by Violet Ray
“There’s a lot more to it than that. I’ll tell you everything. But not now.”
Titling her head up, Blaize leaned down, his lips meeting hers. His embrace switched from caring to passionate in the blink of an eye.
Just his kiss was enough to set her heart racing again. Gripping her hair like he would never let go, his tongue took possession of her mouth. He was demanding now, even more so than he had been last night. Now Olivia could see hints of what Rohan had brought out of him earlier, a determined possessiveness that was making her face burn as she wanted him even more.
All her new fears and concerns melted away. She kissed him back hard, grinding into his strong body, her breath quickening under his touch as he fondled her breasts.
Working her clothes off quickly, Blaize didn’t even break their kiss until he had to tug her top over her head. With Blaize steering her over to the pile of cedar branches, Olivia lay down, feeling them scrape against her bare skin, scenting the air with what was becoming her new favorite fragrance.
Blaize lay down with her, his fiery skin rubbing against hers as he kissed her again.
Olivia’s blush showed her excitement, sending a strong surge of desire pulsing through Blaize’s body. Staring down into her eyes, he had to force his gaze away when the matching lust in them only added fuel to the fire. Those eyes of hers, always saying something to him, giving him a challenge, or an invitation. What was it about her that made him want to abandon all restraint?
Running his thumb along the line of her jaw, he gripped her chin firmly, her lips parting at his touch. He let a finger slide over the smooth softness of her lower lip before slipping it into her mouth.
Olivia drew him in, her tongue swirling over his skin.
For an instant he couldn’t breathe, his world narrowing down to include only her and the way she was making him burn with the need to take every inch of her.
“Blaize,” she murmured, gasping suddenly when he moved his hand down her back to her hip, now running it over her stomach. She flinched just slightly when he touched her there, and for a fleeting moment he wanted to be inside of her mind, to know what she was feeling.
Trailing his fingers over her rib cage, he marvelled at how soft her skin was, like nothing he had ever touched before. It seemed so fragile, but he could sense a strength running underneath the surface too.
Her scent was electrifying him, the mix of her sweetness and the cedar branches they had slept on last night going straight to his head. There were still traces of his own scent on her skin, and he meant to leave much more of it on her now. There was no point hiding anymore. The future was here.
Blaize’s lips sought the delicate spot on her neck, determined kisses turning into soft bites.
His breath ragged, Blaize pulled back, taking a good look at her naked body, ready and waiting for him. Such a wonderful shape. Her thighs were all soft curves, feminine and inviting. Reaching out, he caressed her lush breasts with one hand.
Sliding the other one down, over the arch of her stomach and between her legs, he let his fingers slowly explore her slick wetness, until she dug her nails into his flesh, gasping and moaning.
His head was starting to spin, she was so intoxicating. Just the way she moved when he touched her excited him beyond reason.
And then she wrapped her hand around his raging erection, moving just as torturously slowly as he did when he was teasing her. Choking back a deep groan, Blaize thrust into her hand, visions of doing the same with her body nearly driving him to distraction. He wanted her so badly he was aching.
She was completely open and ready for him. Blood pounding in his ears, chest tight, his need for her was consuming so much of him, the tiniest bolt of fear prickled in the back of his mind. Nothing should distract him this much, not a person, not a wolf, nothing. He had to keep his senses on alert, all the time. He could never allow himself to be so completely taken over like this.
Blaize leaned over her, brushing her lips with a light kiss as his cock nudged against her, beginning to slip inside as slowly as he could manage. In no time his shaft was filling her up.
Clutching at his back, Olivia wrapped her legs around him, lifting her body up to meet his.
“Yes,” Blaize said. “Take what you want.”
Olivia rocked against him and he thrust into her, angling himself so he would rub her clit with every stroke.
“Oh, god, Blaize,” she panted, her body convulsing as her orgasm broke like dam inside her.
He didn’t stop, only going faster as she came down. Eyes wide open, he pounded into her, balls tightening as his own orgasm rose up in him. He didn’t stop, groaning out her name as he came hard, his orgasm burning up through his body. He kept moving as long as he could, not pulling out of her tight heat until he had to.
Chapter 4
“Why do you want me to leave? You just told me I’m your mate, as fate would have it,” Olivia asked, pulling on her clothes quickly to ward off the cold. “Don’t you want me to meet your parents?”
Already back in his shirt and pants, Blaize sat on the ground, watching her dress.
“It would be better if I let them know about you first by myself. Me finding my mate will cause a lot of upheaval and a lot of things will change quickly.”
“Better for who?” Olivia came to stand in front of him, hands on her hips.
“Mainly you. Come, I’ll take you to the edge of the woods.”
Blaize kept an eye on Olivia until she was safely inside her house. The chances of anyone attacking her outside of the forest were almost non-existent, but she was his to watch over now, no matter where she was.
Stripping his clothes off, he stashed them under a bush and shifted. He had to get home and make his announcement before word travelled ahead of him.
Even still, Blaize didn’t run very quickly through the trees. He hadn’t seen his parents in days, and if he could, he would have made it longer. Telling them he had found a mate would make them happy. Hopefully happy enough that they wouldn’t have a fit over Olivia being human.
