Page 12 of Mates for the Rejected Wolf

“Yeah, that was me. I saw him slashing your tire and I thought—”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do about my car,” she groans in agony.

“I will walk you home,” I offer automatically. “Or fly you, if you’d rather. I can help you with your car too.”

Fern shocks me by throwing her arms around me and hugging me hard. The feel of her warm body against mine is utterly intoxicating. I hold on to her for as long as I can.

This is so much better than how I imagined it. I even love her scent. Wolves are not supposed to smell good to dragons, but everything about her smells great. Her scent only adds to the sunshine that she brings in to my life.

“You are so kind, Roddrur. Thank you so much for everything.”

She feels it too, doesn’t she? She has to. There wouldn’t be that intensity in her voice if she didn’t feel the same pull that I do. She knows that even though we shouldn’t be feeling all of this between us, it’s there. The wolf and the dragon…how insane is that? It’s the sort of romance that will be shunned, but I don’t care. I’d have her and I wouldn’t be alone anymore. It could even turn in to the sort of romance that inspires books and poetry. That could allow others to be freer with their own love. When I’m with Fern like this, anything feels possible.

I ache to taste her lips. The idea that I am so close to her that that’s even a possibility is utterly overwhelming. I never thought I would be in this position with Fern. It’s lucky that our arms are still wrapped around one another, because I don’t think I would believe this was real if I couldn’t feel her. I’m trembling all over, but Fern doesn’t notice. Her eyes are hooded, her lips pursing, coming towards me, needing me.

When our lips crash together,the world around me vanishes. The bubble surrounding Fern and me tightens and clings to us both. The taste of her lips is even more exotic, even more electric than I thought it would be. The sizzling chemistry between us is so powerful, so phenomenal, that I never want this moment to end. I want to be with her like this forever.

I snake my tongue between her lips, and Fern rolls her hips against me, pressing herself into me, and that feels wonderful. Thank goodness she doesn’t want to pull away, because Ineverwant to let her go. This kiss could go on forever.

8

GRIFFIN

Ihaven’t been able to sleep. All night long I have been tossing and turning, trying to wrap my head around last night. All of yesterday, really. What a shit show.

IknowI shouldn’t really like Fern since she’s a wolf and I’m a dragon. That’s just not supposed to happen. But I’m sure someone has crossed that line before.

Roddrur didn’t say much when he got back last night, but he was gone a long time. Much longer than he needed to be. He muttered something about a slashed tire and the Nightshade Hunters, but I don’t think that’s the real reason that he was gone for so long. I’m sure something happened. I can sense my best friend adoring her, which really messes me up. He's already royalty does he have to have the girl too?

I can’t take it anymore. I can’t just lie around wondering what is going to happen next. I need to see Fern. Since it doesn’t seem like Roddrur is ready to spill the beans yet, I’m going to have to find out the truth from her. Even if I don’t like it.

I dress quickly and storm out, heading to Fern’s home with my brain churning out thoughts that make me feel sick at the speed of light. The idea that Fern doesn’t feel the same connection with me as I do is horrifying.

I might not have known her for very long, but she has already become extremely important to me. I can’t explain how that’s happened, even to myself, but I know it’s the truth. Spending some time on that boat, and seeing her run her tours, even from afar and has only strengthened my feelings for her.

But it seems like she has fallen for the charm of the prince. What can I do about that? A guy who supports the prince and makes sure he remains hidden. I will never be able to compete; you can’t even compare us. Of course Fern would like him over me.

My heart damn near stops beating when I see her house. Knowing Fern is inside with all the answers I need stops me in my tracks. I want to know, but I’m also freaking scared that I’ll end up hurt.

“Fuck,” I mutter to myself, actually shaking. “Just do it.”

When I get close to Fern’s front door, I see something even more horrifying than knowing I might get hurt. A threatening note with no signature. The only people I can think of who would want to upset Fern are the Nightshade Hunters?

Keep your mouth shut. I don’t know what she needs to keep her mouth shut about, so I knock on Fern’s door while still rereading the note, trying to decipher it. Could it be a reference to the drugs the guy offered her? Surely, at this point, everyone is well aware that the Nightshade Hunters are in the drug trade. Since nothing has happened to them, I don’t know why they would be worried about her talking.

Fern peeks through a crack in her door. “Oh, it’s you. Come in.”

“Are you alright?” I ask. “You look pale.”

“I got this note stuffed under my door last night, telling me I’m in danger.”

“Oh shit.” I hold up what I found. “There’s another one.”

She opens the door wider and snatches the note from me with a growl. “I haven’t even said anything to the police. I don’t know why I’m getting all these threats. If I was going to tell Sheriff Smart what happened, I would have done so already. Don’t they understand that? If this is why they slashed my tires last night, I am really going to lose my shit.”

“Someone slashed your tires?” Not only am I shocked, but I’m also upset.

“Roddrur didn’t tell you?”

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