He’d deliberately chosen to run nearer the town, knowing the likelihood of bumping into another pack member was reduced by doing so. In wolf form, he’d been enjoying the freedom of the run when a scent had hit him.
The scent had made him stop from the sheer force of it. It had set his heart racing, and every nerve ending in his body felt like electricity had fired through the ends. Desire coursed through his veins like a drug, and his nostrils flared, his eyes widening.
He’d heard about this happening before, but a part of him had wondered if it was a kind of fairy-tale.
Now, tonight, running as wolf beneath the full moon, he learned it was very much real.
He’d caught the scent of his mate.
Filled with a sudden fear he’d lose it again, Chance got moving, following his nose.
Then he’d happened upon a young woman caught in a snare, and confusion had filled him. Had this woman done something to the mate he’d scented? Was she a hunter, but had somehow been caught in her own trap? Where was the female wolf he knew he’d caught the scent of?
His reaction had been to snarl his confusion, even though he could see the woman could do him no harm. Only when she started talking did he realize the scent of his mate was coming from her.
How was that possible?
She was most definitely human—he smelled that on her, too. How could a human woman possibly be his mate?
Pushing all of that aside, he could see she needed help. Her ankle was caught, the wire cutting into her flesh. Her fingers were sliced and bloodied from trying to free herself.
Chance knew he couldn’t help her in wolf form.
Taking a few steps away from her, he lowered his head and willed his wolf to retreat.
The beast snarled inside his head—it was a full moon and the one time when the wolf should be allowed to run free—but Chance’s will was stronger, and the animal sank deeper inside his consciousness. The fur melted from his skin, and his shoulders and hips realigned, bringing him to an upright stance. His muzzle withdrew, his sharp teeth reforming to blunt human pegs.
At this time of the month, the transition was quick and pain-free, unlike the times when they tried to shift against the moon. In less than a minute, he was able to turn to the woman, who was now watching him with her mouth open.
Even with a gaping jaw, he could see she was beautiful. She had curly brown hair which fell around her shoulders, a heart-shaped face and blue eyes which had widened at the sight of him. Her full lips were parted in shock, and her chest heaved with fear, causing her breasts to lift and fall.
Yes, this was exactly the sort of woman he would go for as a mate.
Problem was, she was human.
He took a step toward her, but she lifted a hand to ward him off.
“It’s okay,” he said, trying to find his voice after spending time as a wolf. “I’m trying to help.”
“You’re… you’re one of them. One of the Dark Ridge wolves.”
He smiled, deliberately wolfish. “Of course I am. Unless you know of anyone else around here able to shift from wolf to man?”
She shook her head.
“You know,” he continued, “you’re not supposed to be in the forest tonight. The full moon is our time.”
She nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. But I’m trapped, and hurt, and I could really use your help.”
He took another step closer and this time she lowered her hand, but he didn’t miss the way her gaze flicked from his face to linger on his body. The scent of her had caused blood to rush to his cock, and while he wasn’t fully hard, he wasn’t far from it. Was she looking at his erection, or was he imagining the attraction, and it was actually his scars that had caught her attention? There was nothing he could do about it, though. He’d left all his clothes back on the outskirts of the shifter compound, and he wasn’t about to start picking up leaves to cover himself. Shifters were used to nudity in a way humans weren’t.
“The stake is embedded into the ground just here,” she said, her eyes averting from his groin, though her cheeks—previously pale—had flushed pink. “I need to get it out.”
He walked over and crouched beside her. She was staring at him, her eyes wide. His shoulder brushed hers and the effect was electrifying, all of the hairs on his body standing to attention. That wasn’t the only thing standing to attention. Damn it. He wished his body wasn’t quite so obvious.
He caught her staring. “What?” he said, gruffly.
She shook her head. “I… I don’t know. I feel like I know you somehow. Like we’ve met before.”
He glanced away, concentrating on working the wooden post back and forth so he could free the wire wrapped around it. “We haven’t.”
“Really? Because I would have bet my life on it.”
So she felt it, too, that bond, their pheromones speaking to each other, recognizing the chemical attraction between them.
No, this was not happening.
He couldn’t have his mate being a human. As if he wasn’t enough of a laughingstock with his pack already. This was enough to push him over the edge.
The post came loose and he was able to free that end of the wire. With the tension removed, the wire loop around her ankle was also looser, and she was able to get her fingers under it and slip it over her foot.
“Ah, shit,” she hissed. “That hurts.”
He frowned in concern. “Are you okay to walk?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
He put out his hand to help her to her feet. She took his hand and it was like fireworks went off inside him.
He’d met his mate, he had no doubt.
Chapter Six
Maya caught her breath and froze, staring at the connection between her fingers and those of the wolf shifter who had taken her hand. Her entire body reacted to his touch, her skin singing. Her nipples had instantly crinkled to tight buds, blood flowing to her lips, engorging them, and arousal tightened at her core.
