She turns to face the door, her heart pounding against her ribs. The bathroom is still shrouded in steam, obscuring her vision. Then she sees him: Jason, silhouetted against the dim light filtering in from the moon, his sharp features barely visible in the haze.
His eyes, however, are clear, burning with a predatory intensity that makes her breath catch.
They follow her every move, consuming her with their unblinking gaze.
He's in the bathroom with her.
And she has nowhere left to run.
"Jason," she whispers, her voice a mere tremor in the thick, steamy air. "What are you doing here?"
He doesn't answer. He just steps closer, his presence filling the small space, pushing against her like a suffocating fog. He doesn't need to speak. His gaze alone is a powerful force, a silent command.
The steam, no longer a calming veil, now feels like a trap, the humid air pressing in on her, mimicking the sensation of his approach.
She backs away, her hand reaching out to steady herself against the cool tiles.
He moves in, slow and deliberate, each step a calculated encroachment on her sanctuary.
The scent of his wolf, musky and primal, becomes stronger, filling her senses and making her head spin.
She tries to resist the pull, to maintain a semblance of control, but every instinct in her body screams at her to flee.
But then, a different sensation pierces through her fear - a surge of undeniable desire, a primal pull that matches his own.
It's the mate bond, a powerful connection that has awakened, igniting a fire in her soul.
The fear is still there, raw and real, but now it's eclipsed by a powerful longing that she never knew existed.
He stops inches from her, his shadow eclipsing her completely. His eyes, now visible in the flickering light, appear black as night, swallowing anything within their reach.
"Jason please stop this. You can come after me later"
"Later," he murmurs, his voice a low, guttural rumble. "You always say 'later,' Amelia." He leans closer, his breath warm on her cheek. "I want now. I want you now."
He's right. The want, the need, is consuming her. Even as she fights against the urge, her body trembles in anticipation, a desperate dance of resistance and surrender.
She can't deny the pull, the raw, primal energy that binds them together.
"No," she says, her voice a defiant whisper. "Get out."
The air crackles with tension. Her words seem to hang in the mist. She knows he will do whatever he wants. But she has to try. She can't allow him to take control.
Not now.
Amelia's heart races as she grapples with the tempest of emotions swirling within her. The steam wraps around them like a thick curtain, intensifying the already charged atmosphere.
She can feel Jason's presence enveloping her, a magnetic force that both terrifies and exhilarates her.
In that moment, defiance surges through her veins. She takes a deep breath, summoning every ounce of strength she possesses.
"You don't get to decide for me," she says firmly, though her voice quivers slightly. The fight in her is ignited, fueled by the need to reclaim her autonomy.
Jason's lips curl into a smirk, but there's an edge to his gaze—a flicker of admiration mixed with something darker.
"You think you can resist me?" His voice is low and dangerous, an intoxicating blend of challenge and promise.
"You're mine, Amelia"
With those words, a wave of heat washes over her, igniting the primal bond that thrums between them.
She feels it deep within her core, a visceral response that contradicts her resolve.
But she can't allow herself to be swept away by the tide of desire; she won't be another victim of his allure.
Amelia takes a step back, pressing against the cool tiles as if they could anchor her in reality.
"I won't let you control me," she asserts, channeling all her fear into determination. "I'm not afraid of you."
"Then why are you trembling?" he counters smoothly, inching closer again, his eyes glinting with mischief and challenge.
In a flash of instinct, she pivots and darts toward the door—her only chance for escape- but he was faster.
"Amelia!" Jason growls, his voice low and threatening.
His breath was warm against her skin, and she could feel the electricity crackling between them. She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure, but his presence enveloped her like a warm blanket.
"Why do you always run away?" he asked, his voice a mix of challenge and curiosity.
He stepped even closer, closing the distance until she could feel the heat radiating from him.
"Maybe you just want me to catch you," he whispered, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her pulse quicken.
"You're mine," he whispers, his breath hot on her skin. "I want you."
But she can't fully believe him. She can't even begin to understand the depth of this connection, the raw, primal force that compels her heart to beat faster, and her body to crave his touch.
But fear, the sharp, biting terror of a trapped bird, dominates every other sense.
"No," she breaths, her voice a desperate, fragile whisper.
His hand moves, his fingers tracing the outline of her cheek, his thumb gliding over her jaw.
"You're mine," he says again, each word a low, authoritative murmur. "You're meant to be mine."
She knows she is right to fear him. His touch is a threat. A promise of pain wrapped up in a fleeting, dangerous pleasure.
"Stop it," she pleads, her voice barely louder than a sigh. "I need... I need some space."
