"You're right. I've never seen anything like this."
"There are a lot of other beautiful spots around the town. I'll show them all to you." He dared to tuck her hair behind her ear. She didn't flinch away, which was a good sign. Liam felt a strand between his fingers for a few moments. "I've never seen this color before."
"I'm cursed. It must be my Irish roots."
"It's stunning, Rebecca. Reminds me of the harvest moon."
Her mouth parted slightly, and she looked up at him with those big green eyes. She was shy with men, maybe uncomfortable with compliments, but right now he could feel her desire.
A wolf bayed in the distance, and she pressed her body against his, her forearms on his chest. He could barely contain his low growl of satisfaction. She'd sought him for comfort, and his little human had no idea how far he'd go to protect her.
He owned the night.
Liam was alpha to one of the most lethal wolf shifter packs in the state. Everyone in his world knew not to mess with the Grey Valley Pack. The human world saw a reclusive group of men who lived off the grid. They had no idea what Liam was capable of.
"I thought you liked wolves," he said. He used a finger to gently tilt her chin up. She kept close, her big juicy tits pressed against his chest.
"I love them, but I don't think they'd love me. We're so deep in the forest. They could attack us."
He wrapped his arms around the small of her back, loving their closeness. "I know a few wolves that would love you," he said. "And as long as you're with me, you have nothing to worry about."
"You're my knight in shining armor, aren't you? You saved me from those jerks and you're ready to protect me from the wolves."
He leaned down, picking up on her lead. Liam kissed her on the lips, softly, tentatively. She grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, pushing up on her toes so they could kiss deeper. She tasted delicious. He explored her with his tongue, her mewling sounds spurring him on. Liam kissed along her jawline to her neck. His fangs pricked his gumline, his humanity starting to slip away.
"I'll do anything for you," he said.
She tossed her head back as he suckled her pulse. "You barely know me."
"That's why I'm trying my best to change that. I want you to be mine, Rebecca. You won't regret choosing me."
Instead of being insulted, she reached her arms around his shoulders, her fingers combing into the hair at the base of his head. His eyes rolled back. Could she feel the hard ridge of his cock pushing against her stomach? If she could, it hadn't turned her off. "I'm not sure what you're saying, Liam. Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"
"I don't want a girlfriend," he said. "I want a woman, a mate, you."
"Me?"
He nodded, then kissed her on the lips again.
"How many women have you said that to?"
Liam frowned. "Only you. Don't you believe in fate, Rebecca?"
"I never really thought about it," she said.
He wondered how many men she'd had. It didn't matter, because he'd be the only one from this day forward. "Have you never been in love?"
She shied away a bit. "I'm not very good with people, Liam. This is all new for me. I just feel comfortable around you for some reason."
"That's a good thing, baby." He ran a hand through her hair. "Are you telling me you've never been in a serious relationship?"
Rebecca bit her lip. "I've had issues with … anxiety. I'm not good with social situations. That's the main reason I moved out here. I don't want to be on medication, so I decided to trade it for some fresh air, peace, and quiet."
His wolf didn't give a shit about anxiety. Rebecca was a virgin, untouched by other men. The knowledge excited him, his claim even stronger. She'd be his. Only his. He couldn't wait to eat her sweet virgin pussy.
"You're good with me."
She drew patterns at the side of his neck with her fingertips. It was an unconscious act, but it was driving him crazy. She had no idea the power she held over him.
"It's strange, I know. There's something different about you. You're not like other men."
"Not at all."
Alphie started barking at the wall of dark forest behind them. Liam had been so engrossed in everything Rebecca that he hadn't paid attention to his surroundings. Now that he took notice, he could smell the pungent scent of alcohol. Kids came to drink and make out, so he wasn't threatened until two men came out from between the trees. Only they weren't men at all.
They were shifters, but not from the rival Silverback Warrior Pack. They were dressed in camo, so they were likely playing human, coming out for hunting season. Over time, many werewolves swapped feral life for easy human living. They gave up shifting for so long, they could barely call themselves wolves at all. Their senses and instincts got rusty without use, so they may not even realize what he was. For some reason, Rebecca was a damn magnet for trouble. He had a feeling these urban shifters were pulled to his mate since he hadn't marked her yet. That would have to be remedied soon. There was no way he'd let anything happen to her.
"Can I help you, boys?" he asked. This was his alone time with Rebecca, and he didn't want things interrupted.
"You're trespassing," said the blond.
"Actually, we're not. It's public land. And I'd like to enjoy a nice evening with my woman, if you don't mind."
The blond scoffed. "You think you're a tough guy, don't you? I can take your woman, and you wouldn't be able to do a fucking thing about it."
"What did you say?" He shifted Rebecca behind the wall of his body.
"I said you're a pussy."
Liam cracked his neck to the side, his alpha power making his muscles tense. "I get that you're both wasted, but when you threaten my mate, we have a big fucking problem."
"It's okay, Liam. Let's just go," Rebecca whispered behind him.
"Listen to her," said his dark-haired friend. "Or we might keep her for ourselves."
"Take her," said Liam. "I fucking dare you."
Rebecca clutched his shirt from behind.
Liam flashed his fangs, his eyes morphing into wolven yellow. He'd told Rebecca they lived in a decent town, but this was the second time he'd had to kick ass in front of her. He hoped this shit was earning him some boyfriend points.
The two hunters turned to look at each other. "Shit," the blond whispered. The realization of what they were dealing with was starting to sink in past their alcoholic stupor. The dark-haired one backed off, the blond still holding his ground. Liam rushed forward, punching the blond square in the face. He'd held back, but the man still toppled down on his ass. It wasn't enough. He needed to put the fear of the devil in these pricks, a warning to never threaten his woman again. After grabbing the guy's collar and lifting him up, he used his free right hand to punch him a couple more times. This time he was out cold.
"Don't forget your friend," he called out into the darkness. The other man was long gone.
****
This couldn't be good for her anxiety.
Then why did it turn her on? She was a sick puppy if she enjoyed watching Liam punch a man into unconsciousness-and she did enjoy every moment of it. He made her feel safe, invincible. His shirt pulled tight across his back when he bent over to hit that bully, all his hard muscles flexing. The man was fearless, and she decided it was the sexiest thing on earth.
Rebecca had always been afraid of everything, even social situations. Liam was the opposite, and she gravitated to his strength. He made her feel special, and her attraction to his rugged masculinity grew more by the second.
He whirled around once he stood up. "Are you okay, baby?" Liam held her shoulders, taking a good look at her even though the glow of the moon was faint. "I swear I can't catch a break when I'm with you."
She bit her lip before speaking. "What if he took you up on your offer? Would you let him take me?"
He cupped her face, his big, rough hands holding her securely. "I'll never let anything happen to you. If I had to, I'd kill them."
There was something in his eyes, in the way he said the words. He meant every word. Who was this guy?
"Maybe we should go," she said. With their luck, the jerks would come back with reinforcements. It was getting late, and a bit of chill was in the air. Liam said this was a popular spot, but in reality, it was in the middle of nowhere, pitch black, and she hadn't seen any teens.
"I want to be with you, Rebecca. Don't cut things short because of that. I have more to show you." He took her hand and led her farther down the rough path near the water. Crickets and frogs droned heavily from the underbrush. She closed her eyes briefly, the sound more soothing than any lullaby. Rebecca felt like a kid again, a young girl before the world brought her down. Back then she'd been happy in her skin, played in the dirt, and watched the stars past her bedtime. Then reality and adulthood stole all her magic. Something about Liam brought those feelings back.