Chapter 98 Chapter Ninety-Eight

Chapter 98 Chapter Ninety-Eight
Kaelani turned at the sound of his steps, her gaze finding him easily.

She wore a soft, midnight-blue dress, the fabric skimming her frame before falling mid-thigh.

Thin straps rested over her shoulders, disappearing along her back where the fabric laced down in a delicate, intricate pattern. Her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders, catching the light as she moved.

For a second, he just stood there, taking her in.

He stepped forward slowly, like he wasn’t entirely sure his body would cooperate if he moved too fast.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you,” she replied, a faint blush warming her cheeks. “You look very handsome yourself.”

His gaze stayed locked on her, something tightening low in his chest, that same pull rising again—stronger now, sharper.

If he had any less control—

he’d already be across the room.

Kaelani gestured lightly toward one of the chairs at the table.

“Have a seat,” she said. “I’m just finishing up.”

Julian pulled the chair out and sat, his attention lingering on her for a moment before the rest of the room settled back into focus.

A soft crackle carried from the living area, followed by a low, mellow melody drifting into the kitchen. He glanced past the open space and caught sight of the record player set on the table beside the couch, the vinyl spinning slowly as it filled the cabin with something warm and familiar.

His gaze shifted back to the table, simple but set with intention.

Kaelani stepped over and placed a plate in front of him—salmon, perfectly seared, with asparagus arranged neatly along the side and a portion of rice beside it.

Julian looked down at it, then back up at her. “This looks amazing.”

“I hope you like it,” she said. “It would be better if everything were fresh. I didn’t exactly plan on cooking here for anyone but myself.”

Julian met her gaze, a faint smile touching his mouth. “I’m sure I will.”

She held his eyes for a moment before something clicked in her expression.

“Wait.”

She turned quickly and disappeared toward the back. Julian listened as drawers and cabinets opened and closed while she searched for something.

A moment later, she returned with a long, elegant candlestick and holder in her hand.

She set it at the center of the table, struck a match, and lit the wick. The flame caught, casting a warm, steady glow across the table.

She stepped back, taking it all in—the meal, the setting, the soft music drifting in from the living area—before her gaze settled on him, quiet satisfaction softening her expression.

Kaelani took her plate from the counter and set it down across from him before sliding into her seat.

She didn’t look up right away, but when she did, she found his eyes already on her.

Her lips curved into a small, shy smile before her gaze dropped again, her fingers reaching for her fork as if she suddenly needed something to do with her hands.

Julian mirrored the movement, but his attention stayed on her.

The realization settled in fully, striking him with a quiet intensity that felt almost unreal.

He was here.

With her.

Not in passing. Not in sleep.

Here.

His heart picked up, steady and strong, the feeling sitting somewhere between disbelief and something far more dangerous.

They both took a few bites, the quiet between them not uncomfortable, just… new.

Julian broke it first.

“This is really good,” he said, glancing up at her. 

Kaelani looked up, a small smile returning. “Thank you.”

Something shifted in her expression, her eyes widening slightly.

“Shit.”

She pushed her chair back and stood quickly, disappearing toward the back again. 

Julian watched her go, a faint smile tugging at his mouth as she rushed off a bit flustered. A moment later, she came back into view, a bottle of wine in her hand.

“I put it in the freezer and completely forgot about it,” she said, a hint of breathless apology in her tone. “I wanted everything to be in place before you came out.”

She moved to one of the drawers, pulled it open, and rummaged briefly before finding a corkscrew.

Julian stood and stepped around the table, reaching for it. “Please,” he said, holding out his hand. “Allow me.”

She handed him the bottle and corkscrew before returning to her seat.

Julian worked the cork free with a quiet pop, poured her glass first, then his, and set the bottle down between them before sitting again.

For a moment, he just looked at her.

Then he lifted his glass.

“To getting it right this time.”

Kaelani’s gaze held his for a second before she lifted hers in return.

Their glasses met with a soft clink before they both took a sip.

The wine was smooth, slightly chilled, settling warm as it went down.

Julian set his glass on the table and looked back at her. “Is this your favorite?”

Kaelani nodded. “It is.”

“What about you?”

“I’m not much of a wine drinker,” he admitted. “I usually go for whiskey.”

“Oh,” she said, a faint curve forming at the corner of her lips. “So you like the hard stuff.”

“Something like that,” he replied through a smile.

She took another sip, setting her glass down.

“So,” she said, studying him, “what do you do when you’re not being an Alpha and saving people from bad situations?”

Julian let out a quiet breath.

“I train,” he said. “A lot. Keeps me focused. And I run.”

“You like to run?”

“In wolf form,” he clarified. “It’s the only time I can outrun my thoughts.”

She nodded, her expression contemplative. “I’ll have to test that.”

A warmth settled in his expression. “We can run together.”

Their eyes held.

“I’d like that,” she said.

