Page 13 of Wolves in Lust

Yes, fleeing was her only option. Only one single question remained. What should she do about Anders? He couldn’t be allowed to follow her. While he wasn’t fighting her hard, more or less only protecting himself, she couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t run back to his family and divulge her location.

She retreated a few steps.

He held his ground.

A few more steps backward.

Anders shifted back to his human form. Naked and majestic and perfect, save for that damned mark on his back

“You’re going to run,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

She stretched out her back, long and deep, before changing her shape. “I have no other choice.”

“There are always more options if you just would consider them.”

“Like what?” she retorted. “You want me to trust you? How can you even want to help me after I hurt you?” She gestured toward his bloody ear.

“I let you hurt me.”

Misti rolled her eyes. “Get pleasure from pain, do you?”

“You already know I do. Your scratches on my back prove that.”

Hoping the darkness hid her blush, she cleared her throat. “You… I… It was a mistake.”

“One I’d like to repeat.” He advanced a step toward her. His outline was prominent, especially between his legs.

“You know we can’t,” she said hoarsely. Why did her body still react to him? He was the enemy.

Not for those years he had been in exile, a voice in the back of her head said.

“We’re grown adults. We can do whatever we want.”

“Including turning our backs on our families and not catering to their every whim,” she said hotly. “You meant to kill me. What was your plan? To fuck me then kill me? Was I such a good lay that you figured you’d wait to rip out my throat until morning? Is that it? I’m sorry we ever met, Anders. I wish I never spread my legs for you. I hope I never see you again.”

And she reverted to her wolf form and raced away. Yes, she was taking a chance by not killing him, but she couldn’t be around him. Not while she was so confused and uncertain about everything concerning him, concerning her father, concerning her life.

For the first time, she wondered what she would wish for herself if she had the freedom and liberty to do as she wanted. Try as she might, she couldn’t see a future free from her father’s influence, and right now, his influence would mean her death.

10

Every fiber of his being called out for her. He was halfway back to wolf form when he forced himself to stop. She would not take kindly to see him right now, that much was clear, and from the surging emotions in her eyes, if hatred should win out, he would find her a fierce foe, a wild competitor, and he just might be the one to lose his life.

The whole situation plagued him terribly. Emotions were one thing that could cripple a wolf. Being in a pack meant order, disciple. Being a loner meant you had lacked that order, that discipline, and often singles devoted their lives to crime to try and sort through things. For a while, Anders had run with another wolf. Just the two of them. It had ended badly.

But he wasn’t meant to be a loner, and he couldn’t go back to his family, so where did that leave him?

Nowhere.

His cell vibrated. His father was calling. With a low growl, Anders bared his fangs. He should chuck his phone into the nearest dumpster and flee back into the world. He’d managed for ten years. Surely, he could survive for the rest of his life.

His short life. His father would not allow Anders to exile for a second offense. No, he would require his heart and his head.

Sighing, he answered the call. “Yes?”

“Anders. Where are you?” His father’s voice sounded particularly raspy and harsh over the line.

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