The Beta's Unlikely Mate: A Valentine's Day Wolf-Shifter Romance

by Cara Wylde

  “I was thinking…” He paused, cleared his throat, then said the next part faster than he meant to: “How about we grab dinner in town this evening?”

  Jocelyn’s wide eyes met his. She could feel her heart starting to beat faster, while her cheeks turned a cute shade of pink.

  “I mean, you know… as friends,” Ryan added. “The town didn’t look like much from the plane, but you never know.”

  Just the fact that he added the “friends” part told Jocelyn he wanted more than that. She bit the inside of her cheek, not sure what to say. Ryan was studying her carefully, waiting for her answer. She had thought she had made her decision last night, when she had repressed her desires and returned to her room, but now she was faced with it again.

  “On the other hand,” Ryan continued, “the Drekinns have an amazing chef. I doubt any restaurant in town could match him.”

  His Alpha was still silent, so he started playing with the pencil Delyse had left behind.

  “Forget about it. It’s a silly idea.”

  Jocelyn closed her eyes, counted to five, then opened them. She had made her decision.

  “No, it’s a great idea!” she said. “I just… err… I can’t think about food right now. Breakfast was too much for me. Dragon-shifters eat a lot!”

  That was it. Jocelyn was politely refusing him. Ryan’s heart sank, but he tried to disguise how he felt by plastering an unconvincing smile on his face. He pushed his chair away from the table, ready to leave if the situation got more uncomfortable.

  Josie shook her head, as if to show that was not the message she had wanted to send.

  “Tell you what, if you want to do something together… well, I miss shifting and going for a run. Delyse and I have quite finished here, so we could see the glacier before dinner.”

  Ryan’s face lit up.

  “Oh, that’s even better! How do you always come up with the best ideas?”

  Jocelyn laughed. “It comes with the job, you know… Being a capable Alpha and all.”

  For a long minute, they looked into each other’s eyes, smiling. The implications of their plan, however, soon started to dawn on them. In order to shift into their wolf forms, they would have to be naked. Shifting while fully clothed would only turn their clothes to shreds, and neither of them liked the idea. The thing was… they had seen each other naked countless times. When one was a wolf-shifter, it was inevitable. The Blackmane wolves shifted and ran through the forest around the Schloss every day. Sometimes, they even walked around naked because they were too lazy to put something on when they knew they would soon shift again. When Ryan had carried Jocelyn’s wounded body during the Battle at Alma Venus, they had both been naked. At that time, they hadn’t been as interested in each other as they were now, and the situation was more than inappropriate. If they did go for a run together, this would be the first time they would be alone, so close, and so exposed while their emotions took the best of them and their bodies craved each other so badly.

  Jocelyn knew, and Ryan knew: his suggestion to go out for dinner had been an innocent one; her suggestion to go out for a run had nothing to do with innocence or friendship. Were they both in? Yes, they were.

  “Do you want to go now?” he asked. It was as if he wanted to make sure he had gotten the message right.

  Jocelyn swallowed heavily.

  “Yes. Do you?”

  He was silent for a while, and Josie tried to read his expression. She couldn’t tell whether he was as excited as she was because he was so damn hard to read. He looked out into the distance and smiled. Maybe he was thinking about the mountains and the glacier, and how amazing the view would be from up there. Josie wanted to ask him what he was thinking about, but changed her mind quickly. The last thing she wanted was to act like a cliché girlfriend, who nagged her guy every time: “What are you thinking about? Are you thinking about me? About us? Tell me!”

  “I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time,” he finally said.

  Jocelyn smiled widely and stood up.

  “Then what are we waiting for?

  ***

  They waited until they were far away from the palace, deep into the forest. The snow and ice sighed underneath Jocelyn’s flats, and as soon as she found a good spot, the shoes were the first to go. She smiled when she felt the cold bite on her soles, toes, and ankles when her feet sank into the snow. She threw Ryan a quick, shy glance, and grabbed the hem of her blouse.

