Page 9 of Forced Wolf Bride

Chapter 5 - Diego

I storm out of the house, slamming the door so hard, any standard material would have shattered. Luckily, the entire cabin is practically a fortress of the finest reinforced materials, so it simply reverberates as the beeping confirms the building is secure.

Standing on the front porch, my fists ball, and I have to fight the urge not to head straight back inside and sink myself into Quinn’s tight body again. I smirk as I consider she'd probably fight like a hellcat, but I know she wants it just as much as I do.

I run my hand over my three-day stubble and lean back against the porch. The events of the last 24 hours swirl in my brain, and I savor the scent of Quinn's body all around me.

When I got word that Marcus and his bunch of idiotic friends had been stupid enough to kidnap a random woman from Silverstar land, I had gone over with the intention of cutting her loose if she wasn't going to cause me more problems. And then I was planning to knock some sense into Marcus and his crew.

Sadly, the biggest issue with Marcus is that he's a dangerous combination of stupid and overly confident. He inspires leadership, though, and can be useful in guiding younger pack members when it comes to things I need taking care of. The kinds of things where I don't need men asking questions.

However, since Tyler's death and the power vacuum he left behind, Marcus has become increasingly belligerent. I know we're heading for an impasse. I just hoped I could avenge Tyler before having to deal with Marcus.

So, I headed down to Marcus's place to sort out his latest mess, only to be smacked in the face by Quinn and her damn wolf. I've never felt anything like it, and as soon as I saw Marcus with his hands on her, I knew she was mine. The evening is a blur—the ceremony, the pack celebration, and taking her home. The next thing I know, I'm buried deep in her body this morning, and it wasn't just sex. It was something else. My wolf responded like an animal freed from a cage, my whole soul burning with the release.

I know she felt it, too. The raw power. The same power that is still coursing through my veins right now.

I can still feel her soft, perfect skin beneath my rough hands, the curve of her hips that seemed to be made for me to grip as I slammed into her. Her tightness gripped my cock like it was the only one she'd ever known. Thinking about it, I see now that her youth and inexperience are obvious. That only fuels the fire burning within me.

I want to take her again. I want her to submit to me, to understand her place. I want her submission to be real. But I really don't understand why that seems to matter so much to me.

I roll my head on my shoulders, trying to relax the tension that's still gripping my muscles. Heading toward my truck, I climb in, revving the engine loudly as I pull away from the house. The engine growls as I accelerate, and I know I need to go on a long run before I meet with the others, so I drive out to the edge of the reserve. Running in human form so I can go straight to the meeting, I take one of the well-worn tracks from my youth, weaving in and out of the trees. All the while, I try to force down the memories of when Tyler was a boy and would try to keep up with me on my daily runs.

I feel the rage build, forcing me to go faster. The branches scratch my bare arms, but I don't care, lost as I am in the fog of my memories. Tyler was a sweet young pup and then a boisterous boy who idolized me. All my hopes and dreams for him and our pack were shattered by Mason.

The unspoken thrum through my veins that Tyler shattered most of my hopes and dreams before Mason brought him down pulls me up short. My feet plant firmly on the ground as I gasp for breath.

I shove the thought down, allowing my rage at Silverstar to return to the fore. Tyler would have become good in time. Now he doesn't have the chance, andthatis their doing.

Looking up, I see my truck in the distance and slowly jog back to it, grabbing my towel from the back seat to wipe my sweat and then pulling on a clean t-shirt. Throughout, I try to hold onto the rage I feel for my enemies. I want to use that righteous anger to propel our plans forward for revenge at the meeting this morning.

But all I can think about is Quinn. What she's doing, if she's okay, and whether I should go back to check on her. I'm only kidding myself, though—I wouldn't be checking on her, I'd be taking her again and again. I want her like I've never wanted any other woman, and it's like she's taken root in my mind.

I want the additional strength the mating bond provides, and I sure as hell want Quinn’s body, but the last thing I need is some female dominating my thoughts.

I slam the truck door shut and head out to Zack's, knowing I'll catch him before the meeting starts. Sure enough, he's where he spends most of his downtime—at the side of his property, chopping wood for the stores. My oldest friend is one hell of a conundrum: a tech whiz who loves nothing more than being outside, doing manual work.

I shake my head, chuckling as I approach him, watching how he swings the axe down with brute force.

"Who are you imagining under that axe today, Zack?" I ask as he gives me a brief nod in greeting before returning to his work.

"I got a whole list, Diego," he says, taking another swing. "Probably almost as long as yours."

I nod in agreement and wait until he's finished. In a moment, he throws down the axe and takes a long drink of his water. I've always loved Zack's property. There's a calm in the air here, and it's been a respite to me nearly all my life.

"I'd say a good woman might help, but that's probably your department after last night," Zack smirks, knowing he's the only one who can get away with that statement. Still, my wolf flashes in my eyes defensively, making him laugh. "It’s like that, is it?"

I'm about to respond when I hear the porch door swing shut behind me. Turning, I see Zack's sister Saffy appear. She hesitates when she sees me, her striking red hair whipping around her as she hovers, unsure what to do in front of her alpha. She's a sweet kid but nervy as hell. She's also just the person I need to see today.

"Saffy," I say.

Her eyes flick to me, but she doesn’t respond.

"I need you to head into town and buy whatever you think my new mate will need: clothes, boots, and whatever toiletries you women use. Just send me the bill. Think you can handle it?"

"Y-yes, of course. I don't want to spend too much, though. How much do you think is right?" She's already edging to her car as she speaks, probably grateful to get out of here.

"I really don't care, Saffy. Just get the stuff and drop it in front of my cabin. Don't bother knocking for her. She can't open the door, anyway."

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