Page 46 of Bred By the Wolfman

It doesn’t take me long to trace their scent back to them. In a small clearing stand three does and one stag, followed by two fawns, as they munch on grasses. I crouch and lick my lips, my claws extending even further.

If I can’t have my woman, if I can’t have my growing cub near me, then I will destroy.

I leap out of the trees in a single burst, landing on the stag’s back. I want a fight. I want prey that will make me work for it.

The other deer scatter, but as the stag tries to get away, I bury my claws in its back. We’re evenly matched for size, but he has big antlers and sharp hooves, which he uses as he tries to buck me off and kick me. I get a hoof to the thigh and I let out a howl of pain, but don’t let go.

Lifting my head high, I open my jaws wide, then bury my teeth in the stag’s throat. With a scream that sounds almost human, the animal fights harder, and I use all the force in my body to clamp down tight. But I’m making a rookie mistake by trying to bite from the back of the neck and not the vulnerable underside. There’s too much dense muscle here.

Releasing my hold on the stag, it manages to throw me. But I still have one claw lodged in it, and I manage to bring it down to the ground with me. While it struggles to get back to its feet, I’m on it in a millisecond, diving for the exposed throat.

This time, I squeeze down hard, and the stag wails. As my teeth sink in deep, blood fills my mouth. I groan at the taste, at the warmth of it trickling down my tongue. I hold on like that until the stag stops moving underneath me.

When I draw back, a trail of blood follows me, and I lick it off my teeth. Then I bury my face in the hot flesh, blood still pumping through the stag’s veins. As I tear and rip, separating flesh from bone, I must be covered in the stuff.

I don’t know how long I lose myself in my prey like that, in a mindless, instinctual haze. By the time I feel so full I could be sick, the sun has started to set. I leave the carcass there and lazily walk through the woods, back to my car.

I don’t even bother putting my clothes back on. I’m probably tracking blood all over my leather seats, but I don’t give a shit.

I put the car in reverse and back into the road, then turn the wheel and roar off the way I came.

DEE

Robbie’s car is already parked out front when I get to the Greek restaurant. I’m dreading this conversation, and I don’t even know what I’m going to tell him yet.

Sorry, man, but my baby’s daddy walked back into my life and said I’m his forever mate. Oh, did I mention he’s a wolfman, and then we fucked in the park in the middle of the night?

When I walk in, Robbie’s sitting in the far back of the restaurant at a little corner table. He hasn’t ordered a drink, which is unusual for him. He waves when I walk up, and gets out of his chair to kiss me.

Fuck. What do I do? If I don’t kiss him back, he’ll know I’m about to dump him.

I turn it into as light of a peck as I can before slipping into my seat. Robbie replaces his napkin on his lap.

“No glass of wine?” I ask. “Or a beer?”

Robbie smiles. “You can’t, so I realized I haven’t been very considerate of you. I decided I’m going to quit drinking, too, until you have the baby.”

Oh, jeez. It’s thoughtful and sweet, and also a gesture he could have made months ago.

“Wow. Thanks. You don’t have to do that, though. It doesn’t bother me.”

He shakes his head. “Solidarity. You’ve also been getting such a nice butt lately from walking Boomer all the time, I think I’m going to take up jogging.”

I sure hope he keeps all these New Years resolutions after I’ve told him it’s over.

“Robbie.” I have to do it now, before we’re an appetizer and two meals deep. I’ll foot the bill if I have to from guilt, but I would rather not continue this conversation longer than we have to. “That’s all very sweet of you, but it’s not necessary. I mean, you should definitely jog if you want to.”

He smiles, and it pierces my gut.

“I just feel like we haven’t been seeing each other as much lately, and I wondered if it’s because you feel like you’re alone in so many things.”

Damn it. He’s not about to finally have the emotional depth I’ve been hoping he would have all along, is he?

“Robbie...” I begin again.

“No, no. I know you’ve been going through a lot with the aches and pains and the insomnia,” he says. “And I feel like I could be a much more supportive boyfriend.”

Fuck.

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