Page 25 of Sun's Roar

A warm smile spread across his face, making her stomach flip. “That’s not what it means at all.” His free hand came up to brush her hair back from her face. The casual intimacy of the gesture left her momentarily breathless. “You can learn to control the fire yourself. But only women are the bearers of creation fire. That’s simply how it is among our kind.”

Helena stood frozen, torn between wanting to flee and wanting to lean into his touch. She was acutely aware of his body so close to hers—the solid wall of his chest, the coiled strength in his arms, and the woodsy scent that clung to his skin. Every breath she took brought his scent deeper into her lungs, making her head swim.

His green eyes never wavered, watching her with an intensity that made her feel both exposed and protected. Heat pulsed between them, and Helena couldn’t tell if it was her newfound powers or simple attraction. Perhaps both.

The dining room doors framed them like a portrait—the Alpha Prince and the woman he claimed was his Luna. The absurdity of it all bubbled up inside her. Twenty-four hours ago, her biggest concern had been getting through her busy workday unscathed as the owner and executive chef of her restaurant. Now, she stood in a castle with a man who supposedly turned into a wolf, who called her his mate, and who talked about elemental fire powers as casually as discussing the weather.

And yet...

The charred curtains stood as evidence she couldn’t ignore. The way he had drawn the flames across the room—that had been real. The fire that had erupted in her restaurant kitchen both times—that had been real too.

Her breath hitched as his thumb traced another circle on her pulse point, his touch featherlight but commanding. A spark of something—desire, fear, power?—flickered deep inside her core. She felt it like a tiny flame, waiting to grow stronger.

Suddenly, her mind spun out of control as she tried to process everything all at once. Wolves. Lunas. Fated mates. Elemental fire powers. She gripped the doorframe to steady herself, the smooth wood cool beneath her fingertips. Her green sundress clung to her curves, suddenly feeling too thin and too revealing under his intense gaze.

“I can’t...” Her voice trembled. “This is way too much. Yesterday, I was just a chef trying to forget it was my birthday. Today, I’m setting things on fire with my bare hands and being told I’m the destined mate of a wolf prince.”

Sol leaned in impossibly closer, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders and powerful frame. The crisp white shirt contrasted with his tanned skin, making his green eyes seem even more vibrant.

“I know it’s a lot to take in.” His voice was low and gentle. “But denying what you are won’t make it go away.”

“What I am? I don’t even know what that means anymore.”

She felt the panic rising again as she remembered the curtains igniting at her touch and the kitchen at the restaurant erupting in flames. Her heartbeat quickened, and with horror, she noticed the candles on the dining table flaring higher in response.

Sol noticed too, and suddenly, he wrapped his strong arms around her. The unexpected embrace should have felt invasive—they were practically strangers—but instead, Helena felt an immediate wave of calm wash over her. His body was warm, solid, and real. Something to anchor her in this storm of impossibilities.

“Breathe with me,” he murmured, his breath tickling her ear.

She did, matching her breaths to his, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against hers. The candle flames settled, flickering at a normal height once more.

“How did you do that?” Helena whispered, not pulling away.

“I didn’t. You did.” His hands traced soothing circles on her back. “Your emotions fuel your power. When you feel calmer, the flames respond.”

Helena lifted her face to look at him. His expression was intent and watchful, but there was another thing there too—a heat that wasn’t from any fire powers.

“And why do I feel calmer with you?” she asked, heat rising to her cheeks.

His mouth curved up into that half-smile that made her stomach flip. “The mate bond. Even if you don’t accept it yet, your body knows. Your fire knows.”

His words should have sounded ridiculous, but standing in his arms, Helena couldn’t deny the connection between them. Every touch sparked something primal within her.

“But you kidnapped me,” she reminded him, though her voice lacked conviction.

“I rescued you,” he corrected, his hands sliding to rest at her waist. “From the fire, from enemies, and from a world that wouldn’t understand what you’re becoming.”

His face was millimeters from hers now. Helena knew she should pull away, demand to be taken home or call the police—any rational response to this situation.

“And what am I becoming exactly?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Mine,” he growled, the single word filled with such possession that she felt it reverberate through her body.

The fierce intensity in his eyes was her undoing. The fear, the confusion, and the overwhelming nature of everything faded into the background. In its place surged a hunger she had never experienced—raw, demanding, and urgent.

Her hands moved of their own accord, sliding up his chest to the nape of his neck. His eyes darkened at her touch, his pupils dilating as he watched her make her choice.

“Helena,” her name was a warning on his lips.

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