Page 94 of Wolf's Mark

Sedona snapped two fingers across my lips. “The jury is still out if I can tolerate this creature you are. Besides, I need proof.”

“Proof. Isn’t the way I fuck you like some wild beast from the woods enough proof for you?”

“Nope.”

I wasn’t ready and neither was she to accept what I was. It would be difficult enough being around more of our kind and I suspected conversations would become heated.

As I took her hand, she darted her eyes back and forth across mine. She was looking for answers, but also another realm of comfort. It would be easy to sweep her off her feet, ravaging her for hours, but tonight would be tedious. The meeting would stretch her imagination and her scientific abilities. I wasn’t certain I liked the possibility of the outcome.

“Come on. Let’s get inside before the others arrive,” I told her, guiding her to the door.

“We’re staying here tonight?”

“We are. Don’t worry. You aren’t going to be kept a prisoner. At least not unless absolutely necessary.”

Sedona tried to pull her hand away. “I won’t let you. I have a life.”

She didn’t understand how much danger she was in.

“I hope I won’t feel the need.” I guided her toward the house, taking another deep inhale before shutting the garage door. The creatures would be stupid to invade the area with so many wolves around.

No matter what they became, we were still trained to kill.

Stepping inside had reminded me why I loved the place so much. I watched in continued amusement as she folded her arms, walking into the more private living space that included a wet bar and a massive stone fireplace.

Without uttering a word, she made her way to the bridge pass-through and recreational space and I trailed behind, curious as to how she would react. When she moved into the kitchen, her slight squeal of delight brought a smile to my face.

“This is gorgeous. All the wooden beams and the bank of windows on either side.”

“You’ll be able to see my favorite spot in the distance on the one side. There’s a waterfall flowing into a basin that flows into the river system. It’s gorgeous in every season, but with the trees changing colors, the vivid hues add to the beauty.”

She gave me a look and smiled herself, although it wasn’t as bright as I’d seen before. “You love it here.”

“I do. I find solace in privacy and the woods.”

“And it has nothing to do with you being a…”

I moved toward one the specialty freezer I’d had installed. Riker wasn’t the only one who kept vodka on ice. “You can say the word wolf. It doesn’t disparage me, nor does it make me want to turn into a creature of the night.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be insulting. I just…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Her hand was shaking as she brushed her fingers through her hair. She’d removed the ponytail she’d been wearing, allowing her long locks to sweep across the middle of her back. The wolves would smell her fear and her discord.

“You weren’t insulting in the least.” I grabbed two small glasses, filling them with my favorite choice of liquor. As soon as I walked toward her, she stiffened. “Taste this.”

“I keep forgetting you’re a vodka man.” She took it tentatively, ensuring our fingers didn’t touch. Just being able to watch her as she brought the glass to her lips was far too enticing for a man like me.

“Yes, don’t hold that against me.”

At least I was able to make her laugh. “You have incredible artwork here as well. And the fireplaces are so inviting.”

“There’s one in the master bedroom as well.”

I allowed her to walk around, exploring the house for herself. Meanwhile, I tried to figure out how to handle the meeting. Being faced with an enemy wasn’t necessarily new except for the younger wolves who’d never known any concept of bloody battles. At least a solid number of the Alpha males did. I was hesitant to provide Sedona with too many stories of the ancient past.

Including the fact we’d fought to the death with claws and sharp teeth. It seemed surreal even to me at this point.

The battles had always been bloody, dozens of lives lost. In the end, we’d been victorious every time, but the price had taken a toll on all of us. For those who hadn’t participated, my mother and other Elders had provided their children with enough stories about the past to help with the comprehension our kind wasn’t appreciated.

The warning had gone unheeded with the newer generation.

---