“That wasn’t my plan,” she slid down to lay against my chest again, leaving my body roaring with need. “I only missed you. Sleeping here for more than a week without getting to touch you sucked.” She was pouting, I could hear it in her voice, and I had every intention of giving in to her.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I whispered as I slid my hand down her back to rest on her butt in the flannel pants. She pressed back into my hand for a moment before draping her leg over mine and pressing against my thigh. “You have to tell me if I hurt you. I don’t want to mess up your ribs or anything.”
Zee looked up at me and nodded. I helped her roll to her back, hoping it would be the most comfortable position for her. I didn’t plan on having sex with her, but maybe we could both find some relief. I eased her t-shirt off and then pulled her pants off her while being careful of her healing hip.
She lay in her bra and panties with her ribs bound in bandages looking up at me. I traced a finger along the top of her breasts above her bra and she shivered. I kept my eyes on her face to pick up the smallest hint of pain. Reaching under her I undid her bra and slid it off her arms. Goosebumps raised on her pale skin as she lay there bare, and I pulled the blanket up over us both before leaning in to kiss her lips softly. I ran my hand across her bandages briefly before cupping one of her breasts. She gasped into my mouth and deepened the kiss, caressing her tongue with mine while I rubbed my thumb over her hardened nipple.
Zee worked her uninjured hand down the front of my pants to stroke me while I kissed from her mouth to her ear. I traced her ear with the tip of my tongue, and bit down gently on the lobe. She moaned and gave me an answering squeeze of her hand, making me groan softly. I licked a path down her neck, grazing her with my teeth, and causing her to moan again.
I nipped at her collar bone and she turned her head to give me better access to her delicate skin. She was making small movements with her hips, begging me to continue. I kissed down the slope of her breast and sucked her into my mouth, teasing her nipple with my tongue. I moved my hand down over her stomach and traced the edge of her panties. Her hips bucked and she gasped. I broke away fast enough to catch the flash of pain on her face. I start to pull away but her hand that was stroking me squeezed gently.
“Please, I just shouldn’t have moved like that,” Zee spoke breathlessly. I watched her face for any lingering signs of pain, but I didn’t see any. Her persistent hand won out as she kept stroking me. I pushed my hand into her panties and encountered the wet heat of her core. She moaned loudly as I teased her, slipping my finger into her and pulling it out to rub along the hardened little nub. She rocked her hips in small movement and I didn’t see any pain on her face.
The longer I caressed her, the louder her little noises and pleading became. My wolf instincts were pushing forward to give her something more. I worked had to fight them and just give her the release her body was begging for. Her hand on me moved faster, matching the pace of my fingers plunging into her tight heat. As my own release got closer, I could feel the fluid feeling of changing and I knew my eyes must be amber. I fought harder to stay human, but her body tensed at that moment and her little fist squeezed me tightly, and I bit down on the skin just between her neck and her shoulder. I heard her pained gasp and tasted her metallic blood as we both shook with release.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Zee
I fought to calm my erratic heartbeat. It was pounding hard enough to cause pain in my ribs, but I didn’t dare show that to Alex. I felt his tongue sliding over the bite he’d given me. When he finally finished his ministrations, he looked up at me with a wary gaze. I stroked his cheek and smiled
I could hear his heart beating as fast as mine, and that was when it occurred to me. I could hear his heartbeat. My eyes widened as I listened to the steady thumping, then I noticed the sound of the wind whistling through the trees outside the window. I cocked my head to listen to the sound. My body was itching, and I felt like I needed to get out of my skin. I was running my hand over my arm above my cast when Alex stopped my jittering.
“You can’t shift yet,” he told me gently. “You have to wait for your ribs and arm to heal. Maybe by morning, afternoon at the latest.” He ran his hands over my body in long soothing strokes as if he were trying to calm a skittish colt. I felt my body relaxing under his hands and I willed myself to stay with him. A part of me that I had never felt before fought against my plans. It made me want to dash into the woods and run as fast as possible.
