Page 67 of Cursed Wolf

Emmaline was meant for me. She was one of my kind and, with the exception of my gift, knew almost every truth about me. Why bother with slow when the moon Herself had tied our fates together? my wolf wondered with a disgruntled huff.

But if it was what my mate wanted, I would do it.

“No.” Emmaline sat up abruptly, pinning me with an intense expression.

I returned her stare, unsure what to feel about that simple word that held an incredible weight. “No?”

She shook her head, a grin pulling at her lips. “It all clicked into place for me right before I shifted for the first time. I’m not human. All my life I’ve never fit in with humans. Even in vet school, when I was among other animal science nerds, I found it hard to connect with my classmates. I always thought it had to do with the culture I grew up in, personalities I didn’t click with, my parents trying to force me down a certain path, and maybe all that’s true to an extent, but the simple fact is, I’m not one of them. I’m one of you.”

Emmaline leaned closer to me, her hand on my cheek. “I was drawn to you when I first met your wolf. Then when I met you as a man, and you talked about Vargmore, I felt so…homesick, for a place I’d never been before. The way you talked so fondly about your home, I would’ve given anything to have that for myself.”

“It’s yours,” I told her, hope brimming in my voice. “This can be your home. With me.”

She nodded, leaning closer until her forehead touched mine. “And my wolf’s instincts were right all along. You are my home, Tryn. It’s you I belong with. It doesn’t matter if we’re running as wolves or riding on your motorcycle. You found me and…everything finally made sense.”

“My beautiful, brilliant mate. It’s the same for me.” I traced her cheekbone with my thumb and inhaled her intoxicating scent, now no longer hidden under layers of human. “You are the greatest gift the moon has ever given me. Everyone dreams of meeting their mate, but I never could have imagined someone as incredible as you.” Our lips met in a brief kiss before I added in a low growl, “And with such a savage little wolf under her skin.”

Emmaline grinned, her voice also taking on a growl. “I will rip the throat and fangs out of any vampire that gets near my mate again.”

“Okay, seriously. Am I cleared for sexual activity? Because your murder talk is absolutely doing it for me.”

She laughed lightly, returning to lie next to me. “Not yet, I’m afraid. We redressed your wounds this morning. Those claws of his must have been filthy because Shiloh and your Gran have been working overtime to keep infection away.”

“Damn.” I leaned back on my pillows with a sigh. “How long has it been since the fight?”

“Three days.” Emmaline brought her head to my shoulder and her arm across my chest. “We’ll see how it looks tomorrow.”

“Hmm, fine.” I rested my cheek on top of her head, running a touch from her arm to her shoulder. Sex would’ve been great and all, but I wasn’t truly bothered. My mate was here, and that was all that mattered. She had chosen me after all.

But inside my skin, my wolf paced impatiently.

I know, I told him. Once my insides are no longer in danger of falling out, we’ll give her our bite. Just a little longer.

He answered me with a disgruntled huff and a short howl of yearning.

Chapter 24

Emmaline

Ihunkered low to the ground, my fur blending in with the forest. Neither my breaths nor my paws made a sound as I stalked my prey, a fat quail scratching in the leaf litter for grubs.

Get as close as you can without it noticing, Tryn instructed. When you can’t get any closer, then you strike.

I took another step and…crack.

My paw landed on a dried leaf, which crackled like a potato chip and sent my prey scurrying, then flying into the tree canopy.

Damn it! I howled out my frustration while Tryn came up to my side and gave me an affectionate bump of his forehead against my cheek

It just takes practice. You never had the chance to hunt as a pup. He licked my face, his wolf making soft huffing noises as if trying to reassure me. You got a lot closer that time.

You said not to take my eyes off it, but if I don’t, how will I learn not to step on dead leaves? I grumbled.

Over time, your wolf will learn where and how to place her paws. She’s learning to be a hunter too, developing her instincts. Let go and trust her.

He was right, of course. It didn’t mean I wasn’t frustrated. I sat on my haunches and started to groom myself.

Tryn’s human voice chuckled in my head as he nuzzled me and licked my ear. Done for the day?

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