My cock is still rock-hard, and arousal rages through me, making my blood boil. If I don’t take her soon, my wolf might take over, and I wouldn’t be able to stop him.

I’d have to hunt if I can’t fuck. The only thing that would satisfy him if I couldn’t take my mate is a fresh kill.

Clara looks up at me, rubbing her breasts with her hands. “Yes, Galen. More.”

I rip my shirt off with both hands, hearing it tear as I pull it over my head. I hear Clara gasp lustfully, and when I get up to pull my pants off, she keeps her eyes fixed on me.

For a moment, I enjoy her eyes on me, her lingering gaze stoking the flames of my lust. But I can’t hold back for long. I throw myself on top of her, attacking her breasts with my mouth.

Clara writhes under me, moaning as her hands claw at the back of my head. I push her down on the bed, trapping her beneath me as I thrust my hips against hers, licking and sucking her nipples. I can feel her slick, hot pussy right near the head of my cock, the wet heat begging for me to pierce it, but all I do is tease her as I feast on her tits.

She writhes under me, desperate cries bursting from her throat. I run my hands down her sides, grabbing her hips and drawing my cock closer to her pussy. Clara screams and thrashes under me, wrapping her arms around me, grabbing my ass as she tries to force our bodies together.

“Fuck me, Galen!” she screams. “Fuck me!”

I close my eyes as a powerful wave of lust rushes through me, flooding straight into my cock until I’m harder and thicker than I’ve ever been. I enter her slowly, inch by inch, feeling her hot, slick folds squeezing around my cock.

Clara thrashes, writhing as she tries to thrust against me. I keep up my incredibly slow pace until I sink all the way in, balls deep, my cock as far inside her as it can possibly go.

She stops moving, her body completely wrapped around mine. I can feel her nails digging into my ass cheeks, her heels against my thighs. When I look down, her eyes are wide, and her face is blank with desire.

I lean down and kiss her very softly. She whimpers, trembles, flooding through her. I graze her lips with mine again, teasing, feeling her body shivering against mine.

Then I cup one hand behind her head and wrap my other arm around her waist, crushing her against me. I move my hips in long, deep strokes, feeling her pussy clenching around me, her hot, slick heat gripping me as I thrust.

My wolf rises in me, and my body tenses, hardening my muscles. I grip her even more tightly in my arms, pressing my teeth against her neck as I start to thrust harder and faster.

Clara clings to me, her grip on my waist faltering as her knees slip away from my thighs. I’m beyond control now as I thrust into her as hard and fast as I possibly can, feeling my cock thickening inside her tight pussy with every stroke.

I hit my climax, freezing as the pleasure comes, so intense that I feel like I’m about to pass out. Clara’s pussy grips my cock, and she convulses under me as another orgasm rocks through her. My cock shudders and blows, our orgasms becoming one.

We stay wrapped together for a while, cheek against cheek, as our breathing slows. When I roll over to lie beside her, she strokes my cheek, and we look into each other’s eyes.

I watch her beautiful face until her eyes start to close, then I cuddle her close to my chest, and she snuggles against me. Even though the sex is the best I’ve ever had, it is this moment that means the most to me—that she feels so safe she can fall asleep in my arms.

Chapter 17 - Clara

The sky is bright and clear overhead, rolling above our heads as Galen navigates the last ridge of Lycan Pass to take us down into the valley to Quartz Key. We set off not long after dawn and made it back to Cyan Lock mid-morning, where we switched Kit’s RV for Galen’s car and started heading home.

Even though I feel shaken, I also feel strength awakening deep inside me. This trip has brought me so much loss and yet so much love, I still don’t know how to process it. When I woke in the RV, Galen had breakfast and coffee waiting for me, as well as a fresh change of clothes. Neither of us brought it up the night before.

The car dips suddenly onto the town trail, the expanse of blue above covered by the thick trees that line the valley. My stomach does a little flip as I think about Nico.

I can’t wait to see him, but at the same time, I don’t really have any answers for him.

“Did you want me to take you straight home?” Galen asks as we hit the edges of town. “My phone has been buzzing, so I think I’ve got somewhere to be, but let me know what you want to do.”

“Where’s Nico?” I ask, pulling out my phone. I see a couple of messages from Winnie, letting me know that he’s fine and to message her when we get back. I fire off a quick text to her, and she replies that they are at the park with some other kids.

“Where should I drop you off?” Galen asks, glancing over at me.

“Anywhere in town. They’re at the park.”

“Okay, I’ll stop at the town hall. I’m pretty sure someone’s waiting for me there, anyway.”

We pull up behind the main building, and Galen goes in through the back while I head for the street. The park isn’t far, and I pick up my pace, looking forward to seeing my son again.

Even though I’m not much better off now than I was before, I don’t know exactly what to do, but I know I’ll work it out.