“Is this why you get twitchy?” I asked as a shiver ran through my body. My heartbeat was still fast as I battled with myself over what I wanted and what I needed.
“Yeah I guess,” Alex laughed and pulled me closer to him. I nuzzled against his neck and caught an amazing scent. It smelled like sweat and soap and the forest. It took me a moment of sniffing to realize that it was his smell and that he was still laughing at me. I peeked up at him and glared. He just laughed harder and pulled the blanket up around us both.
“Get some sleep, little wolf,” he whispered and pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I snuggled into his embrace and felt sleep start taking over. “Thank you, Alex.” I drifted off without hearing his answer.
******
For the first time in over a week I stretched my body as I woke up without being stopped by pain. I cracked open my eyes to find myself alone in the room. The cast on my arm was itching and uncomfortable. I wiggled my fingers, testing for pain and was happy that there was none. I sucked in a deep breath, noticed the smell of bacon and eggs, and smiled when my ribs didn’t hurt.
I still moved cautiously from my bed in case a wrong move sent me to the floor. Once I was standing straight, I looked down at my hip and was pleased to see my skin back to its normal color. I wanted to undo the binding around my ribs, but I knew it would be better to wait for Eli. I pulled on my flannel pants and t-shirt from the previous night and decided to go search for the breakfast I smelled.
I found Mackenzie washing dishes from breakfast. She looked up at me and gave me a knowing smile before pointing to a plate on the counter. It was piled with fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon. My mouth practically watered as I grabbed the plate and a fork and went to sit at the kitchen table. Mackenzie waited until I was half finished shoveling food into my mouth and my pace was slowed down before she spoke.
“I thought you might be extra hungry this morning,” Mackenzie came and sat down across from me. “Wait until you’re pregnant, you’ll eat more than three of the males combined.” I stopped eating at the idea of having a baby so soon.
“I don’t think I’ll be worrying about that anytime soon,” I spoke a bit uncertainly. Having children was not a conversation Alex and I had had.
“No, I expect you will want to get used to being a wolf first,” Mackenzie said patting my hand in a very motherly fashion. She stood and went back to the dishes. Eli and Alex came into the kitchen discussing the healing process of werewolves. They stopped talking when they saw me.
“Ah ha, the patient,” Eli’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I hear you’ve been changed. I guess that means we better check those bones.” He turned without waiting for my response and I glanced at Alex in question. He shrugged his shoulders at me and snatched my last piece of bacon off my plate. I swatted his hand as he pulled it away, but before I could get my bacon back, he shoved it in his mouth.
“Jerk,” I grumbled. I took my plate to Mackenzie and then headed off to see what Dr. Eli would have to say. He was already in my room setting up his portable x-ray machine. He didn’t acknowledge me when I came in and I worried that maybe I’d offended him in some way.
“Is something wrong Eli?” I questioned as I sat on the chair waiting for his instructions. He looked up at me for a moment, his eyes sad.
“I was just surprised by your change,” Eli replied carefully, as if he were testing the waters. “Alex has never changed a human
before, and I’m surprised that he would do it to someone he loves.” I stared at him for a moment, trying to be sure I understood him correctly.
“I asked him to Eli,” I said. Eli’s head snapped up at my admission. His brow wrinkled in confusion. “I have been thinking about it for a while. I weighed my pros and cons and told Alex I wanted to be a wolf. It wasn’t against my will if that’s what you’re thinking.” He seemed to contemplate my answer for several moments. Finally, he gave me a brief smile acceptance.
“Well let’s see how those werewolf genes have helped your recovery,” Eli said. He had me place my casted arm on the table he had set up so he could x-ray it. Then he inspected my unmarred left hip, pressing in several places and asking about my pain and mobility. He had me lift my shirt so he could unbind my ribs. The skin under the bandages was equally as normal as my hip, but he still had me lie on the bed to take x-rays of my ribs. When he was finally finished, he looked at the pictures on his computer for several moments before turning to me with a grin.
