Page 107 of Sing Sweet Nightingale

I elongate my claws and prick them into the muscle of his shoulder before infusing my responding snarl with alpha power. It doesn’t always have to be put into words. Just having intent and meaning infused into a growl or howl can be just as powerful.

His snarl quiets, his eyes flash, and his nostrils flare, but I can see him gaining control again, submitting to me as he drops his eyes to the ground.

“Yes, Alpha. I understand,” he grits out.

It may not sound like he is submitting, but I know how hard it is to fight against your own instinct. He’s trying. He doesn’t yet realize what he’s already involved in with this girl, but I think I’m starting to understand now.

“Good. Keep her away from the west woods. It’s off-limits tonight. I’ll be running there—with Lottie,” I add, putting meaning behind my unspoken words.

Ryder’s scowl softens, and his eyebrows lift a little in shock. His dark steely eyes look almost black in the dimming light, and understanding washes away his previous anger.

“Really? Tonight?”

“Maybe.”

He nods, settling once again back into his normal stoic self—focused and diligent. His scent recedes back to the neutral, nondescript scent of bland coldness, lacking any sharp emotion of any kind.

“I will. And congratulations, brother. She will make a great mate.”

“Thank you.”

I scent the redhead Tess nearing us, and I decide it’s probably best to leave Ryder to his own female while I get back to mine. Giving him one last reassuring squeeze, I release his shoulder and turn on my heel, heading for Lottie and her bright laughter.

Chapter 35 – Lottie

This is it. The moon is full in the sky, and the eclipse is not far off, giving the moon a ruddy red coloring. The time has come, and people are peeling away from the crowd to enter the forest. Thankfully, before they strip naked.

Hunter eyes me with hungry anticipation, licking his lips and reaching for me. I let him pull me into his arms and kiss me. It’s a deep, passionate kiss that I feel over my entire body. His touch is more electric than it has ever been. Because of the eclipse? The full moon? Who the fuck knows, but I love it.

“What is your decision, little bird? Will I be chasing you into the forest tonight? Or will I have to wait and ravage you when I return from my run?”

He doesn’t try to guilt me into deciding or push me into choosing. Either way, he will return to me tonight, and I’ll still be in his bed. There’s no ultimatum or demand—just a question, the answer to which is completely up to me.

I give him my sweetest smile and step backward, slowly slipping out of his hold. Trailing my fingers down his arms and biting my lip, I watch him practically grow bigger as he tamps down his shift, waiting for my decision.

I already know my answer. My decision was probably made the moment he asked me. I just had to come to terms with it.

Taking a few more steps away from him, I make sure he’s out of arm’s reach before stopping. He continues watching me, his cock straining against his zipper and his breaths heavy in his chest.

Slipping my hands under my skirt, I can see his eyes widen and dilate at the movement. His nostrils flare as he inhales my scent. I know that’s what he’s doing; he likes to smell me. A lot.

Hooking my thumbs on the sides of my panties, I slowly begin to pull them down my hips. I made sure to double-check that everyone else was already leaving or gone before starting my little seduction. That part of me that’s still stuck in celebrity mode, ensuring there’s no one around to witness or photograph our intimate moment.

The white cotton panties, which are damp with my arousal, slide down easily, and I step out of them. Bundling them in my hand, I toss them at Hunter, who catches them easily. Instantly, he brings them to his nose and inhales deeply. A rumbling purr growl emanates from his chest, and he doesn’t dampen it, letting it roll out his throat.

“Your smell is heavenly, sweet Lottie.”

“Then I’m sure you’ll have no problem following it,” I tease the moment before I turn on my heel and bolt.

I don’t look back. I know I won’t be able to outrun him, but I’ll have at least a minute head start. Hopefully. He still has to remove his clothes and shift after all.

I don’t pause or delay, wanting to get as much distance between us as I can to make the chase more exciting. Not bothering to pay attention to where I’m going, I run through the forest. I do make sure to keep the west, though. Ginger told me this area is off-limits to the others. It’s just for us. So, I don’t have to worry about other shifters chasing me or seeing my inevitable mating with Hunter. Because it is inevitable now. I’ve run, and he’s chasing; there’s no going back.

A high-pitched laugh escapes my throat and resonates through the trees whizzing by. My legs pump beneath me, years of forced fitness routines and running to try and escape my life but never getting anywhere, finally being put to good use. I make it far into the trees when I hear the howl. It sends a shiver through my body and collates in my pussy, making the slickness there grow.

Perhaps running through the forest without panties while extremely horny wasn’t a good idea. It’s only increasing the needy pulse between my thighs. The friction and pressure are a pleasurable torment.

In the near distance, I can hear breaking branches and howls growing in volume—closer than the far-off quiet ones, which I assume are the others. Above me, the moon continues to rise high in the sky and grow a deeper shade of red.

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