Without really thinking about it, he veered off the main path, deeper into the woods.This was his element—the wild, untamed forest that called to his wolf as surely as the moon ever had.
A new scent caught his attention, one that made his pulse quicken for reasons that had nothing to do with the hunt.Larissa.
Malcolm hesitated, warring with himself.
He should leave her be.They were rivals, after all.Competitors for the position of alpha.
And she’d run away after he’d won the competition.
But the pull was too strong to ignore.
He followed her scent, moving quietly through the underbrush.The sound of running water reached his ears, growing louder as he approached.
He pushed through a thicket of ferns and emerged at the edge of a small clearing.
A stream cut through the glade, its clear waters bubbling over smooth stones.And there, kneeling at the water’s edge, was Larissa, in her human form.
Malcolm’s breath caught in his throat.She was washing up after the hunt, her guard down in a way he’d rarely seen.Water droplets glistened on her skin, catching the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy.Her hair, usually so neatly tied back, fell in loose waves around her shoulders.
For a little while, Malcolm forgot about the competition, about the pack, about everything except the woman before him.
She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that.There was a strength in her, a ferocity that called to something deep inside him.
Get it together, he chided himself.She’s your rival, not…
He forced his inner voice to silence before he could finish the thought.
But even as he refused to think it, Malcolm knew it wasn’t that simple.Not anymore.
He must have made a sound, because Larissa’s head snapped up.In an instant, her usual composed mask slipped back into place but not before Malcolm caught a glimpse of vulnerability that made his chest clench.
“I didn’t hear you approaching.”
He stepped into the clearing, into the tension crackling between them.“Sorry,” he said, though he wasn’t, not really.“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Larissa stood, brushing off her clothes with quick, efficient movements.“Congratulations on your win,” she said.“It was well earned.”
“Thanks,” Malcolm replied, moving closer.“You didn’t make it easy.That feint by the ravine?Brilliant.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Larissa’s mouth, a rare show of genuine pleasure at the compliment.“I thought I had you for a second there.”
“You nearly did,” Malcolm said.It wasn’t easy to acknowledge—he’d always prided himself on his physical prowess—but it was true.“Your strategy was solid.If I hadn’t caught that last-minute shift in the wind…”
“It was a good learning experience,” Larissa said.“Next time, I’ll—” She stopped speaking, something—embarrassment?Frustration?—flickering across her face.“Well.There’s still a long way to go in this competition.”
Part of him bristled at the implied challenge.This push and pull between them, the constant dance of rivalry and attraction, was starting to drive him crazy.
“It’s not just about physical strength, you know,” he said.“Being alpha, I mean.”
Larissa raised an eyebrow, surprise evident in her expression.“I thought that’s what you’ve always believed.That the strongest wolf should lead.”
Malcolm rubbed his hand across his face, frustrated by his inability to articulate the thoughts swirling in his mind.“I used to think that,” he said.“But after everything we’ve been through with Vincent… I don’t know.Maybe there’s more to it.”
“Just because that’s the way it’s always been—stronger wolves killing the alpha and taking over—doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.”
“And you’ve got skills I don’t,” he said softly.“The way you think, the way you plan… It’s impressive.”
Larissa’s eyes widened slightly as she was clearly caught off guard by the admission.For a moment, her carefully maintained composure slipped, revealing a vulnerability that made Malcolm’s chest tighten.
