One Night with the Wolf

by Anna Hackett

  Bane.

  Damn it. He’d wanted them nowhere near her.

  But they’d come. Their bastard of an alpha no doubt wanted to see what he was missing out on. To see what part his exile played in Thorne. Christian cursed himself. He knew better than to underestimate Bane.

  Christian shifted to human form. He flexed his hands, ready for a fight. “What do you want?”

  The gray shifted as well and stayed crouched close to Jade, his fingers gripping the fur at her throat. The site of the naked male so close to her made the veins in Christian’s neck throb.

  “I want nothing from you, exile.” The man’s tone dripped disdain. “You’re nothing.”

  Christian had heard it all before. He flicked a gaze at Jade and saw her watching him. A blend of fear and fury mixed in her eyes.

  “You’re on Thorne land uninvited. Let her go and leave.” He lowered his voice to a lethal murmur. “Or I’ll make you leave.”

  The man snorted. “Exiles can’t give orders.”

  “But the Thorne second can.”

  Now the intruder’s eyes widened. “She made you second? Must be a desperate little pack you joined.”

  Christian was well aware he’d never have become second if Thorne had more able-bodied young wolves. Jade’s third was barely twenty-three years old. They were a small pack made up mostly of the elderly and pups.

  They were also a peaceful pack who’d taken him in when so many had turned him away. Marius had accepted him, no questions asked. Christian had little to offer them but his fighting skills, and right now he’d use them to protect Jade.

  “Last chance. Get off her and I might let you live.”

  The man growled and then sprang. He moved fast and shifted midair in a stunning display of shifter ability.

  The big wolf crashed against Christian and drove him to the ground. He felt the sting of claws at his side. Using all his strength, he held the snapping jaws away from his throat.

  The wolf was strong and his moves betrayed what he was—a well-trained enforcer. Christian shoved against the heavy body. He couldn’t shift or the wolf would sink his teeth in. Muscles burned. Christian couldn’t hold him off forever.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of movement. He prayed Jade was getting away. She needed to get back to the security of pack.

  But when he saw the other large wolf slink into view, favoring his right hind leg, Christian’s jaw tightened.

  It might be injured, but it looked riled enough to add its strength to the fight.

  Christian couldn’t take on two of them. Not in human form.

  He had to keep these wolves busy long enough for Jade to make her escape. She was needed. He was a nobody. And deep inside, his wolf would give everything it had to see her safe.

  Christian released a hand from the wolf’s throat and punched his fist into the animal’s flank. When the second wolf rushed in from the side, he kicked it hard.

  Growls and snarls filled his ears. Then another body flew into the fray.

  Luna, no! Jade sank her teeth into the rump of the wolf on Christian’s chest. Run, Jade, run. He willed her to get far away.

  The gray spun around, ready to attack her.

  It gave Christian the opening he needed. Strength like he’d never felt roared through him. He launched to his feet and gripped the wolf around the neck with two hands. It bucked against his hold, desperate to get at Jade.

  He saw her scuttle backward, her ears flat against her head.

  “I won’t let him hurt you. Never again.” With a vicious twist, Christian snapped the animal’s neck.

  Then he turned on the second wolf.

  It took one look at its fallen partner and loped into the trees. For a hot second, Christian thought about giving chase.

  The wolf would return and whisper to Bane. Tell the alpha that the exile protected a woman. Bane loved knowing the weakness of his enemies.

  Then Christian heard a small whimper.

  He spun. Jade had shifted back and lay on the ground, her arms curled around her naked body. She was shivering.

  “Jade.” He raced to her side. Dropping down beside her, he pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his body. “I’ve got you.”

  She pressed against him, her face nestled against his throat. “I’m sorry. Just give me a minute.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” He tightened his hold. She wasn’t used to these types of confrontations. Adrenaline was charging through her system, leaving her jittery.

  He touched a gentle hand to the scratches on her belly. They were shallow. He closed his eyes.

