Ch. 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
~Drake:
Our mate was on the move, heading for some cover - most likely around and uphill behind the cabin. I leapt and knocked the third to the ground, digging my teeth in and ripping his throat, a large gash spewed blood. Pushing against the earth again I went for the fourth when Dane pushed us to the left. We moved just as a bullet hit the ground next to us.
We went to strike again and shoved the fourth wolf to the ground, using the car to block the angle of the sharpshooters. We tore into his neck and left him there, spinning to look for Freckles.
She was nowhere to be seen.
Where had she gone?!
I spent the next long while tearing through wolf after wolf. It was tiring, yes. We were putting in quite a workout. But it was way more invigorating. It felt like nothing else to let Dane completely loose.
We were leaping and tearing into flesh. We were snapping bones and throwing bodies into charging wolves. Blood was everywhere. Soaked into the earth around the cabin and drenched into my fur. But we didn’t care.
The gall of these Lycaon cts! Coming here and trying to take my mate!
I roared and charged at this new group of wolves, likely a backup crew from uphill that had come down as I massacred their frontline.
On and on I took wolves down. Dane roared in fury as we destroyed everyone in sight. Finally things started to slow down and I knew we needed to look for Freckles. I didn’t feel like she was in danger or hurt, so I knew she was still okay - but not seeing it with my own eyes was getting too hard.
There were three wolves left and they tried to corner me, the brave idiots. I leapt and grabbed one in by the throat while using its body as a shield from the others. Waving my head I heard a snap. I dropped it to the floor and then my gorgeous mate stopped out.
‘Freeze!’ she commanded them. They froze mid attack. ‘Drown yourselves in the lake!’
They walked into the water, fighting their own steps. But they had no choice. Afterall, whatever my mate says, goes. Well... At least with everyone else.
I lowered my stance then, not needing to fight anymore. Shifting, I walked over to where she stood, watching the wolves walk into the water. I held a hand out to her but she moved out of my reach.
Had I done something? I looked around at my mess. Was this upsetting her? I opened my mouth to ask but no sound came out.
She walked away from me toward the dock, one hand outstretched. That’s when I saw it. Shadows leaving their bodies and floating up, up, to her. Into her. I stood in awe as she shivered. Her hair was floating. Her murderous, delighted smile as she turned around. Like a pure high from some lab created drug.
We made eye contact and she looked away suddenly, clenched fists at her sides. What was that? What had gone into her?
Now I guess you’re the one with the questions again, Dane pointed out wryly.
She didn’t look at me once as she sucked in the darkness and turned back towards the cabin. She walked right by me when my hand shot out. It hung mid-air just a few inches away from her shoulder.
We stared at each other. How could I tell her that I get it? That I get how dangerous she is? That I don’t care?
The shine of some unnamed emotion glinted in her gaze in the light of the setting sun and her scent overwhelmed me. We stood so close, our breaths becoming quick. Our gazes locked as we searched each other's eyes for something. I couldn’t break eye contact even if I wanted to, her luminous forest green eyes showed me so little and so much at the same time, the small golden centers captivating me. My outstretched hand moved ever so slightly, a finger ever so lightly brushing her skin. I could pant at her scent, at her… everything. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, slightly leaning toward me. My own stance mimicked her. In the next second she was mere inches from me. I breathed in slowly, taking this moment in. She sucked in her bottom lip and I moved further. Our heartbeats spiked and I didn’t know if I could hold back any longer.
As if on their own, my hands wrapped around her, one palm on her cheek and the other behind her neck. I thought she might stop me but her breathing quickened instead. Our faces inched closer and closer, Dane roaring in my head to make my move, me fighting every suggestion for fear of scaring her off, of ruining this moment.
Her eyes darted to the side for a second, for just a flicker before looking at me again, her expression starting to change, and I knew she might push away. I had to stop her from pushing away, I needed to say something.
“I see you,” I whispered.
It was the only thing I could think of. It was the only thought I had. I saw her, all of her, every dark bit, and I wanted her.
She gulped, her eyes widening just a bit. And in that moment I knew she understood what I was saying. As awful as I am with words, especially words about emotions, especially with words I’m saying to her - I finally said something to her the way I intended to.
