When I woke up, it was nightfall. Someone was moving outside. I knew it was Theo. I hoped it was Theo.
"Theo," I called out, unsure whether it was a good idea.
It was indeed Theo. He was digging to bury the body.
"We were lucky we have not been tracked because of the stench," he said between heavy breaths.
He was half naked, his muscles rippling and his body shining under the moonlight. He climbed out and kicked the body into the hole.
"I made you something," he pointed towards the fire.
I looked, and it was cooked potato and meat stew.
"Where did you get this?" I asked in amusement.
"In the house. I guess he was eating well."
"He knew who I was, and he mentioned you banished him. He was going to hurt me because of you. What are you not telling me, Theo?" I said and started eating immediately.
He was standing still, looking at me.
"Being an Alpha puts you in a position where you have to make crazy decisions. I guess you cannot relate since you do not have a wolf."
That caught me off guard, and I stopped eating immediately.
"Was that necessary?" I shot back angrily.
"Stop acting like you are a saint when you have lied to me for more than a decade."
"I only asked who the man was and why are you suddenly bringing all of these up?"
"Because it matters too. You have no right to question me when you are as evil as I am." He replied and went back to covering up the hole.
"And did I ever call you evil?" I was angry and confused, and at that point, I knew he was hiding a whole lot from me. He was trying to manipulate me with guilt to avoid accountability. Well, it worked.
I ran back inside and tucked under the blanket, crying softly so he would not hear me.
About an hour later, he came inside and sat down beside me.
"I am sorry. I was not in a good mood. I felt like you should not have questioned me because I am risking a lot for you right now. My life, my position and clan is at stake. All for love and for a woman who does not trust me. I want you to know, I want the best for you. I want you to survive through this. Your parents are going to be tried when I get back to the town. I would do my best for them, for you. I love you Snow, I really do. Do not make me regret this."
"I only asked if you were lying to me," I said amidst tears.
"Come here,"
He helped me up and pulled me close to him. His body was still warm from the digging, and I could feel his heartbeat against my chest. He wiped my tears with his thumb and looked into my eyes.
"I am sorry," he whispered again, his voice softer this time.
I wanted to stay angry, but my body had other plans. The way he was looking at me, the way his hands were holding my waist, it was making me forget everything. I hated how easily he could do this to me.
He leaned in and kissed me. It was gentle at first, like he was asking for permission. I kissed him back, and that was all the permission he needed. His hands moved to my back, pulling me even closer. I could feel the heat from his skin through my thin shirt.
"Theo," I whispered against his lips.
He did not respond. Instead, he lifted me up and carried me to the little bed on the floor. He laid me down gently and bent over me, his eyes searching mine for something. Maybe regret, maybe hesitation. He found neither.
His lips found mine again, and this time it was not gentle. It was hungry, desperate even. His hands moved under my shirt, touching my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I arched my back, wanting more of him.
He pulled my shirt over my head and threw it somewhere in the room. His eyes roamed over my body like he was seeing me for the first time.
"You are so beautiful," he said, his voice thick with desire.
I reached up and touched his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath my fingers. He closed his eyes and let out a low groan. I could feel his body responding to my touch, and it made me want him even more.
He kissed my neck, my collarbone, moving lower and lower. His hands were everywhere, touching, caressing, making me forget where I was, what we had just done. All I could think about was him, this moment, just us.
I pulled him back up to me and kissed him hard. My hands moved to the waistband of his pants, and he helped me remove them. He was completely naked now, and I could see all of him in the dim light of the fire.
He removed the rest of my clothes slowly, like he was unwrapping a gift. When I was completely bare before him, he just looked at me for a moment, his breathing heavy.
"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded. I was more than sure.
He positioned himself between my legs, his eyes never leaving mine. When he entered me, I gasped. It hurt at first, but then the pain turned into something else. Something that made me dig my nails into his back.
He moved slowly at first, letting me adjust to him. But then I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, and he lost all control. His movements became faster, harder, more desperate.
I could feel myself getting closer to the edge with every thrust. My body was on fire, every nerve ending alive and screaming for more. I called out his name, not caring if anyone could hear us.
"Snow," he groaned into my neck, his movements becoming wild.
I felt myself falling over the edge, my body convulsing beneath him. He followed shortly after, his body tensing as he found his release.
He collapsed on top of me, both of us breathing heavily. After a moment, he rolled off and pulled me into his arms. I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowly return to normal.
"I love you," he whispered into my ear.
I wanted to say it back, but the words got stuck in my throat. Instead, I just held him tighter, pushing away all the questions and doubts that were trying to creep back in.
For now, this was enough.
I closed my eyes, trying to live in the moment.