Chapter 18

Emily’s POV

“ Nathan … ” I whispered, my voice trembling with raw pain.

The anger in his golden eyes faded as soon as he saw my face, replaced by panic. He dropped to his knees next to ne and gently held my burning face in his hands.

“ Look at me, Emily! ” His voice was a low, desperate rumble.

I tried. I really tried. But another wave of intense heat crashed through my body, and a helpless, broken whimper

scaped my throat.

Nathan muttered a curse. He picked me up in his strong arms. I pressed my face into his neck and breathed him n. Cedar and pine needles. His entire body went rigid.

“ We’re leaving. ” The command cut through the VIP section. Nathan didn’t bother looking at anyone as he carried

ne toward the exit. “ Move p>

Nobody argued. Not even Marcus.

Nathan carried me through the crowded club, and people quickly moved out of his way. The bass stopped shaking

he walls, and the whole room seemed to freeze, but I hardly noticed.

The cool night air hit me as soon as we stepped outside. Normally, I would have shivered, but right now it felt mazing. For a few seconds, the chill soothed the fire under my skin.

Two new black SUVS were idling near the entrance.

Blake was standing by the second vehicle with a young warrior who looked about my age. The moment Nathan

arried me out of the club, everything went sideways.

The intoxicating, sweet scent of my heat hit them instantly. Blake’s wolf showed for a split second before he nanaged to push it down, but the younger guy couldn’t do the same His nostrils flared and his pupils dilated as he

tared at me with raw, desperate hunger.

A low, lethal growl rumbled deep in Nathan’s chest.

Back. ”

Both warriors froze. Nathan’s Alpha aura exploded across the street, heavy and suffocating.

“ I said, back away. ”

Blake immediately stepped back, his hand snapping out to yank the younger wolf’s shoulder.

Owen, drop your eyes. Now, ” Blake hissed.

Owen. So that was his name. Owen trembled, finally tearing his gaze away from me and staring at the ground.

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Nathan walked straight to the first SUV, pulled the passenger door open, and gently helped me into the seat. Before letting go, his hand stayed on my shoulder for a moment.

He walked around the hood and got behind the wheel, starting the engine. Through the windshield, I saw Marcus, Liam, Jessie, and Tessa coming out of the club, heading straight toward their own line of vehicles.

Nathan didn’t wait for them. He slammed the SUV into gear, and the car launched forward.

I looked back in the side mirror. Blake jumped into the second vehicle and pulled out right behind us a moment

ater, while Marcus, Liam, and their convoy scrambled into their own four cars to give chase.

Then the city lights blurred, and the drive became a haze. The SUV raced through the dark, streetlights flashing across the windshield. Nathan turned the air conditioning as low as it would go, filling the cabin with cold air, but it lidn’t help.

Nothing did.

I curled up in the passenger seat, my stomach twisted in knots. Each breath brought in Nathan’s scent, and each one made the burning inside me worse.

My heart pounded, and my hands shook uncontrollably.

Nyx clawed at my thoughts, pleading, “ Closer. Need him. Need him now. ”

“ Emily. ” Nathan’s voice was tense, filled with something dark and hungry.

I looked at him. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather tore. A muscle

witched in his jaw.

He kept his eyes on the road, even when I reached out with a trembling hand and touched his arm, searching for

omfort.

Nathan took a quick breath and gently held my wrist, as if I might break.

“ Not like this, Emily, ” he said, his voice rough and full of pain.

I looked at him through my tears, my chest tight with rejection. Did he not want me? Was I too broken for him?

Please … ”

The word slipped out before I could stop it. I was begging. It was humiliating, but the need was too strong.

Nathan closed his eyes for a moment, his chest rising and falling. Then he slammed on the gas, and the SUV sped nto the night. Faster and faster.

Suddenly, the city lights vanished. The road narrowed, and massive, dark trees surrounded us.

A few minutes later, the SUV screeched to a stop right on the shore of a lake, the dense forest closing in around it. Nathan moved fast, opening the passenger door and lifting me into his arms,

12:22 pm

I gave in, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. His entire body went rigid, and I could feel the raw power vibrating through his muscles. But he didn’t drop me.

He carried me toward the water, the lake shining like silver in the moonlight.

Nathan didn’t pause. He walked straight into the freezing water, still wearing his boots, pants, and shirt.

The cold water quickly rose around us, first to our ankles, then our knees, then our waists.

Then he slowly lowered my burning body into the lake.

The moment the freezing water touched my skin, a broken gasp escaped my lips. Relief. Sweet, beautiful relief. The heat under my skin started to fade. It wasn’t gone, but the pain eased.

Nathan held me close with one strong arm, keeping me above the deep water. He was protecting me.

I leaned my forehead on his wet shoulder, my heartbeat slowing. We stayed quiet for a while, surrounded by the

vater, the moonlight, and the pull between us. Eventually, I forced myself to look up.

The moonlight reflected perfectly in Nathan’s eyes. His wet shirt clung to his chest, revealing every single muscle. nstinct took over. The heat flared again, and I moved closer, my lips parting.

Nathan caught my wrists right away, firm but gentle.

“ I won’t take advantage of you, ” he whispered, his voice absolute and certain. “ Not like this. ”

The lake fell completely silent. Even Nyx went quiet.

I stared up at him in disbelief. He was a powerful Alpha. Ryan had been an Alpha too, but everything about this

elt different.

Ryan always grabbed. He demanded. He took whatever he wanted. Even when Ryan smiled, it was just a reminder of how much stronger he was than everyone else.

Nathan was stronger than Ryan could ever dream of being, yet he treated me like something precious instead of a iece of property. The way he held my wrists wasn’t meant to trap me. It was meant to keep fe steady.

The realization cut deep. For years, I believed that power and cruelty always went hand in hand, and that all Alphas were exactly the same demanding, cold, and entitled. Ryan had drilled that lesson into me.

Nathan was completely tearing it down.

The cool water finally eased my burning skin, and the heat began to fade little by little. Deep exhaustion replaced

he pain, and my eyelids grew heavy. I leaned into his chest.

Nathan noticed immediately. His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me securely against his warm chest.

“ That’s it, ” he murmured, the low rumble of his chest soothing my soul. “ Just rest, Emily. ”

I let my heavy head rest on his shoulder.

12:22 pm

ppp.

“ Nathan … ” I whispered into the dark.

Hm?

Suddenly, engines reared and shattered the quiet by the lake. Headlights flashed through the thick trees and lit up the darkness.

Two massive SUVS pulled up, their headlights cutting through the dark brush. The vehicles rolled to a screeching top near the shore. Car doors flew open, and heavy footsteps crunched loudly on the gravel.

“ Nathan, did you suddenly decide to go swimming? ”

Next Chapter

Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.