Falling for My Shifter Enemy (Wild & Forbidden Mates #4)

Chapter 7

Chloé

I stand there, alone, watching the others follow him. One by one, they shift and race after their Alpha, their bodies vanishing into the thick trees that line the ridge. Ryan hesitates for a moment, casting a quick glance back at me, his expression tight with concern. But then he, too, shifts into his wolf form—a large dark brown wolf—and bounds after the others, leaving me standing on the edge of the clearing, the sound of paws on earth fading into the night.

The silence that follows is suffocating. It presses down on me, heavy and cold, and the weight of my loneliness sinks deep into my chest. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold it together, but all I can think about is how much I wish I could run with them. How much I wish I could feel the freedom they do, the wildness of the night coursing through my veins.

The moon is so full, so bright, and I can almost feel its power tugging at something deep inside me. It’s like a whisper in my blood, a call I can’t answer. For a moment, I close my eyes and imagine what it would feel like to let go, to shift into something wild and untamed, to run beside Theo under the moon’s light.

But I can’t. I never will.

A low growl snaps me out of my thoughts, and my eyes fly open. Two wolves are standing at the edge of the clearing, their eyes locked onto me with a predatory intensity that makes my heart stutter. They’re from Theo’s pack—I recognize Liam, the younger wolf who sneered at me during dinner, and beside him, Maya, her golden fur bristling with hostility.

I freeze, my pulse thundering in my ears as they step closer, their bodies stiff with aggression. They don’t need to speak—I can see the challenge in their eyes, the disdain in the way they hold themselves. I’m not welcome here. I’m an outsider, a weak human among wolves, and they want me gone.

Liam bares his teeth, a low growl rumbling from his throat. Maya circles me slowly, her eyes flashing with territorial fury. My breath catches in my throat, and I take a step back, my pulse racing. Are they actually going to attack me?

I don’t have time to find out.

A blur of dark fur barrels between us, and Theo’s massive wolf stands rigid in front of me, his growl low and menacing, vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. His presence is like a wall of dominance, his amber eyes blazing with a warning that makes even my skin prickle with fear.

Liam and Maya freeze, their ears flattening as they back away from Theo’s wrath. His growl deepens, rumbling through the clearing, and I can feel the barely contained violence simmering beneath the surface. The air is thick with tension, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring.

Liam and Maya hesitate for a moment, then finally slink away into the trees, their tails low, but not before shooting me one last look of disdain.

The clearing falls silent again, and Theo doesn’t move. He stays, his massive frame blocking me from the world, his growl still rumbling softly in his chest. I take a shaky breath, my hands trembling at my sides. I should be afraid of him—of the power he wields so effortlessly—but instead, all I feel is safe. Like as long as he’s standing between me and the world, nothing can hurt me.

Slowly, Theo turns his head, and his amber eyes meet mine. There’s something different in his gaze now—something almost soft. Almost tender. He steps closer, his massive head lowering until his snout brushes my hand in a surprisingly gentle nudge. The touch sends a shock of warmth through me, and the bond flares to life, humming between us with renewed intensity.

For a moment, I’m frozen. I don’t know what to do. But then, without thinking, I place my hand on the top of his head, my fingers sinking into the thick fur between his ears. His growl fades, replaced by a low, rumbling sound that feels more like a purr than a warning. He nudges me again, more insistent this time, and I realize what he’s asking.

He wants me to follow him.

I glance toward the forest, where the others have disappeared, and my heart stutters. I don’t belong out there. I can’t run with them. I’m not like them. But the bond between us pulls, stronger than ever, and I know, deep down, that I can’t turn away. I can’t leave him. Not now.

Theo’s amber eyes hold mine, and I see something in them—a promise, maybe. That as long as I’m with him, I’ll be safe. That maybe, just maybe, I belong here with him, even if I can’t shift. Even if I’m different.

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and I nod.

He turns and leads me into the forest.

The moment Theo turns and leads me deeper into the woods, I don’t hesitate. My legs move before my mind can catch up, and I find myself running after him, the cold night air whipping against my skin. He’s fast, his massive wolf form weaving effortlessly through the trees, but he stays close, never letting me fall too far behind. I push myself harder, my heart pounding in my chest as I try to keep pace with him, my feet pounding against the earth in a wild rhythm.

The woods blur around us, dark shadows and moonlit patches blending together as we move deeper into the heart of Moonlit Ridge. The pulse of the night thrums in my veins, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m part of it. The wind rushes past me, carrying the scent of pine and earth, and the sound of my own breath mixes with the distant rustle of leaves and the soft padding of Theo’s paws.

