Page 15 of Taming of a Wolf

“Okay!” he gripes back, brows scrunching. “I… I’ve had a really great sense of smell since I was eighteen, when my grandma gave me her furs. In my dreams, I’d run as a wolf. I was looking for something. Looking for… for you. I think I was looking for you.”

Something glows warm in my chest. The thread of a pack bond, blossoming into life. I’d felt it there before, but it was subtle. Now, it’s burning brighter as Jamie’s features change before my eyes. His ears are pointed, and white fur streaks his cheeks.

“You were, pet. You’ve found me. I’m here. Find our bond. I know you can feel it.” I throw up the hood of my fur cloak and let the change flow through me.

“A bond? I don’t know what you’re…Oh.” Understanding floods his voice with sudden emotion. “Wow. Oh wow. That’s… Whatisthat? It’s warm. It feels amazing.”

The bond between us grows taut, drawing us toward each other. On four paws, I go to Jamie as he drops to all fours with a pained groan. I touch my nose to his forehead and growl, deep and low in my chest.

“Find us, mate. Find our bond.”

Gray fur covers Jamie’s face, which forms into a snout. The shift happens in only seconds, and then a beautiful wolf stands before me with eyes as bright and blue as the sky. Our bond blazes like the sun in my chest.

“A-Anders?”Jamie’s voice blooms in my mind, sweet and confused.

“I can hear you.”

Jamie turns his snout toward his paws, and his eyes grow wide. He lifts one paw, then the other.“Holy shit. I’m a freaking wolf!”

“No. Truly? I thought you were a puffin.”

Jamie bumps his head into my shoulder.“Shut up, you jerk. Whoa. This is so cool! I have a tail!”He proceeds to chase said tail, spinning around like a puppy until he grabs it, bites it, and yelps in pain.

“Aye. And what a fearsome wolf you are.”He’s so energetic, like a pup instead of the fierce servant of the wolf god Fenrir that he is.

“Dude. I’m gonna be the coolest wolf! I—Whoa. Wait. What’s that smell?”Dropping his snout to the earth, he sniffs frantically. Leaves get stuck on his nose, making him sneeze.

My tail thumps, betraying my amusement.

Jamie sniffs around until he runs right into me. Nose twitching, he inhales a deep lungful of my scent.“It’s… it’s you. Why do you smell so freaking incredible? You smelled amazing before… but now…”A shiver racks Jamie’s wolf body. My mate circles me, sniffing eagerly as he rubs his body along mine. Shoving his head beneath my chin, he scents at my throat and rumbles low.

“You smell like…mine.”

The notes in his scent make me growl eagerly. He wants me just as much as I crave him.

Suddenly, Jamie drops to all fours, tail in the air. He yips playfully, then dashes off into the woods.

A primal hunger rises in me. He wants me to chase him. Catch him. Claim him.

And oh, I will delight in it.

Chapter 5

Jamie

Being a wolf isawesome so far.

I’m fast, faster than I’ve ever been.

The colors of the world are different in this form, but my eyesight is sharper, like I’m looking at everything through HD lenses.

Then there’s all the scents… The world has never smelled sweeter, a kaleidoscope of aromas that bring color and life to the world around me.

And then there’s him. Anders. And he smells the best of all. Cinnamon and coffee and that used-book smell that always brings a smile to my face. Except now his scent is driving me wild. I want him to chase me, catch me, and do whatever the hell he wants with me.

The moment I caught his scent, it was like everything clicked into place. I understood why no guy has ever worked out for me, and it’s because they weren’t him. My mate. Mine.

Of course, I still barely know the guy, and he’s got a crap personality. But honestly? The big grump isn’t that bad. He had no reason whatsoever to save my neck when he could have justtaken what he wanted. He sure didn’t have to teach me about this amazing side of myself I never knew existed. He’s, dare I say, kind of a sweetheart. Even if he pretends not to be.

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