an's

the helmet in Adrian's outstretched hand,

h was he try

ement right there on the field, his voice devoid of warmth. Because of

held me captive, and somehow, I foun

moved. One short step brought him right up against me

s, threaded with that unmistakable trace of blood.

helmet straight out of my hand

his cool fingers lightly

lightning. Every muscle along my back went rigid,

hing to me, but inside the helmet, the thunderous pou

word rea

ady thrown one long leg across the sleek blac

he glanced back at me and held out his broa

e black visor, I couldn't even be

ot to make it obvious, I brushed my damp hands against

guard. A thin layer of calluses brushed against my

nce, I quickly swung myself on

muffled through the helmet, but that wild, reckle

tered the silence. The motorcycle surged forward, shooting out o

l force that I nearly flew off the back,

rush of smeared lights and colors, while gus

nd sedans. Never once had I experienced the sheer i

death, yet the rush w

metal tail wing, every inch

seemed to pick

back with the other. His leather glove closed around my wrists

ing off." The wind nearly swallowed his words, but I sti

ing hard with his broad, straight

every thought in

now locked tightly

ble metallic tang of blood. Yet beneath it, I could s

to get close to this man. All that time, I had

t him from behind, my arms wra

es and lingering anger. Even the promises I had made to give up on h

I meant something

ce of hope I had frozen

motorcycle eventually crossed the

fir trees. The air had grown noticeably cooler and damp, scente

track that didn't appear to have a single marker. The narro

gine, the crashing torrent be

e motorcycle, lifted off his helmet,

thoughts, I glanced around in c

Without another word, he crossed to the bike, rummaged through a stora

oward the waterfall, making sure I followed safely

ealed behind that relentless torren

ay through, we found ourselves standing i

ls, the place was unbelievably quiet, almost like a hid

even know this plac

a broad, dry piece of bluestone, he settled onto it and extend

lization struck me. H

ght out of my head. I hurried to his si

off his clothes, leaving his

. His shoulders were wide and muscular, his collarbones shar

a commanding Alpha presence that seemed

anyone look that ri

ears. Mortified, I dragged my attention away from his body and focused on his left shoulder in

I picked up the tweezers and carefully ri

scratch like this is enough to bother me?" With a

, teasing smile tugging at his mouth. "Tell me something, Vivian. You've been giving me quite the t

nt sent a rush of heat into my cheeks. He had caught

your body looks incredible. Happy? But honestly, with how capable you are,

medicine against his injured should

t dreamlike stillness. Only the low, distant

blood, dusted the area with styptic powder, and secur

did I notice how litt

ed, I shot to my feet and tried to retreat, only for him to pull hi

d do was stare. "Wait, d

th texts for the past two years. Getting a respon

clear he wasn't inviting a debate. "My old number gets bombarded with family drama and school pr

ve, thudding so hard I cou

sonal n

anyone

hat might mean. Dropping my gaze, I fished o

save button when a towering fig

ard me, close enough that a soft rush

een, reached past me and gave the contac

ting my face toward him, thoroughly

Save me as

ore I could even try to swallow it. "Seriously? The prestigious Blackwood Pack's noble

s just me, I'd rather be Peter Pan. What's so wrong with that?" His voice had softened c

ng a glimpse of the stubborn, rebel

stant, icy behavior at sch

his shoulders. With so many people watching his every move, he had never

he world was nothing more than armor he had built

n the surrounding rocks, spilling a soft, reddi

ong time, talking about a

, but whenever I launched into some funny piece of gossip, he list

g the flawless lines of his face. Somehow, just being there with him was enou

umiliated me on the

threatened to en

ave all th

lips curve into a smile as sweet as

d already fo