  Ryan took the hint and turned around. He discarded his shoes and clothes in seconds, then shifted even faster. The transformation was easy and painless. His ears caught the snap of bones coming from where Jocelyn was standing, and he knew she was shifting as well. When he faced her again, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of her majestic wolf form. Her eyes were greener, and her black fur shined in the winter sun. She was a bit smaller than him, but just as strong and deadly.

  Jocelyn growled playfully, then disappeared between the trees. She knew he would follow her up to the glacier.

  Their senses were heightened in wolf form. Their noses twitched every time the wind blew a particular scent their way, and their ears perked at the slightest sound. Like all shape-shifters, they felt better in their animal form, like they were born to be this way: free, wild, happy.

  For the first time in months, Jocelyn felt like she didn’t have a care in the world. All her worries and responsibilities had been left behind, along with her shoes and clothes, somewhere near the edge of the forest. She’d have to go back to them eventually, but there was no point in thinking about that now. She wanted to enjoy these couple of hours of freedom, when she could be herself.

  Ryan was a huge black wolf, and with every step his paws hit the ground with a thud. Josie was lighter and more elegant, but even though she had had a head start, the Beta had caught up with her, and then ran ahead of her to get to the top first. She looked at his massive form, her lungs starting to burn from the effort she made to match his insane pace. If she wanted to slow him down, her only option was to try and hit him with her paw. All she had to do was get close enough, but it was almost impossible. He was a much stronger wolf, and his legs were simply longer and heavier than hers. Then, he distracted her by taking an unexpected turn. Jocelyn growled in frustration and pushed herself harder. They were close to the top of the mountain now, and she had to make sure she won this race.

  She forgot all about it when the cave entrance which would lead them inside the glacier came into view. Ryan stopped and waited for her so they could go in together. Had they not known it was a work of nature, the two of them could have sworn the cave was made by the hand of an eagle-shifter. The entrance alone was magnificent, and they knew what was inside had to be even more wonderful.

  Jocelyn took a moment to catch her breath, then nodded towards Ryan to let him know they could go in. The ice corridor that led to the hall in the middle of the glacier was wide and tall, providing more than enough space for a dragon to walk with his wings tucked at his sides. They walked for what seemed like forever, and when they reached the wide hall where they knew Eric Drekinn had hibernated for seven hundred years, they stopped in awe. The room was wide, well-lit, and absolutely spectacular. The ceiling, which was made of ice, was thin enough to let the sun shine through and send its rays to every corner.

  Ryan stole a glance at Jocelyn, and the look of pure wonder on her face made his heart grow. He took a couple of steps inside the room and started shifting back to his human form without giving it much thought.

  Jocelyn couldn’t believe her eyes. The sight of the Beta’s strong body twisting and taking a different shape in front of her eyes fascinated her even more than the place they were in. His body was firm, and it didn’t have a single part that was not chiseled to perfection. His chest was wide and hard, his abs contracted ever so slightly in the rhythm of his breathing, and the thin line of hair that led to his crotch made it impossible for her to look away. He was like a Greek god, tall and powerful. She sighed whe
n her eyes finally fell on what was waiting for her between his legs. His cock was long, thick, and fully engorged. She knew it was all because of her, so there was no going back now. Here, in the mountains, in the middle of nature, far from civilization, it was okay to give in to her desires.

  Still in her wolf form, Jocelyn walked closer to him and started shifting slowly, deliberately. She let her body move of its own accord, relaxed her muscles, and closed her eyes to better enjoy the power and control her werewolf ability gave her. When the black fur was replaced by white, smooth skin, she stood tall and proud before the Beta, opened her eyes and met his, a wicked smile on her still red lips.

