Avenging Luna
Chapter 35: I want you

Chapter 35: I want you

Drake’s POV:

The tension in the air was thick as Lucas squared off with me, his eyes clouded with a primal urge that no amount of reasoning could penetrate. His gaze was locked on Leila, and it took everything in me not to tear him apart right then and there. But I couldn’t afford to lose control—not now, not when Leila needed me to stay focused.

Gile was in my head, howling with fury, urging me to assert dominance, but I knew that Lucas wasn’t acting out of choice. Leila’s scent was powerful, overwhelming even for a Beta, and if he was struggling this much, then the rest of the pack would be just as affected—if not worse. I had to think fast.

"Lucas," I snarled, trying to keep my voice steady, "snap out of it. You know who she is. You know she’s mine."

But the words seemed to fall on deaf ears. Lucas took a step forward, his fists clenched, and I could see the battle raging in his eyes. His wolf was fighting for control, just like mine was, but I couldn’t allow this to escalate any further.

With a deep breath, I made a split-second decision. I lunged forward, using my superior strength to push Lucas back. He stumbled, his body instinctively reacting as he snarled and tried to counter, but I was faster. I knocked him to the ground, pinning him with one hand while I cradled Leila protectively in the other.

"Lucas, listen to me!" I roared, my Alpha tone cutting through the haze in his mind. "Get a grip. Think about Nelly. Think about your mate."

That seemed to do the trick. For a moment, clarity returned to his eyes, and he stopped struggling. He blinked rapidly, as if waking from a trance, and when he finally looked up at me, there was recognition—and horror—there.

"Drake... I’m sorry... I didn’t..."

"I know," I said, my voice low but firm. "This isn’t your fault. But we have to move fast. I need you to help me."

Lucas nodded, still visibly shaken but more in control now. I released him and immediately linked Nelly, his mate. She was one of the strongest female warriors in the pack, and I needed her help to manage the chaos that was about to break loose.

’Nelly,’ I sent through the link, ’get the female warriors and lock down the pack house. Leila’s in heat, and it’s affecting everyone. You need to chase off all the males, mated or not. Lucas and I are bringing her to the forest cottage. No one follows us, understood?’

’Understood,’ Nelly responded quickly, her voice all business. ’I’ll take care of it.’

I could hear the sounds of the pack house stirring, the distant growls and scuffles as the males began to react to Leila’s scent. Time was running out. I didn’t waste another second.

"Lucas," I ordered, "head towards the cottage and make sure the path is clear. Nelly and the others will handle the rest."

He didn’t need to be told twice. Lucas went ahead, his focus now solely on the mission at hand. I gathered Leila in my arms, her body burning with fever, her scent intoxicating and maddening. Every inch of my skin tingled with the urge to claim her, to soothe the heat coursing through her veins, but I knew I had to hold it together. She was too vulnerable, too out of it to consent, and I would never forgive myself if I took advantage of her like that.

The female warriors were already at work, corralling the affected males out of the building and into the surrounding woods. Nelly met us at the door, her expression stern and determined.

"We’ve got this, Alpha," she said, giving me a curt nod. "You just focus on getting her out of here safely."

"Thank you, Nelly," I said, sincerely grateful for her quick thinking.

I moved swiftly, every sense on high alert as I made my way through the forest and out into the cool night air. The wind hit me, bringing with it a small measure of clarity, but Leila’s scent still clung to me, making it hard to think straight. I could feel Gile pacing in my mind, frustrated and desperate to take control, but I pushed him back, reminding myself that Leila’s safety came first.

The dungeon was a good distance from the cottage, isolated deep within the forest, surrounded by towering trees that blocked out the moonlight. It was a place reserved for the most dangerous of prisoners, a place where no one could hear the screams, where the darkness itself seemed to cling to the walls. And Leila—my mate—was locked away in that desolate place because of me.

As I moved swiftly through the forest, Leila’s unconscious form cradled in my arms, I cursed myself for ever allowing this to happen. Gile, my wolf, was still a storm of fury in my mind, but his anger was now directed inward—at both of us. We had failed her, and the guilt was a heavy weight pressing down on my chest.

The night air was cool, but Leila’s scent still hung thick in the atmosphere, making it hard to think clearly. Every step was a battle to keep my focus, to remind myself that I couldn’t let the heat consume me. Not here. Not now. But it wasn’t just me who was struggling. As I navigated the narrow path through the trees, I caught the scent of another wolf—unmated and drawn by the irresistible lure of Leila’s heat.