He gave a quick nod, like it was already decided.

“What about you?” he asked. “When you’re not running a bakery?”

“I bake,” she said with a soft laugh. “Even when I don’t have to. It’s calming.”

She leaned back slightly, picking up her fork again.

“And I garden. It helps keep me grounded.”

Julian’s gaze stayed on her, interest sharpening.

“You put all that together yourself?”

“I did.”

A brief pause passed before she asked, “What’s your favorite food?”

“Anything that doesn’t come out of a training facility kitchen,” he said dryly. “But if I had to pick—steak. Medium rare.”

“Noted.” She smirked.

He watched her for a moment before asking, “Favorite place?”

Kaelani considered it briefly.

“It was my bakery,” she answered.

Then she looked back at him.

“Yours?”

Julian held her gaze a moment longer.

“Anywhere… with you.”

The words settled between them, quiet and honest.

They finished their meal slowly, the conversation continuing in softer tones, the wine taking just enough edge off to let the questions come a little easier, the answers a little more open.

When they were done, Kaelani gathered their plates and moved to the sink, turning on the water as she began to wash them.

Julian sat there a moment before rising, both empty wine glasses in hand.

He crossed the space between them quietly. Then she felt him, the front of him pressed lightly against her back as he reached past her, rinsing the glasses beneath the running water before setting them carefully on the counter beside the sink.

He didn’t step away.

Instead, he stayed there, the warmth of him settling in behind her, his presence unmistakable now.

His head dipped slightly, his face brushing near her hair as he breathed her in.

It grounded him.

More than anything else had.

His hand lifted slowly, fingers tracing down the curve of her shoulder, light, deliberate, her skin warm and impossibly soft beneath his touch.

“Can I have this dance?” he murmured.

Kaelani turned off the sink, drying her hands on a towel before slowly turning to face him.

Her gaze lifted to his. “I don’t know how to dance.”

Julian’s expression softened, his hand extending toward her. “Then I’ll teach you.”

She hesitated only a second before placing her hand in his.

He led her out into the living area, the soft music from the record player filling the space as he guided her into position. Gently, he lifted her arms, settling them around his neck, his hands finding her waist with quiet certainty.

“Just follow me,” he said.

They began to move, slow and unhurried, the rhythm easy enough to fall into without thought.

Kaelani’s gaze stayed on his, steady and searching, while her senses sharpened to everything about him. His scent wrapped around her, cedarwood and spice, warm and tantalizing, something that felt both new and impossibly familiar at the same time.

She exhaled softly, her body easing into the movement as she let him lead.

Just as Kaelani began to settle into the rhythm, Julian shifted his hold, guiding her into a slow turn.

She followed his lead, the movement smooth and unhurried, until her back met his chest, the space between them disappearing as he drew her in.

His hands settled at her waist again, steady and sure, as they continued to sway to the music.

Kaelani’s breath caught softly, her body reacting before her mind could catch up to the change in proximity.

Julian’s head dipped slightly, his nose brushing along the curve of her neck as he breathed her in.

The scent of her enveloped him, immediate and consuming, sending a sharp awareness through every nerve in his body.

He held her there, the rhythm slowing as the connection between them tightened with every second.

Kaelani’s eyes closed, her head tilting slightly as she leaned into the sensation of his face at her neck, a slow heat building beneath her skin.

Her body moved with his, but there was nothing passive in it now. She pressed back into him without thinking, her hands sliding over his forearms, feeling the tension in the muscle beneath her fingertips, the strength in the way he held her.

Behind her, she could feel him—solid, warm, every line of him defined through the thin space between them. The rise and fall of his chest, the way his breath had begun to change, deeper now, less controlled.

The shift in him wasn’t subtle. Neither was the sudden press of his cock against her ass, growing harder with every second.

Julian suddenly stepped back, creating space where there hadn’t been any.

His breath came heavier now, controlled but strained, as he dragged a hand through his hair, forcing himself to reset.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice rougher than before. “I’m… really trying to keep it together here.”

In a flash of violet light, Kaelani vanished from in front of him—

only to reappear an instant later in his arms.

Her arms locked around his neck, her legs wrapping around him as her body pressed firmly against his.

Her lips crashed into his, the kiss immediate and unrestrained, full of want—of need that had been building far too long to ignore.

Julian’s hands gripped her ass firmly, lifting her slightly as he kissed her back with equal force.

Nothing had ever felt like this.

Nothing compared to the way she fit against him—the only woman he’d ever wanted like this… wanting him just as much.

She caught his lower lip between her teeth, the bite light, teasing, meant to provoke more than restrain. At the same time, she pressed her core against his hard length, deliberate in the way she moved, leaving no question of what she wanted.

Julian’s breath hitched, the reaction immediate, his control slipping another inch under her touch.

She pulled back just enough to break the kiss, her gaze locking onto his.

“Make love to me, Julian.”