  Ryan was speechless. For the first time since he had known her, he allowed himself to drink in every inch of her body, memorize every smooth curve, lean muscle, and each freckle on her glorious skin. Her long neck, perky breasts, dark nipples… the delicious plane of her abdomen, and the soft dark hair between her legs… it was all too much. His cock grew even harder, to the point where it was painful. He had to touch her, run his hands through her hair, kiss her cheeks, lips, her entire body… and soon. Otherwise, he felt like he was going to explode.

  “Like what you see?” she asked in a low, seductive voice.

  His breath hitched. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t come up with anything decent to say, so he kept his mouth shut. His cock twitched when she stepped closer and placed a small hand on his chest.

  “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

  Jocelyn leaned in and kissed him fiercely, slipping her tongue inside his mouth the moment their lips met. She took her time to explore his mouth, taste him until she was so wet that she was almost dripping, then pulled away and looked him deep in the eyes.

  “Apparently not. It’s still there.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The sun rays shone on the two of them. It was like a spotlight which reminded them that, right then and there, they were the most important people in the world. The silence between them was not awkward anymore. Ryan had yet to say a word. He was so entranced by her that he could barely think straight. He couldn’t believe this was happening, and his hands trembled as he ran them up and down her arms. When he traced her collarbone with his fingers, he felt like her skin electrocuted him. Slowly, he inched closer to her breasts, and when he cupped them, Jocelyn shivered, pressed herself against him, and tilted her head to kiss him for the second time.

  Ryan released her breasts. His hands flew to the back of her head, where he took a fistful of hair. Ending the kiss, he looked into her eyes and gently yanked her head back a little so he could nuzzle her neck.

  Jocelyn did her best not to let out a moan. She closed her eyes and bit her lip. The way he knew how to touch her and kiss her was incredible. She raised her hands with the intention of grabbing his head and pressing him even closer to her, but Ryan growled, let go of her hair, caught her tiny wrists in his big hands, and guided her arms to her sides. Josie smirked when she realized he was taking control. She allowed him, and even though her knees were starting to get weak, she simply stood there and waited to see what would happen next. She gasped when Ryan spanked her bottom lightly. He took advantage of her parted lips and attacked them with a long, hungry kiss, spreading her red lipstick all over her cheeks.

  Jocelyn had to admit he was the best kisser. He must have navigated quite a lot of mouths to have gained such a wonderful technique. Before she knew it, a wave of jealousy hit her, making her stomach clench. That was when she made her final decision: she needed to have Ryan all to herself, forever. He wouldn’t be one of those meaningless one-night stands she had gotten used to. From this moment on, Ryan was hers and hers alone, and she had to make it clear to him, too.

  Josie kissed him back with even more vigor, and lifted her hands to touch his body. It was nice that he wanted to take the lead, but she couldn’t be passive. It wasn’t in her nature. When she met no resistance, she placed her hands on his firm torso, then started exploring shamelessly. With every up and down motion she made, the tips of her fingers entered every single ridge between his amazing abs. Soon, she found herself getting out of breath. Her body was yearning for him, and she couldn’t wait to have him inside her. Her pussy was soaked, and the way his erection pushed against her stomach told her he was just as eager as she was.

  Without any warning, Ryan turned her around. His hands reached around her to massage her breasts while he kissed his way down her back. When he reached her lower back, Josie moaned and arched her body in anticipation. Her pulse was out of control, her knees were ready to give in, and all she wanted was to lie on the ice floor so she could abandon herself to him entirely.

  As if he had read her thoughts, Ryan grabbed her hips and pulled her down with him. They both welcomed the sensation of cold ice against their skin. They were so hot and horny that their bodies could probably melt the entire glacier. Gently, he turned her body around again, so they would face each other.

  Jocelyn laughed. “You can’t make up your mind, can you?”

  Ryan growled deep in his chest. “I want to touch and kiss all of you,” he whispered.

  “No need to flip me around every five seconds. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  “Do we?”

  He didn’t wait for her answer. He started kissing up and down her inner thigh, then buried his head between her legs to taste her juices. She was right, they had all the time in the world. Yet, he was so hungry and desperate, so afraid that this was all a dream and he would soon wake up, that he wanted to make the best of it.

