Page 25 of Untamed

Golden eyes are wide, pink lips fallen open in shock. An embarrassingly-obvious shudder passes over my body at the sight of her mouth, the tip of her tongue moistening her lips as she forces her spine straight. Golden eyes harden, but she can't hide her shock, her wariness, of the sight of the two dozen buildings and over a hundred wolves that are anxiously awaiting the first glimpse of their new Luna.

"Come on,Qitsuk. I won't let anyone harm you," I boast softly. I stroke my hand over her hair and down her back again. In her shock, she doesn't even bother to glare at me like she did the first dozen times I pet her.

Her feet stumble a little as we start to move. Her head turns, left and right, curiously staring back at the pack, who looks at her with equal fascination.

Ezra's grandFather, Elias, pops out of the woods, cackling and rubbing his hands together gleefully. "Now, that's a female!" he grins happily. "This is her? Haha!" He toddles back into the woods as suddenly as he came out.

"That's Elias, one of our eldest wolves," I explain to my mate. She glances at me briefly before looking back at the buildings. Her feet slow again as we walk past the school, and the barbershop with its old-fashioned red-and-white spinning sign seems to hold endless fascination for her.

The chain around her waist rattles, singing into the air. I coax her closer and closer to the Green in the center of town. The Post on the Green is sunk into the ground the length of the tallest male. It will not budge. Six of the strongest males couldn't move this thing.

I loop the end of the chain in my fist through the metal loop far above her wrists. It tightens as I pull it through, stretching her body upward, arms over her head, immobilizing her but not to the point of pain. I make quick work of the blanket covering her body. Bit by bit, her body is revealed.

I suck in precious oxygen as spots dance in front of my eyes. I can taste the blood on my tongue. I must have bitten something in my mouth. Canines edge out, creeping along my lips, mating venom dripping. My body vibrates with need.

She is utter perfection. Toned in the right places, with meat on her bones in the most healthy ways. Hips that I can grab, a rounded stomach with muscle underneath the softness. Strong arms and legs. Without a word, I accept a pair of plain, white underwear from an elderly female who huffs at me as she hands them over. I pull them up my mate's legs with shaking hands, avoiding her kicks, leaving her most secret places covered. Goddess knows that I would never be able to resist her if she were completely bare.

The glimpses I had of her nude body tell me that she has no tan lines. I'm not sure how I feel about my mate running around naked in her skin, but it's hard to care about the past when she's here in my arms.

I stroke her hair out of her face with one hand while holding the chain in the other. Golden eyes stare at me accusingly. She is watchful, fear dancing through those gold orbs for the first time since I first saw them.

"Everything will be alright. You'll submit to me,Qitsuk, and we'll be so good together," I reassure her. I suck in a breath, inhaling her. Swaying, a magnet to her true north, I press my face into her hair, ignoring her soft growls of warning.

"This is scary," I admit softly, "but you're a wild, and I can't let you run from me again. Ican't. I can take hurt,Qitsuk. I can handle a world of pain, but not that. Not losing you."

Those eyes leave my face. I growl lowly, displeased with her disregard. They travel the pack, gathering en masse, and I wonder what she thinks of the village, of the many eyes watching their Alphason chaining this beautiful female to the post.

When her eyes return to me, she is no longer afraid. Intelligence dances in them. She is plotting, my clever female.

"The pack will examine you. On feet, you will remain here until the moon rises. Then, I take you home with me."

"Alphason Inuit," a raspy voice makes my head turn.

"Elder Greyson," I greet the ancient wolf with respect.

"You have captured a Wild," he says, a little astonishment in his eyes. "May I presume this isher?" he asks softer.

"Yes," I say proudly, "this is my Luna."

"By the Moon herself, she is magnificent," the elder breathes.

I feel pride in my mate swell. My wolf struts, happy that this female is his. "She is, isn't she?" I boast.

The elder chuckles, moving closer. "Ah, she looks well-trained, strong. When she has submitted, you must find out her strengths, young wolf. She may have hidden talents."

I can feel my face move, a smile curling my lips up. The buzzing whispers of the pack grow louder. I don't smile much.

"RustClaw!" I boom. A hush falls over the crowd that has swelled to over six hundred wolves. Golden eyes snap to my face. I feel power and strength flow through me. My alpha wolf holds his head high. We arealpha. I tilt my head back and howl, long and clear. My mate gasps, her body swaying into mine. My howl cuts off.

"This is your future luna!" A loud cheer goes up. MyQitsukgrowls, lowly enough that only I can hear her evident mistrust of all of these wolves.

I run my palm down her body from her neck to her belly. She snaps her teeth at me. The cheering is broken up by laughter. I can hear the relief in the wolves surrounding us, the approval. They are pleased that their Alphason has found his truemate and that she is brave and strong.

"They like you, Qitsuk," I tell her proudly. I loosen the chains so that her arms can swing comfortably at her sides.

Her eyes leave me, focusing on a group of approaching females. None who look pleased. In their arms are bowls and baskets.

"Away with you," Lyri and Penny's mother, Tabitha, snaps at me. "We need to bathe her, and I suppose she hasn't eaten?"

---