II

II
“Hello, human.”

The familiar voice sent a shiver down my spine. I froze, turning slowly to face him. Trey.

My breath caught in my throat. I hadn’t expected to see him tonight, but there he was, standing in front of me. The same teasing grin tugged at the corners of his lips, but there was something different about him. He was dressed differently, too. Gone were the shredded jeans from earlier today. He wore baggy jeans that hung dangerously low on his hips, and he was barefoot, his feet sinking slightly into the snow. As he stepped closer, the cold air felt like it didn’t touch him at all. His scent—musky, earthy, and familiar—washed over me, sending a wave of warmth through my chest.

"Tr—Trey," I stammered, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

The umbras, the strange, swirling lights that had danced around me only moments before, now darted toward him. They encircled him, their vibrant colors bouncing against his olive-toned skin like glowing confetti in the night air. He seemed oblivious to their presence, but I couldn’t look away. It was impossible not to notice how perfect he looked with them swirling around him, almost as if they were attracted to him—drawn to him, just like I was.

Trey tilted his head at me, his grin widening. “What’s wrong, Feyre? Why are you out here in the snow without shoes and a sweater?”

I didn’t immediately argue, distracted by the way the umbras danced around him like they were playing. They seemed to flow in time with his movements, and for some reason, it made my heart race. I reached out without thinking, gently stroking his cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against the cool air.

“They like you,” I murmured, almost under my breath.

Trey’s expression shifted, his eyes flickering with confusion as he grabbed my hand, holding it gently against his cheek. His touch sent a sharp pulse of heat straight to my chest, making my heart thud in my ears.

“They like me?” he asked, his voice dropping lower as he placed a soft, lingering kiss against my palm. The sensation shot through me like an electric current, and I couldn’t help but shudder. My head was spinning, my core tingling from the touch.

I nodded slowly, watching the umbras circle him. “Yeah. They like you because... your energy is pure.”

He raised an eyebrow, looking down at me with a mix of amusement and curiosity. “What?” he asked, as if he hadn’t heard me correctly.

I chuckled nervously, my fingers still lightly grazing his cheek. “The umbras, Trey. They’re attracted to you.”

He laughed—a throaty, rumbling laugh that made my stomach flutter. “You see them, too?”

My eyes widened, surprised. “You don’t?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. A chill ran through me as I realized just how strange all of this was.

He shook his head, smiling with that infuriating, teasing grin of his. “Only Mariamme could see them. Not all werewolves can. Not even I can see them.”

Before I could react, Trey moved with surprising speed, lifting me effortlessly by the waist and setting me down gently against the porch. The cold wood beneath me contrasted sharply with the warmth of his hands still resting on my waist.

“You shouldn’t be out in the cold, human,” he teased, his voice low and playful.

I snapped back to myself, my heartbeat accelerating. “I’m fine,” I said, crossing my arms and giving him a playful smirk. “You’re the one standing here with no shirt and no shoes.”

Trey just chuckled, his gaze locking with mine, a glimmer of something deeper behind his eyes. “Fair enough. But what about you? What are you doing out here all alone?”

I bit my lip, hesitant for a moment. “I couldn’t sleep. I was... thinking.”

He raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly. “Thinking, huh? About what?”

I shifted slightly, the cold nipping at my skin, but the warmth of his presence was enough to keep me grounded. “Why are you out here?” I asked, the question slipping from my lips before I could stop myself. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

Trey hesitated for a moment, his playful grin faltering just slightly. His gaze softened, and I could see a flicker of something in his eyes—a kind of tenderness I wasn’t used to seeing from him.

“I came to make sure you were sleeping okay,” he admitted quietly, the teasing tone gone from his voice.

My heart skipped a beat. “You came to make sure I was sleeping right?” I asked, a little taken aback. “Why?”

He looked away briefly, as if searching for the right words. When his gaze returned to me, the teasing was back, though softer. “You’re not the only one who gets restless, Feyre.”

That was the first time ever he had said my name, and I liked it. I like the way it rolled off his tongue as softly as it did.

I stared at him, my mind racing. What was he really saying? Why was he really here?

But before I could ask more, Trey leaned in, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, “But you should get inside. It's freezing out here.”

