Chapter 5 Chapitre 5

The day began slowly, with this morning mist which covered the forest with a silent veil. The heroine had planned everything. She knew he would be there somewhere watching practice, like always. Alpha Jaxon never showed himself directly, preferring to observe from afar, with this icy distance that constantly surrounded him. But today, she wasn't just going to meet his gaze from afar, waiting for a smile or a subtle remark. No, she wanted more.

When she saw him walking away to an isolated part of the clearing, she followed him discreetly, her heart beating wildly. She wasn't sure how it would all play out, but she was willing to improvise. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she tried to remain calm. This moment was crucial. She had to find the strength to remain confident, even in the face of this intense gaze that could, with a single glance, make her doubt everything.

" Jaxon!" » she called, her voice breaking the hushed silence of the forest. He stopped and turned slowly, his dark eyes falling on her with his usual coldness, almost indifferent. She walked towards him, her gaze locked on his, refusing to look down. She knew he hated weakness, and she had no intention of giving him that satisfaction.

"What do you want?" » he asked sharply, his arms crossed over his muscular chest, an inscrutable expression on his face.

She felt a shiver run through her, but she refused to be intimidated. "Just... talk to you." » She moved closer, closing the distance between them, until she could feel the heat of his body, a raw, almost animal heat, which seemed to emanate from him despite his mask of coldness.

Jaxon frowned, visibly annoyed, but he didn't move. "I don't have time for your little games," he whispered, but she caught a fleeting glint in his eyes. Curiosity ? Plot? She couldn't say, but she knew she had his attention.

"Maybe it's not a game," she replied, daring to give a mysterious smile. She felt her cheeks heat up under the tension of his gaze, but she didn't step back. On the contrary, she took another step forward, close enough that they brushed against each other, so that their breaths mingled in the cool morning air.

For the first time, Jaxon seemed troubled. His gaze became more intense, almost destabilized. She noticed the slight twitch in his jaw, as if he was fighting something inside him. He wasn't used to this kind of confrontation, even less so with an Omega, a woman who, under other circumstances, would never have had the audacity to stand up to him.

She raised a hand, brushing his arm with a light, almost imperceptible gesture. Her skin was warm under her fingers, burning even, and she felt a shiver run through her. "So what? Are you going to continue hiding behind this ruthless Alpha facade? Maybe deep down you're afraid of what you might feel," she whispered, her gaze locked on his, defiant, daring.

At these words, he grinned, a sarcastic smile appeared on his lips, but his gaze remained riveted on her, scrutinizing every expression, every movement. "You really think you can understand me? His voice was a mixture of mockery and something else, an emotion she had never heard from him before. A hesitation, perhaps.

She let out a soft laugh, feigning confidence, even though her heart was pounding. "Maybe I understand you more than you think," she said, holding his gaze, this time determined not to give in.

Then, without warning, he grabbed her wrist, firmly but not roughly, pulling her even closer to him. She could feel his breath on her face, and the intensity of his gaze pierced her like an arrow. She shivered, but she didn't move, anchored in this moment, trapped by the force of his presence.

"You're playing with fire," he whispered, his deep voice ringing between them like a warning. But despite the harshness of his words, she felt his fingers slide lightly over her skin, almost like an involuntary caress, as if he couldn't help but be attracted to her.

She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment, but a strange boldness came over her. She raised a hand, gently brushing his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her fingers. "Maybe the fire is the only thing that really wakes you up," she whispered, her eyes never leaving his.

Jaxon stared at her, and for a moment she thought she saw his mask crack. His gaze became softer, more vulnerable, before becoming cold again, as if he were regaining his composure. But she had seen what she was looking for: a weakness, a moment of doubt, a desire he couldn't hide.

Without warning, he abruptly let go of her and took a step back, as if he needed distance to regain control. He took a deep breath, and his face became impassive again, but she knew she had managed to confuse him. "Don't you ever dare do that again," he said in a harsh voice, although his gaze still betrayed a hint of confusion, as if he was wondering how she could have destabilized him like that.

She shrugged her shoulders, feigning indifference, but a satisfied smile floated on her lips. "You're the one who approached me," she replied, her eyes glinting with challenge. Then, without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Jaxon alone with his thoughts, and with the burning memory of their closeness.

As she walked away, her heart was still beating wildly, and she had to make an effort not to turn around. She knew he was looking at her, still troubled by what had just happened. She could almost feel his gaze on her back, heavy, intense, like a silent promise.

She had succeeded. This first physical contact, although unintentional for him, had triggered something, and she knew he couldn't ignore it. Maybe he would try to push her away, to show her that she was nothing to him. But she had seen beyond his words, beyond his mask. She had sensed his weakness, and she intended to take advantage of it.

For the first time in a long time, she felt powerful, like she finally had control over something, no matter how small. She had lit a spark, and she intended to keep the fire burning until it was inevitable.