Page 7 of The Wolf

“I just hope she can find peace.”

“She already has,” he reassures. “They’re selling the house and moving to Europe.”

“Really?” Fresh tears fill my eyes, but they are happy tears this time. “She always wanted to leave.”

“Farah will make sure they remain under the protection spell wherever they go.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you and your family so much.”

“Our family,” he corrects.

“Yes.” I nod in agreement. “I was also wondering—Did you ever find out what happened to the werewolf who…” I gulp. “Um, you know, to my biological father?”

“Unfortunately, he was utterly rabid and got put down.”

“But since my mom has a mark, that means he claimed her, right?”

“A werewolf can claim a mate, any mate, but if they reject him, their fates don’t tie down.”

“Oh, that makes sense.” I take a moment, processing. “Does everyone have a fated mate?”

“It’s a phenomenon among my kind. But a soulmate? Maybe. You’ll notice that most of the supernatural beings take the bond with their partners as a sacred union.”

“You better,” I challenge. “Or else I’ll use that silver sword of yours to cut your balls off.”

He roars in rich laughter. “Do you seriously believe that after waiting for you this long, I’d not be faithful?”

“Just reminding you who you’re dealing with. You saw me in the field, didn’t you?”

“I sure did.” He leans in, and the tip of his tongue traces the seam of my lips.

I enthusiastically part them for him, pulling him even closer, and we join in a kiss—a reminder that I’m not lost. Not anymore.

I feel myself relaxing, the weight of everything lifting off. He grounds me like an anchor in a storm, my rock for life. Maybe I don’t have to figure it all out right now. Maybe it’s okay to just… be here, in this moment, with him.

He hums, flicking his tongue across my jaw. “I love you.” His voice is deep and throaty.

I let those words settle into me, and for the first time in a long time, I truly feel at ease. I love him, too, and maybe that’s all that matters.

4.

King

It's a slow, tender morning. Our bodies are entwined, as we roll around in bed, enveloped in passionate kisses. The world outside feels distant, irrelevant even, as if it has no claim on us today—although, I know better than that.

Julia’s breath comes in soft, uneven sighs, as I trace lazy circles along her waist, feeling the tension from the day before melting away.

She was exhausted—she fell asleep early last night, and I was so glad to watch her finally rest. Now, her energy seems to have returned, her cheeks flushed with color, her pupils wide and dark with desire, her hard nipples rubbing against my chest with each inhale.

“Umm…” she mumbles, squirming above me, a faint giggle escaping her.

“What is it?” I ask, my voice light and teasing.

Her face reddens further, and she shakes her head nervously. “It’s embarrassing,” she tells me, biting her lip, hereyes fluttering to meet mine. “But why am I so… horny? It feels like I’m burning up.”

I chuckle, amused by her sudden shyness, the sound rumbling from deep in my chest. “You’re ovulating,” I explain. The pads of my fingers trace the smooth curves of her full hips, and I adore how strongly her body reacts to the faint brush of my claws.

“Oh…” Straightening up, she mounts my lower abdomen, curiosity gleaming in her bright eyes.

---