And though my body was shivering from the cold, I couldn't bring myself to move. Not yet. Not while he was so close. Not while I could feel his warmth so close, and could feel goosebumps spread across my skin from the contact.\`

Trey smirked, stepping back slightly as he crossed his arms, still watching me with that same, maddening grin. “Unless you want to keep standing out here in the snow... but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

I rolled my eyes, shaking off the warmth that flooded through me as I met his teasing gaze. “Fine, I’ll go inside. But only because you made me.”

He laughed softly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yeah, yeah. That’s what I thought.”

As I turned to step back inside, my heart still racing from the way he'd made me feel, I couldn’t help but wonder just how much more I didn’t know about him. As I stood there by the door, my heart still racing from his presence, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing between us. The weight of his touch lingered on my skin, and the air felt thick with words I wanted to spew. I hesitated, my hand still on the doorknob, my mind a mess of conflicting thoughts.

Then, almost as if he knew what was going through my head, Trey’s voice broke the silence.

“Why are you still standing there, Feyre?” His voice was low, teasing, and wrapped in that familiar, throaty tone that made my pulse spike.

I glanced over my shoulder, finding him standing at the edge of the porch. The umbras continued their dance around him, but this time, it felt different. It felt like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

I swallowed hard, my mouth dry, pulse pounding behind my ears. Without really thinking, I walked back to him, my feet dragging on the porch. As I approached, I felt a sudden chill run down my spine. It wasn’t from the cold, but from the way his eyes were locked on mine—intense, unreadable.

He raised an eyebrow, watching me closely as I fidgeted in place, nervous energy radiating off me.

“I—” I began, unsure of how to put it into words, “I just wanted to thank you. For being... nice to me. You and your brothers.”

His expression softened, but there was a hint of amusement still lingering in his gaze.

I took a deep breath, struggling to find the words as I shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “I haven’t had a friend in a long time... I know it’s only been a day, but... I really appreciate you.” I glanced at the ground, feeling stupid as the words tumbled out of me, my voice wavering slightly.

Trey stepped closer, a smirk spreading across his lips. “If you don’t stop this little rant, Feyre, I might just have to kiss you.”

My heart leapt in my chest, and before I could think, my mouth spoke the words before my brain could catch up.

“Dare you.”

The words hung between us, thick and tense. He paused, his expression flickering as if contemplating my challenge. His eyes darkened slightly, his lips curling into a smirk that made my stomach flip.

Then, without warning, he closed the gap between us.

His lips were on mine in an instant, his touch smooth and certain, shutting me up as he had promised. The kiss was deep and urgent, like he was claiming something he’d longed for. My body stiffened at first, but it didn’t take long before I melted into him, my hands finding purchase against his chest as his arms snaked around my waist.

He pulled me closer, lifting me off the ground effortlessly, my feet dangling slightly above the snow-covered porch. My heart hammered in my chest as I felt his warmth envelop me, his strength wrapping around me. My breath hitched in my throat, and I couldn’t help but shudder against him, my body responding to the intensity of the moment.

His lips moved with a slow, deliberate pressure, pulling me further into the kiss, as if we were both desperate to close the gap between us. I lost myself in the feeling, the world outside of us slipping away.

When he finally broke the kiss, his breath was ragged, his forehead resting against mine. His arms still held me tightly, keeping me pressed to him, and I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, matching the frantic rhythm of mine. Thud. Thud. Thud.

“You’re a handful, Feyre,” he whispered, his voice thick with desire, but there was something else there too—a softness I hadn’t expected.

I bit my lip, blushing. “You’re not exactly a saint yourself.”

Trey chuckled, the sound low and rich in the air around us. “Never said I was.”

The umbras swirled around us. It was almost magical, my first ever kiss. He dropped me to the floor, my legs jellifying as I struggled to stand without swaying. “Get inside, before I kiss you again,” he said quietly, his voice teasing. 

I didn’t need any more encouragement. I let out a shaky breath, still reeling from the kiss, and nodded, stepping back toward the door, but not without glancing back at him one last time.

He stood there, watching me for a few minutes longer, before he finally turned and walked back into the night, leaving me standing in the doorway, my heart still thudding in my chest.