Page 10 of Sun's Roar

“She has fire,” Sol admitted, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. “Her red hair—it’s like she wears our pack’s element as a crown.” His voice dropped lower. “And she has curves that would make a saint commit sin.”

Mitesh cleared his throat. “If I may, Your Highness, perhaps this situation requires more... finesse than your usual approach.”

Sol’s eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”

“You’ve spent two centuries commanding respect through power alone,” Mitesh said carefully. “This woman doesn’t know our ways. You can’t simply order her to accept her destiny.”

“I was perfectly charming,” Sol protested.

Joshua snorted. “As charming as a wolf with a thorn in its paw, I’m sure.”

Sol leaned forward. “I’m not leaving without her. The pack needs its Luna.”

“And you need...” Mitesh left the question hanging.

Sol didn’t answer immediately. The truth was he’d seen something in Helena beyond her beauty. A strength that matched his own, and an independence that challenged him.

“I need her to understand what she is,” he finally said. “What we could be together.”

“Well, did she at least take your card?” Joshua asked, arching one eyebrow.

“Yes,” Sol murmured, a predatory grin spreading across his face. “She did.”

Sol peered through the SUV’s tinted back window at the restaurant’s front entrance. His wolf clawed beneath his skin, demanding he go back inside and claim what belonged to them. Two centuries of waiting, and now his Luna was mere feet away, completely unaware of her destiny—of their destiny.

“We should leave.” Joshua’s voice cut through Sol’s fixation. “You’re doing that thing with your eyes again.”

Sol caught his reflection in the rearview mirror—his green irises were ringed with gold, the telltale sign of his wolf rising too close to the surface. He blinked hard, forcing control.

“She’ll call,” Joshua added, starting the engine. “But right now, you’re one step away from looking like a stalker.”

“I am the alpha and Prince of the Sunflare pack,” Sol growled. “I don’t stalk. I claim.”

Mitesh cleared his throat. “With respect, Your Highness, humans have different... courtship rituals. A man lurking in a vehicle outside a woman’s workplace typically ends with restraining orders.”

Sol’s jaw clenched. “Fine. Drive.”

As the SUV pulled away, Sol cast one last look at the restaurant. Through the large front windows, he could see Helena bustling around, her red hair catching the light like living fire. The sight sent heat coursing through his veins.

“The Rancho Valencia Resort is nearby,” Joshua suggested. “Five stars. Excellent room service.”

“I don’t care where we go,” Sol muttered, though he did. An alpha provided only the best for his pack—even a temporary den deserved consideration.

“She was perfect,” Sol said, more to himself than the others. “That fire in her eyes when she realized I wasn’t who she thought.” His lips curled into a smile. “She didn’t back down. Not even when I crowded her space.”

“A worthy Luna,” Mitesh nodded.

Sol scratched his beard, recalling the scent of cinnamon and heat that surrounded Helena. The memory of her standing before him, defiant and beautiful, sent a visceral shudder through his body. “She is mine. There’s no doubt.”

“Human though,” Joshua remarked lightly, too lightly.

Sol’s gaze sharpened. “Careful.”

“It’s just an observation,” Joshua replied, turning onto the main boulevard. “The council will have questions.”

“The council can burn,” Sol snapped. “Two hundred years I’ve ruled without their interference. I won’t start now.”

Mitesh turned in his seat. “What Joshua means is that we should prepare. A human Luna is unusual. She’ll need protection—human lives are so fragile, and she has no knowledge of our world.”

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