| RED'S POV|

His lips were firm yet soft, just like last time.

As our mouths met, I could feel a surge of anticipation mixed with nervousness coursing through my veins. He seemed startled by my sudden bravery but quickly relaxed as his hand found the back of my neck, pulling me closer. His other hand slid to my waist, holding me as if afraid I would escape or leave him if he didn't.

I allowed him to lead the way, my lack of experience evident. He was my first kiss, and I wanted to savor every moment. Parting my lips slightly, I granted him entrance, feeling the gentle touch of his tongue against mine. My heart raced, and I found myself clutching his hair, overwhelmed by the intoxicating sensations that seemed to seep into my very bones. His lips knew how to make me feel alive and yet numb at the same time.

For a brief moment, he became rough, but then he slowed down, recognizing the need for restraint. I pulled back, attempting to collect my scattered thoughts and regain some semblance of sanity. "Woah," I breathed out, my forehead resting against his. A soft chuckle escaped him, filling the air with warmth.

"So, you see," I said, lifting my forehead from his and gazing into his eyes, which I had come to love. "Nicholas, I don't regret this. I would be a brat if I did. And, if you didn't forget," I took his pinky finger and entwined it with mine, "you promised that nothing would happen to Mr. Cutie Pie and Little Red," I teased,

"You remember," he said, his eyes widening.

"Of course," I replied, a smile playing on my lips.

"I just can't believe this is real," he murmured, resting his head on my shoulder. It felt nice, really nice.

"Dude, I just kissed you. That's real enough. Or do you want me to kiss you again?" I joked, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Yes," he immediately replied, surprising me.

"I love this side of you," I laughed, my fingers gently running through his soft hair, savoring the sensation of its silkiness against my skin.

"Really?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"Yes," I replied, my laughter still lingering in the air. "You sound as though you're in love with me." I expected a playful response, a witty remark or a teasing comment, but instead, there was silence.

"What if I was?" His words hung in the air, and my heart skipped a beat. Was I hearing it correctly?

I swallowed hard, unsure if I was afraid to hear him say those words or afraid of my own response. "What if I was, Red? Would that be a problem?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

"I... I don't... know," I stammered. "I mean, we haven't really connected that much, and the little we did doesn't necessarily bring about such intense feelings," I explained, trying to convince myself that it wasn't a possibility.

"I understand," he said, his eyes filled with a touch of sadness. "It must be overwhelming for you to hear all of this at once. I won't say it until you feel sure about this. I can wait."

"Are you sure?" I asked, my hand gently caressing his cheek.

"Yes, I am. But if I say it suddenly, don't hate me," he replied, his voice filled with vulnerability.

I chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "I don't think I would. But sure, Nicholas, I'm not going anywhere. So, if you feel the need to say it, you can. After all, I just learned something new from your Beta."

"What's that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It seems my name means 'Luna' in wolf language. He kept calling me that. So, what is it?" I asked, placing my hands back around his neck, waiting for his reply. Suddenly, he held back a laugh, and its sound filled the room.

"What's so funny?" I pouted, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity.

He didn't say anything but just stared at me with such warmth and tenderness. Then, he pecked my nose, leaving me even more puzzled.

"I love you," he whispered under his breath, but I struggled to hear it clearly.

"Huh?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I'm not saying it again," he teased, pretending to want to leave the bed. But I wrapped my legs around his waist, not ready to let him go.

"Come on, say it again," I pleaded, my voice filled with a mixture of playfulness and anticipation.

He hesitated for a moment, then kissed my forehead. "I ... " He kissed my cheeks, "love..." he finished, his lips grazing mine in a gentle peck. " You,"

My face turned red, and I immediately buried it in his chest, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and joy. "I didn't know you would say it now," I admitted, my voice filled with childlike innocence.

He pecked my head, his touch reassuring. "Well, I can stop saying it until you feel comfortable," he offered, his tone gentle.

"No!" I pushed him back slightly, not wanting him to retract his words. "I... I mean, you can keep saying it... if you want to," I added, lowering my head and fiddling with my shirt nervously.

"I want to," he responded with certainty.

"Okay," I replied, my voice soft and uncertain. I bit my lip, nodding my head. "So, could you say it once more?"

He gently lifted my head to meet his gaze, and in that infinite moment, I felt a spark of connection between us, as if the world around us had faded away.

"I love you, Red," he whispered,

I smiled.

I think me too.

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" So I have a confession," I blurted out.

" Oh, okay," Nicholas said, his warm chest serving as my soft refuge, turned his gaze towards me. We lay intertwined on the bed, my head nestled against his sturdy frame. His hand traced gentle circles along my arms, soothing my restless nerves.

As I rested my head on his chest, the sound of his heartbeat brought me a sense of calm. But whenever I touched his chest, I noticed his heart would start beating faster. He explained that it was because he wasn't used to being so close to someone, especially a woman. I was surprised by his revelation.

"When we first met, or rather when we met here, you kind of went into full dad mode on me, like Uncle J. I have to admit, I hated you for a while," I confessed, biting my lips. He laughed, pulling me closer, he secured his arms around my waist as he continued.

" Oh, I know, I specifically remember the time during the training, if thoughts could kill, I would be long gone," he teased.

