THE BLOODLINES: SHANICE

Chapter 9 (Edited)

They'd just finished their rounds, and Reggie was on cloud nine. For a moment, he'd feared she'd reject him, the mere thought of it cutting him like a knife. Every time she'd scowled or shut him down, it felt like a stab to his heart. He'd waited his whole life for a mate, and he was certain it wouldn't end badly. Not for him and her. It just couldn't. 

The thought of her not accepting him was almost unbearable. He knew there was a chance he'd be okay, but the risk of going feral was high. As an Alpha, everything was more intense. It was almost laughable that someone as strong and respected as he could be brought to his knees by a single person. She was an Alpha too, and she'd feel the pain and sadness just as much.

Two feral Alphas? It was a dangerous mix. So when she gave an inch, he was ready to take a mile. They needed to mate, and it needed to happen yesterday. He had a pack to lead, and he couldn't stay long, but he wouldn't leave her unmated. He needed to be able to sense her presence, no matter the distance.

They'd been running for hours, exploring every corner of their territory. The security was impeccable—guards hidden in trees, bushes, and checkpoints. Cameras were everywhere, and every hour, the warriors checked in with code words. It was more intense than anything he'd ever seen.

As they headed back to her cabin, Reggie asked, "Why so much security?"

Shanice paused on the porch steps and turned to face him. "Besides the missing pack members, we have a lot of enemies. Our security has always been tight, but the disappearances have made us double down."

"I get it, but we're wolves," he said, giving her a pointed look.

"Do you think we're the most powerful species in the world, Reggie?" she asked, walking towards her door. "I've seen real power, felt its heat. And now, with our high-tech security, we've got a ghost. I've never faced a ghost before. With an unknown enemy, you don't underestimate them."

Reggie watched as she opened her door and turned to say goodnight. In a flash, he was by her side. She didn't flinch or shriek; she just smiled. "What?" she asked.

"I wasn't assigned a cabin," he said. "I think your sisters want me to stay here tonight." As she started to open the door again, he placed his hand over hers on the knob. Shanice let out an exasperated breath, her skin tingling from his touch.

"Please," he begged, his voice low and full of desire. "I'll be good, I promise." Shanice looked at him like he was crazy. Maybe he was—he had never begged for anything before. Yet here he was, begging for a spot on the couch. He knew he wouldn't see her bed unless he snuck in and risked castration.

"What are you, five?" she asked.

"No," he said with a grin. "I'm twenty-five. How old are you, by the way?"

"I'm twenty-four," she answered without thinking.

"Cool," he said, stepping past her and into the house. "I'll take the couch." He headed straight to the bathroom, hearing the door slam behind him. He didn't care. He was staying with his mate tonight.

****

Shanice had never experienced such a restless night. Tossing and turning, she couldn't find comfort. Every time she drifted off, her thoughts were haunted by the image of Reggie on her couch. The temptation to slip out and join him was torture. All she had to do was take ten steps outside her door.

She shook herself. She wasn't going to give in. Not today. She had decided to let him stay, but that didn't mean she had to jump on him at every opportunity. Right? After hours of battling with her restless mind, she gave up on sleep.

The kitchen was filled with the warm scent of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee. Shanice stood by the stove, stirring the scrambled eggs in a pan, trying to focus on the task at hand. But the weight of Reggie's gaze was impossible to ignore. He hadn't said a word, yet she could feel him watching her, his presence like a slow burn against her back.

As if sensing her thoughts, Reggie moved closer, his bare feet making almost no sound on the floor. She stiffened slightly when she felt the heat of him behind her, his tall frame brushing up against hers, barely touching. He reached around her, his hand resting on the counter beside her, caging her in.

"Smells good," he whispered, his breath grazing her ear.

Shanice swallowed, focusing on the eggs, but her heart was pounding in her chest. "It's just breakfast," she murmured, her voice unsteady.

"Is that what we're still talking about?" His voice was low, teasing, and the deep rasp of it sent shivers down her spine.

She shivered as he leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "Are you cooking for me, mate?"

Shanice spun around, trying to create space, but he was faster. He grabbed the spoon she had in her hand, laid it on the counter, and pressed his bare chest against her. "It's a good thing you can cook, mate," he murmured, his eyes locking with hers. "I have a big appetite."

The double meaning was clear, and the urge to lean in and kiss him was almost overwhelming. She longed to press her lips to his, but she held back. He looked like he'd slept well, his eyes clear and his gaze intense. He was watching her lips, making her aware of her own.

He moved, his large hands resting on her hips, his eyes dark with desire. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, a pull so strong it made it hard to think.

"Shanice," he said softly, leaning in, his lips just a breath away from hers. "How do you fight it? Why do you fight it?"

Her pulse quickened, her resolve weakening. She should step away, should put some distance between them, but his nearness was intoxicating like he was daring her to cross that invisible line they'd been dancing around since they met. His scent, a mix of his natural musk and the faint trace of soap filled her senses, making her dizzy.

Without thinking, her fingers curled around a shoulder, drawing him closer. "Reggie..." she whispered, but her protest was half-hearted at best.

He didn't wait for her to finish. His lips were on hers, soft yet insistent as if he'd been holding back for too long. The kiss started slow, a tentative meeting of mouths, but it quickly deepened. His hands slid from her hips to her lower back, pulling her firmly against him, her body fitting perfectly against his as though she belonged there.

Shanice's mind spun. Every brush of his lips, every sweep of his tongue against hers sent sparks of heat through her veins. She lost herself in him, the kiss igniting something raw and primal between them. She could feel the strength in his arms, the barely restrained hunger in the way he kissed her, and it made her feel alive—desired.

Her hands slid up his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his skin, and at that moment, she forgot everything—her responsibilities, the missing pack members, even her sisters. All that existed was him.

Reggie groaned against her mouth, deepening the kiss, his hands roaming over her curves, exploring. Shanice responded in kind, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him even closer. It wasn't enough. She wanted more, needed more, the fire between them growing hotter with each passing second. She moved against him, and he adjusted, giving her the right amount of friction. 

But just as Reggie's hands moved to her thighs, gripping her firmly as if he couldn't bear to let her go, the sharp sound of a door opening broke the moment.

They pulled apart, neither letting go. They were both breathless and wide-eyed, just as Imani appeared in the doorway, her soft voice breaking the tension.

"Shanice?" Imani's quiet tone was tentative, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the sight of them, standing so close.

Shanice stepped back, her heart still racing, her lips still tingling from Reggie's kiss. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and frustration at the interruption.

Reggie, on the other hand, seemed unfazed, his gaze still locked on Shanice as he smirked, his thumb gently brushing across her lower back before he finally let her go. "Good morning, Imani," he said smoothly, his voice filled with mischief.

Shanice, struggling to catch her breath, shot him a glare, but there was no denying the desire still simmering between them.