She’d already reacted to the sight of him naked and beautiful before her, and then the sight of his semi-erect cock had caused her heart to beat hard, her cheeks rushing with heat. Seeing him had almost been enough to make her forget her fear and pain, and the wire that had been around her ankle. He’d been breathtaking as a wolf, but he was utterly gorgeous as a man, with curly brown hair and kind hazel eyes. And his body—holy hell, his body. He was like a carving of a Greek god. The only flaw—if it could be called a flaw—were the lines of white scars which carved their way across his chest and one of his thighs. Another solitary scar streaked across his cheek, giving him an air of danger. It had taken all her willpower not to touch him while he’d been bent over the stake, pulling it out for her, but now he had hold of her hand, all she wanted to do was pull him down into the dirt with her and wrap her thighs around his hips. She was only wearing a skirt, and with him naked, all it would take was for her to hook her panties to one side and he would be able to push inside her.
The thought caused wetness to gather between her thighs. His nostrils flared as though he could smell her arousal. Oh, shit. He was a shifter and they were known to have a heightened sense of smell. He probably could smell her.
Her cheeks burned with shame and any idea of dragging him onto the ground vanished.
Besides, she wasn’t someone who had sex with men whose names she hadn’t even learned yet. It wasn’t as though she was some innocent virgin—she’d had boyfriends over the years, though none had amounted to anything serious. Even so, she’d never felt this way about one of them, and she was sure he’d felt the moment pass between them as well.
The shifter helped her to her feet. Maya tried to put some weight on her cut ankle, but it hurt and she was unable to hide how it felt.
“How far away is your home?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. Twenty minutes away, I think. I was walking and thinking, and I kind of lost track.”
He frowned. “You�
�re not going to be able to walk for twenty minutes.”
She didn’t think she was going to be able to walk for two minutes, but she didn’t want to say so.
Suddenly, she found the ground whisked out from under her, and before she knew what was happening, she was being held against this man’s perfect, naked chest, and he was already striding through the forest.
“What are you doing?” she cried.
“You can’t walk, so I’m going to have to carry you.”
Instinctively, her arms had found their way around his neck. His skin was burning hot, and, despite the warm night, she leaned in closer to him. His long strides quickened, and he broke into a run, carrying her effortlessly as he moved with speed through the forest. She had no idea how he knew where to go, but he retraced her steps almost perfectly until he broke out of the line of trees and stepped out onto the road opposite the restaurant.
Maya found herself panting, though the only exertion she’d put herself through was clinging tighter to her rescuer. He, however, appeared completely unfazed by his run through the trees.
He stopped outside the front of the restaurant. “This is where you live?”
She nodded. “Yes. How did you know where to go?”
“I followed your scent.”
She tried not to feel mortified about the idea of her smelling so strongly she left a track pungent enough to follow.
“Thank you. I can manage from here.”
The guy was still completely naked, and there were security cameras on the outside of the restaurant. She could imagine her mother’s shock if she went to look back on the footage and discovered her daughter being carried around, bleeding, by a stark naked man.
She expected him to put her down, but instead he ignored her and strolled across the road.
“You can put me down now,” she said. “I’m fine, honest. Though I appreciate you bringing me back.”
She hoped her father was having a good night, and sleeping soundly, allowing her mother to get some rest, too.
He carried her to the front door and tentatively set her down. She hopped a couple of times, not wanting to put any weight on her bad foot.
“You need that looked at,” he growled.
“It’ll be fine. I’ve got a first aid kit inside the restaurant. I’ll bandage it up.” She unlocked the door.
“No, I’ll do it.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her as she unlocked the door and stepped inside. She allowed him to take her weight, knowing from the way he’d run through the forest with her that he was more than capable of doing so.
His gaze darted around the restaurant as she reached to the wall and patted along until she found the switch for the lights. She turned a couple of the lower dimmed lights on, not wanting to worry her parents if they saw the restaurant illuminated.
“Where’s the medical kit?” he asked.
“On the top shelf out the back.” She nodded to the door which led out onto the kitchen.
He deposited her into one of the booths. “Wait here.” Then he left her, vanishing into the kitchen.
Maya took the opportunity to take a breath. What the hell was going on? She’d certainly not expected the evening to take this kind of turn. Though hadn’t she wanted it to? Had this been exactly what she’d been hoping for when she’d stepped off the road and into the forest—something to break the monotony of her life, and give her a taste of adventure? Her ankle throbbed, a pulsing beat up her leg, but the bleeding looking like it had stopped. She hoped it would be all right for her to work the following day. She couldn’t afford to take any sick time right now, not with her father so ill.
The door to the kitchen swung open and the man who she’d first seen in the shape of a wolf walked through holding the green plastic box with First Aid written on the top. He was as naked as ever, and obviously hadn’t thought to grab some of the kitchen whites, or even an apron. Anyone else would have thought about covering their bodies before anything else, but this guy barely seemed to notice he still had nothing on.
“Hey,” she said. “I’m sure there are some things back there you could wear if you want.”
A part of her desperately wanted him to cover up, so she could at least figure out where she should look, but the other part of her really didn’t want him to hide that fine body. She wondered where the scars had come from. Had he gotten into a fight with another of his kind?
