Page 27 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Bride

“Easy enough,” he says. “I can handle that.”

“You’re going to cut your finger off,” I tease.

“I will not,” he shoots back. “My fingers are safe.”

“We shall see. I’ll slice, you squeeze? Or the other way around?”

“I’ll slice,” he says, and he takes the knife from me. “That machine is scary.”

I laugh and shake my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So you’ve said.”

“And I’ll say it again.”

We spend the morning in the kitchen with my family, and I’m struck by how seamlessly Reiner and Jack fit in. We all work around one another, talking and laughing and making jokes. It’s like they’re part of the family.

So much so that when we finally sit down at the table to eat, I have to remind myself that this is fake. It’s a lie. It’s not real.

In a couple of months, when I go back to Stardust Hollow, Reiner will stay here, and it’ll be like none of this ever happened.

Chapter 11 - Reiner

Patrolling has always been one of my favorite things to do. I love the thrill of the hunt, of being out in the wilderness. And I love the adrenaline rush that comes with it.

But today, I’m distracted.

My mind keeps drifting to Jane, and I can’t focus. I’m supposed to be looking out for rogues, for humans, for anything that could pose a threat to the pack, but my mind is stuck on the way her ass felt pressed up against my cock this morning. I spent half the night wide awake and hard, and I’m exhausted, but damn, was it worth it.

And then, when she told me she was a virgin, I almost lost it. I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from coming right then and there. I’ve never been with a virgin before. Even my first time was with an older woman who was much more experienced than me. She taught me everything I know.

The thought of being the first man to touch Jane, the first man to make her come, the first man to fuck her, is enough to send me over the edge. She’s so innocent, so pure. And I want to corrupt her. I want to take her, claim her, make her mine.

But I can’t. I can’t do that to her. I can’t ruin her life like that. She’s destined for someone better. Someone who will make her happy.

I’m not that guy. I’m the guy who fucks and runs. I’m the guy who leaves a trail of broken hearts in his wake. I’m the guy who doesn’t do commitment or relationships. I’m the guy who’s not good enough for her.

When I think back to breakfast with her family, I can’t help but think how nice it was. How normal it was. Everyoneworked together to make the meal, teasing and joking the entire time. It was like a scene from a movie or a TV show, the perfect family. And I was right in the middle of it.

It was weird, but not in a bad way. It was weird in a good way. It was weird in a way that made me want more. Everything in me expected to find it uncomfortable or awkward, but it wasn’t. I was right at home. And that’s what scares me the most.

I’m not the kind of guy who fits in with a family. I’m the kind of guy who’s on the outskirts, the one on the fringes. I’m the one who’s always on the outside looking in. I’m the one who doesn’t belong.

But this morning, I belonged. I was a part of something. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been part of a pack, but this was different. This was family. It was more intimate, more personal. It was something I never knew I wanted until I had it.

And now that I’ve had a taste of it, I want more. I want to be a part of it. I want to be a part of Jane’s family.

But I can’t. I can’t let myself get sucked into this. I can’t let myself believe that this is real. I can’t let myself fall for her.

“Hey, asshole,” Rafe snaps. “Pay attention. This isn’t a fucking game.”

“Sorry,” I grumble.

“What’s wrong with you?” Gael asks. “You’re acting weird.”

Gael owns the bookstore in town. He’s not one who typically goes on patrols, so I’m surprised he’s out here. But then I remember at the last pack meeting, he said he wanted to get more involved.

“Nothing,” I snap.

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