I tensed, my senses sharpening as I spotted the figure emerging from the shadows. It was Marcus, one of the younger members of the pack, his eyes wild with desire, nostrils flaring as he caught Leila’s scent.

"Alpha," he growled, his voice low and primal, "I can’t... I need..."

He didn’t even finish his sentence before lunging at me, his instincts completely overriding any sense of pack loyalty. I barely had time to shift Leila’s weight in my arms before he was on me, his claws extended, aiming for my throat.

Gile roared in fury, and I reacted on instinct, twisting to the side and slamming my shoulder into Marcus’s chest, sending him crashing into a tree. He recovered quickly, snarling as he prepared for another attack, but I was already moving, a surge of power coursing through me as I delivered a brutal kick to his ribs. He yelped in pain, stumbling back, but the scent of Leila was too much for him to resist. He tried again, his eyes glazed with desperation, but this time I didn’t hold back.

With a savage growl, I grabbed him by the throat, slamming him into the ground with enough force to knock the breath out of him. He struggled, but I pinned him down, my claws digging into his flesh as I leaned in close.

"Get. Out. Of. Here," I snarled, my voice low and deadly. "If you value your life, Marcus, you’ll run now and never look back."

For a moment, he hesitated, the feral look in his eyes warring with the realization of who he was up against. Finally, he whimpered and shifted back into his human form, scrambling to his feet and darting into the trees. I watched him go, my muscles tense and ready in case he tried something else, but he disappeared into the night, leaving me alone with Leila once more.

The encounter had only taken seconds, but it had been enough to remind me of the danger we were in. I couldn’t afford any more delays. Holding Leila tighter, I continued down the path, my senses on high alert for any other wolves who might be drawn by her scent.

As I moved, I couldn’t help but notice how Leila was beginning to stir in my arms. At first, it was just a soft murmur, a slight shift in her position, but soon her eyes fluttered open, clouded with a mix of fever and desire. She blinked up at me, disoriented at first, but then her gaze sharpened, focusing on my face.

"Drake," she whispered, her voice husky and seductive, sending a shiver down my spine. "What’s happening? Why do I feel like this?"

"You’re in heat, Leila," I replied, my voice strained as I fought to keep my composure. "It’s affecting you, making you feel things you wouldn’t normally feel."

She frowned, as if trying to process my words, but then her expression softened, and she reached up to touch my face. Her fingers were warm, soft, and the contact sent a jolt of electricity through me. I sucked in a breath, trying to focus on anything but the way her touch made me feel, but it was impossible. The bond between us was stronger than ever, pulling us together in a way that was almost unbearable.

"Drake," she murmured, her hand sliding down to rest on my chest. "I need you... Please..."

I nearly stumbled, my grip on her tightening as she began to move against me, her body pressing closer in a way that made it hard to concentrate. Her scent was intoxicating, wrapping around me like a fog, and I could feel my control slipping.

"Leila, you don’t know what you’re saying," I managed to choke out, my voice rough with suppressed desire. "We need to get to the cottage. You’re not thinking clearly."

But she wasn’t listening. Her hands moved down my chest, tracing the lines of my muscles, and I could feel the heat radiating from her, seeping into my skin. Every touch, every movement she made was a temptation, a test of my resolve, and I knew I was losing. Fast.

"Please," she whispered again, her lips brushing against my neck. "I want you, Drake... I need you so much..."

I cursed under my breath, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. I couldn’t give in to this, not when she was like this, but I also couldn’t deny the overwhelming need I felt, the primal urge to claim her, to make her mine in every way possible.

But I had to stay strong. I had to get her to the cottage before either of us did something we’d regret.

The path seemed longer than usual, every step an agonizing battle against the urge to stop, to lay her down in the grass and give in to the desire that was tearing me apart. But I forced myself to keep going, my focus narrowing to just one goal: get to the cottage. Get her somewhere safe.

Finally, the small wooden structure came into view, nestled among the trees like a sanctuary. I nearly sighed in relief, but Leila chose that moment to shift in my arms again, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered my name, her voice thick with longing.

It took every ounce of willpower I had to keep moving. I pushed the door open with my shoulder and carried her inside, setting her down on the bed as gently as I could manage. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and pleading, and it was almost my undoing.

"I need to cool you down," I said, my voice hoarse as I tried to focus on the task at hand. "The fever... it’s too much."

She didn’t respond, just watched me with those dark, fevered eyes as I moved to the small bathroom. I turned on the faucet, letting the cold water fill the tub, the sound of it almost soothing in the quiet of the night. But when I returned to the bedroom, Leila was already trying to stand, her legs shaky as she reached for me.

