Page 36 of Bonded and Betrothed

His lips curve into a smile, the movement noticeable against the shell of my ear, and I can’t help but mirror it at his observation because that is exactly what it feels like to me too. She comes to the surface, just below my skin, sitting there with me, a partnership, two halves of my soul. And I finally feel right in my own body for the first time in who knows how long. How had I never noticed I was living as half of myself without my wolf with me? She huffs a breath of amusement at me, and my chest shakes with laughter. It really should have been obvious. Perhaps this too is what I’ve needed all this time, to truly heal all of my wounds.

“Now it’s time to shift,” he says, taking a step back and letting his arms drop from my waist. I bristle at the lack of contact, not sure I’m ready to look too closely at how comfortable I’d gotten wrapped in his arms. But I know he’s right. Only so much can be done in my human form. To truly fix this connection, I’d need to continue the process and let her come into her own, let the other half of my soul heal.

I peel open my eyes to Zeke watching me in amusement.Okay, now that calm is fading.Of course, things would be so much easier if he wasn’t such an asshole, but I guess that’s part of his charm.

My chest tightens with anxiety at what I need to do next. I’m still not completely comfortable stripping at a moment’s notice. That’s definitely not normal in human society. But I know I need to get used to it. There wouldn’t be time to ask our enemies to turn around while I strip off my clothes. Before Zeke can say anything, I slip my thumbs under my waistband, easing down my pants and thong while I slip off my shoes.

“I can turn,” he says, his voice thick with desire, and I know he would if I asked him to. But I can’t let him do that. I need to get more comfortable with both this and the customs in wolf society.

“It’s okay,” I assure him, shimmying out of the tight leggings. I feel the weight of his stare on me, and to my surprise, it doesn’t make me feel clumsy or embarrassed like I expect; no, it emboldens me.

I bite my bottom lip as I slide the fabric off my legs, taking my time and exaggerating each movement as the smooth material glides down my body. A shiver runs down my spine from both desire and the outside air hitting my heated skin. My skin pebbles even though it’s the middle of summer, the anticipation and excitement sending my senses into overdrive. I kick the pants away and move on to my shirt, not daring to look his way. I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my composure if I meet his stormy gaze right now.

I reach for the bottom of the sports bra and pull it over my head. Zeke’s muttered curse almost sends me over the edge, so close to forgetting all about the training and giving into the lust burning through my veins. But I push on, flinging the bra to the side as I call on my wolf. I can sense her satisfaction at having her mate’s attention already, reveling in the scent of lust permeating the open air. I catch his gaze just as my bones shift, already giving in to the sensation with no chance of stopping. Tingles of desire spread over my skin as it shifts to fur, the hungry look in his eyes not dissipating as I shift. I can almost see his own wolf bucking against his hold, desperate to meet his mate.

My bones crack and reform, my body falling before my paws catch my weight. The soft pads sink into the grass, the blades tickling them as they flex in the damp earth. The rest of my body reforms, my nose elongating into a long snout, the smells hitting my nostrils more nuanced than my human senses. The shift is quick, and easier than it’s ever been, and I can’t help but wonder how I never knew there was a rift between me and my wolf before.

Zeke’s sharp inhale brings my gaze up to meet his fully now that my naked human form is gone, replaced with tawny fur and lupine features. His eyes widen, and he steps forward as though in a trance, his feet moving on their own accord, drawing him closer to me. His hand reaches out as though magnetically pulled to me, and I can’t help but step forward, my wolf begging to get closer to inhale her mate’s scent.

He seems to hesitate only a few steps from me, his eyes warily assessing me, only now registering that I may not want his touch. But I do, God, I really do. So I take a few tentative steps forward, my head nuzzling into his still open hand. I relish in the feel of his palm against my cheek, the deep caress sparking something inside me. More than comfort, a feeling of rightness, of home. I inhale deeply, my wolf relishing in his smell, the mate bond pulsing between us, giving her a sense of calm I’ve never felt before.

“Very good,” he breathes. His eyes focus on my lupine ones, and I can see his wolf just beneath the surface, moments from taking over and demanding his time with his mate.

I nuzzle my head even closer as though antagonizing him, daring him to lose control and let his wolf out to play. He inhales a deep, shuddering breath as he fights against the temptation. I finally decide to take pity on him and take a step back, knowing we need his guidance in his human form rather than his wolf.

He clears his throat. “You need to become one with your wolf, let your two halves meld until you aren’t sure where you start and she begins.”

