From Rejected Luna To Lycan Queen (Eloise and Edward) novel Chapter 374

Chapter 374 The Anchor

Chapter 374 The Anchor

ZARA

I stopped right in front of him, close enough to feel the warmth coming off his flushed skin Up love, he looked even bigger. Even more dangerous than I remembered.

“Hades”

His pitch-black eyes flicked to mine. I’d seriously never seen brown eyes that dark before They were e obsidian stones. But that didn’t diminish the storm I saw him waging all on his own. I hesitated for on half a second.

Then I reached out. My fingers brushed the warm, bare skin of his cheek, his stubble scraping against palm. He inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring. But he didn’t push my hand away. Instead, he leaned down slightly, like he was giving me better access Movement behind me had his body going rigid again.

His eyes shifted past me, over my shoulder, and something in his face hardened. The tension in his shoulders pulled tight, like a rubber band stretched to its limit. I wasn’t sure why he was triggered, but for whatever reason, he saw them as a threat.

“Hey, Hades. Look at me.”

His nostrils flared, and a deep rumble vibrated in his chest, but he wouldn’t take his eyes off whoever stood just behind me. The air shifted. Heavy and sharp, like right before a fight breaks out.

“He isn’t going to hurt me,” I said quietly, not taking my eyes off Hades. “Back. Off.”

“Zara…” Cassian warned, low and serious. “You don’t know that.”

Hearing him sound like that should have made me step away in fear.

But Cassian was wrong.

I did know he wouldn’t hurt me. The man in front of me Hades growled. The sound was low and animalistic, something I was quickly realizing he did often, and it vibrated through his chest and into

mine.

His large hand slid to my hip, firm and possessive, while the other came up to the back of my neck, fingers threading into my hair. He tugged gently, angling my head back just enough to give him access

His lips found mine. Soft at first. Feather-light. Like he was testing himself Taking small, careful sips of my mouth instead of claiming it outright. I melted instantly

His tongue traced a slow path along my jaw, down the sensitive skin of my neck, before returning to my lips. I moaned, completely caught in the contrast-soft touches paired with the rough scrape of ha beard the heat of him everywhere.

Then his restraint mapped.

He captured my mouth again, hard and demanding this time, his tongue tangling with mise as if he’d

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Chapter 374 The Anchor

fmally decided he’d waited long enough. I pushed up on my toes again, desperate to stay close, my lands sliding over his back and broad shoulders, warm, smooth skin under my palms

By the time he pulled away, we were both breathing hard. I swayed when he let me go. My fingers tourf my lips lightly. I was flushed, shaken, so turned on it startled me. If he’d pressed me back again the counter or the floor or the wall, I would have let him. No hesitation. No shame

Even with the others watching.

Hades smirked like he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone. He rested his forehead against mine his arms coming around me fully now-protective, grounding, gentle in a way that didn’t match the feral edge he’d just shown me. He inhaled deeply, like he was anchoring himself to my scent, my presence

“Zara,” he said quietly. Then, softer. Rougher. “I’m sorry.”

The pain in his voice hit me like ice water, cutting straight through the heas still humming under my skin

His apology didn’t make sense with the way his hands still held me-careful, like I was something breakable, something precious. No one had ever held me like this. The heat between us hadn’t vanished, but it shifted, turning from wildfire into something deeper. He kept his forehead against mine, eyes closed now, breathing slow and deliberate like he was trying to wrestle himself back into control.

“For what? What do you have to be sorry for?” I whispered, finally finding my voice.

His jaw flexed under my fingers. I hadn’t even realized I was still touching his cheek until my thumb brushed along the edge of his lips again. His arms tightened just slightly, not trapping me, just… needing the contact. Trust me, the feeling was mutual.

“I’m sorry for almost losing it. I didn’t know you were here and I don’t know… I thought-” he shook his head. Like maybe he wasn’t sure what triggered him.

“It’s okay. You didn’t hurt anyone. That’s what matters.”

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