Arriving at the almost-invisible entrance to their home, he paused when he got inside to let his eyes adjust to the near-blackness. That shouldn’t have been necessary. He must have been spending too much time in human form lately. Everything about him now was off by just a little bit. Like something invisible had shifted. Shaking his head, he went further inside.
“Blaize,” Bryna said when she saw him. “It’s so good to see you.”
He was on his way over to greet his mother when he spotted his father over in the corner, sitting with Phyr. Although Phyr was like a brother to him and they had been inseparable as kids, it was unusual for Phyr to be there when Blaize wasn’t.
“You haven’t been back in a long time,” Ayrmin said, narrowing his eyes as Blaize and Bryna came over to him and Phyr.
Blaize sat down in front of him, head held high, sneaking a quick glance over at Phyr. Had his father already coerced his news out of his friend? But why would Phyr come here alone, knowing that’s what would likely happen?
“I have news. I have found my mate,” Blaize said, looking between his two parents. Their expressions remained unchanged.
“Did you now,” Ayrmin said, glaring at him like he was a stranger instead of a son.
“Is this yet another one of your tricks to try and escape your ascension to the position of new leader of Fyryne?” he asked, an undercurrent of hostility threading through his voice.
Confusion warred with a rising annoyance in Blaize. “No. I’m saying I’ve found my mate. I am ready to become leader.”
“A human?” Bryna said. “Blaize, what are you trying to do by acting like you are going to join with a human?”
Immediately Blaize glared at Phyr. Rather than looking like he was ashamed, his friend had a look of defiance about him. Phyr had told them? Purposely?
Stung by the idea of Phyr’s betrayal, even though he could hardly believe it, Blaize straightened up even taller.
; “Yes. A human. She is chosen, just like I am.”
Ayrmin stood up, walking forward slowly until they were face-to-face. “You will not disrespect me or Fyryne. End this charade now.”
Blaize arched his back just enough that his father would notice. “This is nothing that I can end. For my entire life, you tell me I can’t avoid my destiny. Well, this is it. My destiny is fulfilled.”
Ayrmin bared his teeth. “Don’t you talk back to me, no matter what you think you’ve got figured out. You are to lead Fyryne with a proper mate.”
“So you would trust me to lead but not trust that I know who my chosen mate is?” Blaize retorted.
“You don’t even want to lead!” Phyr growled, openly hostile. “What makes you think you should?”
Blaize whipped his head around. “What’s it to you?” he asked, unable to contain his anger.
Phyr bristled at him. “All your life you have said you don’t want this destiny to be yours. So why should it be? Shouldn’t Fyryne be lead by someone who wants to lead us?”
“Someone like you?”
“Why not? We are equally matched in all areas of strength and skill,” Phyr said.
“If the leadership was to be yours, it would be,” Blaize replied. Phyr had never once said that he wanted to lead Fyryne. The idea of someone actually wanting to take on the role that he had spent most of his life trying to avoid was almost incomprehensible.
“You are an alpha, Blaize. But so is Phyr,” Ayrmin said, thoughtful now instead of confrontational.
“What do you mean? That Phyr could take over?” Blaize replied, a glimmer of hope awakening in him. If Phyr could become the leader, he could still be free. He could leave behind everything that was supposed to be his.
“Blaize was named as leader when he was born. You shouldn’t be able to rival him, but you do.”
“What does that mean?” Phyr was regarding Ayrmin warily, as if he didn’t believe what he was hearing.
No-one was moving. This situation was unprecedented. The only one who had ever questioned Blaize’s destiny had been Blaize himself. But no matter how he struggled against it, he hadn’t truly believed he could avoid it in the end, only that he could delay the inevitable.
Until now.
Chapter 5
“Phyr, do you assert that the position of leader is rightfully yours?” Ayrmin asked.
Phyr hesitated before answering. Blaize held his breath.
“I do.” Phyr set his jaw, but Blaize could tell even he was thrown by this turn of events.
For the first time, Blaize saw his father look stricken.
“You understand what that means?” Ayrmin asked, his tone grave. Nothing like this had ever happened before in all the pack’s history.
Phyr gave a curt nod. “Yes.”
Ayrmin turned to Blaize. “You are challenged in your role as the chosen leader of Fyryne.”
Before Blaize even opened his mouth to answer, his father continued. “The role cannot be passed from one to another. The true leader has already been chosen. It now falls to you both to discover who is truly meant for that destiny.”
“How do we do that?” Phyr asked, his voice betraying his anxiety.
Ayrmin paced between them. “You have to speak with the Elder.
“Fine. Let’s go now.” For better or worse, Blaize wanted all of this to end now. Still reeling from his friend’s revelation, he was also unsettled by Phyr’s bad faith in telling his own parents about his mate. He was impatient to confront him.
“It will require a journey. The Elder resides in the most southern part of our land.”
So now he had to travel alongside Phyr to resolve this?
“And, Blaize. Take your human along.”
Phyr growled as if to complain, but Ayrmin silenced him with a withering look.
