Page 22 of Beta Hybrid

His legs remain crossed. ‘Now I really wish I had clothes,’ he mumbles.

Cai, what is it?

He blows out a breath. ‘Fine. It’s… after a fated couple mate for the first time, the next full moon after that, we’re… kind of… super hungry for it. Both wolves, but since you’re not—I’m just—it’s part of the whole, getting you pregnant, type thing.’

My eyes widen. ‘Are you… saying you’re in heat?’

He coughs. ‘No. It’s not that. It affects males the most. We’re, uh—’

‘Super turned on?’

His cheeks redden. ‘Mm-hmm.’

‘I see. And how long does this last for?’

Cai shrugs uncomfortably. I’m starting to think he isn’t crossing his legs out of modestly or a desire to keep things serious. ‘Depends on the couple.’ He lowers his gaze. ‘But that’s not—I mean, I’m not trying to like order you into bed or something—’

Nervousness pulses down the bond.

I’m the only one he’s been with.

I’m his fated mate. And everything is still new.

Add raw, turned-on wolfy magic.

Cai clears his throat. ‘Look, my father warned me about this. If you don’t want to—which, of course, is always okay—I can go for a run. He said it should help.’ He rises up onto his knees and meets my gaze. Zenna, how can I prove to you that I accept you wholly for who you are, and that I was just a stupid idiot five years ago?

‘Let me run with you.’

Cai blinks. ‘What?’

‘Let me run with you. In the woods. I know I won’t be able to keep up, really, but you could slow down bit for me, right? Let me go with you.’

Slowly, a smile plays over his lips. For a final time, he holds out his hand. This time, I take it.

As we step up to the little clearing, our starting point, I get a vision as Cai touches my mind.

I’d imagined running in the woods with Cai—in wolf form—flat out, pine needles, rocks and twigs grappling for my feet, and feeling inadequate, destined to be left behind by the wolf who was desperate to run free.

This is not that. My vision tells me something quite different.

Feel me down the bond, Cai says in my mind. Experience what I feel. He looks up at me, in wolf form, as the sun begins to set. Those silver eyes gleam, as though in anticipation of the freedom to come.

I try to smile, but I’m still nervous. If I were a wolf, this would be an intense bonding experience for us as mates. But I’m not. So I obviously can’t live up to that.

Cai turns and nips my butt with his teeth and I yelp, more in surprise than anything. Remember your mark, he teases. I know you’re not a wolf. Remember that.

I glare down at him, but truthfully, it’s in great affection. I nod. Should I say, ‘on your marks, get set, go’?

Cai chuckles, a thrum of amusement sent between us. No. Better. Close your eyes, Zenna.

I do. I blink—or, a mental blink—I’m seeing through his eyes. His wolf eyes, lower to the ground. Everything is sharper, clearer, louder.

I can see the trees in the distance. Every branch, the lines of the leaves. Sounds meet my ears. The scuffling of animals in the woods. Some small, a skittering here and there. Some larger, the heavier footfalls of a deer, or a boar. Birds fly home to their nests, to rest for the night, their babies greeting them with softer, quiet chirps.

I inhale as a delicate breeze hugs the woods, winding through the trees. I raise my head slightly, sniffing—a weird gesture, but one that fills my nose with the clear aroma of damp earth, bark, and… blood.

I open my eyes and turn to Cai. He nods. I smell it too.

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