“Yes I am.” Brett nipped at her lower lip, the gentle scrape of his teeth sending a pulse straight to her sex. “You’re mine.”
“But you never…”
“You’re still getting used to us, sweetheart. Getting used to who you are. I can wait forever for you to be ready, for you to know without a doubt as much as I do.” Another gentle kiss and her heart did a somersault.
One hesitation lingered in her gut, but she didn’t understand it. Didn’t know what was holding her back. “I love you.”
“I know.” The reference earned another smile from her, but it didn’t change the reluctance souring the moment for her. Was it her or the elusive wolf within her? The wolf who took her over and she couldn’t remember when she woke? “Its okay. We have all the time in the world.”
Did they really? She considered him. The urge to grab the envelope and run tensed in her muscles. A sense of urgency flooded her and she tried not to meet his gaze, she didn’t want him to read her intention and be hurt by it. The sensation of fur against her skin rippled through her and for a split second, she could almost feel the wolf. Run.
Run.
Drawing back, she wiggled out of his arms so she could stand. Brett released her, but the intensity in his gaze licked her all over.
Run.
She loved him, and she didn’t want to run away from him. Rubbing her arms, she tried to quell the wildness seeping into every pore.
Run so he can chase.
Snapping her gaze to Brett’s, she tilted her head. No worry darkened his eyes, in fact…her nostrils flared as she caught excitement hovering in his scent.
Run.
Who wanted her to run, him or her wolf? Biting her lip, she almost laughed as his gaze stroked down to her mouth and another bolt of lust had her pussy clenching around the emptiness.
Could they just leave? “How much longer do you need to be here?” The gathering was important to him, and though they were surrounded and people were everywhere, they all seemed to fade for her except him.
“We can go anytime you like.” The subtle encouragement snapped the restraint keeping her rooted to the spot.
“You sure?” If she took off, if she trusted the instinct, would he follow her?
“Yes.”
The confirmation empowered her and she glanced at the envelope, snatched it up and took off. There were people between her and the woods, but they all moved, parting like the Red Sea as she ran and exhilaration burst through her. The breeze on her face and the land beneath her feet. Her muscles pumped and adrenaline flooded her system and she wanted to laugh even as she refused to slow. With a burst of speed she fled the gathering and joy suffused her because behind her, she could feel him.
She ran and Brett chased.
Chapter Nineteen
He’d intended to give her a head start. The need vibrating off her in waves beckoned to him, however, and no sooner did she take a dozen steps than he was on his feet. The pack hooted and whistled and cheered. More than one howled. Their joy had eddied through him, reminding him why he’d fought so hard for all of them. His pack was happy, the illness expunged with the death of Marco. What had upset them, however, was his isolation and distance. Wolves craved touch and contact, the farther he’d pulled away, the worse the situation had grown.
The happiness he’d found with Colby echoed to his pack and their joy for him returned twofold. Lesson learned. They would survive. They would thrive. And Colby would be with them. Letting her run ahead of him, he followed and drank in the scent of her desire and elation.
Woman and wolf ran. Woman and wolf wanted him to chase. His wolf surged beneath his skin. They could catch her, they both knew it, but what their mate wanted—what their mate deserved—was more than they’d shared so far. Understanding flooded him and he paused, stripped and shifted. The change came over him blindingly fast. On four legs, he was even faster than two.
His wolf wanted to play, to court hers, and to prove they were her mate. Traveling at an angle, he got ahead of her and then when she burst through the trees, she halted at the sight of him.
“Oh.” The catch in her voice flooded him with tenderness. He posed and raised his tail. “You’re beautiful.”
The wolf in him opened his mouth into a canine grin. He basked in her compliment. Still panting, she took a hesitant step toward him. “Can I…?” Her hand was out. Could she touch him?
Padding forward, he butted her hand with his head and she dropped the envelope and knelt down to stroke him. The caresses felt right and he preened against the contact. Rubbing his face against her hands, then her arms and finally her shoulder and chin, he marked her with his scent. He wanted her to always wear him on her. She did carry his scent, in small part, he’d seen it in the reactions of his pack, and tasted it in every kiss. But not enough, not enough to make it clear to any interlopers she was off limits.