The Modern Witch's Guide to Faking It With a Werewolf

Ch. 28

Laughter. Cheers.

And me?

I could barely breathe.

Because this wasn't real.

So why did it feel like it was?

Glasses clinked, people laughed, and my mother looked ready to burst from happiness.

Max's mom hugged me at least three times, kissing my cheek, whispering about how she always knew. And how happy she was for us. 

I forced smile after smile.

Tried not to notice how every time I moved, Max was there.

Close.

His hand brushing mine.

His body always just within reach.

And every single time?

Every. Single. Time.

My heart skipped a beat.

I wasn't thinking.

Wasn't letting myself think.

Until—

I caught Chloe's gaze across the room.

She was watching me.

Not like the others. Not with excitement.

With skepticism.

I swallowed hard.

She wove her way toward me, champagne glass in hand, eyes sharp as hell.

She stopped right in front of us, tilting her head, scanning Max, then me, then Max again.

Then, finally—

She smirked.

"What the actual hell you two?"

My stomach dropped.

I forced a laugh.

She arched a brow.

"Dallas. Come on. You and Max? Really?"

Max chuckled beside me, taking a sip from his own drink, looking away.

Like Chloe was my beast to handle.

Chloe turned back to me, her expression shifting to something softer.

She lowered her voice.

"I mean... you never really talk about him like that, but—" She shrugged. "Looking at you two now? I dunno. It kind of makes sense."

No, it doesn't.

Nothing about this makes sense.

I opened my mouth, ready to say something, anything—

But before I could, mom's voice rang out over the noise.

"Alright, alright, everyone settle down!"

The room quieted.

And then—

Mom lifted her glass.

"To Dallas and Max!"

A roar of approval.

Glasses lifted.

Toasts made.

And my stomach sank.

Because I couldn't do it.

I couldn't tell the truth.

Her eyes were warm when she looked at Max.

And then she said—

"You take care of my girl, Max."

And everything inside me twisted.

Because he didn't hesitate.

Didn't falter.

Didn't blink.

He just smiled, raised his glass, and said—

"Always."

And for the first time?

For just one tiny, treacherous second—

I believed him.

"A kiss!"

The chant started somewhere in the crowd, but the second it hit the air, it spread like wildfire.

"kiss! kiss! kiss!"

I felt my entire body go rigid.

No. No, no, no.

I snapped my head toward Max, ready to murder him, but—

The bastard was already looking at me.

Smirking.

Like he'd been waiting for this.

Like he knew I had choice.

His grip on my waist tightened just slightly, fingers pressing into my skin, warm through the fabric of my dress.

And then—

Then he moved.

So fast I barely had time to register it.

One second I was standing stiff as a board—

And the next?

I was in his arms, his hands firm but careful, his mouth crashing against mine.

The room exploded in cheers.

And I lost all rational thought.

Because Max kissed me like he meant it.

Like he'd been waiting for this, too.

Like this wasn't just some act—like this was real.

And fuck, I kissed him back.

I didn't mean to.

Shouldn't have wanted to.

But my traitorous body had other ideas.

Because the second his lips met mine, something deep inside me snapped.

Heat flooded my veins.

The air between us crackled, pulsing with something I didn't understand.

I only hoped that the wild magic in my veins didn't break loose again. 

I grabbed his shirt, my fingers curling into the fabric like I needed something to hold onto.

Like he was the only thing keeping me standing.

He made a low sound, deep in his throat—something between a growl and a hum of approval—and it wrecked me.

I was spinning.

Lost.

Falling too fast.

Max's hands moved up my back, one sliding into my hair, tilting my head just enough to deepen the kiss.

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit.

This was dangerous.

This was too much and not enough.

I pulled back like I'd just been burned.

My breath was ragged, my pulse pounding.

Max?

He looked just as wrecked as I felt.

Lips swollen— breathing unsteady. 

I swallowed hard.

Turned back to the crowd—

Where Chloe was staring at me like we'd just stomped out any doubt she'd ever had.