Page 34 of Oath of Revenge

“Don’t tempt me to take what’s mine, bunny,” he said softly.

Now completely a wolf, he circled her with a predatory grace, his eyes never leaving hers. Each step was a silent promise, a tantalizing mix of danger and desire. The air between them crackled with electricity, and for a heartbeat, he wondered if he would truly lose control—and if she wanted him to. The heavy lidded desire on her face said yes, and he licked his lips in anticipation.

She turned with every step he took, her face wary as she refused to turn her back on him. “I’m not yours, dickhead.”

He chuckled. She was just so adorable with her little bunny ears and antlers. She looked so innocent, like the most delicious prey ready for him to take a bite of.

But her fierce expression and words were a delightful contradiction. She was a trained warrior. What would she do if he poked her? How would she react? Which of her natures would hold the lead? Rabbit, deer, or wolf?

He snapped his jaws near her heels, and she jumped as high as any deer. His heart raced with adrenaline and excitement, but her strong gaze faltered, a flash of vulnerability breaking through. It was enough to send a jolt through him, a reminder that beneath her tough exterior, she was still fragile, still afraid. His wolf growled in frustration, torn between the urge to protect and the desire to conquer and make her his.

She pointed a dagger at him. “Hey, watch it. Don’t you dare bite me, Growler, or it’ll be the last thing you do.”

His mind flashed a warning, and he knew she spoke the truth. His heart pounded with the thrill of the hunt, the primal desire to claim what was his. But then a shadow of doubt flickered through his mind. The Elders typically performed a magical ceremony to turn someone into a Growler, but one bite could turn her into a Growler. Unlikely, but possible.

There were rumors of Growlers chasing someone in the woods, biting them, and then that person becoming a Growler. If he bit her and she was turned into a Growler, she might never forgive him, might never trust him again. The thought of losing her completely sobered him, quelling the fire that burned within.

He didn’t want to chance it. Becoming a Growler wasn’t a decision he wanted to make for her. It was always a choice, and some did turn the offer down, choosing death instead.

He backed up, some of his playfulness fading at the memories of his own turning. He sat on his haunches again and whined.

She frowned and stood straighter. “Don’t you whine at me, wolfie. You’re the one who nipped like some pup.”

He chuckled. “I’m no pup. Want me to show you just how much of a man I am?”

Scarlet just rolled her eyes and snorted. “Hard to be a man in your shifted form.”

“I’ll show you hard.”

Her lips twitched, and victory smelled so sweet. She wanted to smile!

Her lips pursed as she looked away, refusing to. “I can’t have this conversation with a dog. You know what? You can stay like this. Dogs sleep outside with the other animals. I’ll go inside like the civilized person I am. You can go to the barn, but stay away from my horse.”

He growled. “I’m no dog.”

She shrugged. “Whatever, wolfie. Do whatever, be whatever. Just leave me alone. Hells, you can run back to your tribe for all I care.”

She sniffed and walked with head held high to the back door of the cottage. He grinned when she still didn’t turn her back to him.

When she let the door softly close behind her, he paused to catch his breath. She had filled his nose with her scent as his eyes had feasted on her like a starving man.

It was overwhelming, but he wouldn’t want to go back to before he knew she existed. His responsibilities to the pack had to be balanced with wooing his mate, though. Today, he was far from his tribe and could focus on her. So how could he convince her to take a chance on them?

He glanced up at the sunlight just barely peeking over the trees. Like always, being outside settled to his soul. Had it always been like this? When he’d been human, had he craved being outside? He frowned and sniffed around the clearing. He pushed away the pain of the empty hole in his mind that should’ve been his memories and instead focused on Scarlet.

He had pushed her, flirted with her, kissed her, played with her, and tested her responses to determine which method might be the best way to convince her. Nothing had worked.

He howled in frustration. He didn’t know how to convince her to accept the mate bond, but he had to stay near her. The magic of fated mates would help increase their attraction to each other, and perhaps that would help. It had to.

But all the pent up energy that demanded he bend her over and fuck her senseless sent him into the woods instead. Perhaps distance would make the heart grow fonder. He tested his muscles and took it easy.

Just a slow loop in widening circles around the clearing. There were no other predators out and the forest didn’t mess with him in this form. He was one with the forest, moving silently over the frozen ground with barely a crunch from each step of his paws.

After a few minutes slinking away from the cottage, lethargy overwhelmed him. He powered on for a few more minutes but eventually had to stop because of the growing dizziness. His vision spun, and his entire body screamed to go back to her.

Damn it, the druid was right. He breathed slowly as he turned around and walked straight back through the forest to the cottage. Each breath became easier and his mind cleared the closer he came to his mate.

This could work to his advantage, though. It would ensure she would stay close to him and wouldn’t just ride to the dragon’s camp tomorrow, leaving him to fend for himself.

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