Page 31 of Wolf Heart

CHAPTER10

JUNIPER

My body feels like it’s on fire as Aspen’s hand on my cheek moves slowly away like he’s reluctant not to be touching me. Something in my chest tightens at the loss of him.

Dex grins like he’s got a secret and shovels the food into his mouth before standing up and putting the chipped bowl into the sink. “I’m going to talk to Raven about our route and which way the wolves went so we can avoid them.”

“Are they all gone?” I ask and finish the last of my food.

One thing I’ve learned from being in the pack is never to turn away a meal cause the next one might not come quickly during the famine months. The months we all almost staved.

“No.” He shakes his head. “There’s about eight lingering around the cabin. I don’t trust them not to sound the alarm and have more in the area come running. The best thing to do is hold up for now and maybe they’ll leave by dawn.”

Dex takes my empty dish and adds it to the sink before disappearing out of the kitchen, whistling a tune I don’t recognize.

I pull my knees to my chest and rest my chin on them, thinking about how we barely escaped the rabid wolves yesterday. How they swarmed me and Raven and I thought we were all going to die… all become one group of the lost ones.

"You’re chewing on your lip,” Aspen says. “What are you thinking?”

I quickly stop and uncross my legs. How does it feel like these three wolves know me better than anyone back at the pack already?

"I’m just trying to figure out how we can get past the wolves if they don’t leave.”

He tilts his head. “Any ideas?”

I clear my throat, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I’m not good at explaining things. I—”

"Never?” He eyes me, his smile making a dimple in his cheek pronounced. “I see the intelligence behind your eyes. Surely others see it too. What about your pack?”

"I was an outsider before they kicked me out at the ceremony.” I stare at my hands, unable to meet his sapphire gaze and see the pity I know has to be there.

"Why?” He sits straighter in the chair, his T-shirt pulling tight over his muscles.

I look everywhere but at him. He reaches out and clasps my hand, running his thumb over my knuckles.

I take a shaky breath and meet his gaze.

There’s no pity in his eyes, only heat and my mouth goes dry. His hand in mine is making it hard to concentrate on anything else.

“Once I passed the normal age for a wolf to shift, the pack started to question why I hadn’t.” The words sting my throat and I wince, swallowing. “Years of not being able to shift and even my most loyal friends turned on me.” And Michael, my wolf whimpers inside me, cutting open my wounds. As much as I know Michael was an ass for rejecting me in front of everyone, it still hurts knowing what I could have had. Freedom. Respect. Loyalty.

“But you feel her.” He leans forward and his scent of wolf, snow, and musk envelops me. “Right?”

I nod. “More since the ceremony than any other time in my life.” I can’t say the word mating without tearing up. I was so sure she’d emerge that it hurt. The feeling of running through the woods, of killing that deer, it felt so real. Like the memory of the blood coating my tongue filled my throat and yet she remained caged inside me.

“Sounds like your wolf just needs a little more encouragement to come out.” His crooked smile has my heart racing.

“Oh?” I ask, trying to keep my voice light. The fact that someone is interested in me, despite the fact I haven’t shifted and knows the score, has my libido surging.

“Mmmm.” His free hand cups my cheek and he draws me closer to him. For a split second, he watches me like he’s waiting for my refusal. Then his lips press to mine.

I forget to breathe and my hands clutch his shirt in my fists. His lips are searing and demanding and I'm lost in him. My fingers dig into his arms and I can't stop kissing him.

He pulls away for a moment, looking up at me with lust in his eyes and a throaty groan comes from him.

"Juniper.” His voice is deep, husky, and sexy as fuck. Leaning forward, he kisses my jawline and my skin erupts in goosebumps.

I wrap my arms around his neck and his tongue darts out to lick my lips. The electric sensation makes my toes curl.

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