Dammit.

I couldn't help but curse inwardly. I had mistakenly assumed that Reyes had been the one listening, now I know Reyes is Nicholas wolf, it just makes things so embarrassing. I wished for a disappearing spell to whisk me away from the embarrassment that flooded my cheeks.

"Hey," Nicholas said, my gaze fixed on him, "don't feel embarrassed. Honestly, listening to you was the highlight of my day in this place."

"Really?" He nodded, a genuine smile gracing his lips.

"Definitely. You have no idea how many times my secretary would barge into my office, concerned if I was alright because I couldn't contain my laughter while hearing your thoughts. And on a deeper level, it made me feel closer to you. I didn't want to ruin the delicate connection we had," he admitted, his voice softening towards the end. It was strange, but I couldn't deny the longing to kiss him again, to feel the warmth of his lips against mine.

"You can kiss me anytime," he playfully wiggled his eyebrows, eliciting a widening of my eyes in response.

"Seriously, you have to stop that," I lightly swatted him, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. He shook his head, a mischievous smirk gracing his face as he lowered his head, bringing his lips tantalizingly close to mine. But before the moment could fully blossom, the shrill ring of my phone shattered the enchantment that hung between us.

"Sorry, I have to take this," he groaned in frustration as I reluctantly slipped out of his embrace, finding solace on the edge of the bed. I grabbed the phone, my curiosity piqued by the caller's identity.

"Aunt May, is everything alright?" I inquired, concern lacing my voice.

"I'm fine, dear. How's Nicholas doing?" Her voice carried a tinge of worry.

"He's..." I paused, feeling his lips brush against my neck, sending a subtle warning to cut it out. "Nicholas," I whispered, a silent plea for him to behave. "He's fine."

"Oh?" Aunt May's voice held mischievous.

"What?" I stood up from the bed, catching sight of his hands attempting to draw me closer, their touch filled with a magnetic pull.

Wolves, I tell you.

"Don't tell me you're getting all frisky right now. I know I said you two could have some alone time, but doing the deed when war is at hand is not what I had in mind," Aunt May's words rang in my ears, her vulgarity both shocking and amusing.

"Aunt!" I exclaimed, hastily covering my embarrassment. How could Aunt May still be so unabashedly candid, even in this situation? "We're not doing anything. We're just hanging out."

"Yeah, yeah," I could practically envision her rolling her eyes. "Just be careful. I heard that what happened in the forest has reached the Elders. Avery told me."

Crap.

The Elders has remained oblivious to my existence, and if they were to discover the truth, I couldn't be certain of the consequences. I was necessary in this fight, but they wouldn't understand.

"Yes, Aunt. Thank you. Are you sure you're doing well?" I asked, slowly pacing towards the standing mirror, stealing a glance at my reflection.

"Yeah, your uncle made sure to hide me. He's taking really good care of me," her voice softened.

"Because he cares for you, Aunt."

"I know," she sighed. "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to give him a second chance."

"Yes, please do. Just talk to him when everything is over, okay?" I urged, a swell of relief washing over me at the thought of her finding her own happiness.

"I will. And also, don't go crazy. He's still injured," she playfully taunted. I wanted to correct her misunderstanding, but before I could interject, she abruptly ended the call.

"What did she say?" Nicholas's voice came from behind me, his head resting on my shoulder as his hand gently encircled my waist. I met his gaze through the mirror, finding solace in his presence.

"The elders are growing suspicious. They've discovered what happened in the forest," I replied, turning to face him fully. "Nicholas, if they find out I'm a hybrid, they might-"

"They won't. Please don't think that way," he interjected, his voice filled with conviction.

"But they will. I can sense it. I don't know how I'll handle this. I've only just found out you're my mate. What if they take you away from me or worse, kill-" My words trailed off as his hands tightly gripped mine.

"Please don't finish that sentence," his eyes darkened with anger. "You can't say such a thing, Red. Do you want to destroy me too?"

"I'm sorry... I'm just scared," I whispered, my voice laced with vulnerability.

"I know. We'll figure this out together." He pulled me into a comforting embrace, and I clung to him desperately. "I want to talk to Reyes. I miss him," I blurted out.

"He misses you too, but he's unable to communicate at the moment. He's still injured," Nicholas explained.

"Can't I talk to him? He usually communicates with me through our minds," I suggested, a glimmer of hope shining in my eyes.

"Yeah, you can, but I have to mark you for that to happen," he revealed, causing my brows to furrow in confusion.

"Mark? What do you mean...?"

"I mean I have to bite and claim you, Red," he raised his hand and slowly traced my exposed neck until his finger came to a stop at a particular spot. "Right here."

"So if you mark me, I can talk to him?" I asked, my eyes widening with anticipation. It didn't sound as bad as I initially thought.

"It's not that bad, but female mates who are marked often fall into a trance and regain themselves after two days. Considering the current circumstances, I don't think you need that right now," he explained, walking back to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Oh... Is it necessary for the mark to be permanent?" I inquired, stepping closer to him.

"We do have a temporary marking option, but I'm not-" he began.

"Do it, then," I interrupted, determination lacing my voice.

"Do what?" he asked, confusion evident in his eyes.

"Mark me temporarily, Nicholas."