Page 15 of Feuding with My Shifter Werewolf

I lift Kristen into my arms, cradling her against my chest as I make my way up the treacherous mountain path. The rain pours down relentlessly, but I move with a fluid, almost predatory grace, my senses heightened as I navigate the familiar terrain.

Kristen's small frame fits perfectly against me, and I can't help but marvel at how right it feels to have her in my arms. There's an undeniable pull, a visceral connection that transcends the physical. It's as if our souls recognize each other, drawn together by an invisible force that I can no longer ignore.

As I run, I'm acutely aware of every detail - the patter of the rain, the crunch of leaves beneath my feet, the warmth of Kristen's body.

My heart pounds in my chest, not from the exertion, but from the overwhelming need to protect her, to shield her from the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

Kristen's scent envelops me, a tantalizing blend of wildflowers and fresh earth. It stirs something primal within me, a deep, instinctual response that I've long suppressed. But now, with her in my arms, I can't deny it any longer.

She is mine. My mate.

The realization hits me like a tidal wave, sweeping away years of carefully erected walls and carefully guarded secrets. All this time, I've been searching for something - no, someone - to fill the void within me. And now, I've found her.

Kristen shifts in my arms, her breath caressing my neck, and I have to fight the urge to bury my face in her hair. The wolf in me howls with possessive delight, desperate to claim her, to make her mine in every possible way.

But I can't. Not yet. There are still so many uncertainties, so many dangers that threaten to tear us apart. I need to keep her safe, to protect her from the darkness that lurks in the shadows.

As I crest the final hill, the cabin comes into view, a beacon of solace in the storm. I quicken my pace, my grip tightening around Kristen. I won't let anything or anyone harm her. She is mine, and I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Stepping through the door, I gently lower Kristen onto the couch, my eyes drinking in every detail of her face. She's breathtaking, even with rain-dampened hair and flushed cheeks. I ache to reach out and trace the delicate curve of her jaw, to feel the softness of her skin beneath my fingertips.

But I resist the urge, knowing that if I allow myself to indulge, I may never be able to stop.

There's so much I need to explain, so many revelations that will shake the very foundation of her world. And I need to be sure that she's ready, that she's willing to take on the challenges that come with being my mate.

Kristen's eyes flutter open, and for a moment, our gazes lock. There's a spark of recognition there, a glimmer of understanding that leaves me breathless.

She knows. Somehow, she knows.

I open my mouth, desperate to explain, to pour out the truth that's been burning within me. But the words catch in my throat, tangled in the maelstrom of emotions that threatens to consume me.

Instead, I simply let my eyes convey what I cannot yet say aloud. I need her to know that she is safe with me, that I will protect her with every fiber of my being. And when the time is right, I will claim her as my own, sealing our bond for eternity.

For now, I'll wait. I'll watch over her, guarding her from the darkness that lurks beyond the safety of these walls. And when the moment is right, I'll reveal the truth that's been hiddenfrom her, the truth that will change the course of both our lives forever.

But I push everything aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Let's get you dry."

I busy myself lighting the fire, needing a moment to compose myself. My senses are filled with her - her scent, her presence, the sound of her breathing.

It's overwhelming, intoxicating. And it scares the hell out of me.

"Thank you," she says softly, drawing me from my thoughts. "For coming to get me. I don't know what I would have done..."

I look at her then, taking in her bedraggled appearance. Her hair is plastered to her face, her clothes soaked through. But her eyes...her eyes are shining with gratitude. And something more, something I don't dare put a name to.

"You're welcome," I manage, my voice rough. "I couldn't just leave you out there."

She smiles then, a small, tentative thing. But it's like the sun breaking through the clouds, warming me from the inside out.

I am so fucking screwed,I think as I stare at her.

Because I know, with a certainty that shakes me to my core, that I will do anything,beanything, to keep this woman safe.

To make her mine.

I stalk through the cabin as the storm rages outside. The wind howls like a wounded beast. But in here, it's quiet.

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