I tilt my head to the side in question, unsure how to do that especially since I can’t actually communicate with him right now. Wolves of the same pack can speak mind to mind, but we aren’t of the same pack and would never be. Unless we solidify the bond, then we could speak to each other in wolf form …

“The best way to do that is with a run.” He chuckles. With no warning, he reaches behind him and slowly strips his shirt off. My human mind takes over, perusing his bare chest as he had done with mine, taking my time with each ridge of his muscular chest. His biceps ripple as he pulls off his gym shorts, the loose-fitting material falling to the ground. He kicks off his shoes followed by his socks, and my eyes slowly rove over his form, taking in every inch. My wolf’s form feels no desire for him, but my human side, well, I wish I could shift back right now and pounce on him, straddling those chiseled hips with my thighs and guiding the head of his thick cock to my core.

My wolf growls in my mind, pulling me from my thoughts. She’s right, this isn’t the time to ogle our mate, despite how hypocritical she is. She just wants to see his wolf form and doesn’t want me getting in the way of that. Huffing out a defiant breath, she bristles, but she can’t hide the truth from me.

My gaze moves back to Zeke as his muscular human form transforms into his massive black wolf. Just as I thought, she pushes us forward, wanting to feel the soft press of his fur against her. And I honestly can’t blame her, he had pressed his muzzle into my palm last night, and I can still remember the intoxicating feel of his fur against my skin.

She presses into Zeke’s side, running her body playfully against his and he relaxes into the touch. She trots in front of him, apparently satisfied with the quick cuddle. Now is the time for fun, for her game of cat and mouse and she has no desire to be the prey in this situation. The line is already becoming blurry between her and me with how easily I can feel her intentions, and how much they feel like they meld with my own.

He takes the hint, snapping from the dopey daze that has settled over his features. He said we should run, then that is what we’ll do. We take off away from him, the muscles of our legs bunching with each stride. It takes a few moments to ease back into the motion, but after that, it comes easily, like humans would say about riding a bike.

It doesn’t take long before Zeke is at our side, the pads of our feet pushing off the grass with each motion. My wolf pushes harder, needing to take the lead, show Zeke how dominant she is, and show her mate how much of an equal match she is. I relax into that, letting her take the wheel because I agree with her, there is no way we’re going to lose to him, and we are the perfect match to him. And with that last piece of the puzzle settling into its place, I let go, my wolf pushing harder faster, pushing our body to the limit, yet knowing our capabilities far more than I ever could. I let go of the worries and fear, taking comfort in the once familiar feeling of the wind whipping through my thick fur as we pull ahead of Zeke and take the lead.

Chapter Fifteen

Skylar

Iclimboutofthe armored town car and thank my driver for the night and the beta riding along with him in the front.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to wait for you?” the driver, Jeffrey, asks.

“I’ll be fine, thank you,” I say with a tight smile. The pack's senses are on high alert since I was injured, so it was difficult to even leave the house without an armed escort. But I don’t want to push them, not just yet, not after the fear of losing another alpha was made even worse after last night.

“Okay,” Jeffrey says hesitantly. Both him and the beta beside him sit in the car silently as I turn towards the entrance of the club. I step onto the sidewalk and attempt to relax my shoulders, reminding myself to be patient.

Things were tense once we arrived back at the manor, and I had to get out, had to get back some sense of normalcy. I went straight into a meeting with Silas when I arrived back at the manor, where he filled me in on his work so far. Thankfully all of the injured betas had made a full recovery with no lingering effects. He also took the step of inviting Oliver’s family to the manor. My lips pull down as memories of our meeting drift through my mind.

I pushed back from the chair and stood to face the partially closed door Silas had exited through, and squared my shoulders, I readied myself to face the family of our fallen pack member. Thoughts raced through my mind, and I struggled to put a lid on them. I wished I’d known him, Oliver. I wished I could reassure his parents with kind words rather than the same platitudes normally passed on when someone dies. Silas had known him and had worked beside Oliver for years. How was I supposed to console a grieving family when I barely knew how to cope with the feelings of loss and regret swirling inside of me. Silas’ rough fingers gripped the edge of the door and he pushed it open revealing two women with slight lines etching their faces. Oliver’s age struck me at that moment—he was only eighteen, still so full of hope, and it was stolen from him. The women followed Silas closely, their gazes so focused on him they hadn’t spotted me yet. The woman closest to Silas was a petite blonde, yet despite her shorter stature I saw the fire burning through her veins, the sheer determination shining through. Her partner followed closely behind her, taller and brunette, and looking as though she was guarding her wife with her steady calmness.

My hands clenched at my sides, fingernails digging deep into my palm as I used the pain to focus my mind. I had to be the strong one, to be the one to deliver the news to these women that they’d just lost their son.

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