I’m not a wolf. I can’t shift. But right now, running beside Theo, I feel... free. Alive. Like I finally belong to something greater than myself.

The moon hangs high above us, its silvery glow spilling through the branches, lighting our path. Every beat of my heart echoes in my ears, every step I take feels like it’s leading me closer to something I’ve been searching for all my life. I don’t know how far we’ve run, but it doesn’t matter. The farther we go, the more everything else falls away—the pack, the tension, the fear. It’s just us now. Just me and him, running beneath the moon.

Theo slows, his pace easing as we reach a small clearing, the trees thinning around us. I stop too, panting, my chest heaving with exertion, and I press a hand to my side, trying to catch my breath. The clearing is quiet, save for the soft rustle of the wind and the distant sounds of the forest. The moonlight bathes everything in a soft glow, and I feel the weight of the night settle around us, heavy and full of unspoken things.

Theo’s wolf form is still, his amber eyes locked on me, watching. Waiting. My pulse quickens under his gaze, the bond between us crackling with a new intensity. The air feels charged, electric, as though every breath we take is feeding something wild and dangerous between us.

I take a step toward him, my heart pounding in my ears. My legs feel shaky, but it’s not from the run. It’s him. The way he looks at me—like he’s fighting something deep inside, something primal and uncontrollable. And I know, without a doubt, that I’m fighting it too. The bond pulls at me, stronger than ever, and even though I know I should be afraid of it—afraid of what it means, of what it could break—I can’t bring myself to care.

“You’re not… slowing down for me, are you?” I ask, breathless.

Theo’s only response is a low, rumbling growl, his pace unfaltering, his eyes never leaving mine.

Of course, I think, letting out a soft laugh despite myself. Of course, you’re not.

Slowly, Theo shifts back into his human form. His body moves with the same brutal grace as before, bones cracking and popping until he stands before me, tall and powerful, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The moonlight catches on his skin, highlighting the taut muscles of his shoulders and the sharp angles of his face.

My breath catches as I watch him, unable to look away. There’s something in Theo’s eyes—a wild, untamed gleam—that sends a shiver down my spine. His wolf is still close, lurking just beneath the surface. I can feel it in the way he’s watching me, his gaze raw, intense, and hungry. It’s as though he’s barely holding himself together, the primal side of him clawing to break free.

My heart races, the tension between us thickening with every passing second. The air feels charged, electric, and I can sense the shift in him, the way his body tightens, muscles flexing under the moon’s glow. His breathing is heavy, labored, and the heat emanating from him is palpable, wrapping around me like a tangible force.

And then my eyes drift lower—down the line of his strong jaw, his broad chest, and the taut muscles of his abdomen. My gaze falters when it reaches his hips, my breath hitching in my throat. His cock is thickening, growing larger as I stand there, watching him. It’s impossible to ignore, the sheer size of it making my body respond. Heat pools low in my belly, a molten warmth spreading through me that leaves me dizzy and breathless.

I feel flushed, my skin suddenly too tight, too hot. My legs tremble, and I can barely think past the racing of my pulse. Every inch of me burns with awareness, with a desire I’ve never experienced before.

Then, as if some invisible line snaps between us, Theo moves. He closes the distance between us in a single stride, his hands finding my waist with a kind of urgency that sends a jolt of heat through me. I gasp, my hands flying up to his chest, but I don’t push him away. I can’t. The bond between us is too strong now, too overwhelming to ignore.

Theo's lips crash against mine, his kiss fierce and hungry. His mouth devours mine, claiming every inch of my lips with a raw, desperate need. It's as if he's been starving for this moment, for this taste of me, and now he's devouring me whole. I taste the wildness on his tongue, the flavor of the night and the forest, and it's intoxicating.

I respond instinctively, my hands sliding up his chest, tangling in the loose strands of his hair, pulling him closer. He groans, the sound vibrating through me, and I feel a thrill of power at being able to affect him so deeply. His kiss deepens, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, and I melt against him, my body molding to his, fitting together like puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.

He kisses me like he's branding me, marking me as his. His hands move over my body, possessive and hungry, as if he's memorizing the feel of my skin. I'm overwhelmed by the sensations—the roughness of his palms, the brush of his fingers, the delicious friction of his body against mine. His touch sets my nerve endings alight, and I can feel my body responding, my desire a tangible thing between us.

