Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers
Chapter 55: Ready to Accept Her

Chapter 55: Ready to Accept Her

Draven:

The moment my lips touched hers, I knew I was in trouble. Not because she didn’t kiss me back, but because she did.

Completely.

Wholly.

Like her body had been waiting for this even longer than mine had.

She tasted like honey and something else, something addictive and maddening, and I wanted more.

I deepened the kiss almost instantly with no hesitation. My hand stayed curled around her waist, anchoring her to me, while the other rose to the back of her neck, sliding through damp strands of her hair.

Her fingers were clenching the edge of the dresser behind her like she needed something to hold on to. Like she was trying not to fall.

But I felt it.

I felt the way her body pressed into mine, the way her breath hitched against my lips, and the way her chest rose and fell in sync with mine.

And just like that, the kiss turned feverish.

I growled low in my throat and pulled her closer, crushing the remaining space between us. She gasped softly at the force of it, and I took advantage of that moment, angling my head and deepening the kiss until we weren’t just breathing each other in... we were consuming.

Her lips were soft, warm, and addictive. Every movement, every breath, felt like it tore another piece of my control away. I wasn’t supposed to want this. Not with her. Not with someone who bore the Greystone name and blood.

But her scent was driving me insane.

The connection between us was pulsing harder now, like something old had awakened and was clawing at the inside of my chest, demanding I surrender - and my wolf was responding.

It wasn’t just lust.

It was need.

It was bond.

It was her.

When she finally broke the kiss, it was with a soft, shaky breath. Her lips were pink and slightly swollen. Her eyes were wide with disbelief and something else. Something fragile and unsure. But she didn’t pull away from me.

I watched her, trying to memorize every damn detail of her face, every flicker of emotion that was crossing her eyes. This close, I could see the golden halo around her pupils and I wondered if she knew how unnatural that was. How beautiful. How terrifying.

"I wasn’t supposed to kiss you," I admitted and brushed my nose lightly against hers.

Her hand had somehow ended up curled into my shirt, and I doubted she even was aware of it. "Then why did you?"

"Because I couldn’t stop myself."

The words came out rough. Honest. It hurt to speak them, like ripping a confession from my own bones.

I was already unraveling.

"Every time I see you," I said slowly, "I tell myself to stay away. That this is a mistake. That you are a mistake."

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t interrupt.

"But then I catch you laughing with your friends, or walking through campus like you don’t know everyone’s watching, and all I want to do is get closer. Hear your laugh. Touch your damn hand. Smell your skin. I don’t know when it started. I just know I hate it."

Her voice was soft as she asked, "Then why give in to it?"

I let out a dry breath before answering, "Because I have been trying to fight a war that I have already lost."

I leaned in again and brushed my lips over her jaw, her cheek, her temple. "When you are not around, I can breathe. I can think. But when you walk into the room, everything else stops existing."

"I didn’t ask for this, Draven."

"I know," I said. "Neither did I."

There was a long pause.

Her breath ghosted across my skin. And I felt her body relaxing slowly in my arms, like she didn’t realize she was letting her guard down. And maybe she wasn’t. Maybe something in her, something deeper than her mind, had already made the choice.

I wasn’t sure whether that terrified me or thrilled me.

Then, she laughed. It was hollow, one that didn’t reach her eyes.

"What?" I asked.

She stared right into my eyes as she spoke, "Nothing. Just wondering how long it’s going to take you this time to change your mind again. Maybe you will find me tomorrow to remind me who I am and how I should stay far away from you."

Her words hurt, and for the right reasons. "I know you don’t trust me, yet. But I’ll prove to you that I’m indeed ready to accept you."

Her eyes widened in shock at my words, filled with disbelief. And I decided to mark my words with actions. So, I kissed her again.

Harder.

Hungrier.

She responded with a soft sound - half surprised, half surrendering. Her body curved into mine like we were two halves of something ancient finally meeting at the seam.

My fingers gripped her waist as I turned us slightly, pressing her back against the wall beside the dresser. She gasped into my mouth at the movement, but didn’t let go. Her legs brushed against mine, and everything inside me roared to life.

But I held back.

Barely.

Because if I kept going, I wouldn’t stop. And I couldn’t do that to her. Not yet.

I broke the kiss slowly before pressing one last lingering kiss to the corner of her mouth.

As I pulled back, she blinked. And I saw the moment reality came rushing back into her eyes.

"I should go," I said quietly.

Her expression didn’t change and she only nodded.

But as I stepped away, she reached out suddenly and touched my arm. Not hard. Just a light brush of her fingers. "Draven..."

I paused and turned back toward her.

Her mouth opened, then closed again.

I waited.

But she said nothing.

And that was okay.

Because we had said everything already.

I stepped toward the balcony, sliding the door open and stepping into the moonlight. Her scent was clinging to my skin. Her taste still lingered on my tongue.

I didn’t know where this would go.

But I knew one thing for damn sure.

Evaline Greystone was mine.

Whether she accepted it or not.