Page 2 of The Reluctant Wolf and His Fated Mate
He wouldn’t permit himself to suffer the same fate as his father, no matter how his wolf urged otherwise.
“Good luck.” Rafe raised his glass and then walked into the crowd of dancers.
Grayson motioned to Damon. “You’re not coming?”
Damon shook his head. “I’ll stay back and keep watch.”
Grayson grinned. “Your reluctance to mate will turn you into a grumpy old wolf living alone in your cabin.”
“Sounds like heaven.” Damon smiled and raised his drink. “Enjoy the hunt.”
Grayson nodded and joined Rafe on the prowl for female companionship.
Damon meandered toward the shadows at the back of the club. How long would he have to suffer through this ordeal before they could head back home?
A white spotlight cascaded over a woman on the dance floor, who captured his attention. Once the light passed by, he blinked, continuing to stare at her. She was shorter than those around her and had long dark hair and bangs that glowed with a reddish hue under the club lights. Her eyes were half-closed as she danced, appearing to lose herself in the beat of the music. His gaze traveled down. Through brief glimpses in the movements of dancers blocking her, he noted that she was curvy. Her low cut-black dress revealed more than a hint of her full cleavage, which captivated him as she swayed.
His skin felt hot and tight. He couldn’t take his eyes off this woman. He dragged his gaze to scan her companions. Was she there with someone?
A taller woman with dirty blond hair danced beside her. Every few seconds, men nearby would shoot the women a glance. Damon wagered it would only be moments before one made his move.
His wolf yipped at him, urging him to get closer.
Despite Damon’s declaration not to step foot on the dance floor earlier, he wanted to see more of this woman. Too many people obscured the view.
As he watched her dance, he reconsidered his mindset. Was he being too rash in wanting to rush out of there? After all, female companionship for the night wouldn’t be a hardship. It had been too long since he’d been with a woman. Why not enjoy the night?
Although he worked as ski patrol on the mountain where many single women had propositioned him for a getaway fling, he’d lost interest in that pursuit a few years ago. An empty encounter provided no long-term satisfaction. He found more pleasure in skiing and hunting. Something about this woman intrigued him.
Damon took another gulp of his mojito, emptying half the glass. He placed it on the bar and moved closer to the dance floor. And then, as if sensing him approach, she glanced out and caught his eyes.
He sucked in a breath. The already claustrophobic club lacked oxygen, but this time it was different. He felt dazed.
Entranced.
Drawn to her, he wedged his large body through tightly packed dancers until he infiltrated the dance floor. Sweaty men and women appraised him, many with an appreciative glint, but his focus was on the brunette.
Only two more feet remained when a male pushed his way in front of Damon and into her dance space.
Damon stepped behind the human and released a low growl, which came out louder than he’d intended—more of a possessive declaration than an initial warning. The guy turned with a perplexed expression. Damon gave a sharp nod to the side of the dance floor, indicating for the man to beat it. The man rushed away.
The woman fixed a wide-eyed stare at Damon, and he gulped. She was tiny next to him, at least a foot shorter, and stacked with delicious curves from her full breasts to rounded hips. He stepped closer and her scent reached his nostrils. He inhaled more deeply and it drifted through his body like a magical enchantment, sweeping away all the sensory overload of the club. It dizzied him and challenged his balance. He struggled to stay still.
His world narrowed to the woman before him. All he saw was her. His heart thumped and blood pumped like thunder through his veins. His skin burned with a tingling heat.
His wolf bounced inside, jubilant. Pushing, pushing Damon to get closer.
It’s her. It’s her. Our mate!
The woman pulled back, planted her hands on her hips, and pierced Damon with an accusatory stare. “Do you always barge your way into crowds and growl at strangers?”
Sophie
The music was so loud, almost drowning out conversation, but that sound was unmistakable. The massive man was impressive, no doubt. But that didn’t excuse his odd behavior.
She hadn’t paid much attention to the people around her as she danced with her roommate Tara, but she’d felt someone staring at her. When she’d glanced out, she’d caught the gaze of a man off the dance floor. He had dark, wavy hair that extended past his chin and dark eyes. His face appeared chiseled, yet that strong jawline gave him a more rugged appearance. A slight bump on his nose indicated he may have been in a fight or two. His intense stare added to the dangerous edge. As he approached her, he stood a head above those he passed. His shoulders were massive, as if he’d been carved out of limestone.
His dark eyes appeared to glow with a golden hue. That wasn’t possible. Her heart thumped, and she swallowed. She blinked twice and focused on him once again. The glow was gone.
