Olivia’s POV

I ordered the guards to let me through the border, and they obeyed without question. Stepping outside Full Moon Pack territory, I shifted into my wolf form. I undressed, neatly folded my clothes beside a tree, and took a deep breath. The afternoon sun was scorching; a swim would be welcome later. My wolf, eager to shift, whined in my head. I chuckled softly before surrendering to the transformation.

Shifting was smooth. My bones cracked, muscles stretched, and brown fur replaced my skin. My paws touched the ground, soft and steady. I felt lighter, the wind rushing past me as I ran through the forest. The trees blurred, sunlight pouring through the branches above. It felt good to move, to run—to forget everything, even for a while.

Out here, I wasn't the girl who had been hurt, the one with a broken heart and painful memories. I was just a wolf: strong, free. I let out a long howl—not of pain, but of release. I ran fast, leaping over fallen trees, splashing through streams, chasing the wind as I used to when younger. My heart felt full; my head was quiet.

But as I neared the edge of the territory—where Gabriel had told me to meet him—the feeling changed. The air was colder, the forest eerily quiet. My wolf picked up faint, strange scents.

I slowed as I reached the meeting point. Then I saw Gabriel, emerging in wolf form from behind the trees. His black fur shimmered in the sunlight, looking more majestic than I’d ever seen it. Or maybe I was exaggerating. Regardless, something about him stirred my pulse.

He carried a white envelope in his mouth; swiftly, he shifted into his human form—completely naked. I swallowed hard as my eyes, unintentionally, dropped between his thighs. I quickly jerked my gaze away and shifted into my human form, equally bare.

We stood a few feet apart, bare and wordless under the sky. His eyes locked with mine; he offered a warm, friendly smile. I, however, couldn't explain the tingling sensation spreading through my body. My gaze drifted again, tracing the defined lines of his body: broad chest, firm abs, skin glistening faintly in the sun. But it wasn't just his looks that captivated me; it was the quiet confidence in his stance—calm, unbothered, completely at ease.

The envelope lay forgotten at his feet. For a moment, everything else was forgotten, too. I swallowed hard again, but it didn't help. My eyes dropped lower—and stayed there. My heart skipped. Gods.

Heat rose to my face, and I quickly looked away, silently cursing myself. What's wrong with you, Olivia? But then my wolf chuckled darkly in my head. "You're gawking," she said smugly, "and you're thinking about what it'd feel like...if he touched you."

I clenched my fists. No, I wasn't—

"You were," her voice teasing now. "You're wondering what his hands would feel like...on your waist. On your hips. Your back."

I bit my lip, trying to shut her out. But she wasn’t wrong. My mind had wandered there: to his hands on me, to his skin against mine, to his eyes—darker, needier—to his mouth... God.

I forced myself to breathe, but it didn't help much. Gabriel didn't move. He just watched me, his eyes unreadable, his body relaxed—as if he hadn't just caught me practically devouring him with my gaze, as if he hadn't noticed my shaky breath. But somehow, I knew he had.

He gave me that same calm smile. "You okay?"

My voice came out low, tight. "I'm fine." Lie. I wasn't fine. Because for the first time since everything went to hell… I felt something different. Something that wasn't sadness, anger, or fear. I felt drawn to someone who wasn't the triplets. And that terrified me.

Gabriel must have noticed how I avoided his eyes, fidgeting, suddenly too aware that we were both completely naked under the open sky. He tilted his head slightly, a soft smile playing at the corner of his lips. "If you're uncomfortable," he said gently, "I could shift back and grab some clothes."

My eyes widened, and the words left my mouth too quickly. "No!"

His brows lifted in surprise—and then he chuckled. A low, warm sound sent a shiver through me. "I mean…" I cleared my throat, trying to act normal, "It's fine. We're wolves, right? Nudity shouldn't be a big deal."

Even as I said it, my cheeks warmed. Gabriel gave a slow nod, the smile never leaving his face. "Right. Just… wanted to make sure you were comfortable."

Comfortable. That word lingered. The triplets never cared much about my comfort. But Gabriel… he noticed. He asked. And the way he smiled after I blurted out "no"—like he could see right through me, but wasn't judging—made my chest feel strange. Not in a bad way. Just… unfamiliar.

I looked down at the envelope again, hoping it would distract me. But my mind kept drifting back to him. I fixed my gaze on the envelope at his feet, trying to gather myself. "Is that what you wanted to show me?"

Gabriel nodded, stepping forward and crouching to pick it up. He handed it to me, not looking away. "You need to see this," he said gently. "My spies brought it to me a few moments ago."

My lips parted in surprise. "You're helping?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes… I told you, remember?"

"Thank you." I smiled—offering the best I could manage. I took the envelope with trembling hands. His fingers brushed mine, warm and brief. I inhaled sharply and pulled back. But as I opened it, my thoughts weren't only on what was inside. They were on him. Because for the first time in a long time, my heart skipped for someone who wasn't them.