Chapter 1: Shadows in the Moonlight
Nick adjusted the lens of his camera, the cool night air biting at his lightly browned skin as he crouched low in the underbrush. The full moon hung heavy in the sky, casting silver streaks through the dense forest surrounding his remote cabin. He’d bought this slice of wilderness to escape the noise of humanity and to fuel his career as a wildlife photographer. Tonight, he was chasing the perfect shot for some glossy magazine spread—a lunar landscape with the raw edge of nature. His shaggy dark brown hair fell into his eyes as he squinted through the viewfinder, his lean frame tense with anticipation. He startled at the snap of a twig, his heart racing. The forest was alive, and he was alone. Or so he thought.
A low growl rumbled through the stillness, and Nick froze, his breath catching. He lowered the camera, scanning the shadows. Then he saw it—eyes like molten gold, glinting in the moonlight, attached to a hulking, furred form that was neither man nor beast, but something primal in between. A werewolf. Nick’s pulse hammered, but he couldn’t look away. The creature stepped closer, its massive frame rippling with muscle, and then—impossibly—it shifted, fur receding into tanned skin, revealing a rugged man with a wild mane of black hair and a smirk that could stop hearts.
‘Didn’t expect company out here, pretty boy,’ the stranger drawled, his voice a gravelly purr that sent a shiver down Nick’s spine. ‘You spying on me with that fancy toy?’
Nick scrambled to his feet, clutching his camera like a shield. ‘I—I’m just taking photos. Didn’t mean to intrude. Who the hell are you?’ His voice wavered, but he squared his shoulders, refusing to back down.
The man chuckled, stepping closer, his bare chest gleaming under the moon. ‘Name’s Rowan. And you’re on my turf, shutterbug. Thought you humans knew better than to wander into a wolf’s den on a full moon.’ His gaze raked over Nick, lingering with a hunger that made Nick’s skin prickle.
‘I’m not just any human,’ Nick snapped, his defiance masking the heat creeping up his neck. ‘I live here. This is my land now. So maybe you’re the one who should be explaining yourself, furball.’
Rowan’s grin widened, sharp and dangerous. ‘Oh, I like that fire. You’ve got bite, don’t you? Bet you taste just as sharp.’ He took another step, close enough that Nick could feel the heat radiating off him, smell the earthy musk of the forest clinging to his skin.
Nick’s breath hitched, his body betraying him with a rush of warmth between his thighs. He wasn’t used to this—being seen, being wanted, not since his transition. But Rowan’s stare was unflinching, stripping him bare in a way that was both terrifying and electric. ‘Back off,’ Nick warned, though his voice lacked conviction. ‘I’m not some prey for you to hunt.’
‘Who said I’m hunting?’ Rowan murmured, his hand brushing Nick’s jaw, rough fingertips igniting sparks. ‘Maybe I just wanna play. You look like you could use a little wild in your life.’
Nick’s resolve wavered as Rowan’s thumb grazed his lower lip, the touch sending a jolt straight to his core. He should’ve pushed him away, should’ve run, but instead, he found himself leaning in, his voice a low growl. ‘You think you can handle me, wolf? I don’t break easy.’
Rowan’s eyes darkened, a predatory gleam flashing as he pulled Nick closer, their bodies colliding with a force that stole the air from Nick’s lungs. ‘Oh, I’m counting on it,’ Rowan whispered, his lips hovering over Nick’s, teasing, taunting. Their mouths crashed together, a hungry, desperate clash of teeth and tongue, and Nick felt himself unraveling, his hands fisting in Rowan’s hair as the forest seemed to spin around them.
They stumbled back against a tree, bark rough against Nick’s back as Rowan’s hands roamed, sliding under his shirt, mapping the lean lines of his body. Nick gasped, his pussy already wet, aching with a need he hadn’t felt in years. Rowan’s growl vibrated against his neck as he nipped at the sensitive skin, his fingers dipping lower, teasing the waistband of Nick’s jeans. ‘Fuck, you’re dripping for me already,’ Rowan rasped, his voice thick with lust. ‘Gonna make you howl louder than any wolf tonight.’
Nick’s head tipped back, a moan escaping as Rowan’s hand slipped inside, finding him hot and ready. The promise of what was to come—Rowan’s mouth on him, driving him to the edge with relentless, feral hunger—had Nick panting, his body trembling with anticipation. This was no tame encounter; it was raw, untamed, and about to explode under the watchful eye of the moon.
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