Anna hadn't expected to hear those three words so soon. But deep down, she had been hoping. She knew she loved him. She loved the way he made her feel, the way he looked at her like she was the only thing in the world.
"Please say something," Oliver said, his voice soft but strained, anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. His heart thundered in his chest.
"I love you too," Anna said confidently, her gaze locked on his. Oliver pulled her into another kiss—this one harder, deeper. Desperate.
"Thank you," he whispered against her lips, his eyes holding her as if she might vanish.
Inside him, his hellhound stirred with joy. Their mate had accepted them. But the victory was not without a shadow—his truth still lingered, heavy on his conscience. He hadn't told Anna yet.
They finished their shower—what was meant to be quick had stretched into something heated and intimate. Afterward, Anna busied herself with grading and preparing assignments. That's when it struck her—she didn't know where Oliver worked.
She turned to where he sat on the couch, typing on his laptop. "Where do you work?" she asked. "Oh! Did I interrupt something?"
He glanced up, offering a small smile. "No, not at all. Remember the restaurant where we had our first date? It's mine."
That caught her off guard. "Seriously? You own it?"
"Yeah," he said, returning to his screen. Something about the way he focused made her stomach flutter again—and also reminded her she was starving.
"I'm going to make something to eat. Do you want anything?" she asked, standing from the plush black rug.
"I'm hungry too. Let's order in," he said, closing his laptop. He quickly placed the order and joined her on the floor again.
While Anna ate, Oliver watched her in awe. The way she licked the sauce from her lips, the way her body moved—it was driving him insane. His hellhound responded, aching for her, but also alert. There was something strange it sensed in Anna—something he couldn't quite place.
He slid closer to her, lips brushing against her neck. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, kissing the sensitive skin just beneath her jaw.
A shiver ran through Anna. She whimpered softly as he gently laid her down on the rug, pushing the plates away.
"I can't restrain myself around you," Oliver confessed, his voice deep and thick with desire. "Every move you make… drives me crazy."
His words stirred something inside her—a mix of pride and pleasure. She rolled on top of him, lifting her T-shirt over her head. His eyes darkened, a flicker of red appearing briefly before fading.
"I want you more every minute," she whispered. "When we're apart, I feel like something inside me is missing."
She kissed him deeply, passionately, trailing her tongue across his chest—until her phone rang.
She froze. The ringtone told her instantly: Molly.
She climbed off Oliver and grabbed her phone. "Hello, baby. What's wrong?" Her voice lowered instinctively. She turned back to see Oliver watching her with a furrowed brow and a slightly menacing look that almost made her laugh.
"Are you at your apartment now?" Molly asked, his tone unusually quiet. Anna's stomach dropped. He sounded off.
"Yes… do you want to come over?"
"Yeah. I'm leaving my dorm now." He hung up before she could say anything more.
Anna paced, unsure how to handle this. She wasn't ready to introduce Oliver to her younger brother. "That was my brother," she said carefully. "He's coming over. I… I think you should go, just for now. I'm sorry, he sounded upset."
Oliver nodded and gathered his things. He leaned in to kiss her goodbye, then quietly slipped out.
But he didn't go far.
He parked behind a large tree near the house and checked his phone. A flood of messages from Molly waited for him—saying he needed to talk and had wanted to visit Oliver's place earlier. Relief washed over Oliver. Anna hadn't lied.
---
Weekend Getaway: Cape Town
The drive felt long—nerves coiled tight in Anna's chest as they left the city. All she saw now were trees, mountains, and empty stretches of road.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice tight with unease. She had always hated unfamiliar, isolated places.
"We're here," Oliver said with a smile.
Her eyes widened as the car turned, revealing a massive white-and-sky-blue resort nestled along the coast. The sound of the ocean filled her ears, the breeze kissing her skin. Her worries melted.
It was stunning—modern, elegant, and serene.
Oliver had taken her to Cape Town.
Inside, the scent of lavender filled the air. Too strong. Anna gagged, covering her nose and mouth.
"Babe? What's wrong?" Oliver asked, concerned.
His hellhound's voice echoed in his mind: I told you… our mate isn't well. Something's wrong.
Anna struggled to speak. "The lavender… it's too much. It's awful."
Without hesitation, Oliver took the key card and led her to their suite, waving off the woman carrying the lavender basket.
Anna, now barefoot in her white dress and slippers, dropped her bag in the room and collapsed onto the bed.
Later, as she napped, Oliver held her close, trying to shake the unease he felt. Something was changing in Anna. His instincts screamed it, even if he didn't understand it.
---
The Mirror's Reflection
When Anna woke, Oliver was still asleep. She slipped out of bed and into the exposed bathroom for a shower. The room was round, open, and luxurious.
After drying off, she reached for the chocolate-brown swimsuit she packed just a month ago—only to find it tighter than expected. Her curves were fuller. Her hips, her breasts… everything looked slightly more pronounced. She stared at her reflection.
"What the hell…" she whispered, tracing her fingers along her sides.
Her gasp was loud enough to rouse Oliver, who blinked awake and turned toward her.