....
They stayed like that for a heartbeat too long.
Zeraka's knuckles hovered against Rein's jaw, the warmth of her skin laced with the hint of something unnameable.
Her pupils were still narrowed—predatory—but her breathing was shallow now, caught between instinct and… uncertainty.
Rein had a choice.
Stay quiet, let the moment pass, maybe escape when she blinked—
Or twist the knife.
He smiled—thin, tired, purposefully.
Then lifted a hand, slow enough not to spook her, and gently brought it up toward the side of her head.
Zeraka's eyes tracked his fingers like they were a weapon.
He didn't stop.
Instead, he reached behind her twitching wolf ear, nestled in the soft base of silver hair…
And scratched.
A slow, lazy rub with the side of his thumb.
Her breath hitched immediately.
The change was instant.
Zeraka shuddered from crown to tail.
Her muscles trembled.
Her eyes blew wide for a half second—like she'd just been kissed by lightning—and then lidded slowly, as if trying to hold the reaction down by force.
"Wh-what…" she muttered.
Rein smirked, voice dry. "Just checking if the rumors were true."
She didn't respond.
She just sat there, frozen in place, thighs still straddling his hips, but no longer pressing down like she wanted to crack his ribs.
Her hands hovered midair—stiff, unsure, twitching.
He gave another slow scratch behind the ear.
And that's when it happened.
A low, rumbling sound rose in her chest.
Not a growl.
Not a purr.
Something between.
Rein blinked. "Was that a—"
"Don't say it," she growled, instantly tense.
But it was too late. The tension had cracked.
He couldn't help himself.
He leaned in slightly, voice low.
"Good girl."
Zeraka's whole body locked.
Then arched.
A moan escaped her lips—barely restrained, but real.
Her nails clawed the boulder behind him, stone grinding under the pressure.
Her tail lashed once, knocking a rock clean across the ravine.
Her breath came fast, shallow.
She opened her mouth like she was about to speak—then just bit her own lower lip.
Rein pulled his hand away, watching her with a mixture of triumph and horror.
"…Oh gods," he muttered.
"That worked?"
Zeraka slowly turned her head toward him.
Her expression wasn't anger.
It was hunger.
Wild, wide-eyed, lip-biting, obsessed hunger.
"Say it again."
He blinked. "No."
Her hands slammed down beside his head. Ash flew.
"Say it again."
"I'm good," he said, trying to push her back. "I think once was—"
"SAY. IT. AGAIN."
He glared up at her.
"You really are just a giant, musclebound dog, aren't you?"
She leaned in, nose brushing his cheek.
Voice trembling with desire and threat.
"Say it again and I will mate with you right here on this rock until you forget your own name."
Rein turned red instantly.
"…No pressure, huh?"
Zeraka's grin was all teeth.
But this time—her tail wagged.