Page 71 of A Wolf in the Garden

“Ellie.”

“You’ve been calling me your mate for weeks, every time you’re balls deep in me. So I wanted to know, and since you weren’t forthcoming—”

“You didn’t ask—”

“Because I was too chicken! I didn’t want to rock the boat, and mess things up.”

I run my hand over her shoulder, in the space where yes, I will bite her some day soon. “It wouldn’t have messed things up, but I understand. You’re right, I haven’t said anything myself, for the same reasons. What did your research find?”

“Like you said, a lot of gruesome images. That bite isdeep, eh?”

“It’s meant to scar, so yes, it’s deep.” I draw a circle on her shoulder with my finger. “The shape of it, since it’s both the upper and lower jaws biting down, is supposed to mimic the outline of a full moon if you do it right, especially with the way the scar heals silver on the skin. And my teeth are sharper than yours, even if they don’t look it right now.”

“Hmm, they always look pretty sharp to me. My question is, am I supposed to bite you too? Because I read one blog that talked about a bond that’s formed, and I panicked a little over the idea that maybe I couldn’t fulfil this part of wolf culture, or…” She shrugs. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong,” I parrot back to her, and she pouts at me over her shoulder. I let out a huff, once more running my hands over her body, enjoying the experience of bathing outdoors with her. “I’m definitely getting one of these tubs.”

“Van.”

“I know, baby. I’ll answer the question. The bond that you’re talking about exists, but it looks different for every couple. Remember, most wolves never even meet a fated mate, so the idea of claiming a mate with a bite isn’t even on their radar. But for those that do have a fated mate, usually at least one of the partners gets bitten, and the same magic that allows for wolf shifters to change forms and for werewolves to transform under the full moon comes into play. The bond is different for everyone, but there’s no going back. There’s no divorce, no option to part ways in the future. And for most, the bond manifests in a way where you can sense each other’s feelings.”

She runs her hands over my arms, but doesn’t say anything.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I ask, and she glances back at me out of the corner of her eye. “I can tell something is still bothering you, baby.”

"Do you ever wish I was a wolf?”

I sit in stunned silence for a moment, Ellie frozen on my lap. “No." My voice is stern, absolute. "No. Ellie. Don’t…pleasedon't ever think something like that. You are perfect the way you are, and I don't give afuckwhat anyone else might ever say about it."

"Okay."

"I've had wolf women before—”

She makes a distressed sound, but I continue on.

“—No, you need to hear it, I’ve had wolf women andnoneof them smelled half as good, none of them,none of themhave cut it. I don't want to taste another cunt, I don't want to fuck anyone else, Iwon'tlove anyone but you for the rest of my life. My life begins and ends with you — it always has. And you, you areperfectjust the way you are.” My knot loosens enough for me to slip free, and I lift her gently, turning her to face me. “You have to know that, baby.”

“I’m not perfect. All this fae drama, and—”

“Ellie.”I can’t quite keep the growl out of my voice. “You’re perfectfor me.” I kiss her fiercely, possessively, sliding my fingers between her legs, into her cunt, and even underwater it’s slick with her arousal and my seed. "You are mymate. Myfatedmate. My mate in every single way.” I wrap my free hand around the back of her neck, pulling her through the water to me, until my teeth are at her shoulder once more.Claim her, my wolves howl, both our heartbeats thundering at a rapid pace.

It takes a lot of control, but I kiss her shoulder, gently, reverently. “I’m going to bite you, right here in this spot, but not tonight.” I slide my hand free from her pussy, release her neck, and hold her by the waist instead as I suck on her neck, kiss along her jaw, kiss the corner of her mouth. “It takes time for the wound to heal. That’s why. Besides, it would be irresponsible to do it in this place, in the middle of nowhere with no reception, just in case.”

“What? Just in case you hit an artery or something?” She laughs nervously, her eyes growing wide as I shrug.

“I haven’t heard of that happening, but…you’ve seen the pictures, you said. It’s not some delicate little vampire bite. When it happens, even between werewolves, the teeth shift momentarily.”

“Like wolf teeth in a human mouth?”

“Well my mouth isn’t human, even like this. I’m not human at all, even if I mostly look that way. But yes, wolf teeth, because it’s my wolves that bite you, when I claim you.”

Her eyes search my face, her hand rising to caress my jaw, fingers running over my stubble. I know my pupils will be shining with reflected light now, thetapetum lucidummembrane in my eyes allowing me to see in the dark, like all other nocturnal animals. “It doesn’t bother you that I’m not human?” I ask, mirroring her own question.

She shakes her head. “It doesn’t bother me at all.I see youfor what you are. I see your wolves. I know you’re a wolf, not a human, and I see that, and I love you. Most of all, you’re my Evander. And you’ve always been that, to me. My Van.”

“You’re my Ellie.”

She nods, tilting her head up to kiss my cheek. “I am.”

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