"Drake," she called, her voice a siren’s song that made my blood boil. "Please, don’t leave me alone..."

"I’m not leaving you," I said firmly, crossing the room in a few strides and gathering her back into my arms. "I’m just going to help you cool down, alright?"

She nodded, but I could see the confusion and frustration in her eyes, the way her body trembled with the need she couldn’t control. Carefully, I carried her into the bathroom, the cold tile floor a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from her body.

She flinched as I lowered her into the water, her skin prickling with goosebumps, but I held her steady, my hands firm on her shoulders.

"This will help," I promised, though the words felt hollow even to me. The water was cold enough to shock her system, but I could already tell it wasn’t going to be enough. The heat was more than just physical—it was primal, a bond between us that defied all reason.

Leila whimpered, her hands clinging to me as she pressed her body against mine, her eyes searching mine for something I wasn’t sure I could give.

"I’m here," I whispered, my voice rough as I fought to keep my control. "I’m not going anywhere."

But she didn’t seem to hear me. Her fingers traced the lines of my jaw, her touch sending sparks of electricity through my skin. I could feel the tremors in her body, the way she shivered not just from the cold but from the desire that was consuming her.

"Drake, please," she begged, her voice breaking as she looked up at me with wide, desperate eyes. "I can’t... I need you... I need you so much..."

I clenched my jaw, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to remind myself that this wasn’t her—it was the heat, the fever driving her to act this way. But that knowledge didn’t make it any easier to resist. Every touch, every whispered plea tore at my resolve, weakening it with each passing second.

"Leila," I breathed, my voice strained as I tried to keep my hands steady. "You’re burning up... Let me help you."

I ran my hands over her arms, down her back, trying to focus on soothing her, but every movement only seemed to make things more difficult. Leila’s skin was like fire beneath my touch, and every time I tried to soothe her, it felt like I was stoking the flames instead. She pressed herself closer, her breath hot against my neck, and I could feel the tremble in her body as she struggled with the fever, with the primal need that had taken hold of her.

Her hands roamed over my chest, fingers trailing down to the hem of my shirt, and I knew I was losing the battle against my own desires. The bond between us was a living thing, pulsing with the heat of her need and the strength of my own restraint. But as much as I wanted to give in, I couldn’t—Leila wasn’t herself, and I wouldn’t take advantage of her in this state.

"Leila," I said, my voice rough as I gently pushed her hands away, "we have to cool you down first. I can’t let you burn yourself out."

She whimpered at the loss of contact, her eyes pleading with me, but I forced myself to stay focused. I cupped her face, trying to anchor her to the moment, to keep her grounded.

"I’m here," I repeated, my voice a little firmer. "I’m not leaving you. But you have to let me help."

Her gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, it felt like she understood. She nodded slowly, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she tried to rein in her instincts. I guided her back into the freezing water, letting it wash over her fevered skin. She shivered, her body recoiling from the cold, but I held her steady, trying to keep her calm.

For a few agonizing moments, it seemed to be working. The water did its job, taking the edge off the fever, and Leila’s breathing began to slow. But then, just as I thought we might have a chance, she shifted, her eyes darkening with renewed hunger.

"Drake," she whispered, her voice raw and needy, "please... I need you..."

Her hands reached for me again, fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt as she pulled me closer. This time, the desperation in her voice cut through my resolve like a knife. I could feel her body trembling with the effort to hold back, and the primal part of me, the part connected to her through our bond, responded with equal intensity.

I tried to resist, to pull away, but she was relentless, her touch driving me to the edge of my control. My breath hitched as she pressed her lips to my neck, her teeth grazing my skin in a way that made it impossible to think clearly.

"Leila," I groaned, my hands gripping her shoulders as I tried to maintain some semblance of control. But she wasn’t listening—she was lost in the fever, lost in the need that consumed her. And the more I tried to resist, the more it felt like I was fighting against something inevitable.

Before I realized what was happening, she was pulling at my shirt, her hands frantic as they searched for any bit of bare skin. Her touch sent shivers down my spine, and I could feel my resolve crumbling with every second that passed.

I couldn’t take much more of this.

In a desperate attempt to calm her down, I leaned in, brushing my lips against her forehead, hoping the small gesture would be enough to soothe her. But instead, it only seemed to ignite something deeper. She tilted her head up, her lips seeking mine, and the moment they met, it was like a dam breaking.

I couldn’t hold back anymore.