Forbidden Mate

ly enjoying the idea of dragging me out for a workout tomorrow. I was still consideri

s," came a low,

tall and broad-shouldered, with a casual confidence that radiated from him like heat. His tousled

early unbothered by his p

slight smirk playing on his lips. "What's going on

her voice a little too cheerful for my liking. "Lyra wa

a wide-eyed glare, my mouth han

uth as if trying to look innocent. "Yeah, she wa

at me, clearly amused. "Really? You,

ad furiously. "No! I mean,

't be shy. You're always talking about how yo

face burning. This was not

he'd grabbed into the air and catching it effortlessly. "Alright, then," he said

ucas reached out and grabbed

al as he pulled me towards the st

ately trying to resist as he dragged m

after me, laughter in her

her a death glare, but she just waved me off

airs and out the back door. I stumbled behind him, struggling to keep up w

ng on his apple. "Relax, Lyra. It'

t exactly the 'run through the forest at

"Then consider this a cha

ation rising. "I d

ith a smirk, "but you'

hit my face as we stepped outside, the faint scent of pine and earth filling my lungs. The forest loomed ahead of us, d

urning to face me. He crossed his arms, still holding the half

trying to hide my nerve

to calm my racing heart. "You'll be fine," he said, t

'm not like you, right? I don't have th

erious for a moment. "Doesn't mean you can't push

ore I could respond, he turned and jogged int

him, but he was already dis

ves as I tried to keep up with him. The adrenaline from earlier returne

shoulder, his voice annoyin

eak for yourself. You're n

lling into step beside me. "You

idelong glare.

leaves, the distant chirping of birds. It wasn't long before the forest seemed to blur toget

nally slowed to a stop, glancing back at m

. "Barely," I muttered, wiping sweat from my fore

g down beside me. "

look. "Don't

e softening. "You pushed you

aught my breath. Maybe Jenna and Lucas weren't completely wr

t of this," I said, giving

ng back against the