Page 46 of Wolf Heart

CHAPTER13

JUNIPER

“You’re worse than a wolf in sheep's clothing,” Raven says in a low, angry voice. His face twisting in rage. “Why are you lying to us that you can’t shift?”

I squeeze my eyes shut and try to control my breathing. “I’m telling you the truth. If I could shift, I wouldn’t be here.” My wolf growls in my chest. We’d be with Michael and everything would be perfect. I open my eyes and stand, my fists locked at my sides. When will she understand that we don't need him? That we're better off alone than with that jerk?

Raven steps forward and grabs my shoulders again, shaking me slightly. “Tell us what you really are.”

My heart pounds in my ears, drowning out the crickets and bats around us. “I can't tell you that.”

“Why not?” he snaps.

“Because I don’t know. That’s why I need to find my mother.” I jerk away from him. “I need her to unlock my wolf because I’ve tried everything and she’s stuck.” I rub my chest. “In here. I can feel her, but I can’t reach her. It’s like she’s trapped.”

“Never heard of such a thing.” Raven frowns, shaking his head, but steps away from me as though my condition might be contagious.

Can’t say I blame him. I lick my trembling lips. “M-my stepmother said there was a spell put on me that faded when my dad died. And I wonder if there’s still one that keeps me from being able to shift.”

“She could have something there,” Aspen pipes in. “Heard stories of a wolf that was trapped in that form for the rest of his life because of a witch’s curse.”

I shudder, wrapping my arms around myself and sink to my knees. Is that what my mom did to me? Curse me? I hadn’t thought of it that way until now. Hell, I hadn’t even thought of having a witch for a mother until I was kicked out of the pack and found out the truth.

“Will you still help me?” I ask because I’m scared of the answer, but I’m more terrified of not knowing. Of waking up without these three wolves that have fought Casey and lost ones to keep me safe. More than anyone, except my dad, has ever done for me in my entire life.

Raven stalks to the edge of the tree platform and climbs down.

Tears brim in my eyes, blurring my vision.

“I’ll go talk to him.” Dex lightly squeezes my shoulder before disappearing after Raven and I’m left alone with Aspen.

I stare out into the sunset of oranges and purples. “Is it safe for them to be out this late?”

Aspen chuckles, and the sound cascades through the night like silver raindrops. “Don’t worry about them. We’ve been out here for years and they know what to do if the lost ones get too close.”

“How does he know they’re tracking me?” I swallow against the bitterness coating the back of my tongue.

“It’s a hunch he has.” Aspen sits beside me and brushes a strand of my blue hair off my forehead. His touch sends shivers down me. “How they hung out at the cabin was a clue. Never seen them do that before. Usually, if they can’t get to fresh meat, they move on within the hour.”

“And he thinks they stayed because of me?” I shake my head. “Why? I’m no one. Just a half-breed who can’t shift.”

“You’renotno one.” Aspen’s hand slides across my low back and I lean into his embrace.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me in a long, long time.” I swallow back the painful lump lodged in the back of my throat.

“I can’t stop thinking about how I want to kiss you again.”

My breaths quicken and I stare at his full lips, remembering how they felt on mine. His hand trails up my back and he grabs a fistful of my hair. Heat coils low in my belly and desire spikes through me. I want this. I want someone to worship my body and bring us both to ecstasy.

His mouth smothers mine as he kisses me hard.

I whimper against his lips, clinging to his shirt. His tongue slips inside my mouth and I sigh. I ache to rip his clothes off and trail my fingers over his muscled body.

“Do you like that, pretty wolf?” he murmurs against my lips.

I nod and moan into his mouth as he deepens the kiss.

Aspen cups my breast, kneading and caressing with his whole hand. The other trails down my spine. His fingers dig into the back of my legs, pulling me against him.

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