Louve POV
I groaned as the harsh rays of sunlight seeped through my closed eyes, forcing me to roll sideways. My eyes fluttered open slowly. As soon as I flapped my eyes open, for a moment I didn't remember where I was.
Then the scent reached me.
Rosemary…. And him
My heart skipped.
I turned my head towards the empty side of the bed. The sheets were still warm, slightly creased from where Lynx had been lying hours earlier. Memories from last night flooded my mind all at once—the way he looked at me in the dark living room, the sound of his voice after years apart, and the familiar pull that neither of us had been able to fight.
Twelve years
Twelve years of hiding, longing, and pretending we could live separate lives while our packs hated each other. And yet the moment we stood in the same room again, everything returned as if time had never moved. I sat up slowly, pulling the blanket around me. My body felt heavy with exhaustion, but my mind raced.
Lynx came in, and as soon as he laid his eyes on me, his eyes widened, and a mischievous grin appeared on his lips as he scanned my naked body.
"I showered you up, then placed you there," he said firmly.
"Why did you come back? You shouldn't have. " I said to him, and the room went silent for a little while. Then for a moment, he came closer to me where I was as he leaned against me, trying to give me a kiss, and in my mind, I obviously knew he was trying to avoid my question. Just then I placed my finger on his lips.
"Shuuuuush, not so fast, what are you doing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. He stood up as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You're staring," his voice suddenly said.
I blinked.
"Good morning to you, my queen," he added with a faint smirk.
I crossed my arms. "Don't try to charm your way out of this."
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as he sat next to me.
"You came back after all these years. " I continued, my voice tightening.
"The packs still remember what happened. So tell me the truth...."
My eyes locked onto his.
"Why are you here, Lynx?"
Then he looked away.
That was enough to make my chest tighten.
"What is it?" I demanded.
His jaw clenched.
"My family..." he began slowly.
I felt a strange chill crawl up my spine.
"My mother has been pestering me about my marriage. They want me to get married and have arranged a woman for me from another family pack."
My breath caught.
"... What?"
"They've already chosen someone," he said quietly.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
My heart felt like it had been squeezed.
"So that's why you came back?" I asked bitterly.
"To see me before you marry someone else?"
"No," he said firmly. "That's not why."
"Then what?" I shot back.
"They think marrying her will strengthen the alliance between the packs," he explained.
"They've been pushing it for months."
My hands curled into fists.
"And what did you tell them?" I asked.
His eyes softened.
"I told them no."
The anger in my chest faltered slightly, but the pain remained.
"You still didn't answer my question," I whispered. He looked directly at me now.
"You are my Luna. I came back because of you."
"No! Have you forgotten? Our families were in a raging pack that almost destroyed the last city we once lived in. Do you remember what happened twelve years ago?" My eyes began to fill with tears.
My heart skipped despite myself; I could not believe what I had just heard.
"Your father…" Before I could speak, my phone suddenly rang loudly on the bedside table.
The sharp sound cut through the tension in the room. I frowned and grabbed the phone.
Selin. My bestie. That was strange.
"Hello!" I answered. Her voice came through the line, shaky and rushed.
"Louve… I need to tell you something."
My stomach dropped.
"What happened?"
"I was attacked last night," she said.
My eyes widened.
"What! Where are you?"
My expression made Lynx attentive toward me.
"At the bar where I work downtown, a group of panther shifters showed up out of nowhere," she continued quickly. "I barely made it out alive; I was saved."
I shot a quick glance; Lynx's expression had turned serious.
"They were asking about you," Selin added.
The room felt colder.
"What do you mean? I asked slowly.
"All I know is something disastrous is about to unfold, and I can't seem to fucking understand or connect the dots yet." Selin lowered her voice.
"Louve ….. I think they are searching for you." Selin spoke as her voice sounded weak.
"Then let them come." I replied with a frank look on my face.
I slowly lowered the phone.
And for the first time since Lynx returned, I realized something much bigger had just begun.
I dropped the phone as I rushed to put on my clothes.
"I have to go now; I have to find Selin. She was attacked last night at the bar downtown by some panther shifters."
"What?" Lynx was startled.
"Did she tell you any reason she was being attacked? Because panther shifters either attack when they need information from someone or place revenge," he replied, as he began scanning my mind, waiting for my response.
I couldn't hide it.
"They're looking for me," I said quietly.
Across the room, Lynx had already stood up. His expression had completely changed. The relaxed look from earlier had vanished, replaced with something darker… more dangerous.
Lynx became furious; he would tear apart anyone who tried to threaten or endanger me. I could see how deep and far he could go for his love for me. His anger alone could destroy a city.
His Alpha aura filled the room.
"Tell me exactly what Selin said," he demanded.
"She was attacked outside the street bar," I replied, trying to steady my voice. "She said the panther shifters were asking about the Louve bloodline."
Lynx's jaw clenched.
"That means they know," he muttered.
"Know what?" I asked.
He hesitated for a moment before answering.
"That you're the last one."
A chill ran down my spine.
For years I had tried to live quietly, avoiding attention, pretending my past didn't matter.
But now it seemed like the past had finally caught up with me.
Lynx walked toward the window, his gaze scanning the outside grounds.
"The panthers won't stop," he said. "Now that they know you're here, they'll keep hunting until they find you, and I wouldn't even let a bug sting you, not on my watch."
I crossed my arms, frustration rising inside me.
"I didn't ask for your protection."
His head turned sharply toward me.
"And I didn't ask for you to be the woman my wolf refuses to stay away from," he replied.
The words hung between us.
"You're right, they attacked her because of me; they believe she knows where I am, and they are looking for me. But I do not know the reason yet," I spoke right to his face.
"You have to go find her." Lynx looks at me, showing concern.
"I promise to get her." I assured him.
He came closer as he kissed me passionately and brushed my hair with his hand to the right side of my face. He gave a nod.
I picked up my jacket as I dashed towards the door and stepped out.