Before I knew what was happening our lips crashed together. The warmth, the euphoria or it all, everything blasted through me like a stage light on in a darkroom. Electricity buzzed through me at the contact, heat surged into me and I instinctively pulled her closer. The kiss went on her, it was frantic, desperate, greedy, and her equal response had me happier than I had ever been. There was nothing else, only us. Only her. Her arms slid up to my neck and I slid mine down to her waist, pulling her flush to my frame. Nothing had ever felt this good. Nothing ever would.
Claim her!, Dane urged. I pushed the thought aside.
A moan escaped her as we broke for air and I surged right back to her. The pleasure it gave me to please her that way, I needed more of it. Lifting her, we stayed kissing on and on as I weaved around obstacles, bringing her back to the cabin. A hand went under her shirt at the small of her back as I walked through the open door and kicked it shut with my foot. The increase of contact had me groaning for more, and that seemed to please her too. I went for the couch, laying her down gently while not breaking any skin contact I could avoid.
The lust in her eyes, the smell of our mixed arousal, and the friction of her body against my jeans was all nearly making me c*m right there. Dane paced and howled in my mind. I needed to change pace before I ruined our first time together. I slowed our kissing some and kept my lower body’s weight off of her but she just straddled my legs with her own and pulled me back down. The determined look on her face changed and she went to pull her shirt up.
Up, up and off, and in a few moments her shirt was on the floor and I was kissing her neck, the crest of her breasts, her stomach, before kissing her back up the same way. Our tongues danced and she lightly sucked on my tongue, immediately giving me visuals of the things I would love to suck on her. She tugged at my shirt and we pulled it off clumsily, making her laugh in amusement.
“You think that’s funny, Freckles?” I asked her teasingly while tickling her.
She laughed at the tickling and when I stopped she openly grinned at me. The sight of her tousled hair against the couch, her open smile, and flushed cheeks - took my breath away.
Her laughter and smile dulled a tad and something I couldn’t decipher crossed her features. I stopped, my own smile faltering.
“How can I do this?” she said, her voice laced with worry, a hand going to cover her chest.
“What?” I asked, my voice broken.
This is it. This is when she pushes me away.
Her eyes watered and I felt like such an a*s. My hand cupped her face after a moment, wiping a tear with my thumb.
“Please don’t cry Freckles,” I said, pleading to the Goddess to ease her pain, to not let her push me away again.
“How-,” her voice cracked and my heart cracked right along with it. “How can I do this after what I’ve just done?”
My whole body stiffened. I watched all the possibilities of this moment crash and burn in her eyes as a pained look took over those soulful green orbs.
I sat up slowly, she did the same next to me. Wordlessly, I pulled her onto my lap and moved my head into the crook of her neck.
“Talk to me, what’s going on in there?” I whispered softly, trying not to startle her much more than she already appeared.
That seemed to be all it took. She heaved a sob and I hugged her closely, noticing her complete lack of reciprocity. She sat there limply until she raised one hand and gently pushed me away. I didn’t want to let go, but I fought my wolf’s need to pull her close and let my grip loosen. She sat back, a lone tear making its way down her cheek. She wiped it away, not looking me in the eye.
“Those people out there, whether they deserved it or not - I killed them. Earlier and now. I’m a murderer. And the sickest part of all is enjoying it. I like killing them. I love soaking in their darkness. And now this?” she finally turned to face me, with something like outrage on her face. “I was going to- I mean who does that?”
That last one hurt. I do. I mean - I was going to. After slaughtering all those people too. I opened my mouth to say something like that but I didn’t think it would help.
“How could I feel - happy after that? Do I get off on soaking in the darkness? Yes, but when I come down, I come down, you know? But jumping into this?! I’ve lost it!”
She stood up at once, marching angrily into her room and slamming the door.
I sat there at a loss for what to do.
Claim her, Dane said simply.
How would that even fix anything?, I shot back angrily.
Just do it, he urged.
Did you not just see what happened?! She would hate us!, I snapped, gripping the couch base with my hand, the force cracking the wood.
Great.