  “Who were they? They came out of nowhere and chased me down.”

  Christian cast a glance at the dead wolf. He wanted to hurt the bastard all over again. “Bane.”

  “What?” She lifted her head. “You said they weren’t invited.”

  He heard the tremor in her voice. She was right to be afraid. “I guess they wanted to check things out. Don’t worry, Jade. I won’t let them or their alpha anywhere near the Courting.”

  At the mention of tomorrow’s gathering, she seemed to shake off her shock. She pushed her hair back over her shoulder and cast a quick glance at the wolf’s body. “Get me out of here. Please.”

  He stood with her in his arms and strode into the trees. She needed a hot shower and some rest. He’d take her back to the house.

  A part of him filled with regret. They hadn’t gotten the chance to have their night together. He’d wanted to know the tight, hot clasp of her body, wanted to watch her face as he claimed her.

  When he reached the stream, he moved to their clothes and set her down. “Get dressed and we’ll head back.” He leaned down to grab his jeans.

  She snatched them from him in a savage move and tossed them away. Slowly, Christian straightened, watching her carefully.

  Her chin lifted. “You promised me the night.” She stalked up to him. “I’m not letting anything stop me from having what I want.”

  “You’ve had a shock—”

  “I’m not weak.” Her tone held fire. “I’m not some little submissive you need to coddle. It was a shock. Now I’m over it.” Alpha was in her voice.

  When she shoved him hard in the chest, she caught him by surprise. He went down and she followed, straddling his thighs.

  Luna, she was beautiful. All that honey-gold skin and full breasts playing peekaboo through her hair.

  Her nails raked his chest. “I need you, Christian. I don’t want to talk about the fight or tomorrow. I want you to touch me.”

  She wanted him. The thought made his blood shoot to boiling. She didn’t care where he came from or that he was an exile. More than anything he wanted to make her his.

  He reared up, catching her face in his hands. “Jade.” His guttural growl was more wolf than man.

  He kissed her, bit into her lower lip and swallowed her moan. She was so responsive. When he slid his mouth down her neck, she arched her back, offering him her breasts. He latched on to one nipple, nipped at it, left it red. Then he worked the other one.

  Her cries were the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. He could spend the rest of his life listening to her find pleasure in his touch.

  Desperate for more, he slid a hand between her thighs, pushed his fingers inside her. She arched back with a cry, drawing in uneven breaths. She was already wet for him. He stroked her, watched the need build in her eyes.

  She pushed his hand away and leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. He felt the wetness of her brush his thighs and the scent of her arousal dug deeper into his senses. His wolf begged to push her to the ground, hold her down and thrust inside her, over and over until they were swallowed up in the raw, primal need.

  Christian warred with the wildness inside him. He had to keep his wolf locked down enough to give her everything she wanted.

  This first time was for her. Later he’d take her the way he—and his wolf—needed.

  Her mouth trailed down his jaw, ov
er this throat. She nipped at him, a little wild, lost in her pleasure. When she licked his nipples, he groaned. This was the most intense torture.

  Enough. He grasped her waist, marveled that he could span it with his hands. Her hips were restless, moving to entice. More than enough. He had to have her. He moved her so his throbbing erection nudged at her damp entrance.

  For one humming moment, they stared at each other. A wealth of emotion flickered in her eyes and he wondered what she saw in his.

  She was his. For now. He’d make sure she’d never forget who she truly belonged to. His fingers dug hard into the skin over her hips. He thrust her down as he surged upward.

  “Christian!”

  He froze, lodged inside her, deep as he’d go. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No, I—” Her voice trembled. “You’re so big. It feels good.”

  Luna, she was tight and wet. Savage satisfaction rose in his chest. And she was his.

  Jade moved her hips, drowning in the heated sensations crashing through her. Christian was big and hot inside her, stretching her in a pleasure-pain that was indescribable.

