Page 33 of Winning the Wolf

“Because you’re not making any sense.” Putting my hands on my hips, I stared at him. “And I’m not about to waltz into a group from our pack stinking of your semen.”

He stepped forward and hissed in my face. “I’m the alpha, you should be honoured that the wolf spirit chose you for me.”

My bark of laughter made him bend closer, his fingers gripping my wrist. “You weren’t laughing when I thrust between your legs, claiming you.”

Snapping my mouth shut, I sucked air through my lungs and glared at him. “You’ve just made it very clear that it shouldn’t have happened. And I happen to agree. Let’s just get this over with. I don’t care what anyone thinks anymore.”

A cheer in the distance made us look towards the field where the other naked wolves were gathered. I glanced up at the sky, seeing the moon disappear behind a cloud. Its apex had been reached and the power was wilting away. My heart squeezed as confusion gripped every part of me.

“Caleb?” Killick said, drawing my attention back to him. “Tell the mated wolves to head home. Now.”

I looked over my shoulder and fought the urge to rip Killick’s phone out of his hand to beg Caleb to do something… I didn’t know what exactly, but something… to change what had just happened between us.

The wolves in the distance started to move away, quickly leaving the standing stones. Some were dubious, high fiving and grinning, while others were more quiet, smiling shyly at the person who had just become their fated mate.

“Let’s go,” Killick ordered once they had disappeared into the woods.

My invisible hackles rose as I followed him, unable to resist his demand. A part of my inner femininity yelled that I should fight back and not let him lead the way. A bigger part knew that this process was a test. I had just made the choice to have sex with my fated mate. I’d taken him inside me and enjoyed it beyond comprehension. I owed it to myself, and him, to bond for the seven days to see if we could become fated. As hard as it was to swallow my pride.

“Hurry!” His voice snapped at me as the moon appeared through the clouds.

I burst through the field and arrived in front of the standing stone just as the power waned. Killick grabbed my hand and looked into the sky.

“Wolf spirit, we hear you, and accept the challenge to bond.”

Clearing my throat, I repeated the words and glanced up, not really sure what I was looking at until a cloud morphed into a wolf’s head. It was only there for a brief moment, but a zap of energy slipped between us, shaking our bodies before releasing us. Killick’s strong arm held me upright, his other hand slipping around my waist when my knees went weak.

I blinked, not even aware that I’d closed my eyes. My fated mate stood close, his gaze boring into mine. The jolt of desire that pulsed to my core made me gasp. His tongue flicked out to lick his lips, enticing me to kiss him.

“It’s done,” he muttered, steadying me before letting go.

A shudder moved me as I stepped away and rubbed the goosebumps that had exploded on my arms. His jaw hardened and his gaze turned cold, a flash of sadness bringing my own fiery response under control.

“There’s something…” I hadn’t wanted to tell him about my sister, too afraid he would accuse me of distracting him.

He rubbed a hand through his hair and over his face, blowing out his breath when his gaze landed on me. “What?”

“I think I know where Nyla is, I–”

“Where?” he snapped, his eyebrows lowering.

The tiny bit of softness that had developed between us vanished instantly. Fire lined my tummy as he stepped forward, his hands clenched at his sides. He wasn’t trying to hold back his desire now, he was attempting to keep a hold of his temper.

“North of here, just outside the Dusk Moon Pack lands.”

I wasn’t going to go into details about how I’d found my sister, not right now. If I wanted to get to her before she moved, I had to go after her now. With or without Killick.

Killick took a deep breath, his strong chest rising and falling. I went to reach for him, to reassure him, but quickly pulled away. My mind was confused and muffled by emotions that flooded through me. He seemed to be able to ignore the pull that was tugging on the edge of our consciousness.

“Let’s go find her, please. We have to find out what the fuck happened to your parents.”

Flinching, Killick nodded once and picked up a phone from the ground nearby. “I’ll ring for backup.”

“But…” My sentence trailed off when he raised his eyebrows at me.

I didn’t have any right to ask for special treatment for my sister. However, I couldn’t just sit back and watch them slaughter her. Would the alpha have compassion for someone who might have caused his parents’ death?

“You’ve kept me in the dark, I have no idea what you’ve found out about the murders. I’ve…” My throat closed. “Been living alone, not knowing what was going on and suffering great pain from the knife attack. It might have only been a few days, but it felt like forever. I’ve lost one sibling, I don’t want to lose another.”

---