He lifted the first aid box as though it were an explanation. “Don’t you think we should sort you out first?”
“It’s fine, really. I’m not going to bleed to death.”
He shrugged and set the box on the side, before turning around and walking back out again. She couldn’t help but watch the muscles in his ass and back flex as he moved.
He returned, this time with a full length apron folded over and tied around his waist. It didn’t give a huge amount of coverage—she could still make out the muscles in his thighs, and of course his chest was very much on display, but at least she didn’t have to be distracted by his cock. He picked the box back up then kneeled at her feet. Working with concentration, he took out the antibacterial wipes and bandages, and set to work wiping all the blood and dirt away.
Maya cleared her throat, trying not to feel self-conscious.
He set about bandaging her wound. He looked up at her and caught her eye. Just the slightest connection in their gazes sent her heart racing. The tension between them was like nothing she’d experienced before. It was as though their bodies were two magnets, drawing them together, and she was fighting it with every inch of her being. She zinged with energy, feeling more alive than she ever had.
He fastened the bandage and looked back up at her again.
“Thank you,” she said, though her voice was just a whisper.
“Who are you?” he said in return.
His question confused her. “Sorry...”
But then he was on his feet, and his hands were in her hair, and his mouth was on hers. The kiss had taken her completely by surprise, but her body reacted to him as though she had no control over it. His fingers knotted through her tresses, pulling slightly and making her moan. His tongue pushed into her mouth, tangling with hers, leaving her breathless. He pushed her back on the seat of the booth, so she was beneath him. Her hands ran over the smooth, hot skin of his back, and her body arched into his, pressing more fully against his naked chest.
What was she doing? This was madness. She didn’t even know this guy’s name, never mind that she also knew he had the ability to turn into a wolf. What if he did it now, while he was on top of her? He could be a killer and rip out her throat with his wolf’s fangs.
But the way he’d held her, carried her, dressed her wounds with such tenderness, she didn’t think he was a killer.
Desire held her in its grip, and even though she knew this was insane, she couldn’t stop herself from kissing him.
Chapter Seven
Chance kissed this woman as though doing so would save him. He’d not realized how much he’d needed this until she’d walked into his life.
He had no doubts that she was his mate. The need to lose himself inside her was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He’d wanted to fuck different women plenty of times—had fucked different women plenty of times—but he’d never reacted to them in the way he did to this human woman he’d found in the forest.
Human.
How could she be human and smell this way?
Right now, Chance didn’t care. All he cared about was taking her for himself.
Her mouth was sweet and warm and hungry. She kissed him back with the same fervor as he kissed her. Her body arched and writhed beneath him, and while he was prepared for her to push him away and tell him to stop, she didn’t.
The silly apron he’d worn to save her blushes was now tented comically with his erection. He didn’t know why he’d bothered, except that he’d instinctively picked up that she’d have been more comfortable
with him tending to her if at least that part of his body was covered. He shouldn’t have bothered. It wasn’t going to stay hidden for long.
His hand reached down, beneath the skirt she wore. He thrust up between her thighs, seeking for the place he most desired. His fingers met with her panties, and he yanked them to one side. Already, she was wet—he’d smelled it on her back in the forest—and he wasted no time in parting her folds and pushing first one finger and then a second inside her. She groaned, and her lips parted. He kissed her harder again, knowing she was focusing on the feel of his fingers inside her, but wanting her to continue to kiss him. Her inner muscles clamped down hard on his digits, and he pushed deeper. He felt her reach for him, batting away the stupid apron. Then her slender hand wrapped around the hard length of his cock and it was his turn to groan. Fuck, had anything ever felt as good as her fingers wrapped around him? She pumped him, matching the speed of his fingers pushing inside her with the movement of her hand. Her other hand dug into his shoulder, the blunt nails leaving ellipses in his skin.
“Oh, fuck, I want you,” she gasped.
Her good leg wrapped around his hip, pulling him toward her, fitting him between her thighs. Her skirt was rucked up around her hips, and with a quick movement, he slipped his fingers from her body and quickly yanked her underwear away. He pushed up her shirt, wanting to get his hands on her breasts, even as he slotted between her thighs. She guided him in, her hand on his dick, putting him into position. And then he nudged forward, the head of his cock pushing between her pussy lips and sliding into the tight, wet heat waiting for him.
They gasped against each other’s mouths, both focusing purely on the sensation now, the feel of him penetrating her. He held still for a moment, absorbing the sensation of having her wrapped around his cock, and then she lifted her hips at the same time as he pushed forward, and he slid balls deep.
She kissed his neck, his shoulder, sank in her teeth, as he pulled out and thrust again, still moving slowly but this time with more force. Their bodies met, hips slamming together as their momentum built. Their breathing came fast, panting, both giving cries of pleasure. The sound was animalistic, and he felt his orgasm building, starting low in his balls and creeping higher.
Wolf Betrayed (The Dark Ridge Wolves Book 3) Page 3