  She started to move, rising and falling on him. She ran her nails over his strong, sweat-slicked shoulders, stroking the flexing muscles.

  A strong man. A hard, protective wolf. He’d fought for her. He was everything she’d ever fantasized about.

  Wanting this moment to last forever, she slowed her movements and dragged off him inch by inch. A growl caught in his throat, his big body tense beneath her. She smiled.

  It was the most seductive pleasure to have a strong man holding back for her. To be focused on her pleasure.

  She wanted to throw her head back and howl at the night. Her wolf pleasured in the fact fate had given her this man. She closed her eyes and moved her hips down in a slow, tortuous move. Sensitized nerves throbbed, and she ground herself against him. He growled again.

  She loved that she could drive him crazy. She felt every inch the desirable woman, the hot-blooded wolf. She wanted to keep that slow tempo, make it last for hours and store up every moan, every move, every caress.

  But as hot feelings flooded through her limbs, she couldn’t keep up her torture. She picked up the pace. She found a hard rhythm that suited them both. One of his hands slipped between them, a finger finding her sensitive pearl of flesh.

  She bucked under the intense flash of pleasure.

  “You like that?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just stroked and touched her in the way her body needed.

  Her stomach tensed, pleasure growing higher, faster. What woman wouldn’t want this? A man who could read her, knew her body. Knew her.

  The sensations rushing in her made her quiver, her breath catching in her lungs. The promise of release shimmered.

  She went taut. A part of her didn’t want it to end. In this moment they were one, and no one could separate them.

  “Shh.” He took control, his hands sinking into the soft flesh of her bottom. He forced her to move again, harder, faster. “We have all night, Jade. I’m nowhere near finished with you.”

  When he thrust his hips up, fire ripped through her, color exploding across her vision. She heard his groan, felt his hot release inside her.

  Jade scratched her nails down his chest and heard her scream echo through the trees.

  She expected to collapse, spent, but just as the pleasure started to ease, lightning shot though her system. Inside she felt her wolf keening, crying out in pleasure.

  Jade let out a cry, heard the rumble of surprise in Christian’s throat. He reared up, his arms wrapping around her in a possessive embrace.

  Mate.

  Oh, Luna, no. Jade’s gaze collided with Christian’s and saw the terrifying knowledge reflected in the golden depths of his eyes.

  Powerful energy gathered around them, closing them in and locking them together. Wolf lore said it was at this moment two mates felt their souls brush. Two animals became one.

  Then her thoughts were washed away as her body exploded.

  Chapter Five

  Mate.

  Jade was his. Christian knew he shouldn’t be surprised. He’d been drawn to her from the very beginning. His wolf had known long before him.

  She shifted away, her silky skin sliding against him. Inside, his wolf snarled, not wanting any distance between them.

  On her knees, she stared at him with wild eyes. “Christian—”

  He sat up. “It’s all right.” He forced his voice to stay calm, despite the inner rage at the unfairness of it all ripping at his throat.

  She shook her head. “No, it’s not. We’re…we’re…”

  “Mates,” he finished.

  She closed her eyes, her chin dropping to her chest. She looked so dejected. He wanted to take away her pain, but with his own beating at him, he wasn’t sure he could touch her.

  Then she looked up, her face shuttered. “This doesn’t change anything. I’m still going through with the Courting.”

  He knew she was going to say it, but it was still a fierce punch to his gut. Being alpha was as much in the blood as being a mate. Jade would never shirk her duty to her people. It’s what he admired most about her.

  It meant she would never be his.

  His wolf went crazy, clawing at his insides. Christian pulled the night air into his lungs. But it didn’t help calm him. Raw anger pulsed in his veins.

  Anger at himself for touching her. For the ruthless man who’d exiled him and destroyed his life. For the soul-tearing knowledge that he would never have his mate.

