He Knows the Door to My Soul and Who Forgot to Novel 37

In this chapter, Andrei appears in his wolf form, larger and more imposing than Natalia remembers, but instead of pursuing the elk, he focuses his attention on her. He corners her against a tree, leaving her trapped and unable to escape. The tension escalates as Andrei shifts back into his human form and suddenly kisses Natalia with an intensity and passion that she had never experienced during their marriage.

Natalia is shocked by the fervor of the kiss, which contrasts sharply with the cold and distant nature of their past relationship. For a brief moment, she responds to the kiss, feeling a rush of old emotions and physical desire. However, she quickly reminds herself that Andrei’s actions are manipulative, aimed at extracting information about the twins, and she resists his advances.

When Natalia pushes him away, Andrei confronts her about her marriage to Damon, claiming it is fake and that she still desires him, not Damon. Natalia firmly denies this, emphasizing the difference between wanting and loving, a concept Andrei never grasped during their marriage. Despite the confrontation, Natalia struggles to say the words Andrei demands—that she loves Damon more than she ever loved Andrei—highlighting her inner conflict and the lingering emotional turmoil between them.

Chapter 37

Natalia

Andrei emerged from the shadows in his wolf form, his fur so black it was almost impossible to make out any details other than those eerie, glowing green eyes. He was massive, even larger than I remembered, and moved not toward the bull elk–but rather toward me.

“Andrei,” I said, taking a step backwards, “the elk went that way. You’re wasting time here.”

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He didn’t move toward the direction I pointed. Instead, he padded closer, circling me like prey. My back hit the rough bark of an oak tree, and I realized he’d herded me there on purpose. Trapped between him and the tree, I had nowhere to run.

“This isn’t funny,” I snapped, hoping he couldn’t hear the pounding of my heart. “The hunt-

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But he was already shifting. Within seconds, Andrei stood before me in human form, his hunting leathers creaking and straining against his broad shoulders and muscled legs.

Before I could react, before I could even think to run, he closed the distance between us. His hands came up to frame my face, and then his mouth covered mine.

The kiss stole my breath away. Not because it was unexpected I’d half–anticipated something like this from the moment I saw him approach. No, what shocked me was the intensity of it.

Andrei had never kissed me like this when we were married. Our kisses had been perfunctory at best, brief pecks before he left for meetings or obligatory gestures at pack gatherings. Even when we made love, he’d barely kissed me at all. He would bury his face in my neck, or close his eyes entirely, but rarely did our lips meet with any real

emotion.

But this… this was different. His mouth moved against mine so fervently it was bordering on desperate, one hand tangling in my hair while the other pressed against the small of my back, pulling my body flush against his. I could taste the cold air on his tongue, feel his chest heaving against mine as he dragged in ragged breath after ragged breath.

For a moment, just a moment, I kissed him back.

Sparks flew through my body, that old familiar heat taking over all sense of danger and logic. My hands came up to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palms. He groaned against my mouth, the sound rumbling into my throat, and deepened the kiss even further.

Had the years of separation changed him? Had losing me finally taught him what he’d thrown away? Or was this just another manipulation, another attempt to seduce me into complacency for his own gain?

The thought was like cold water being dumped over my head. Of course it was manipulation. Everything with Andrei always was. He wanted answers about the twins. And he thought he could kiss them out of me.

I shoved him away with all my strength. He stumbled back a step, breathing hard, clearly surprised that I hadn’t succumbed to his physical manipulations.

“How dare you,” I spat, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand even though part of me wanted to preserve

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the taste of him. “I’m a married woman. You think you can just ”

“Your marriage to Damon is fake,” he said, cutting me off. “I know it is. You don’t love him, and he doesn’t love you. Not really.”

My spine stiffened. “You don’t know anything.”

“You kissed me back, Natalia. You still want me.”

“Want and love are two very different things,” I said firmly. “Something you never understood when we were married.”

His jaw clenched. “Then tell me you love him. Look me in the eye and tell me you love my brother more than you ever loved me.”

The words should have been easy. They were just another lie to add to the pile I had already created. But standing there, still tasting him on my lips, still feeling the warm pressure of his callused hands on my body, I couldn’t seem to get them out.

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The raw intensity of Andrei’s kiss stirred a tempest of emotions within me—longing, anger, confusion—all tangled in the complicated history we shared. Despite the fierce desire that flickered between us, I reminded myself of the walls I had built, the promises I had made, and the life I was trying to protect. His words cut deep, challenging the very foundation of my heart, but I knew that love was not so easily claimed or surrendered, especially when past wounds still bled beneath the surface.

In this charged moment, the fragile line between past and present blurred, revealing the ache of what was lost and the uncertain path ahead. Though his touch reignited old flames, I stood firm in the truth of my own feelings, knowing that love, trust, and loyalty could not be demanded or forced. The shadows of our past lingered, but so did the strength to choose my own destiny.

The next chapter promises to dive deeper into the tangled emotions and unresolved tensions between Natalia and Andrei. As the lines between past and present blur, readers can expect a charged confrontation that will test Natalia’s loyalties and force her to confront feelings she thought were long buried. The fragile balance between desire and distrust will make every interaction crackle with intensity, leaving readers wondering if reconciliation or further heartbreak lies ahead.

Meanwhile, the shadow of the twins and the secrets they hold will continue to loom large, adding layers of complexity to Natalia’s already fraught situation. As Andrei’s true intentions remain shrouded in ambiguity, the next chapter will explore whether his pursuit is driven by love, desperation, or something more calculating. The emotional stakes are higher than ever, setting the stage for revelations that could change everything Natalia thought she knew about her past and present.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.