Page 28 of A Love Bite

As we reach her apartment, I walk her to the door, feeling a mix of happiness and apprehension. “I had a great time tonight, Alex.”

“Me too,” she says, smiling up at me. “Thank you for everything, Jake.”

I lean in and kiss her gently, savoring the moment. “Goodnight, Alex. I’ll see you soon.”

“Goodnight, Jake,” she replies, her eyes shining with warmth.

Will she invite me in?

She doesn’t.

But I don’t feel alarmed or worried. We went a little far that first night, but I don’t regret it, and I don’t think she does either. If she wants to pump the brakes sexually, that’s fine.

After all, my wolf wouldn’t shut up this entire evening. He wants me to claim her already, and I don’t know if I could kiss her neck again without my fangs descending, and I doubt I’ll have the strength to refrain from taking her as my mate.

I cannot—will not—do that without consent.

But I don’t know if she will consent to that, and if she were to reject me…

As I walk away, my heart is full, but my mind is racing. On one hand, tonight was perfect. Spending time with Alex and feeling our connection deepen was everything I hoped for. On the other hand, the dangers lurking in the southside and the escalating tension with the rival werewolf gang are serious threats, and I can’t let Alex get too close to them.

I need to figure out how to protect Alex from the dangers she’s unknowingly facing. And I need to prepare for the day when I can finally tell her the truth about who—and what—I really am.

I need to find a way to protect her without revealing too much or pushing her away.

A major part of my turmoil stems from the knowledge that the love bite to claim her as my mate will also turn her into a werewolf. It’s a permanent change, and I can’t impose that on her without her understanding and consent, but the instinct to protect her, to ensure she’s safe and by my side, is almost overwhelming.

24

Alex

The morningafter my date with Jake, I’m still basking in the warmth of the previous night. We had an incredible time, and the connection between us feels genuine and deep. As I get ready for the day, my mind drifts back to our conversations and the way he looked at me, his eyes filled with sincerity.

Around mid-morning, there’s a knock on my door. I open it to find Jake standing there, looking a bit more serious than usual.

“Hey, Jake,” I greet him with a smile. “What brings you here so early?”

“Hey, Alex,” he says, stepping inside. “I wanted to talk to you about something important.”

His tone and demeanor instantly put me on edge. I close the door behind him and lead him to the living room. “Sure, what’s up?”

We sit down, and he takes a deep breath. “Alex, I’ve been thinking a lot about your investigation into the southside crime. It’s dangerous, and I’m really worried about you. I think you should back off from it.”

I blink, taken aback. “Jake, this is my job. I can’t just back off because it’s dangerous. People are counting on me to find out what’s going on.”

“I know,” he says, his eyes pleading, “but it’s more dangerous than you realize. There are things happening that you’re not aware of. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

His words confuse and alarm me. “Jake, what aren’t you telling me? Do you know something about what’s going on?”

He hesitates, clearly struggling with what to say. “It’s complicated, Alex. I can’t explain everything right now, but you have to trust me. This isn’t something you should be involved in.”

I pull back slightly, feeling a pang of doubt. “Jake, you’re really scaring me. Are you involved in this somehow?”

His eyes widen in shock. “No, Alex, I’m not involved. I just… I know things. Things that make me worry about your safety.”

I cross my arms, my mind racing. “You need to be honest with me, Jake. If you know something that can help me, you need to tell me. Otherwise, how can I trust you?”

He looks torn, and I can see the conflict in his eyes. “I want to tell you, Alex, but it’s not that simple. There are things you don’t know about me, about what’s happening. Please, just trust me on this. Stay away from the investigation.”

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