“It is always remarkable to me how werewolves can heal,” he told me as he motioned to the laptop. “You’re completely healed. I would love to be able to harness that healing power and use it for every person. If I could find what causes it perhaps I could. Either way, you are perfect. I’ll just remove the cast, and I suspect you have a bit of running you’d like to do.”
The friendly twinkle was back in the doctor’s eyes as he spoke. I was pretty sure if anyone could find a way to heal to heal humans as quickly as werewolves it would be Eli. He seemed so incredibly passionate about it. He removed my cast and shooed me out of the room. When the door clicked shut in my face, I heard a chuckle behind me.
“I believe you’ve been kicked out of the sick room,” I turned to find Wyatt leaning against the wall as if he had been waiting for me. “Clean bill of health, then? Because I’m dying to see how this all goes.” He motioned to the front door, and I curiously went to see what he was talking about. What I saw surprised and angered me.
Delaney and Alex stood in the front yard, nose to nose. Delaney was whispering fiercely and poking her finger into Alex’s chest. Unbidden by me, I felt a growl rumble in my chest at Delaney’s aggressive behavior towards Alex. Ignoring the chuckle behind me, I stepped down off the porch and walked quickly to the arguing duo.
“A human?” I heard Delaney spit out venomously. “You are picking a human as your mate? I don’t care that you changed her. That does not make her worthy of a born wolf!” I saw Ryker coming to check on the situation as well, and at Delaney’s words he flinched. I had only a moment to consider what that meant before I was standing beside Alex, staring down the redheaded female who seemed to always be against me.
“Did you need to say something to me Delaney?” I asked, trying to keep calm as heat coursed through my veins. My newer instincts called for me to defend Alex and myself against the impetuous female before me.
“You don’t deserve him,” Delaney spat. “No made wolf could ever be good enough to become an Alpha. You don’t have the right to carry on the pure blood lines of his family. Only a pure born wolf should have that right.” Alex growled beside me, and I noticed the slightest flicker of doubt cross Delaney’s face. This was my fight though, and if I let Alex handle it for me, I would never gain any respect from the pack.
“A pure wolf?” I questioned, stepping forward. I raise my head high and looked down at Delaney. “I suppose you’re a pure wolf Delaney. Has Alex shown you interest that I’m unaware of? Do you think you can frighten me because I’m new to this? Because let me tell you, new or not, I still feel the urge to rip your throat out for touching Alex and assuming that you’re better than I am.”
Delaney’s eyes were enormous as she looked from Alex to me. Finally, she lowered her head, though only slightly lower than mine. It was a small victory, but my heart swelled with triumph. I didn’t allow the smile I felt show on my face. Instead I continued to watch Delaney as she backed away a few steps and then turned to stomp into the house. I saw Ryker watching Delaney’s retreat as well, and the shock and sadness on his face was now replace with disgust.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Alex
I was shocked. Not shocked by Delaney’s behavior. I knew that her prejudices ran deep, and I hoped that one day she would overcome them. My shock stemmed from Zee’s aggressive response towards the threat to our relationship and her ability to be an alpha. She hadn’t backed down in her newness to the situation, and in the end, she had won out. Now I could see that her eyes were a lighter brown and she was incredibly tense.
“Let’s run,” I said pulling her into the trees. She followed easily until I had her quite a distance in the trees. “Shifting is easy, remember that fluid feeling I talked about? Just let it happen.” I waited a moment, watching her close her eyes. Her brow wrinkled in frustration and I pressed a kiss to it. She smiled and then with a deep breath she shifted.
Standing before me was pure white wolf. I looked over her body and did not see a single guard hair in a different color. Her lighter brown eyes and black nose stood out in stark contrast against the white. She was breathtaking. Her head cocked to the side, as if in question.
