Tracy met him at a student event for St. Patrickβs Day in mid-March.
The college principle seemed to absolutely love getting everyone involved in organizing events, and the students eagerly picked up on his initiative.
It was, of course, questionable, because Tracy didnβt give a damn about any holidays she never celebrated. People in green clothes, beer parties, leprechauns and clovers everywhere β all of it seemed like unnecessary noise that distracted from things that actually mattered.
The day was cloudy. A light rain drizzled, and students, with green accessories stuck on them, tried to pretend they were enjoying the holiday. Tracy wouldβve laughed, but she just didnβt have the strength or the will for it.
Her mood matched the weather β gray, heavy, with no hint of anything good. She was supposed to help other students with the preparations, but when did she ever do what she was supposed to?
Instead, her feet led her to a nature reserve not far from the college building. It was strictly off-limits. There were signs everywhere, teachers warned about it, and even the students with adventurous spirits usually stayed clear. But when did Tracy Stewart ever follow the rules?
Her life annoyed her. People around her lived as if they had eternity ahead of them, but Tracy saw through it β most of them were just pretending everything was fine. And she didnβt want to pretend.
She wasnβt planning on staying long. Just needed to get some air, shake off the headache from the constant noise of student bustle. But things didnβt go as planned.
So lost in her thoughts about her shitty life, she didnβt notice how deep into the woods sheβd gone until she reached the edge of a steep cliff. The ground was wet, the grass slippery, and before she realized she was in danger, her feet slid down.
She didnβt even have time to scream. The world spun before her eyes, her heart pounded in her chest, and in the next moment, instead of a deadly fall, she felt strong arms catch her around the waist.
There was no crash. Instead, someone solid and confident held her back from making a fatal mistake.
β You should be more careful, β a low voice said near her ear, laced with a hint of mockery. Harsh, but with a strange tenderness.
She spun around sharply. There was a guy standing in front of her, who clearly shouldnβt have been here.
β What, are you suicidal? β he smirked, still holding her by the wrist, as if afraid sheβd slip again and break her neck for real.
β Go to hell, β Tracy muttered, pulling her hand away.
β Been there, didnβt like it.
She rolled her eyes, but inside, something stirred. A little later, when they were standing in a relatively safe spot, she allowed herself to take a closer look at him.
Damn. He was gorgeous. Not just good-looking, but painfully, stunningly beautiful. Broad shoulders, muscular arms tense under the dark shirt, sharp face features that gave him both a predatory and strangely alluring expression.
Thatβs how she met Theo Raeken β the cocky bastard who, as it turned out, was surprisingly kind and gentle when you got to know him.
And now, several months after their meeting, Tracy couldnβt tear her eyes away from him.
Theo had just gotten out of the shower β water still dripping from his skin, his hair damp, and his pants hung carelessly, giving her a view of his fucking gorgeous hips.
She knew she shouldnβt be staring like this. But damn, he was too goddamn handsome and sexy. Tracy was openly staring at him. And smiling, because her boyfriend β heβs perfection.
Theo noticed her gaze, grinned, but didnβt say anything. He just stepped closer, and Tracy couldnβt hide the embarrassed but contented smile.
But if she looked back at their memoriesβ¦
After that weird meeting in the reserve, just a week after St. Patrickβs Day, on their first date, Theo confessed to her that he wasnβt exactly human.
He was, technically, human. But also a were-coyote.
Tracy wasnβt scared. She was, after all, a reckless person. So, she thought it was cool. Theo smirked, but something warm, almost tender, flashed in his eyes.
Like, she now had this insanely attractive boyfriend (who was still her best friend back then), and he could literally tear apart anyone who dared to hurt her.
By the way, he promised her that.
When she confessed her love to him while he was making coffee for them in his kitchen, two short weeks after they met. On his birthday, which she made a little party for him, even though he said he hated that day.
When did she ever listen to anyone, right?
And then she confessed her love. And they kissed.
Now she was standing before him, still amazed at how this guy could combine such wild danger with such surprising tenderness.
Only with her was he like this β soft, caring, overprotective. With others β ruthless, cruel, and dangerous. And that was fucking cute.
Tracy stepped forward and hugged him, hiding her embarrassed smile in his shoulder.
Theo exhaled quietly, holding her close and breathing in the scent of her hair with faint notes of grapefruit and lime.
He slid his hand down her back, gently leaned in, and kissed her. And Tracy smiled into the kiss.
Itβs cool having a boyfriend whoβd destroy the whole world for you. Even if it meant breaking every goddamn rule of society.
