate properly.
I fought to hold him back, but he was too happy, too alive. I launched another wave at her. It was bigger this time because Atlas lent too much strength.
It hit her square and sent her tumbling backward under the surface. Panic clawed through me. I dove after her without a second thought.
She surfaced a heartbeat later, coughing, breathing hard.
I was at her side in an instant. “I am so sorry. I did not mean to hit you that hard. My wolf took over. He got too excited playing with you and acted on pure instinct.”
Water streamed from her hair as she looked at me. I braced for anger, for a shove, for anything.
Instead, her voice came out soft, curious. “Your wolf? You mean Atlas?”
I nodded.
Her whole face brightened with wonder. “Can I see him? Can you show me Atlas?”
Atlas roared with joy inside my skull. “Yes! Show her! Let our mate see us!”
“If I do not show you, he is going to force the shift anyway,” I admitted with a small, crooked smile. “So yes. I can show you.”
I closed my eyes and let the partial change roll through me.
Black fur rippled across my skin like midnight spreading. My bones shifted subtly. My senses sharpened to razor edges. And my fangs lengthened. When my eyes opened, they burned gold.
I watched her take it in. There was this pure, unguarded awe on her face. Slowly, carefully, she reached out and ran her fingers through the thick fur at my scalp.
Shivers raced down my spine at the contact.
Her hand drifted lower, resting over my chest. “You are beautiful,” she whispered.
Atlas rumbled low, pure contentment.
She glanced up quickly. “Was that Atlas? Or Darius?”
I chuckled, the sound rougher, deeper. “Both of us right now.”
“So, what should I call you? Atlas or Darius?”
Another soft growl from him. My voice came out gravelly when I answered. “Call me whatever you want, honeydew.”
She smiled at both of us.
And I found myself drifting closer through the water, drawn by a pull I could no longer fight.