Chapter 124: Chapter-124

Raven's POV

Magnus stepped right into my path, his massive body completely blocking the gravel walkway.

"Get out of my way, King Magnus," I snapped, gripping the clipboard tighter. I shifted the box higher, refusing to drop my gaze.

He didn't move an inch. His eyes dropped to my straining forearms. Before I could attempt to walk around him, his large hands clamped down on the bottom of the box, effortlessly relieving the strain on my arms.

"Don't forget what you are, Luna Raven," he said. His Lycan authority lingered behind every word, a silent warning I couldn’t ignore. "You're the contract breeder. If you break yourself, it becomes my problem. I'll handle the heavy lifting. Go find another job."

His eyes didn't move off my face. What an arrogant, insufferable jerk. Why did he always have to remind me of the contract? He didn't care about my well-being; he just cared about his precious investment.

Shoving forward with every bit of strength I had left, I slammed the box against his bare chest, forcing him to take the entire load.

But as I ripped my hands away, my fingers scraped hard against his. Before I could pull back entirely, his palm slapped over mine, pinning my hand tightly against the rough cardboard.

My palms were still pressed against the rough cardboard, but now his hands covered them completely, trapping both of my hands between his grip and the box. He held the massive weight effortlessly, not letting his hand move even an inch.

“Let go of me,” I muttered, tugging against his hold as I tried to free my hand.

But he didn’t; in fact, his grip only tightened, keeping my hands pinned in place as his gaze locked onto mine.

He didn't budge. Something amused flickered in his eyes, as though he already knew he'd won.

"You can try all you want, Raven," he murmured, leaning down until his face was close enough that I had to fight the urge to step back. "But you can never truly separate yourself from me."

What was that supposed to mean? Before I could demand an explanation, he released his grip, effortlessly hoisted the forty-pound box onto his shoulder, turned on his heel, and walked past me toward the medical cabins without looking back once.

………………..

I dusted the dirt off my hands and exhaled weakly, finally done with the inventory. By the time I finished my work, the sun was already sinking behind the trees, painting the sky in shades of gold and orange. I walked down the gravel path, ready to head back to my own room and collapse into bed, when the roar of an engine echoed through the trees.

I turned, and my eyes caught sight of the black motorcycle approaching the cabin. The rider was moving fast, closing the distance between us. I jerked back in fear, barely jumping out of the way as he stopped inches from where I'd been standing. I was about to lash out at the rider when he pulled off his helmet. And I blinked in surprise. Zayne smiled down at me, his messy hair falling across his eyes. He shook out his hair, running a hand through it with casual ease.

This was a side of Zayne I'd never seen before. Not the polished Lycan King in his expensive suits and formal attire, but something raw and entirely different. He wore a leather jacket and dark jeans, and his whole new look made me forget what I was about to say.

"You're staring," he called out, amusement clear in his voice.

"I am not," I lied, heat flooding my face as I turned away.

"Since when do you ride?" I asked, trying to recover from being caught.

He shrugged, swinging his leg over the bike with grace. "Since always." He stood to his full height, towering over me. "There are many things you don't know about me, Luna Raven."

"Get on," Zayne said, tossing a spare helmet directly toward me. I caught it, my eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Where exactly are we going?"

"It's a surprise," he replied, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Now? Zayne, I'm exhausted. And soaked from..." I gestured to my damp clothes, covered in sweat and dirt from hours of work.

"One hour. Then I'll have you back at the mansion, warm and fed and ready to sleep." His lips curved into that slow smile that always made my heart skip. "Please."

One word. One simple word, and it was enough to make me reconsider every rule I'd made about staying away from the Lycan Kings.

I strapped the helmet on and climbed onto the bike. "You have a psychotic obsession with surprises," I said, shaking my head, as I settled in behind him.

He laughed softly. "I only obsess over giving them to you."

His sincerity caught me off guard, and a strange sensation stirred in my chest.

I was already swinging my leg over the seat behind him when Zayne turned his head and gave me a wicked grin.

"You know, this would be a hell of a lot more fun if you sit on the front tank, facing me. So I could kiss you while I drive." I slapped his bicep. A breathless laugh escaped before I could stop it. "You are absolutely out of your mind." His smile widened. "Only for you."