Page 4 of A Wolf's Wound
It just speaks snidely back.Well done.A for effort, if you will.
I’ll make it up to her when she takes me to her place,I retort and then clear my throat as she asks me a question.
“What do you do for a living?I think I’ve spoken about myself enough already.”Her smile is bright and beautiful.Her mouth is wide.Her eyes sparkle.She is designed to smile and be absolutely gorgeous.
So why don’t I feel anything for her?
I clear my throat again.“I’m in the family business.It’s kind of complicated, and I don’t really want to talk about work right now.I’d rather hear more about you.”
She smiles sympathetically, and right then the waitress comes back to take our food order.It’s a good thing, too, because my inner wolf is growing restless with all the liquor and no meat to sate his cravings.
I don’t want to talk about work.And it’s not like I could if I wanted to.I can’t exactly tell her I’m the beta of the Stone wolf pack.
Hi, it’s nice to meet you.By the way, I’m a shifter.Nope.
I snort as I struggle to stifle laughter and cover it with a cough.My date doesn’t seem to notice, but the waitress’s eyes are sparkling as she turns to me.In my usual fashion, I wasn’t listening, nor have I looked at the menu, so I mutter, “I’ll have the special.”
The waitress takes off to the kitchen, and I look back at not-Amber/not-Ashley, wondering how I’m going to get out of explaining what I do and why I don’t talk about it.But those questions don’t come.Instead, I exhale with relief when she starts talking about herself again.I’ll have a reprieve for a few minutes anyway.
It is warm in the pub from the crowd of bodies, and warm outside due to the time of year.Our little town is on the cusp between spring and summer, and it grows warmer every day.As a wolf, weather is something I can talk about for hours.
The mornings are brighter earlier, and the sun lingers in the sky later at night.The air is fresh and vibrant and crisp and beautiful.
I don’t think you’ll be going home with her.My wolf speaks with finality, and I agree.
Amber or Ashley, or whatever her name is, isn’t the one for me.Just like every one of my dates this week.
She is speaking so enthusiastically that a pang of guilt trembles through me.For a moment, I can’t breathe, and my vision becomes cloudy.
I shouldn’t have taken her out.I was drunk when I asked her on this pathetic excuse of a date, but I should have known then that it would be useless.
As much as I don’t care even vaguely about all the women I’ve been seeing, I have no desire to intentionally hurt them.No one deserves that pain.
I sit in discomfort as I think about all the dates I have been on.I spend notorious nights out, garnering such a reputation as a shifter the girls can’t get enough of.
I pretend to my pack that I don’t care about finding my mate.
That I don’t want anything serious.
That I don’t want pups of my own.
But I know, deep down, I’ve hoped on every one of these dates I would find my fated mate.
Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place.
You don’t just stumble across the woman who was designed for you by destiny.The voice in my head, my voice but with a growling edge, scoffs at me.Fate brings you together.Just be patient.
But I am done being patient.The wolf inside me, the basest part of me, needs its mate.I can’t suppress the low rumbling in my chest as the wolf inside me growls and paws against me, ready to be out.He’s ready for a mate.My eyes close briefly as the wolf paces in my mind, my eyes burning as my beast takes some of my control—pushing to be set free.I reach blindly for the glass filled with premium Scotch.
But I cannot lift the glass.Instead, I wrap my hand around it and squeeze.I inhale deeply until the threat of spontaneous shift has passed.
I am in control most of the time.But sometimes, mostly when I am thinking about my mate, the wolf tries to take over.
When I look at the glass, a crack has formed at the base and has traveled all the way to the top.Shit.
I let go quickly, trying to refocus my attention.I vow to enjoy the rest of the date—even if she’s not my mate.I should engage with her, learn more about her.Maybe I can set her up with someone.She would make any man happy.Anyone would be lucky to have her.
I open my mouth to ask a question she’s probably already answered when my jaw snaps shut of its own volition, my gums stinging as my fangs push through.