  Jocelyn moaned when his tongue slipped between her wet folds. She threw her head back, her hands flying to his head, her fingers grabbing at his soft, black hair. As his tongue traced quick circles around her clit, she struggled to control her breathing. Lips parted, she let out moan after moan, and when Ryan shoved his tongue as far as he could inside her pussy, she shivered and arched her back. His fingers worked on her clit as he fucked her with his tongue.

  “Oh yes…” She couldn’t take it anymore. At that moment, Ryan had taken her entire body hostage. He was doing to her what no man had ever managed to do, and her only option was to let go and enjoy every second of it. “Right there,” she whispered.

  Ryan followed her instructions and applied more pressure on the upper left side of her clit. That threw her over the edge, and he had to hold her hips in place when she came with a long moan that echoed through the entire ice cave. He licked her clit lazily. His cock throbbed at the thought that he had just done this to her, at the thought that Jocelyn Blackmane, his Alpha, had just lost control and climaxed from his licks and touches. It made him feel strong, unbreakable. If he could have this sort of power over her, then nothing would ever stand in his way.

  Once she started breathing evenly, Jocelyn pulled him up her body and claimed his mouth in a deep kiss, tasting herself on his tongue. The feeling was deliciously sinful. When they broke the kiss, she smiled up at him, wondering what else he was capable of doing to her. She spread her legs and placed them around his waist, which made the head of his cock rest against her folds.

  Ryan held her gaze while he gently slipped inside her, inch by inch.

  “Oh!” she gasped. She knew he was big, but she hadn’t quite expected him to stretch her to her limits.

  “So tight,” he whispered against her lips. “So warm, and tight, and wet…”

  “Just for you,” she said.

  Her words made his inner beast howl inside his chest. His wolf had never felt so alive. There was no doubt left: Ryan was claiming his mate, and there was nothing which could change that. They belonged to each other. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind: he wanted to be loyal to her, to love her and cherish her forever. Jocelyn’s pleasure and happiness were his number one priorities. From now on, it was his duty to make her life pure Heaven.

  “Please move,” she said.

  The anticipation was killing her. Her walls clenched and unclenched around him, ready t
o milk him dry. She wanted to feel him move inside her. Her body wanted to return the pleasure he was giving her, and her pussy needed him to come inside her, to coat her walls with his seed.

  Ryan complied. He closed his eyes for a second, pulled out until only the massive head was still in, then slammed his hips against hers, drawing a sharp scream from her parted lips. He knew he didn’t have to worry about being too brutal. She was a werewolf. Her body could easily take all he had to give. He did it again, and she responded by wrapping her legs tighter around him and moving her hips in time with his thrusts. Soon, they had built the perfect rhythm.

  He stood up a bit over her, his hands going to her lower back to support her. The new angle made it easy for him to hit her G-spot every time he drove his cock deep inside her.

  Jocelyn’s eyes widened. She wanted to say something, but found herself unable to form a coherent sentence. The sight of his huge body hovering over her was breathtaking. His abs contracted every time he entered her, and the dark shade of his green eyes told her he was close. She clenched her walls around his cock, and her gesture made him grunt and thrust faster and harder. Soon, the heat between her legs started spreading all over her body, the tension inside her pussy threatening to explode and break her into a million pieces. Her hands flew above her head, but there was nothing there. She would have loved to hold on to something, as his powerful thrusts made her body slide on the ice.

  Ryan dug his fingers into her pale skin, leaving deep, red marks. He was so close to release that his movements had become erratic and uneven. Then, Jocelyn’s screams became louder, and he struggled to keep it together a couple more minutes. His effort was rewarded when her walls squeezed him, her back arched, and her eyes closed as she let out a long moan. Her orgasm took over her body in waves, and Ryan found it impossible to hold himself back anymore. He came inside her with a grunt, his cock filling her with stream after stream of hot seed.