“You’re beautiful,” I breathed. “Pure white, like the snow.” The wolf before me looked down at her paws and then around at her back and tail. She wagged her tail a bit and then looked back at me. I knew she was waiting for me to join her, so I shifted, too.
The moment I was a wolf she ducked her head slightly for the briefest moment of respect and then she was against me. She sniffed all over my body. When she seemed satisfied with that, she licked my chin once before dashing into the woods. I gave her a ten-count head start and then took off after her.
She was magnificent to watch in action. Her wolf instincts seemed to be helping her greatly. She left paw prints but left the rest of the world around her relatively unscathed. She ran with her tail held high until she noticed me gaining on her. Then she shifted directions, kicking some snow at me, and tail down, put on as much speed as she could. I loved it, picking up speed to keep pace with her. The moment I thought she would slow down she bumped me with her shoulder, causing me to roll over in the snow, and ran off in a different direction.
You do realize that I’m going to get you for that, right? I asked. I felt her shock at hearing me.
Wow, so that’s how you guys seem to say so much, Zee marveled. Oh, and you have to catch me first. She laughed over our mental link. I was already on the hunt for her. She wasn’t careless, but even she couldn’t leave no signs with all the snow on the ground. I followed her scent and her trail through the forest at a quick pace.
When I reached an area where her scent was the strongest, I found her sitting. We were at her little lake, the same place she had first seen me as a wolf. I found it interesting that she had chosen this spot. Her ears perked up when I stepped from the trees, but she didn’t turn to look at me.
Did you have fun? I asked her as I trotted up to sit beside her. She leaned against me, much like she would have as a human, and I nuzzled her fur.
Yeah, it was amazing. Her voice in my head sounded breathless with excitement. I have to agree with Cody, it’s like being a superhero flying through the trees. I can’t wait to do it again. I could relate to the feeling. There was nothing quite like it.
Zee dipped her nose down to the snow and I wondered what she was doing. I caught on just seconds before the snow hit me in the face. I had a moment of blindness while I shook of the flakes and she was already several feet away from me. She was crouched down, tail wagging, while she watched me.
A playful growl rumbled in my chest and she cocked her head to the side, waiting for my move. I crept to her side carefully, circling her to figure out the best strategy. She circled with me, not letting me get behind her. Her eyes were lit up, and I could see her fur rippling with excitement.
I feinted to my left and she made to follow me before I switched to the right and lunged fo
r her. She caught on just at the last second and when I connected with her, she managed to take me down to the snow with her. The feisty little female had me on my back for the briefest of moments. I flipped her quickly and then climbed to my feet.
Zee lay under me, belly up, but she wasn’t submissive. Her tail still wagged playfully, and her mouth was open in a wolfy grin. I growled softly and she yipped back at me. Then she raised her head and licked under my chin. With a huff of pretend frustration at her failure to submit, I collapsed into the snow beside her.
Aw, don’t be grumpy mighty Alpha, she rolled over and nudged at my shoulder. I’m just teasing you. I didn’t look at her and she butted her head against me again. I turned my head to meet her gaze and she touched her nose to mine. I love you, Alex.
I love you, too, troublemaker. I flicked my tongue out to lick her cheek and she ducked her head below mine. Her eyes didn’t lower, but it was still a small concession to my authority. I wanted to do this when you were human, but I don’t think the clothes you’re wearing will hold up in this cold.
I could feel her curiosity as she watched me. I worried about what she would say. I knew she had to feel my nerves as I tried to find the right words. I know I should have planned something big and romantic. You deserve flowers and a fancy restaurant, me down on one knee with a huge diamond. But in this moment, your first moments as a wolf with me, and in this spot that means so much to you, it feels right. Would you be my mate?
She didn’t answer immediately, but her tail wagged quickly giving away her excitement. This is the perfect moment and the perfect place. Yes, definitely yes. She licked my muzzle and snuggled into my side.
Falling Hearts (Hearts of Wolves Book 1) Page 14