“All of this chaos must be resolved as soon as possible. Including Blaize’s idea of a mate. If it is fated for him to rule with a human, so be it. And if not, changes will be made at once. If word got out that there is conflict about Fyryne’s leadership, Rohan could make a move to take advantage. Your journey must be kept secret.”
Blaize felt a familiar defiant response rising up in him, but with great effort he held his tongue. No-one, including his father, could argue with the word of the Elder. Olivia would be accepted without question or dissent. That would be one less challenge that he was glad not to have ahead of him. It would be difficult enough for Olivia to adjust to being among wolves as a human without more hostility directed at her.
As Ayrmin mapped out the route for them, Phyr by his side, Blaize couldn’t help but wonder. Could it be possible, that Phyr would lead instead of him? It was hard to believe. And if that was the true course of Fyryne’s destiny, what would that mean for him and Olivia?
“Travel safely, both of you,” Bryna said when Ayrmin was done. “Look out for each other.”
Blaize was barely a few feet out of the cave when Phyr jumped on him. Easily throwing him off, Blaize landed in attack position, hackles up, ready for Phyr’s next move. They had only play-fought when they were kids. Never before had Phyr been on the attack against Blaize. They faced each other, snarling.
But Phyr hesitated and Blaize made his move, jumping at Phyr, landing with better advantage than his friend had. They were equally matched in size and strength, but Blaize had speed and skill advantages. Anger surged through him as they feinted back and forth, rolling around on the ground until Blaize got the upper hand, pinning his friend down until he stopped fighting.
Panting, Blaize got off him, not taking his eyes from Phyr until he conceded.
Blaize was the victor, but it didn’t come as easily as he had expected. His friend really was equal to him in combat. Maybe Phyr was right and it was truly meant for him to be the chosen leader.
“You had no right to talk to my parents about Olivia,” Blaize growled as Phyr came over to him. “What were you thinking?”
“Blaize,” Phyr practically spat, still panting. “You spent all your time trying to avoid becoming leader. Did you ever stop to think how insulting that is? So arrogant, to reject so easily something that is a position of honour. A role that many, many others would be proud and happy to take on. How self-important you are.”
“That’s not it,” Blaize said. “If you wanted this so badly, why didn’t you say something before now?”
“Why should I? You were supposed to be Fyryne’s destiny. But the prophecy is not clear. And you so clearly don’t want it. There is no reason it shouldn’t be me.”
“We’ll find out soon enough. I’m going to get Olivia,” Blaize said.
Phyr bared his teeth. “You aren’t really going to bring the human along. She’ll slow us down.”
“Of course she’s coming with us. She is my mate. And she must meet with the Elder too. No-one will have doubts about her after that,” Blaize said, glaring at Phyr.
“Fine. You know where to find me.” Phyr turned and ran off.
Blaize ran the opposite way, his thoughts churning. He had no idea until today that his friend wanted his position at all, let alone so badly that it was driving him to make terrible decisions.
And now Phyr and Olivia were supposed to travel together. Phyr’s dislike of Olivia seemed to have more to it than just her being human. There was no telling what could happen when they were forced to be together for that long. He would keep Olivia safe, there was no doubt about that. But Phyr had him worried. His friend hadn’t been acting like himself since he discovered Blaize and Olivia together in the cave. There was no telling what he might do, especially if the Elder confirmed that Blaize was the chosen one.
Chapter 6
Just one more. One more. Come on.
The voice of her physiotherapist echoing in her head, Olivia strained to get through the last set of exercises.
Determined to finish even though the pain was getting to her, she just barely managed to make the last stretch before collapsing back on the floor. Breat
he into the pain. She had heard that line so many times. What did that even mean?
The hard floor was far from comfortable, but she didn’t get up. Carefully bending her leg in closer, she rubbed her knee, sighing with relief.
The past two days had been surreal, and she still couldn’t quite make sense of what was happening. She had met an actual werewolf shifter, fallen for him, and he had told her she was his chosen mate.
Yeah. Right.
If anyone else had told Olivia that’s what was going on in their life, she would have laughed.
But there it was. She couldn’t deny any of it had happened to her.
How on earth could she be the mate of a werewolf? Sitting up, she leaned against the sofa and reached for her water bottle. Blaize had said he would tell her more later, but when that would be, she had no idea.
“When will I see you again?” Olivia had asked when they reached the edge of the woods earlier.
“I will come for you. You will know when I am here.”
“How will I know that?” she asked.
“You will.” And with that he had run off.
Could a wolf one-night-stand a human? Technically, it had been more than one night, but still. The human dating world could be a terrible place. Maybe the werewolf one wasn’t any different.
Gingerly she stood, testing her weight on her leg. The pain was gone. Walking over to the window, she stared out at the growing dusk. It got dark so early these days, she couldn’t wait for spring.
It was supposed to snow tonight. Not the best time to go check if Blaize was around.
After dinner, Olivia curled up on the sofa with her laptop. She had to find work soon, and get out more. She was going to go crazy with all this time on her hands.
A good hour of scouring the local dance schools ended up leading into reading her favorite celebrity news sites.
After more time spent catching up on the gossip than she cared to admit, Olivia set her computer down on the coffee table. Yawning and stretching, she couldn’t help but take a look outside.