The Phoenix Returns

The Phoenix Returns
Nicole had promised herself that in this lifetime, she would never again become the shy, careless woman she used to be.
Apparently, the universe found that promise hilarious.
Because the moment she entered a cave with Alpha Ace Carter, every bit of common sense she had disappeared.
She had been acting like an idiot since their eyes met.
She couldn't think straight. She couldn't even lie properly, and Nicole had become so good at lying that she could normally do it half asleep.
But around Ace?
Her mind simply stopped working.
Maybe it was fear.
Anyone with a brain would be nervous around the Demon Alpha of the West.
But Nicole knew there was something else.
Every time Ace came close, every time he spoke, every time those eyes settled on her, something strange happened inside her.
Her body reacted before her mind could stop it.
And she hated that.
After Ace disappeared deeper into the cave, Nicole pressed a hand against her chest.
Her heart was still beating far too fast.
Worse, his scent remained everywhere.
Nicole picked up the dry shirt he had left for her.
The moment she brought it close, his scent surrounded her.
Without thinking, she buried her face in the collar.
Then immediately jerked back.
What the hell?
“Get it together, Nicole.”
She pressed a palm against her forehead.
“It's lust. Nothing more. He's handsome. Anyone with working eyes would be affected.”
Yes.
That was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
“That's all. Don't forget who he is or what he's capable of.”
Ace Carter had killed her nine times.
That fact alone should have been enough to destroy whatever strange attraction she felt toward him.
Nicole quickly removed her soaked shirt and shoved it into her bag.
Then she pulled Ace's dry shirt over her head.
His shirt was huge on her.
She tightened the fabric around her waist and tucked some of the excess into her pants.
Luckily, Nadine had insisted that she bring an extra pair of pants.
For once, Nicole was grateful for her habit of overthinking everything.
She changed into the dry pants and carefully adjusted the bindings around her chest.
Once everything was secure, Nicole looked toward the deeper part of the cave.
Ace hadn't returned.
She had no idea what he was doing.
She also didn't understand why he had allowed her to leave so easily.
Nicole decided she didn't want to know.
She swung her bag over her shoulder and hurried toward the entrance.
Before her thoughts could betray her again, she slipped out of the cave.
Ace Carter
Ace sat on a broad slab of stone near the back of the cave.
Silence had returned.
Which meant she was gone.
Good.
At least, that was what he told himself.
Ace tapped his fingers against the stone.
Thane remained restless inside him.
His wolf didn't need to speak for Ace to understand exactly what he wanted.
Follow her.
Bring her back.
Mark her.
Ace ignored him.
Then he sensed another presence.
“I know you're there,” Ace said calmly. “Come out.”
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then a low chuckle echoed through the cave.
“As expected.”
A man stepped from the shadows.
“You're still the only one who notices me even when I completely hide my presence.”
Ace slowly opened his eyes.
The man standing before him had bright red hair that almost seemed to glow in the darkness.
His movements were slightly unnatural, as though he still wasn't comfortable with his own body.
Ace immediately understood why.
This wasn't his real form.
The phoenix raised an eyebrow.
“Don't tell me you don't recognize me. Is it the human form? Or did you finally forget me after all these years?”
“Phoenix.”
The man's smirk widened.
“I remember you.”
Satisfaction flashed across his face.
Ace studied him.
“I just don't know why you've taken human form.”
The phoenix shrugged.
“Something happened. For now, I'll be staying like this.”
His gaze moved over Ace.
“What I don't know is whether I should be more surprised that you were casually talking to another person...”
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Or that the woman you were talking to is the one who freed me.”
Ace said nothing.
The phoenix clicked his tongue.
“As expected. Still cold.”
Then something changed in his expression.
His smile sharpened.
“Let's see if you're still as strong as you used to be.”
Ace remained seated.
“Or maybe you've grown rusty after all these years.”
The phoenix rolled his shoulders.
Huge wings began to spread from his back.
He didn't get another step.
A blade appeared against his throat.
The phoenix froze.
His eyes dropped toward the weapon before slowly returning to Ace.
“You know that blade can't kill me.”
“That's why I'm still sitting.”
Ace's voice remained calm.
“If I wanted you dead, I would've bothered to stand.”
Silence filled the cave.
Then the phoenix laughed.
The challenge disappeared from his expression.
“You're still as strong as ever, Ace Carter.”
Ace lowered the blade.
Their history went back centuries.
Long ago, Ace had wandered too close to phoenix territory.
The phoenix attacked him without warning.
Ace defeated him within minutes.
The phoenix challenged him again.
Ace defeated him again.
And again.
No matter how many times he lost, the stubborn creature kept coming back, demanding rematches and provoking Ace in the hope that one day Ace would finally take him seriously.
Ace had never considered him a threat to his pack, so he allowed it.
The phoenix was loud.
Arrogant.
Annoying.
But strangely, Ace hadn't minded his presence.
Then one day, the phoenix was attacked.
Ace arrived too late.
By the time he found him, the phoenix had already been sealed and taken away.
Ace's expression hardened slightly at the memory.
Then he looked at the red-haired man standing before him.
“Did she make a deal with you?”
The phoenix nodded.
“She did.”
“Are you going to keep it?”
Another nod.
“At least for now.”
His familiar smirk returned.
“She's interesting. More interesting than anyone I've met in centuries.”
His gaze sharpened.
“And judging by how you treated her, she's more interesting to you than you'd like to admit.”
Ace's expression didn't change.
The phoenix tilted his head.
“Who is she to you?”
Ace remained silent.
A knowing smile slowly spread across the phoenix's face.
“Well. I'll find out eventually.”
He turned to leave, but stopped after a few steps.
“Oh, and about her...”
Ace looked at him.
“She said she was...”
The phoenix deliberately stopped.
Ace's eyes narrowed.
Then the irritating creature waved a hand.
“Actually, never mind. Telling you would ruin the fun.”
Ace's stare became colder.
The phoenix only grinned.
“You'll figure it out yourself.”
He turned away again.
Then, as if remembering something, he glanced over his shoulder.
“And one more thing.”
Ace waited.
“My name isn't Phoenix anymore.”
The red-haired man's smile widened.
“For now, call me Lucas.”