Page 33 of Isabel and the Werewolf Beast

“I don’t have a wolf.”

“You do, Dante. I believe in you.”

She tapped my chest with her fingertip and then dashed into the forest.

“Don’t forget to take your pants off.” Her voice emanated full of humor through the forest.

I almost smiled at the thought of taking my pants off for her in another way. I stripped my pants and hung them over a branch, said a small hope that they’d be there when I returned. So how did one embrace being a wolf? Howl? I lifted my head and howled. Of course, I could do that in my half-form. It didn’t change how Ifelt. I pouted. Should I crawl on the ground? Now I was being ridiculous.

“Here, Wolfie,” Isabel’s voice sang out through the forest.

I lifted the piece of fabric she’d torn off the bottom of her dress and inhaled her scent. It was so sweet and mouthwatering. Urges to catch her and mate with her filled my body. My skin tightened. Need hit my gut like a sucker punch. Mate with her. I shook my head. My ears flapped side to side as though they were longer. I lifted a hand and stroked soft velvety pointed ears on my head. Was it working? Was I changing into a wolf? I inhaled her scent again. Bite her. A growl rumbled from my chest. Hunt her down.

My mind sharpened into that one focus. Chase. Catch. Claim. My limbs shook. My skin grew tighter still to the point of pain. I fell to my hands and knees. Claws dug into the dirt under my fingers, then before my eyes, my fingers turned into paws. Perfectly formed wolf paws. I scratched the soil testing my new limbs. My senses sharpened. My ears caught the snap of a twig in the distance. Prey.

I dropped my nose to the material and inhaled her scent then I sniffed the soil picking up her trail, I took off at a lope keeping my nose to the ground following the scent that was driving me wild with need. I stalked through the dark forest, my night vision even more perfect in this form. Isabel’s form weaved through the trees up ahead. I gave up the scent chase and sprinted after her. She glanced over her shoulder and laughed. Her laughter filled the quiet of the forest and circled my heart.

In another dozen strides, I caught her, but she ducked to the side just as I lunged, and I missed taking her to the ground. She leaned against a tree trunk and grinned.

“Look at you. You’re really beautiful.”

Warmth glowed inside me at her words. Before I’d been hideous. I wanted to learn what I looked like but there was no mirror in the forest. I’d have to go inside the castle for one of those. I kept my focus on Isabel though. The chase had inflamed my lust for her to no end even in this animal form. She kneeled on the ground, and I inched closer until she touched me with her palm to the top of my head.

I touched my nose to hers making her giggle. Her laughter filled me with such happiness that I stayed where I was.

“I knew you’d do it,” she said.

Never in my life had anyone believed in me. No parents, or family apart from my brother. He might love me in the way of a brother but he’d never been one to advocate what I wanted. My werewolf state was evidence of that. If he’d asked before biting me, would I have said yes to this life? And if I’d said no, then would I be here with this gorgeous vampire woman right now? I couldn’t be mad at him. I loved him. Flaws and self-centered tendencies. He was my brother.

I swiped my tongue over her cheek. She shoved me back. I nudged my head into her chest.

“Change back now,” she said.

Change? Why would I want to change? She was all but hugging me. This was the closest I’d probably get to her. I licked her face again.

“Dante. Change.” She held me back.

I forced my body into her hold.

“Dammit Dante. Stop being an animal and talk to me.”

I stopped struggling with her immediately and my body shifted with a suddenness that left me with a naked fur-covered man in her hands.

“Oh,” she whispered.

“What?” I gritted out through clenched teeth.

“You’re back to your half-form.”

“I tried for human.” I shrugged. “It didn’t work.”

“Never mind. Next time you’ll get it.” She shifted under me.

Her leg brushed my raging erection and her eyes flew open. I rose a fraction so my cock wasn’t touching her anymore, but I couldn’t make myself step away from her.

“Do we need to talk about this?” she asked.

“No. I get it. I’m an ugly werewolf. You’ll never want me the way I want you.”

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