Page 70 of Shaped By Darkness

My wolf rumbles his satisfaction with her so close, and it’s not as if I'm not excited as well; I'm just a little sad, I guess.

Peeking up, I find it's not just Serena who's looking to me for an answer, but the rest of them as well.

I don't want to lie to them, but we have enough to worry about right now. My pathetic homesickness isn't even worth bringing up, especially not when I've renounced my place in my pack. I'm not supposed to care anymore.

I open my mouth, intent to tell them I'm fine, to brush it off the way I normally would, but one look at Serena and my words die in my throat. I don't want to lie to her. I've done enough of that to last me a lifetime, and though she's forgiven me, I haven't forgiven myself. Hell, I'm not sure I'm capable of it. Serena deserves so much more than I can ever give her, yet I can't leave. It's as if I'm drawn to her both as a man and a beast. I couldn't resist her even if I tried, and gods know I'll never do that.

No, if she wants me, I'm here. It's selfish and wrong, but I can't help it. I can't even imagine a life without her anymore.

Snapping my mouth shut, I stand abruptly, making my way from the dining hall without so much as glancing back even as I hear Serena call my name and the sound of her feet behind me.

Thankfully, I have a head start, and I'm fast. I've memorized this castle over the last few weeks. I've gotten lost enough to know how to lose someone... hopefully.

I'm not sure how Storm managed to avoid everyone for so long.

The castle is huge, but right now it feels like it's a gods damned one-bedroom apartment for how often I'm having to turn around and run the other way when I feel one of them approaching. Thank the stars for the bond, or else I would have failed already.

It's not like I want to do what he did. I just need a little while to get my shit together so I can help our pack instead of moping around.

Which is how I end up in the bathhouse. It worked for Storm well enough, and Blair and Serena had a good time in here, so it's worth a shot.

I sigh in relief, my shoulders sagging as I look around to find the bathhouse completely empty.

It lasts all of two seconds, though, because I'd been so focused on looking that I didn't feel her until she was pulling herself up out of the water onto the rocks not fifty feet from me, butt-ass naked and dripping wet.

Fuck.

I can't bite back the groan at seeing her like that, and my beast isn't any better. My wolf’s Clearly,of appreciation echoes around the cavern, and I watch Serena's head snap up. Clearly, I wasn't the only one not paying attention.

"Geez, Pike, you scared me." She presses a hand to her chest, taking a deep breath to calm herself. I want to apologize, but I can't.

Right now, it's taking every ounce of self-control that I have to stop my wolf from forcing a shift.

Mate!He growls the word in my mind, and it's not the first time he's referred to her that way.

I should look away, but I can't. I'm frozen in place as my eyes trace over every inch of her as if they have a mind of their own.

Her skin is pale, always has been, even when she spends hours outside in the sun; it's as if she doesn't tan, though she does burn. Her hair is long, reaching down to her ass, dripping wet, just like the rest of her.

I bet it would be beautiful wrapped around my fist with her on her knees for me.

Nope, bad idea. The thought makes my already hard dick ache, and I have to resist the urge to adjust. If by some miracle Serena hasn't noticed, I don't need to draw any attention to it. Maybethere's hope I can still get out of this without embarrassing myself.

But I should know better than that. The thought of her on her knees brings back my fantasy in the shower that feels like a lifetime ago. Only this time, I'm not imagining what she might look like; I know.

"Pike?" Serena takes a few steps toward me, walking right past the towel on the ground without so much as glancing at it, and I mentally scream.

I need her to cover up.

Mate!

Shit, shit, shit.

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep my wolf in check.

My eyes roam over her once again as I struggle to make myself speak. We all have nicknames for her, silly little things that we used to try and make her more comfortable with her beast. Mine just so happens to be super fucking accurate because while it started innocent, Serena is thick now, her ass is fucking perfect, and all I can do is picture her running through the woods while I chase her down.

"Serena, I need you to cover up!" I force the words out in a rush as I swallow down the growl from my beast.

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