A Confession
Draven’s gaze held hers, dark and unyielding, his intent clear as he reached for her. His hand traced the line of her jaw, his fingers tilting her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his piercing gaze. A flicker of heat surged through Isla, and she felt her resolve slipping beneath the intensity of his touch.
“Are you ready to seal this deal, Isla?” he murmured, his voice low, a dangerous whisper that sent a shiver down her spine.
Isla’s breath caught as his hand slid down to her waist, pulling her closer until her body pressed against his. She barely had time to register her own racing pulse before his lips claimed hers, firm and demanding. The kiss was electric, a collision of power and need, and she felt herself melting, drawn into him like a fire stoked to life.
Her hands found their way to his chest, feeling the strength beneath his shirt as his arms encircled her, holding her possessively. Draven’s kiss deepened, his mouth trailing from her lips to her jaw, and then down the sensitive skin of her neck. Each touch, each graze of his lips against her skin, sent a wave of heat coursing through her.
“You want this,” he murmured against her neck, his breath warm, his voice filled with certainty. “You want to be here… with me.”
She could barely form words, her mind lost in the sensation of his touch, the fierce thrill of his hands anchoring her in place. “Yes,” she whispered, breathless, barely recognizing her own voice.
Draven’s mouth returned to hers, the kiss turning slower, more deliberate, as if he were savoring each second. His hands tightened on her waist, possessive, sending a clear message: she belonged to him now, no one else.
But just as her heart began to surrender completely, a sharp knock echoed at the door, breaking the spell between them. Draven pulled back, his expression darkening as one of his warriors barged in.
“Alpha, we know who she is,” the warrior said, glancing at Isla with suspicion. “And where she’s from.”
Draven’s expression hardened. “How?”
The warrior hesitated, then answered, “We found her twin sister lurking near the border. She looks exactly like her, Alpha. They’re from the Midnight Crest pack… daughters of the Alpha. If the Midnight Crest pack knows she’s here, we’ll be in for trouble.”
Isla felt the blood drain from her face, panic threading through her as Draven turned toward her, one eyebrow raised, amusement mingled with irritation in his eyes. “Looks like someone’s here to fetch you, Isla,” he said, voice edged with mocking disbelief.
“No, please,” she whispered, stepping forward, her hands trembling. “Don’t send me back. Just tell them I’m not here.”
Draven crossed his arms, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and cold calculation. “Why would they be so eager to drag you back, Isla? You’re the Alpha’s daughter. Why would your own father want to kill you?”
“Because I’m not good enough,” she choked out, the words slipping out unbidden, raw and bitter. “I’m… not strong like my sister. My family decided I’m not worthy of their name.”
Draven’s gaze flickered, a faint interest sparking in his eyes. But before he could speak, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, steady and cold. Isla’s heart plummeted as she recognized the clipped, deliberate rhythm of Seraphine’s stride, each step edging closer, like a warning that she could never escape.
“Please, Draven,” Isla whispered, her voice barely steady. “If Seraphine finds me here, she’ll drag me back, and I won’t survive it. Hide me.”
Draven’s face was impassive as he contemplated her, though something dark and calculating flashed in his gaze. He leaned in, his tone a low, dangerous whisper. “Fine,” he murmured, his lips brushing close to her ear.
“But consider this another deal. From this moment on, you’ll be my Chosen Luna. And in return… you’ll bear me an heir.”
Before she could reply, the footsteps stopped just outside the door.
