Page 27 of Wolf Forgotten

I swallowed and ran my tongue over my teeth, which had thankfully returned to normal. "Are my teeth supposed to just... come out when I'm looking in the mirror?"

His eyes widened, and he ran his hand over his face before running it back over his head. "Pups have that issue."

Pups? They called their babies pups? I didn't know whether to be horrified that they took being wolves so seriously or gush over how cute it was. "What about adults?"

"Ones that have lost their minds." He went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of black boxer briefs. "Were you thinking about the deer?"

He was not helping the situation at all. "Yes, but I feel incredibly guilty about killing it."

He slid his boxers on under his towel before throwing it onto the counter in the bathroom. "You'll get used to it. It will just take some time."

He slid into some jeans and I practically salivated at how they fit him perfectly with his V with a light trail of dark hair leading down into them. His body was a work of art with muscles that weren't too bulky but strong. His pecs were tattooed, and both arms had tattoo sleeves.

"How much time? I have work and a life. People are going to wonder where I am." I was glad I'd taken two days off work for my birthday. Too bad I spent those days locked up and passed out.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but it would be in your best interest to stay here. It's not safe in Arbor Falls, and I'd hate for the other pack to get a hold of you." He was talking to me as he went into his closet and then came back out, pulling on a gray shirt.

He looked amazing in gray, and I bit my lip. "And this pack is better than that one? Who says I want to be in a pack at all? Maybe shifting was just a two-time thing because of danger."

"Even more reason for you to be here. Your shifting is inconsistent. You should have complete control over the shift whether you’re scared, angry, or just want to go for a run." He came closer, and I backed toward the door. "You aren't leaving, Ivy."

Before I could back out of the door, he trapped me against the door that wasn't open. There was something keeping me from kneeing him in the balls and darting out of the room.

"Why do you even care?" I whispered.

He brought his lips next to my ear. "You're my mate."

Chapter Twelve

Ivy

“Come on, Ivy. Open the door.” Cole had been outside my room for several minutes, trying to convince me to open the door. I was surprised he hadn’t busted it down by now.

After he had told me I couldn't leave and I was his mate, I had run back to my temporary room and locked myself inside. I stashed the gun and knife under the mattress, not even sure why the hell I had taken them.

I paced in front of the window, considering my next move. Everything was happening so fast, and to make it worse, Cole Asshole Delaney said he was my mate. If being mates with a person meant you wanted to scream in frustration, then paranormal romance writers had gotten it all wrong. Wasn't I supposed to see hearts and want to rip his clothes off?

Ripping his clothes off appealed to me.

I put my palms against my eyes and groaned. I did not need to be thinking about him naked. What I needed was to figure out how to live with the fact that I was a cold-blooded Bambi killer.

The deer crossed my mind again, and tears welled in my eyes. I hated crying, but the tears wouldn't stop.

I pulled the covers back on the bed and buried myself in their warmth. I would just hide until I woke up from my nightmare. At least Cole went away, but he wasn’t gone from my thoughts. I was drawn to him in a train wreck, moth to a flame, deer in the headlights kind of way.

Ugh, deer.

I must have fallen asleep for a while, because when I woke to knocking at my door, it was dark outside. I moaned and put a pillow over my head, hoping it would drown out the knocking and irritating voice on the other side.

“We're eating dinner if you want to join us.” Cole ceased knocking, and I heard him retreat.

My stomach growled, and I groaned. I needed to eat real food to keep my energy up and my mind clear.

I quickly threw my hair in a bun and went downstairs. Cole and Eli were sitting at the kitchen table and looked up as I got to the bottom of the stairs. I half expected them to be eating in front of the television.

I walked across the room, trying not to stare too hard at the man feast in front of me. It was hard, though. Really, really hard.

They were both attractive, but in completely different ways. Cole had a dangerous, don't fuck with me aura about him, while Eli looked like all he wanted to do was cuddle.

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