As Nick walked away, Malcolm unlocked his front door.The scents of home—pine from the wooden floors, the lingering aroma of his morning coffee—washed over him as he stepped inside.
He moved through his daily routine on autopilot, his mind churning with the events of the day, the wolves who were undoubtedly talking to Nick even now, and the announcements to come the next day.And through it all, Malcolm found his thoughts drifting again and again to Larissa.Her fierce determination, her sharp mind, the feel of her lips against his during that stolen kiss.
The way she tasted.
Could he really give all that up?
Even if it meant becoming alpha?
CHAPTER 22
THE SOFT GLOW OFmoonlight filtered through Larissa’s bedroom window that night, casting long shadows across the floor.
She tossed and turned, the sheets tangling around her legs as sleep continued to elude her.Her mind raced, replaying the events of the past few days in an endless loop.
The pack meeting.Hannah and Gregory’s betrayal.The impending decision about the new alpha.
And Malcolm.
Always, infuriatingly, Malcolm.
Larissa groaned, flipping onto her back and staring at the ceiling.She could still feel the warmth of his body next to hers as they stood united before the pack.
“This is ridiculous,” she muttered to herself, sitting up.“You’re competing to be alpha, not starring in some cheesy romance novel.”
But even as she chastised herself, Larissa couldn’t shake the image of Malcolm’s face—his strong jaw, those piercing eyes that always seemed to see right through her carefully constructed walls.She remembered the feeling of his lips on hers, passionate and demanding, during their stolen moments of weakness.
The feel of his lips elsewhere…
Larissa growled in frustration.She had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let herself be distracted now.The last thing the pack needed was a leader whose thoughts kept drifting to her rival’s muscular arms and slightly crooked smile.
Throwing off the covers, Larissa began to pace the length of her bedroom.The cool wooden floor creaked beneath her bare feet as she considered her strategy, all the reasons she was the best choice for alpha.Her knowledge of pack law, her diplomatic skills, her ability to see the big picture.
But with every turn, her gaze was drawn to the window.
To the path that led toward Malcolm’s house.
Catching sight of herself in the mirror, Larissa paused.She had always prided herself on her self-control, on making decisions based on logic rather than emotion.But now…
“What are you doing, Larissa?”she asked her reflection softly.“You can’t afford to be weak.Not now.”
As if in defiance of her own words, Larissa reached for clothes.She pulled on a pair of jeans and a soft sweater, movements automatic as her mind continued to whirl.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Larissa was out the door.The cool night air of Sunburst hit her skin, along with the scents of the desert—sage, sand, and the faintest hint of upcoming rain.
Her feet began to move, seemingly of their own accord.Larissa knew where they were taking her, even as part of her mind screamed at her to turn back.
This was madness.What was she even planning to say?
But she couldn’t deny the almost physical force drawing her toward Malcolm, toward the one person who had always pushed her, challenged her, made her question everything she thought she knew about herself.
As she walked through the quiet streets of Sunburst, she picked up on the nighttime activities of the town.An owl hooted in the distance, its call echoing off the walls in town.A group of younger pack members were still awake, their laughter drifting from an open window.She heard the faint strains of music—probably from the Desert Sunrise Diner, where so much had unfolded recently.
All of it served as a reminder of what was at stake.These were her people, her responsibility.How could she even think about jeopardizing her chance to lead them, to protect them, for something as selfish as attraction?
Still, she walked on.
As Malcolm’s house came into view, Larissa’s steps slowed.It was a modest cabin, set slightly apart from the others.A porch swing creaked gently in the breeze, and a dim light shone through one of the windows.
