The quiet stillness of the forest seemed to hold its breath as Eva and Valen stood there, just a few feet apart. The space between them felt charged, as though every moment that passed carried with it the weight of everything unspoken between them.
Eva glanced at Valen, her heart pounding with an unfamiliar rhythm. Her mind was racing, torn between her responsibilities as an Alpha and the pull she felt toward him. There was something undeniable between them—something that had been there from the very first time they had met, even if neither of them had fully acknowledged it until now.
Valen stepped closer, his presence magnetic. His gaze locked onto hers, and she felt the intensity of his focus, the way he seemed to see through her defenses. The cool night air swirled around them, but in this moment, it felt like nothing existed outside the space they shared. The rest of the world was a distant memory, and all that mattered was the quiet pull between them, drawing them closer.
With a soft sigh, Valen raised his hand to gently brush her hair back from her face. His fingers lingered for a moment, as if memorizing the feel of her skin. The touch was tender, hesitant, as if he was afraid of breaking something fragile. Eva’s heart fluttered, a soft ache blooming in her chest as she looked up at him.
For a long moment, they stood there. Then, Valen took another step closer, his breath warm against her cheek as he leaned in. There was vulnerability in his eyes, something raw and unguarded that she hadn’t seen in him before.
Without a word, Valen closed the gap between them, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters. Eva’s breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his lips, the way his hands settled on her waist, pulling her closer. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. It was just the two of them, wrapped up in the quiet magic of the night and the unspoken desire that had always simmered between them.
But then, just as quickly as it had started, the moment was broken.
“Eva,” a voice called out sharply from behind them. “We need to talk.”
Both of them immediately pulled away from each other, startled by the interruption. Eva’s heart sank, and her stomach twisted into a knot as she turned to face the source of the voice. There, standing in the clearing, was Max. His face was tense, his jaw clenched, and his eyes were dark with frustration.
Max’s presence immediately shifted the atmosphere, turning what had been an intimate moment into something cold and uncertain. Eva’s chest tightened, and she fought to keep her emotions in check. She hadn’t expected him to find them, let alone show up now, in the middle of everything.
Max took a step forward, his eyes flicking between Eva and Valen, before focusing solely on her. “Eva, I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.
“Perfect timing huh?” Valen remarked. The frustration in his tone was evident but then Eva looked at him and gave him a small nod. Valen kissed Eva’s hand and left.
Eva crossed her arms over her chest, her heart still racing from the kiss she had just shared with Valen. She forced a smirk onto her lips, trying to mask the swirl of emotions inside her. “Didn’t know you remembered how,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm, though it was clear that there was more to her words than just deflection. Her hands trembled slightly, betraying the confusion and turmoil that had just settled in her chest.
Max didn’t flinch at her words. Instead, he took another step closer, his eyes softening just a little. “I made a mistake,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with regret. “I shouldn’t have ignored all those years. I am worried about you.”
Eva chuckled and shook her head. “Oh come on, you’re just here because of your parent’s order.” And with that she turned to leave.
But Max was quick to grab her arm, “You can’t trust him.”
