Saving the Beast(25)

Zane felt the moment his panther acknowledged Diane as their mate. The more afraid she’d become, the harder the beast had fought against the bond, and Zane had understood. To be his mate meant accepting all of him, and the beast was very much a part of him. Diane seemed to have figured that out. Now, he was awash with the sound of her giggles. He’d let the beast play just a bit longer, just enough to content him, before he pressed to take over and have what they both desired—their mate naked beneath them.

The smell of her ripe pussy filled his nostrils. She was in heat, so wet and ready for him, it would take every ounce of control he had not to rip off her clothes and fuck her until he was all that filled her—mind, body and soul. Zane wasn’t deluding himself that it would be easy. He could feel the fever virus raging inside him. It would be difficult enough to shift back from beast to man. Even then, the beast would be strong inside him, demanding a primal claiming he prayed Diane was ready for.

He’d wanted to woo her, to slowly gain her trust with soft kisses and gentle touches. He’d failed. There would be nothing soft or gentle, only a demand for complete submission. He knew without a doubt he was going to fuck her hard and deep, imprinting her with his scent and filling her with his cum over and over again. It would take hours, maybe even days before his animal was sated and he hopefully began building up the antibodies needed to fight the fever.

He’d heard of the fever from his uncle. He still didn’t understand all of it, but he did know the only shifters who recovered were those with mates. There was something released into the blood when shifters mated that combated the virus. That same hormone was what shifters shared with their mates through their saliva that allowed their mates to develop enhanced senses and the ability to heal faster.

Diane giggled again, and Zane felt a hot surge of lust. Did she have any idea what she was inviting? Not that she had any chance of denying him, now. How had she figured out she was his mate? He’d thought he’d hid it from her, but here she was, declaring herself to be exactly what she was. His. And her acceptance would enable him to fight what raged inside him. Only through her would he once more become fully integrated with is beast. No more fighting for dominance or control. He would be at peace again. Beast and man united as one.

He knew Kenzie was the one who’d brought Diane to him. He’d smelled her when he’d caught the ripe scent of his mate. The animal had chosen to follow Kenzie, to ensure she meant no harm to their mate. Only when the beast was satisfied had they turned back to find Diane. He could still detect Kenzie on the gear that surrounded them. He wanted to punish her for the danger she’d placed his mate in just as much as he wanted to thank her for bringing the one he needed to him. He also knew Kenzie would stay where she’d moved, watching and ensuring Zane and his mate were safe.

He would owe her for this. He couldn’t imagine Tah had been okay with the two of them heading out and searching for him alone, and he wasn’t picking up on any of the others close by. What had Kenzie done to get Diane here? How was he going to fix it if she’d defied a direct order from Tah?

Diane’s laughter drew his attention back to her. Her long blonde hair was coming free from her braid. He wanted it long and loose around her shoulders. He wanted to run his fingers through it, inhale the sweet smell that was uniquely Diane. He wanted to feel it draped over his chest and tickling his thighs while he buried his cock in her throat. He growled and it rumbled up out of the mouth of the beast.

He felt the shift of the beast’s attention from their mate to the thoughts Zane sought to share. No more fighting. Their minds merged, each focused on one thing. Claiming Diane. Zane let his imagination run wild, envisioning Diane naked beneath him, his cock buried deep in the wet grip of her pussy. He wanted to taste her skin, to sink so deep beneath it that she became a part of him, joined permanently with him and the beast. He wanted to see his bite mar the perfection of her neck—a primal claiming that defied anyone to ever touch the woman who belonged to him and only him.

The beast lifted his head and gave a hiss and growl, calling his intentions out in warning to any animal that dared enter his space. He did it again, this time letting the man know he was on board with the claiming of their mate.

“Shhh,” Diane crooned, running her hands over the panther with no fear. His mate had found her courage, and it made his chest swell with pride. “I’m right here, Zane,” she whispered, nuzzling her nose into the beast’s fur. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere without you.”