Page 48 of The Wolf Moon

“If it means keeping you off of our brother pack’s hit list, then yes, I would pick anyone else,” Roman replied, still not budging on his idea of protecting me.

“Forget it,” I said stubbornly, “Hit list or not, I’m the Queen Luna. You’ll just have to make sure to protect me. Jump in front of me if I’m being attacked. Take all the injuries. Be my shield. All that stuff that come with the perks of being an immortal mate.” I was halfheartedly joking, but the way Roman watched me only made me more nervous as I spoke.

“Then you’ve decided,” He said simply, without elaborating.

My heart jolted in my chest at the simple statement. I felt more comfortable when facing potential death fighting deity beings than standing before Roman like this. I had decided. It wasn’t my duty to make any decision. I didn’t decide based on what the pack needed or even what humanity needed. It wasn’t to win blessings from the Goddesses that played with our lives. It was an accumulation of understanding, of unexplainable feelings beyond anger and fear that had been stirring ever since the moment I had first taken in his scent in our first actual battle.

I nodded once, afraid to speak.

“I had hoped you would change your mind, but I also hoped you wouldn’t,” Roman admitted, his voice lowering with wolfish intentions. I was a statue in front of him, staring openly for any hints as to what doom awaited me. And yet, my blood within me sang of a type of excitement; an adrenaline different than that which came with fighting for my life. “I have my demands.”

“Demands?” I asked absently, my mind racing.

“You’ll live with me from now on. I’ll groom you into the position of Queen Luna. I don’t want you known any further than you already are to the other packs until you’ve shifted completely,” Roman listed the demand easily as though he’d already considered this as an option long ago. He lowered his voice further before continuing. “I want you to stay close to me.”

“So you can be my shield?”

“I’ll count to 100.” Roman ignored my question. The abrupt declaration startled me. His eyes were watching me with fresh hunger, his usual stoic features were lit up with it.

“What?” I asked, my mind going blank.

“I’ll give you a head start, as is custom. Run as fast as you can,” He said firmly. A deep blush flourished over my skin. I was not prepared. My heart was pounding in my chest and my breath was heavy. Roman’s eyes raked over my form, a look of satisfaction crossing his features before he closed his eyes reluctantly.

“One. Two. Three.” He counted slowly, deliberately. It was as though he knew it didn’t matter how far I was able to run, he had no doubts he would catch me. He continued counting and I stood frozen before him.

I took a couple quick steps back, intending to run as he had suggested, but I paused. I didn’t want to run. I’d thrown myself into death matches without running and I wouldn’t run now, even if there was some sort of tradition. I wasn’t prey and I wasn’t a wolf. I peered at him as he stood so tense and ready to follow through on such an animalistic ceremony. It felt more comfortable with his eyes closed to look at him fully. He seemed less intimidating.

I lifted a trembling hand to the fabric of my shirt, lifting it from my form and dropping it to the ground below me. I’d been dressed to go to sleep, so it left me bare from the waist up. This was the extent of my bravery. I lifted my arms to cover myself, feeling entirely breathless with uncertain anxiety.

“Sixty-eight. Sixty-nine… you’re supposed to be running, Milena,” Roman called my name teasingly. With enormous courage, I forced myself to take those steps closer to him that I’d previously taken away. “Have you changed your-”

Roman opened his eyes, the blue of his irises glowing in the night as he took in my presence. I felt exposed and uncertain as to what to do, but under his stare I felt something else entirely. I felt admired and beautiful, all in one look. My skin heated under the intensity of his gaze.

“You won’t run?” He asked, his voice husky with desire.

“I don’t want to fight you anymore,” My words trembled truthfully.

Roman lifted his hand abruptly, making me jump despite all efforts, but he only clasped my wild onyx hair between his fingers carefully. I tightened my grip around my chest, as though I would be forced to expose myself any moment to him, but he didn’t even look away from my face. He released his grip on my hair, grasping at his own shirt before pulling it off as well. I looked from his face to that scar riddled chest of his; spotting the fresh scar he’d placed above his heart when stabbing himself with my own dagger. I absently lifted a hand, touching the scar carefully and remembering his anguish.

Roman grabbed my wrist and caught my full attention. He paused and I could feel the desire of his beast boiling within him throughout me. I wondered what he felt from me. Still, he didn’t ravage me as I felt his beast wanted. After a moment of gaining control, he stepped impossibly closer to me and lowered his face over mine. I lifted my chin on instinct, my eyes fluttering shut, and lost my breath as his lips claimed mine.

The mark pulsed on my shoulder and it made my entire body feel like it was on fire. I forgot everything. I lifted my hands up and around his neck while his arms moved around my waist to pull me close to him. His rough hands trailed along my bared back, the feeling so foreign yet entirely too enjoyable.

Roman released me from his kiss and immediately lowered his lips over my shoulder where he had bitten me so angrily long ago. I gasped in surprise, the touch of his lips on the mark enough to send a shock of pleasure throughout me. He growled appreciatively against me and chills trailed over my body in response.

“Lay down,” He demanded roughly, his voice thick with desire.

I took a shuddering breath, my mind reeling under all these new feelings, but his demand made me nervous all over again. When Roman released me, I tried not to immediately cover myself and run away despite my previous stance on the entire thing. I took another steadying breath and lowered myself on the ground nervously as he’d requested. Even though I tried not to, the moment I was on my back, I covered my chest again with my arms.

Roman was immediately hovering above my form, lowering himself to the ground just to the side of me in a way that felt much less intimidating than the times I’d fought him and ended up in a much more intimate position. I watched him openly, trying to deduce what he would do next before he did it as though I could prepare myself.

“I won’t hurt you,” Roman said to me, tilting his head as he looked at me.

“I know,” I whispered softly, my voice nearly lost under the pounding of my heart. “Will you kiss me again?” I couldn’t believe I even asked, but Roman didn’t tease me for it. He immediately lowered his lips over mine, sending me reeling all over again.

Roman’s hands started caressing my waist first, trailing over my stomach and then up under my protective arms, between my breasts, and over my throat possessively. I immediately grasped his wrist in response, forgetting about covering myself. His hand then trailed over my collarbone and grasped my exposed breast, caressing me fondly. I gasped against his lips, my face hot from such an invasion, but I didn’t fight him off.

His lips moved from mine to my throat, lowering over my chest until he was running his tongue over my breast eagerly. I had lost my grip on his wrist and instead grasped at the dirt under me, panting at the pleasure pulsing throughout me as he devoured me.

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