Page 35 of Taming of a Wolf

Unable to fight back a smile, I scoot over so our sides are touching and slip my arm over his wide shoulders. The tension seeps from his body, and my heart melts when he leans into me.

Oh, I’m screwed. We slept together only yesterday, and yet my heart is all about this guy. I want him to keep opening up to me,to shed that tough-guy skin and show more of that soft heart I know is underneath. This isn’t good. I’m going to get myself hurt if I keep giving pieces of myself away to him so fast. “Is that all that upset you?”

Anders angles his head so his chin is on my shoulder, his face out of view. “Just tell your human friends not to touch me.”

“They wouldn’t hurt you, Anders. I promise. They’re good people. A lot like you, actually.”

He jerks away with a scoff. “They’re human. Nothing like me.”

“I meant that they know what it’s like to be outcasts. Jess’s family disowned her after she told them she was bisexual. Bailey’s family is great, but they’ve dealt with bullying for years because of their gender identity. Being ulfhednar isn’t all that different from being queer, I guess. I promise Jess and Bailey would never hurt you. Neither of them have a mean bone in their body… Okay, maybe Jess can get a bit hotheaded, but that’s just because she’s protective of all of us.”

Anders sets his jaw in a scowl. “I will never befriend humans. They are the enemy, and my fight is with them.”

“Oh my god.” I roll my eyes to the sky. “Do not try and fight Jess. You’ll regret it, trust me. And Bailey teaches self-defense, so they could put you on your ass.”

“Like to see them try.”

How is this relationship going to work if he wants to beat the shit out of my friends? Wait. Is this a relationship?

“Anders. Just give them a chance.”

His entire face turns red with fury, his jaw grinding so tight I worry he’ll break his teeth.

“Please?” I add.

With an enormous sigh, Anders’s rage leaves his body. “Fine.” He spits the word like poison. “But only because I like it when you beg, pet,” he says with a smirk that shouldn’t be as sexy as it is.

I really want to get him alone, and soon, but only once I’m sure he’ll be on his good behavior with my friends. “I know first days are always stressful.”

“Wasn’t stressed.”

I ignore that because it’s obvious he was. “I’m sorry I left you alone. I should have stuck close to you until you felt comfortable, but I had to get some baking done. For the rest of the day, I’ll be right there if you need me.”

Those beautiful emerald eyes finally meet mine as his shoulders loosen. “Truly?”

“Yeah. Promise.” Standing, I hold out my hand.

Anders clasps it, and I tug him up with a strength I didn’t have a few days ago. It must be the ulfhednar’s influence. I expect him to pull away, but he keeps my hand firmly clasped in his as we head inside. The coffee has been cleaned up, Jess and Bailey are bantering behind the counter, and all seems well.

Returning to the box of books, I kneel and grab a few titles. “Okay. These are both rom-coms. Take a guess at where they go.”

Anders scrunches his brow, then takes them from my hands and marches over to the correct shelf. “Here.”

“Exactly.”

Anders looks away, but not before I catch a glimmer of a pleased smile.

True to my word, I stay by his side for the rest of the day. We organize shelves, clean up after customers, and I run out to grab us some lunch from the deli around the corner. Since Anders is more in touch with his wolf than I am, I get him a sandwich loaded with meat and an egg salad on a roll for myself.

We sit on the sofa together and unwrap our sandwiches. Anders sniffs his. “Bacon!” He digs in with such eagerness I know I chose well.

“Hey, I made plans with everyone to go out tonight. How about you come out with us after work?”

Anders licks grease off his fingers. “Where to?”

“There’s a bar we like in the West Village. We can all grab drinks, and you can have a fresh start with Jess and Bailey.”

Anders glances over at Bailey and Jess with obvious reservations. “That would not be wise.”

---