Kasia stumbled backward, the metallic taste of blood filling her mouth as it trickled from her nose. Gritting her teeth, she wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand and glared. The young man had a cocky grin on his face, clearly pleased with himself for landing a blow.
"Let me at him," Deva, the wolf inside her, urged, her voice low and primal. Kasia could feel her anger within her as she approached the young man, her hazel eyes locked on his.
"No. Remember, I'm supposed to be a lycan. They can't know about you," Kasia answered.
"Hit him back harder, then," Deva growled.
"Alright, come on then," he taunted, raising his fists and preparing for another attack.
With a snarl, Kasia deftly dodged his attacks, moving with a grace and speed that only a werewolf could possess. She swiftly delivered a kidney shot, causing him to double over in pain. Seizing the opportunity, she pinned him to the ground, her knee pressing firmly against his chest.
"Enough!" he gasped, struggling for breath under her weight. With a nod, Kasia released him, her eyes still burning with intensity.
"Excellent work, Kasia," Deanna called out, clapping her hands in approval. She stood nearby, watching their sparring session with keen interest. "Your progress in the past three weeks has been nothing short of remarkable."
"Thank you, Deanna," Kasia replied weakly, wiping away the last remnants of blood from her face.
Deanna's smile broadened. "I have no doubt the Council will approve of you. You're proving yourself to be a valuable asset to our pack."
Kasia managed a faint smile before excusing herself to return to her room for a shower. As she walked down the hallway, she noticed the Lycans bowing or nodding their heads in respect towards her. Even though she wasn't a Luna yet, they treated her as if she were already one of them.
"Is this what I truly want?" Kasia wondered, the weight of her newfound responsibilities and loyalties heavy on her shoulders.
As she navigated the familiar hallways, Kasia's eyes fell upon Ethan engaged in conversation with a young woman. Her heart clenched involuntarily as she observed the woman leaning closer to him than necessary, her hand resting on his arm. An unwelcome surge of anger coursed through Kasia.
"Control your emotions," Deva warned. "He must maintain appearances."
Kasia knew this was true, but it did little to quell her rising jealousy. She forced herself to take calming breaths and continue walking, intentionally avoiding eye contact with Ethan. However, she could feel his gaze on her as she passed, and her stomach twisted in knots.
"Focus on something else," Kasia told herself, deciding to postpone her shower and head straight to her office instead. The duties she'd taken on as part of her Luna training would help distract her from the unsettling emotions threatening to overwhelm her.
Entering her office, she closed the door behind her and flopped down at her desk, immediately burying herself in the growing stack of documents that awaited her attention. As Ethan's administrative assistant, Kasia found herself handling an array of tasks that ranged from scheduling meetings to reviewing reports.
"Maybe if I lose myself in work, I can forget about my feelings for him," she thought bitterly, her pen moving rapidly across the page as she made notes and corrections.
Kasia's eyes scanned the documents, searching for anything that required her immediate attention. As she flipped through the pages, a report caught her eye-another missing young adult. Her heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation.
"Deva, how many is that now?" Kasia asked inwardly, her brow furrowed in concern.
"Seven," Deva responded solemnly. "And half of them have been found dead."
The fact that innocent lives were being lost weighed heavily on Kasia. She knew it was her duty to help protect the pack and find out who or what was behind these disappearances.
Lost in thought, Kasia barely registered the knock on her office door. Before she could even respond, the door swung open, revealing Ethan. He strode in, his brown eyes filled with an intensity that sent shivers down Kasia's spine.
"Hi," Kasia managed to stammer, quickly standing up and walking around her desk to greet him.
Ethan wasted no time, immediately reaching for her and pulling her into a passionate kiss that made her knees go weak. He pressed her against the desk. His hands roamed her curves, possessive and hungry, as if he couldn't get enough of her. She arched her back, inviting him closer, her breath catching in her throat as the head of his length grazed her entrance. His dominant growl sent shivers down her spine and a thrill of desire and anticipation coursing through her veins.
In that split second before their union, a knock on the door shattered the intimate moment they had created. They both froze. Breathless, they stared at each other, hazel eyes wide with panic and lust-filled brown orbs reflecting the same inner turmoil. They should've known it was too good to last.
"Fuck!" Ethan hissed under his breath, and with a final searing kiss, he reluctantly stepped away.
Kasia scrambled to pull up her shorts; her cheeks flushed scarlet as she readjusted her hair in an attempt to appear unruffled. "Come in!" she called out, her voice unsteady and her heart still pounding in her ears.
The door creaked open, and an omega entered, bearing a crisp folder in his trembling hands. He didn't dare meet their eyes, but Kasia could smell his curiosity and perhaps a hint of jealousy in his scent. He bowed stiffly and extended the report toward her. "Here's the file you requested, Luna. I mean, Kasia."
"Thank you," she managed to say, plastering on a business-like expression as she took the folder. "You may go."
The omega's steps were heavy with reluctance as he left the room.
Kasia cleared her throat, walking back to her desk and perching on the edge. "I need a minute," she said, her voice shaking.
Ethan nodded tersely with his fists clenched at his sides, and she could practically see the war waging within him. "I'll be outside. We'll... talk later." With that, he turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.
With the mood thoroughly ruined, Kasia sighed and walked back to her chair, sitting down to review the report. Her eyes widened as she saw the name of the young adult now missing: Aimee.