Page 18 of No Harm No Howl

Please. I’m the one who is gonna win our girl over. You’ve had your chance. Now, please sit back and let me work my magic on her.

Within minutes, her scent filled his nostrils. His wolf picked up his speed. Branches and twigs snapped under their paws. Trees flew past them. Russ could feel the burn of exertion in his muscles.

A howl pierced the otherwise silent forest.

Must find her.His wolf pushed forward.

The only sound Russ heard was their paws hitting the ground. Well, that and the beat of his own heart … which decided to stop the second Gia came into view in her wolf form.

Thick cinnamon fur covered her glorious body. She looked strong and healthy. All the things his wolf cared about. But what stuck with him the most was her eyes.

Slow down! What the hell are you doing?he yelled at his wolf, worried they were going to crash directly into her.

At the last second, his wolf slammed on the brakes and came to an abrupt halt, inches from Gia’s nose.

Looking more annoyed than anything, Gia huffed at him. Almost daring him to start something with her.

He pawed at the ground in front of her.

Though he’d never seen another wolf do it, somehow, Gia had managed to roll her eyes at him before shifting into her human form.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked.

Well, that was something he hadn’t expected. During their short run, he’d played out the scenario a dozen times in his mind. She would be happy to see him, and they would galivant through the field playfully before shifting into their human forms and making out. Her shifting to scold him had never once entered into his thought process.

Following her lead, he shifted so he could respond to her. “I usually go for a run after work every day. I had no idea you’d be here. It wasn’t until I picked up your scent that I knew you were here. Then my wolf got the best of me and decided to chase after you.” He shrugged like it was no big deal.

She eyed him skeptically, and rightfully so. Everything that had just come out of his mouth had been nothing but a load of complete and utter bullshit. Yes, he liked to go for a daily run. But Russ normally waited until he was at his house on his own property to do that. Being out in the actual wild with all of his enemies wasn’t exactly the smartest thing to do. Not to mention the fact that someone could see him and call animal control. It had happened before, and he’d nearly been caught by the fucking dog catcher.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, turning the tables around on her. Anything at this point to keep him from having to tell her any more lies. He hated lying, but what the hell was he supposed to do when the truth wasn’t a freaking option.

* * *

“I’m not sure.I felt like going for a run tonight and figured I’d go to the park like I normally do, but I guess my wolf had a different idea. Well, I should get back. I’m kind of far from home,” Gia said.

“Wait. Why don’t we go for a run together? Where’s the harm in that?”

Gia knew she should say no. She should stay as far away from Russ as she could get. It was bad enough that he was her boss, and she was going to have to work in close proximity to him every day. But, if she could find a way to desensitize her wolf to this whole mate nonsense … maybe, a run with him would help do that.

“Fine. But I don’t want to be out too late. I have to work in the morning, and I’m not sure if my boss is an asshole yet or not,” she smirked, knowing damn well she was pushing it with him.

“Ha-ha. Very funny.” He laughed.

It was the first time Gia had seen Russ laugh. She felt a slight crack in the armor she had erected around her heart. He was handsome, to begin with, but when he laughed … oh, Jesus … the tiny laugh lines that had formed around his mouth and eyes. The way his eyes light up. Fuck. Maybe spending more time with him wasn’t a good thing after all. Not if he kept making her heart flutter the way it was.

“Let’s go then. I wouldn’t want to make your boss mad by keeping you out too late. I’m sure he needs you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the morning,” Russ said before shifting back to his wolf form.

His blue eyes stood out against his gray fur. He was as handsome in wolf form as he was in his human form. Either way, she was totally fucked.

They ran along the tree line and zigzagged across an open field. When she stopped to sniff a few flowers, he rubbed up against her. Her wolf let out a soft whine. Damn, this plan of hers was about to backfire if she didn’t find a way to take control of the situation soon.

Gia would give anything to know what was running through Russ’s mind. Was he as apprehensive as she was about jumping into a relationship, or had he dreamed of finding and claiming his mate? He was the one who had gone to see Gerri, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. Well, that was what she told herself anyway.

He whined back at her wolf and slammed his paws against the ground, kneeling in front of her. His hind end lifted into the air, and his tail wagging.

Unbelievable.

He wanted her to chase him.

---