He doesn't move. His gaze, dark and intense, is fixed on her, the predator poised to strike. The scent of his wolf intensifies, musky and primal, and she can feel the pull of the mate bond, a primal instinct at war with her terror.
His hand moves again, this time cupping her face. He leans close, his lips brushing against her ear, a whisper hot and urgent. "I know you want me, Amelia. You can't deny it anymore."
He can sense her fear, but it intensifies the thrill for him, the struggle for control.
His hand moves down her neck, sliding through her naked body, finding the curve of her shoulder, the edge of her collarbone.
Amelia tries to pull back, but he's too strong, his touch too compelling.
The fear that had been a sharp, cold edge now burns with a searing heat. She panics, her breath coming in quick, ragged gasps.
But he pushes forward, his lips meeting hers in an insistent, demanding kiss. He tastes her fear, her resistance, and it only makes him want her more.
And then, a sharp rap on the bathroom door breaks the tension. It's a sound both unwelcome and strangely welcome. Daniel.
"Amelia? Is everything alright?"
The sound of a voice, a voice she trusts, is a reprieve. She tries to pull back, to disentangle herself from Jason's hold. But he holds her tight, his grip steely, his need insatiable.
"Don't answer him," Jason growls, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm almost there."
He pulls her closer, his lips moving down her jaw, his tongue tracing the sensitive skin at the edge of her neck. The touch sends shivers down her spine, a mixture of terror and a strange, forbidden excitement.
"I don't have time for this," she whispers, her voice a mere breath. "We need to stop."
Even as she speaks, the knock on the door intensifies. And then, she hears the worried tone in Daniel's voice, his concern cutting right through the fog of fear and desire that surrounds her.
"Amelia, please? Is everything okay?"
His voice is a lifeline. Her heart beats faster, her breath catching in her throat.
"Just a minute, Daniel!" She calls out, her voice strained.
Jason holds her tighter, his lips grazing the delicate skin just below her ear.
"You're mine, Amelia," He whispers against her skin. I'm going to have you. He doesn't know what this bond means. He can't understand. But you're mine, and you're going to be mine."
She can feel the power of his presence, and she can't deny the pull of the mate bond, the raw, primal desire it evokes. His touch, his gaze, his desire, is a force she can't ignore. She's fighting a battle that she knows she might not win.
But she can't give in. Not yet.
The knock on the door is frantic now. She can't allow herself to dwell on the impending danger. She needs to get out of here. As fast as she can.
With a deep breath and a renewed sense of defiance, Amelia strides towards the door.
As her hand reaches for the handle, she hears Jason's voice, a low growl that sends a chill down her spine. "You're going to regret this, Amelia."
But she doesn't hesitate. She throws the door open, her hand immediately fumbling for the lock, and throws it shut with a resounding thud.
She can hear the unmistakable growl of frustration behind the door. It's a sound that makes a shiver of fear run through her.
But her fear is quickly replaced by a sense of urgency, a need to regain control of the situation. She turns to face Daniel, her expression carefully neutral. "What's going on?" she asks, her voice steady
"I was wondering if you were okay." His gaze sweeps over her, noticing the tremor in her hand, the way her breath hitches in her throat. "Are you all right, Amelia? You look pale."
He moves closer, his hand reaching out to her arm. "I was just checking on you. You seem… shaken." He glances at the bathroom door, a slight furrow appearing on his brow. "Is everything okay?"
She instinctively pulls away from his touch, her heart pounding. The memories of that moment, the way his presence had filled her with a terrifying blend of longing and fear, are still so real.
Her eyes flit nervously to the bathroom door, where Jason still remains trapped, his wolf's growl a steady pulse in the background.
"I'm fine," Amelia says, her voice a strained whisper."
He didn't press further.
"I'm sorry I came in here. You were gone for so long and you sounded like you were telling someone to leave "
She didn't reply.
"I'll just wait outside. If you're done, I want to talk to you"
No reply again.
"Alright, I'll leave now" he said and left the room.
She left Jason in the bathroom to be struggling with the door.
She quickly wore something decent and she takes a deep breath, a desperate attempt to regain control of her emotions and went out to the living room.
When she came out, She didn't find Daniel in the Living room. He was in the kitchen.
"Daniel, I'm in the living room. Come in here." Amelia said trying to draw his attention.
"Hey, Amelia." Daniel hesitates, looking intently at her, worry etched on her face. "I want to apologize for the way I acted when… when I kissed you in the car. It was wrong. It was impulsive. I'm so sorry." He hesitates, his eyes fixated on her, the desire to speak his truth a tangible longing in the air.
