~Lina~
I felt it before his mouth even touched mine.
Like someone had yanked a rope that was tied around my ribs and pulled hard enough to crack bone. A hot, golden snap right in the center of my chest.
His lips barely brushed mine, just the softest graze, and my knees folded like someone had kicked them out from under me. I grabbed his shirt to keep from hitting the floor and ended up yanking him closer instead. Bad plan. Terrible plan. Zero out of ten, do not recommend.
Kael made this sound, this low, broken growl that vibrated through his chest into mine and his eyes went full-on werewolf Christmas lights. Bright, glowing gold. Fangs poked past his lip, not all the way out but enough that I could see the sharp tips, and yeah, okay, that should've been my cue to scream and run.
Instead I just stared, mouth open like an idiot, while my heart tried to punch its way out of my body and offer itself to him on a silver platter.
"You felt that," he rasped, hands shaking where they hovered an inch from my waist like he was scared to touch me now. "Tell me you felt that, Lina, please fucking tell me I'm not crazy."
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out. Because what the hell do you say when your grumpy werewolf boss almost kisses you and your soul apparently signs a contract without asking your opinion first?
He took a step back, claws digging into his own forearms like he was trying to hold himself together. "Say something."
I finally found my voice. It came out squeaky.
His face crumpled. Not angry, worse. He looked like I'd just kicked his puppy. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…my wolf, he thinks you're…"
The door was three steps behind me. I bolted.
I heard him roar my name, the sound so raw it felt like it scraped the skin off my back, but I didn't stop.
Didn't make it far.
The rope in my chest yanked again this time like someone had looped it around a truck and floored it. I stumbled, hit the wall, and suddenly Kael was there. Not running. He was just there, like the universe had teleported his giant, pissed-off werewolf ass right in front of me.
His bones were cracking.
Oh shit.
I watched in absolute horror as his shoulders bunched and rolled, shirt seams popping, hands turning into…yep, those were claws now. Actual claws. His face shifted, nose and jaw pushing forward, fur; black fur rippling over his skin like spilled ink.
"Kael…" I croaked.
He dropped to his knees, back arching, a snarl ripping out of him that didn't sound human at all. His eyes locked on me, still gold, still terrified, and he tried to talk but it came out a garbled growl.
Then the door behind us burst open again and Kael's best friend came skidding in.
"Shit, shit, shit…Lina, get over here!"
I didn't move. Mostly because my legs had turned to jelly.
He grabbed my arm and yanked me behind him like a human shield. "He's shifting. Full shift. He can't stop it…the bond snapped and he's losing it."
Kael…no, the wolf was on all fours now, massive, black, bigger than any dog had any right to be, and he was whining. Actually whining. Shaking so hard I could hear his claws scraping the floor.
He spun to me, wild-eyed. "You have to kiss him."
I blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Kiss him. Full-on, mouth-to-muzzle, Disney-princess-true-love's-kiss shit. It's the only thing that'll pull him back before he goes feral and levels the whole floor. The bond's riding him he needs his mate to ground him."
I stared at the giant wolf currently trembling and trying not to eat the carpet. "You're joking."
"Do I look like I'm joking? Look at him!"
Kael-the-wolf let out the most pathetic, broken sound I'd ever heard. His massive head dropped between his paws like he was ashamed.
Something in my chest twisted so hard I almost doubled over.
Jax shoved me forward. "Go. Now. Before animal control has to train the CEO."
I took one step. Then another. The wolf's ears flicked toward me. His whole body went still.
"Hey," I said, voice wobbling. "Hey, big guy."
He lifted his head. Those gold eyes were still Kael's. Scared. Sorry. Completely fucking wrecked.
I dropped to my knees in front of him, silk blouse be damned, and cupped his giant furry face in both hands. His fur was soft. Warm. He leaned into my touch like he was starving for it.
"Okay," I whispered. "Okay. You big animal. You want a kiss? Fine."
I leaned in.
And I kissed him.
I slid my fingers into the thick fur at his neck, pulled his giant wolf head down to my level, and kissed him like I was trying to crawl inside his soul and live there. Mouth open, tongue brushing the edge of a fang, careful, Jesus tasting pine and something strange from him.
He made this sound a deep, rumbling groan that vibrated through my entire body and then the shift reversed. Fast. Fur receding, bones cracking back into place, claws shrinking. In seconds, Kael was human again, naked, kneeling in front of me, shaking, forehead pressed to mine, breathing like he'd run a marathon.
His hands came up slow, like he was scared I'd bolt again, and cupped my face. "Lina," he rasped. "Fuck. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
I smiled.
Then I pulled my phone out of my bra where it had been recording the entire time, angled perfectly from the second Jax started yelling and waved it at him.
"Say cheese, Alpha."
His eyes went wide.