As Liam's hands wrapped around my waist and drew me in, my heart was thumping in my chest. I was briefly engrossed in the pleasure of his touch when reality slammed into me suddenly.

My mind was racing as I shoved Liam away and stumbled back. 

"Liam, halt! What do you have to say? This is not something allowed!" I screamed in fear.

Liam regarded me while also feeling regret. "Maya,I apologize. I didn't intend to make you feel uneasy. I was powerless to resist. I've been suppressing my emotions for so long."

I shook my head in shock as tears welled up at the edges of my eyes. "Liam, this is impossible. We are stepping-siblings. It's unjust!" I spoke while getting choked up.

Liam shook his head and appeared humiliated . "I know. Maya, I'm very sorry. I didn't intend to cause any tension between us," he said.

I couldn't bear to look at him. The thought of what had just happened between us made me sick to my stomach.

"Stay away from me, Liam," I said, my voice cold and firm. "I need some time to think."

With that, I turned on my heel and ran away from the clearing as fast as I could, my heart heavy with guilt and confusion. As I made my way through the forest, I couldn't shake the feeling that things would never be the same between Liam and me.

I ran through the forest, my heart racing and my mind in turmoil. Every step felt heavy, like I was carrying a weight on my chest. The trees rushed by me in a blur, the branches whipping at my face and arms as I pushed my way through.

I couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened between Liam and me. I felt disgusted with myself for even entertaining the idea of being with him. We were step-siblings, and what we had done was completely wrong.

A booming roar that reverberated throughout the jungle halted my train of thought. I froze, my head spinning, searching for the noise's origin as my heart raced in my chest.

I turned around to find a huge, black wolf glaring at me with fiery eyes. That was the largest wolf I had ever seen, and in the shadows, its eyes appeared to sparkle. When the wolf growled and flashed its razor-sharp teeth, I realized I was in trouble.

I turned without stopping, running as quickly as I could, my heart thumping in my chest. I could hear the wolf's footsteps behind me approaching closer and closer.  

I recognized that I couldn't transform into my Lycan werewolf form as I carried on sprinting with my heart racing in my chest. I hadn't totally mastered my powers and I wasn't even eighteen yet.

The black wolf with the red eyes was approaching me and I could hear it. I hurriedly searched the area for an exit as a wave of panic rose in my chest.

I realized I was out of options as I drew closer to a cliff's brink. As I faced the wolf, my heart was thumping in my chest.

The black wolf growled deep and menacingly as he stood erect and fixed his fiery eyes on me. As I readied myself for his onslaught, I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

The wolf halted in front of me and began to sniff the air. It snorted softly, and I could feel the heat of its breath on my face. For a split second, I was unsure about what to do. 

This was a wolf I had never seen before,  and I wasn't sure if it was a friend or an adversary. Yet, as I peered in those eyes, I noticed a hint of intelligence. It appeared as though the wolf was attempting to get my attention.

"Who are you?" My voice was barely audible above the sound of my pounding heart as I murmured.

Although the wolf sent off a low growl, it didn't seem hostile. It did nothing but stand there and stare at me with those piercing, burning red eyes.

I sensed something stirring within of me as I stood there, petrified with terror and perplexity. It was a feeling of strength and power unlike anything that I had ever known. It seems as though the wolf had roused a primitive, feral part of me.

The wolf charged on me without warning,  its jaws slamming shut only a few inches from my face. I fell backward as I readied myself for yet another assault, my heart pounding in my chest.

To my astonishment, the wolf did not strike though. Instead, it took a step back and howled in a low, almost wistful tone. As I continued to observe, the black fur around its eyes and nose began to move and shimmer until it changed into a man's face.

I stepped back in disbelief when I realized that the wolf was not a typical animal, my mind racing. It was a Lycan, a werewolf similar to me who could change between wolf and human form at will.

The man who stood before me was tall and well-built, with dark hair and piercing green eyes. He was completely naked and I couldn't stop staring at his roped muscles.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaking with fear and confusion.

The man gave me a small, knowing smile. "I am your mate," he said, his voice deep and resonant.

"My mate?" I repeated, still trying to make sense of what was happening.

In an effort to put some distance between myself and the stranger who claimed to be my mate, I took a few steps back.

He continued, moving slowly and deliberately in my direction, "You're my mate." We are destined to be together."

I shook my head and moved away a bit further.
"This is not feasible. I've never met you before."

I lost my balance when I took a step backward because my foot slid on a slippery rock. I slid over the cliff in a reverse motion as the wind whipped past my ears.