Chasing His Kickass Luna Back

Volunteers are everywhere, some painting walls, others laying bricks, and many more engaged in various tasks like carrying beams or giving orders. It's inspiring to see that so many people have showed up today, and I can't help but wonder if their Alpha’s presence had something to do with it. In fact, I soon see the cameras gathering, and my suspicions are confirmed. They're already snapping sly photos of me and Karl, no doubt for their blogs or newspapers or magazines. I can practically see the headlines now: “Alpha Karl and Luna Abby back together, serving their community”.

I just hope that the headlines don’t have anything to do with food poisoning or scandals.

We quickly find our designated spot and start setting up our tent. The air is filled with the sounds of hammers and drills, mingled with the laughter and chatter of volunteers.

As I start laying out the food with my team and getting to work on the grills, however, I feel something; like eyes on me.

I glance up, and my eyes inadvertently find Karl. He's across the field, working with a group of volunteers on the library's new structure. He's in his element, laughing and joking with the others, and yet every so often, his gaze drifts over to our tent... and lands directly on me.

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. His look is full of something I can't quite decipher—pride, perhaps, or maybe something deeper. I feel a blush creeping up into my cheeks, and I quickly look away, focusing back on my cooking.

"Abby, the sauce!” Daisy calls out, snapping me out of my daze.

“Right, on it,” I say, quickly turning my attention to the simmering pot on the portable stove. The sauce was on the verge of burning, but Daisy snapped me out of it just in time. I turn the heat down, and give it a taste. It needs just a little more seasoning, and then it'll taste perfect over the chicken breasts we've prepared.

As the day progresses, the smells of our cooking fill the air, drawing people over. We serve up hearty portions of stew, fresh salads, and warm bread, the smiles and thank-yous from the volunteers fueling our spirits. It's hard work, but it's also incredibly satisfying.

During a brief lull, I step out of the tent, wiping my hands on my apron.

I look over at the building project and see Karl lifting a heavy beam, his muscles flexing under the strain.

I swallow as I watch him, feeling that heat rise through my body again. Lately, maybe because of my wolf's return, I've felt undeniably attracted to him. No matter how hard I try to push it away, I keep thinking about what we did in the woods on the night of the party, when my dress got wet in the snow and I didn't have a care in the world. I hate to admit it, but I want to feel that again.

“You could, you know,” my wolf teases, her voice low and husky. “Behind the shed over there—" "Don’t you dare,” I retort inwardly, my eyes still fixed on Karl and his gleaming muscles. “Don't do this to me right now.”

My wolf chuckles, clearly enjoying the strain. But she relents, and I let out a soft sigh of relief. I'm about to turn away to head back to the tent and rejoin my team, but then something happens; Karl looks up from his work, and as though sensing me, he looks over his shoulder at me.

He catches my eye again, and this time, he smiles.

A real, genuine smile that reaches his eyes and makes my heart skip a beat.