Page 21 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

"I'm on it," Dean said before hanging up.

I sat down heavily in the library, my mind racing.Dante was more dangerous than I'd realized, and the stakes had just gotten higher.But we were closer than ever to taking him down, and I wasn't going to let him hurt anyone else.

That evening, I found myself alone in the library again, a glass of whiskey in my hand.The room was quiet.The only sound was the occasional crackle of the fireplace.I stared into the flames, my thoughts a tangled mess.Garrett's words echoed in my mind, taunting me.She's your mate, Levi.You can't fight that.

But I could.I had to.Because the thought of losing her was unbearable, but the thought of her getting hurt because of me was even worse.

The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts, and I looked up to see Krista standing in the doorway.She was holding a glass of wine, her expression soft but determined.

"Mind if I join you?"she asked, her voice quiet but steady.

I hesitated, but I couldn't bring myself to say no."Sure."

She walked over and sat down in the chair across from me, her movements graceful but deliberate.She took a sip of her wine, her eyes never leaving mine.The firelight flickered in her gaze, casting a warm glow over her features.For a moment, we just sat there in silence, the crackling of the fire filling the space between us.

Finally, Krista broke the silence."You've been quiet all day.What's on your mind?"

I took a long sip of whiskey, the burn down my throat grounding me."Everything.Dante, Selene's death, this mess we're in.It's a lot."

She nodded, her expression thoughtful."It is.But you're not alone in this, Levi.You've got me.You've got Garrett, Zane, and Dean.We're all in this together."

Her words were meant to comfort me, but they only made the knot in my chest tighten.I couldn't shake the fear that this was only going to get worse, that I was going to drag her down with me.

"I can't lose you, Krista," I said before I could stop myself.The words were raw, unfiltered, and they hung heavy in the air between us.

She froze with her glass halfway to her lips.Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of surprise, of something deeper.Then she set her glass down and leaned forward, her expression softening.

"You're not going to lose me," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion."I'm not going anywhere.Not now, not ever."

Her words hit me like a sucker punch, and I felt something inside me crack.Every instinct, every wall I'd built up over the years, crumbled in that moment.My wolf howled, urging me to claim her, to make her mine.And for the first time, I didn't fight it.

I set my whiskey down and stood, crossing the distance between us in two strides.Krista looked up at me, her breath catching as I reached down and cupped her face in my hands.Her skin was soft, warm, and I could feel the steady beat of her pulse beneath my fingertips.

"Krista," I murmured, my voice rough with emotion."I can't—"

She didn't let me finish.She stood, closing the distance between us, and pressed her lips to mine.The kiss was soft at first, tentative, but it didn't stay that way for long.It was like a dam breaking, all the pent-up tension, the unspoken words, the raw emotion, pouring into that one moment.My hands tangled in her hair, pulling her closer, and she responded in kind, her arms wrapping around my neck as she deepened the kiss.

My wolf roared in satisfaction, the primal part of me reveling in the feel of her, the taste of her.But it was more than that.It was the way she felt in my arms, the way she clung to me like I was her anchor in a storm.It was the way she'd looked at me, like she saw past the walls I'd built, past the monster I thought I was, and saw something worth fighting for.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathless, our foreheads resting together as we tried to catch our breath.Krista's eyes were dark with emotion, her cheeks flushed, and I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"What?"she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You're incredible," I murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face."You have no idea what you do to me."

She smiled, her hands resting on my chest."I think I have some idea."

I kissed her again, softer this time, savoring the feel of her.But as much as I wanted to stay in that moment, the reality of our situation came crashing back in.Dante was still out there, and the danger was far from over.

"Stop it, Levi.I know it's complicated," she said, her voice steady."But it's worth it."

Her words settled something deep inside me, a warmth spreading through my chest.For the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn't just fighting for survival.I was fighting for something real, something worth fighting for.

I pressed my forehead to hers, my voice barely above a whisper."You're right.No matter what happens, we'll face it together."

She nodded, her eyes shining with determination and a flicker of vulnerability.Krista pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on my chest."Levi," she said softly, her tone serious."Whatever happens, promise me one thing."

"Anything," I said without hesitation.

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