" I… I wanted to say that..." He pauses, searching for the right words, his voice catching in his throat. "I think I'm in love with you, Amelia. I've been trying to ignore it, but I can't. I love you."
His confession hangs in the air, a bold statement amidst the chaos. The truth of his words, the sincerity that shines in his eyes, is clear. She sees the genuine love in his heart, the vulnerability he is willing to share with her.
But at the same time, she can't look away. She can't ignore the echoes of Jason's touch, the primal pull of their mate bond, the undeniable force that still threatens to consume her.
"Amelia?" His voice is laced with concern, a tremor of fear behind his confident words. "What's happening? What are you thinking?"
The question hangs in the air, a challenge she can't ignore. The truth, a heavy weight, rests on her shoulders.
"Daniel," she whispers at last. "I… I need you to know something. " She takes a deep breath, her voice cracking with the strain of her emotions. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. And it's time you knew."
She looks at him, her heart pounding, a tangled mess of fear and desire, truth and lies, a storm of emotions gathering within her.
"Tell me what's happening. What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." He says his worry, his concern, a tangible tension in the air.
Gathering all her courage, she forces a small smile. "It's just... I've been keeping a secret that i should have told you the second you came in," she whispers, her voice barely above a breath.
He raises an eyebrow, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. "A secret? What is it, Amelia? You can tell me anything." He squeezes her hand gently, offering a reassuring smile.
"It's - it's about Jason," she says, her voice wavering. "I can't pretend anymore. Jason is my mate."
The words hang in the air, a stark declaration that shatters the serene moment between them. The shock in Daniel's eyes is mirrored in Amelia's, her heart aching with the weight of her confession.
The world around them seems to shrink and shift, the air no longer a comforting presence, but the icy stillness of a storm about to break.
"Your mate?" Daniel's voice is a mere whisper, a question that hangs in the air like a threat. The light in his eyes has dimmed, replaced by a flicker of something darker, something colder.
Amelia can't help but notice the change in him. His expression has shifted from concern to a guarded composure, a wall of defense rising immediately between them.
"I... I didn't want to tell you. Not like this. But… I couldn't keep it from you any longer."
She can see the hurt in his eyes, a wound that is yet to heal. She understands why he feels the way he does, the confusion and the fear that are so evident in his gaze. She knows that this revelation will change everything between them.
He doesn't speak, but his silence is a storm unto itself, the air thick with the unspoken questions swirling around them.
"I'm sorry, Daniel. I didn't want it to - it's just… I don't know how to... I'm not sure what to say." Amelia pulls her hand free from his grasp, the sudden distance between them mirroring the growing chasm in their hearts.
The scene at the cabin, the tension between Jason and Amelia, and the bond that had been formed between her and Daniel—those moments are now shrouded in a thick fog of uncertainty, each feeling now a dangerous unknown.
It's a chilling realization, a heavy weight that weighs heavily on her.
"I'm - I'm so sorry," she whispers.
"Sorry for what?" He asks. There's an edge to his voice, a steely resolve behind his words, and a hint of anger that Amelia wouldn't have expected.
She swallows hard, her throat tightening. Her heart is a heavy stone in her chest.
"I'm sorry for… for everything. For the confusion, for the secrets, for… for the things that have happened."
He leans forward, his gaze intense, his voice low. "You're telling me... that this man, this Jason, he… he's more than just a threat. He's something… something more than just a danger? He's… he's your mate? In that sense?"
The air is charged with tension, a storm brewing just below the surface. Amelia tries to find the words, to explain the impossible, the undeniable pull of the mate bond.
"Yes," she whispers.
His silence is deafening, more terrifying than any words he could speak.
The weight of the truth is a crushing reality.
He looks at her, his face taut, his jaw clenched. He takes a step back and the space that opens between them feels like the growing divide between their hearts.
"You… you were going to keep this from me?" He says, his voice a rough, raw rasp. "All this time?"
"Daniel please try to understand, I just found out tonight "
He reaches out, his hand grasping for hers, but he stops. His gaze sweeps over her, a mixture of anger and longing in it. It's a gaze that penetrates her, a gaze that searches for answers she can't give.
"Amelia… I thought… I thought we had something real. Something special."
He's hurt, and he doesn't bother hiding it. His love for her, the truth of those feelings she had seen reflected in his eyes, it's now twisted with a raw, violent rage that threatens to consume them both.
"I… I can't explain it," she whispers. "The bond… it's not something I chose."
Her words hang heavy in the air. There's a flicker of anger and confusion in Daniel's eyes.