  “Without the protection of another pack, we’ll be torn apart. They’ll break my people.” There was a plea in Jade’s tone. “If we mate, you’ll be forced to fight every challenger.” She shook her head. “I won’t risk the pack and I won’t risk you.”

  Christian wasn’t afraid for himself. He’d fight every wolf on the planet to have Jade. But the lack of security, the tension and unrest would destroy the gentle pack she ruled. “I understand.”

  Tears welled in her blue eyes. “How can you?” Her voice was a shaky whisper. “How can you when I don’t?”

  Despite the tearing rage inside him, he surrendered to the need to soothe his woman’s pain. He pulled her into his embrace. She pressed her face against his chest, her fingers gripping his arms.

  Her hair was silky smooth under his cheek. “I’ve watched you the last year. I know how you feel about your wolves.”

  “Why can’t I have what they have?”

  He tightened his hold and wished with everything he was that he could keep her, protect her, love her. Give her everything she deserved.

  “For the next few hours you can.” She raised her head and he gripped her face between his hands, thumbs brushing at her tears. “I need to let my wolf taste his mate. If I don’t…”

  “There’s a risk you’ll go rogue.” She swallowed, deep sorrow in her eyes. “I should never have asked for this night.”

  He gave her a light shake. “Don’t say that.”

  He slid his fingers into her hair, massaged her scalp. She was right. A shifter denied his mate was ripe to let the wolf take over. The pain of never holding her, the longing to take her, would drive his human side back until only animal remained. Too many times Christian had seen the death and destruction rogue shifters left behind.

  But one taste of her submission might hold him.

  She nodded, her eyes glimmering in the moonlight. “I want to be yours.”

  Brutal hunger slammed through him. It mixed with his anger until he couldn’t separate them. The only way he might survive this was for him to purge his fury at life in the hot embrace of his mate.

  For the next few hours, she was his to do with what he wanted. His hands shook with the force of his need. He released her and helped her to her feet.

  With her standing and him kneeling, he had the perfect view of her naked body. So slim and shapely. Her breasts weren’t too big or small, just perfect for his hands. Her belly was f
lat but still feminine. Between her thighs, her sex was covered with soft caramel curls that begged him to touch.

  “Run,” he growled.

  Shock skittered over her face. “What?”

  “I want you to run. Stay in human form.” He rose to his feet. “And know that when I catch you, I won’t be gentle.”

  Her chest hitched and she stood frozen.

  “Run,” he snapped again.

  She did. Opening into a full stride, she headed for the cover of the forest.

  Christian’s chest heaved. He waited a few seconds, struggling with his wolf. Then he released his control.

  Embracing the wild predatory need to claim his mate, he followed her.

  Harsh breaths sawed in and out of Jade’s chest. She ran faster and harder than she ever had before.

  She heard him coming. The crash of a big body through the undergrowth. She sensed his powerful presence drawing closer. Hunting her.

  She was afraid. She was excited.

  Her wolf, ever the predator, refused to give in easily. She embraced the wildness pounding inside her and pushed harder, steering between the trees. She’d make her mate work hard to catch her.

  But he chased her down. His larger weight took her to the ground, pinning her under him. Jade fought for freedom, breathing hard and twisting, but he held her with ease. Awed her with his strength. Both the woman and the wolf loved his dominance.

  His strong thigh slid between hers, his hard erection pressing against her buttocks. His hot breath brushed her cheek. “I’m going to take you hard. Make you remember my touch long after I’m gone.”

  Jade shivered, hot desire roaring through her. She wanted his possession. She wanted to watch him lose his control with her.

  She wanted to forget that she had to give him up.

  His weight lifted, rough hands gripped her hips and pulled her up to her hands and knees. His big, hot body crowded behind her.

  A callused palm smoothed over her lower back, over one cheek, then dipped between her legs. He caressed her dampness, plunging a finger inside her. She moaned, moving back against him. She felt the energy pumping off him—rage, desire.