Page 68 of Bewitched By the Werewolf
“It’s difficult but not impossible.”
“I don’t mind if you shift and run, Ryder. I can wait here for you. I can even help with the horny part of the night if you like.”
I try to persuade him with a teasing grin and run my palm up his chest, digging my nails into his muscles how I know he likes. A small purring growl rumbles in his chest and for a moment I think I’ve convinced him.
“I appreciate the offer, but it’s best for everyone if I remain in human form tonight.”
The way he says the words have me watching him more carefully now. He’s been trying to convince me for days that shifters are harmless and safe to be around in any form. So why wouldn’t he want to be around anyone while shifted? I try to read his expression, but he’s mastered the ability to appear emotionless. Even so, I’ve already begun to learn him, learn the smallest of alteration in his expressions. There’s also something about his scent that shifts. It gives me the impression he’s afraid but determined.
“What are you afraid of Ryder? You told me shifters are harmless. So why are you afraid to shift around me? Or have you forgotten I’ve already seen your true form?”
He tries to harden his expression even more, and I can feel him begin to pull away from me. Retreating away from the truth and me. No, the fuck he isn’t. Not now. Not when we’ve come so far and I’ve learned so much. He will not retreat now. He wanted to show me all of Snowberry and shifters and he’s going to.
I hold tight to his shirt and pull him closer to me, making sure he can’t run away. “Don’t run away from me,” I plead in a quiet voice. I had meant it to be more powerful, but my heart skipped a beat in my throat when I thought he may pull away from me.
“I’m afraid of hurting you, Tess,” he finally admits. His shoulders dropping with the confession. “I don’t want to lose control and accidentally do something that would hurt you. I couldn’t live with myself if I did. My beast is…not tame.”
“Good. Tame is boring. I like a bit of wild.”
Ryder huffs a exasperated sigh, not amused. “It’s not like that, Tess. I can’t control it. You saw what I did to those campers. I can’t let that happen again.”
“And has it?”
“What?” my question has the large stoic man dumbfounded. It’s a simple question.
“Has anything like that happened since then? Have you attacked anyone or hurt anyone else?”
Ryder is silent for a long moment before he slowly answers. “No.”
“Then what are you worried about? To me it sounds like it was a fluke. I’m not afraid of you and I don’t believe you would ever hurt me, intentionally or otherwise.”
I can see the wheels spinning in his head as he dissects the years since that night so many years ago. Even when he told me about how he ended up there in the first place it was unintentional. He didn’t go out seeking humans to frighten or injure. It sounds like he didn’t even know he was aroundhumans until it was too late. He was young and competing with other male shifters for the attention of a female. Not unlike many human men getting into a bar fight over a woman. If I’m able to move beyond that night and accept it for the random event it was, so can he.
“What would I have to do to convince you?” my tone turns sultry and seductive as I run a red painted nail down Ryder’s chest. The apprehension and trepidation that just moments ago shadowed his beautiful silver eyes lifts, leaving gleaming orbs of chrome.
He is very interested, and the idea excites me. I love the forest and hunting. With my advanced eyesight and physical ability, I would give him a worthy chase. And when he catches me…Let’s just say we’ll both enjoy that.
From the corner of my eye, I notice others starting to head towards the trees, the moon now cresting the tops of the trees and bathing the forest in its soft white glow. Soon, the moon will shift from silver white to blood red. I’ve never seen a blood moon, and I have a feeling I may be too preoccupied tonight to see it either.
Stepping slowly out of Ryder’s hold, I walk backwards towards the woods. Stripping my leather jacket off and dropping it to the grass. It’ll only get in the way and make me hot while I run. Also, I don’t want to lose it. Ryder watches me with focused intent. I could swear he looks like he’s growing.
“If I run, will you chase me?” I ask coyly, while continuing to carefully make my way backwards. I can feel the hairs on my arm stand on end as the anticipation and excitement steadily grow with every step.
“Without hesitation,” he replies, robotically removing his boots and kicking them into a pile by my jacket. I don’t think he even realizes what he’s doing. Once his shoes are gone, he reaches for his belt and slips it out in one swift motion.
“I’ll even give you a head start,” he says, just before pulling his shirt off over his head. Should I be undressing too? The thought of running through the forest naked sends a thrill through me. However, the idea of running barefoot does not.
Reaching for the hem of my shirt I pull it off as well, keeping my black bra on. Running without a bra isn’t very comfortable either. And I plan on making him work for me.
“I’m not some meek little thing, Ryder. I can see almost just as well at night and am faster than you think,” I taunt, still moving away from him. I’m almost to the tree line, and as soon as I reach it he’ll learn just how fast I can be.
“Good. I like a challenge. Nothing worth having should be easy to catch.”
The chest on his hair thickens, his eyes glowing as claws extend from his fingers. No matter how much I want to stand here and marvel at his transformation, I’ve reached the edge of the forest and once he’s completed his shift—which doesn’t appear will take long—he’ll be after me. My head start is almost gone.
“Run little Red,” he practically growls at me, and I can feel it reverberate all the way to my toes.
“Come and get me Big Bad Wolf.”