I kiss him back with equal fervor, my lips and tongue moving in perfect sync with his. Our kisses turn feverish, fueled by the primal energy of our run and the pulsing bond between us. It's as if the wildness of the night has seeped into our blood, driving us to this moment, this collision of lips and tongues and desperate breaths.

"I can't stop," he growls, his voice a low, primal rumble that sends a thrill down my spine. "Not with you. Not tonight."

His words ignite a fire within me, and I lean into him, my body pressing against his. Theo's hands roam over my back, his touch searing through the fabric of my shirt. He's impatient, hungry, and it mirrors the wildness I feel stirring inside.

"Then don't," I whisper, my voice hoarse with desire.

His response is immediate. He grips the hem of my t-shirt and tugs it upward to my neck. Cool night air caresses my skin, but it's quickly chased away by the heat of Theo's gaze. .

"You're so beautiful," he murmurs, his deep voice sending shivers through me.

With deft fingers, he pulls down my sports bra, exposing my breasts to the moonlit night. He pauses for a moment, his eyes blazing with desire as he takes in the sight of me—bare and wanting. I can see the battle within him, the restraint he's trying to maintain, but his wolf is close, so very close.

"Theo," I breathe, my voice laced with need.

He responds with a feral growl, nipping at the sensitive skin of my neck before latching onto a nipple, suckling hard. Pleasure zings through me, my back arching, and I thread my fingers through his hair, holding him to me.

"More," he growls between kisses and laves. "I want more of you, Chloé."

I moan, my head falling back, my body on fire. "Yes," I whisper. "Please..."

Theo pulls back, his breath ragged as he gazes down at me, his eyes wild with desire. Then he lifts me, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. The hard length of his erection presses against my core, separated only by the thin fabric of my clothing.

"You feel so good," he groans, his hips rolling against me in a slow, torturous rhythm.

Pleasure spikes within me, my inner wolf howling in delight. I clutch at his shoulders, my nails digging into his skin as I encourage him to go faster, harder. Theo obliges, his movements becoming more urgent, more desperate. The friction of his cock against my clit sends sparks of pleasure through my body, and I can feel my orgasm building, each thrust pushing me closer to the edge.

"That's it, little wolf," Theo growls, his voice thick with desire. "Let go. Come for me."

His words are my undoing. My inner wolf howls in triumph as I shatter, crying out his name, my body convulsing around the hard ridge of his cock. Theo's hips stutter, his breath harsh as he continues to thrust against me, prolonging my pleasure.

"Screw it," he pants, his eyes flashing with determination. "I want you. Now."

He reaches for the button of my pants, ready to rip them off me, when a distant howl cuts through the night—a sharp, piercing sound.

Theo pulls back, his breath ragged. “Shit.”

His gaze snaps toward the direction of the distant howl, and something cold and dangerous settles in his expression. The heat between us, so raw and consuming just moments ago, suddenly evaporates, leaving behind a gnawing emptiness as the weight of reality crashes down around us.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” he rasps, his voice low but strained, as if it’s taking every ounce of his control to stop himself from continuing. His gaze flickers down to where his hands still rest on my waist, his grip loosening reluctantly.

His jaw clenches, and he steps back. His expression hardens, and I can see the Alpha emerging, the one who’s always ready to face whatever threat looms.

“That howl,” he says, his voice taut with tension, “it’s a warning. Human intruders—probably hunters or scouts.” He runs a hand through his hair, frustration etched into every line of his body. “I need to check it out.”

The urgency in his tone is undeniable, but it doesn’t stop the pang of disappointment that settles in my chest. The heat between us had been so all-consuming, so raw, and now it’s slipping away, replaced by the cold reality of who he is and what his responsibilities demand of him.

“You should head back to the parking area,” he says, his voice low but firm. He’s already detaching, already slipping into the role of protector, as if our moment together never happened. It stings more than I’d like to admit.

I swallow hard, trying to bury the sense of rejection knotting in my throat. “I—yeah, I can find my way back.”

Theo’s eyes flicker with something—concern, maybe even regret—but it’s fleeting. He nods once, sharply. “I’ll handle this. Just… be safe, Chloé.”

Without waiting for a response, he turns and shifts swiftly back into his wolf form, his massive body rippling with power. And then, with a final glance at me, he’s gone—disappearing into the shadows of the forest, the night swallowing him whole.

I stand there for a moment, my heart still pounding in my chest, unsure of what just happened, unsure of everything. The wild energy between us has dissipated, leaving me feeling raw and exposed.